🇮🇹Italy

Kiehl's vs Medik8

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Kiehl's and Medik8 are skincare brands known for nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and gentle eye products. Kiehl's relies on dependable ingredients like glycerin and squalane, whereas the British brand builds its products around hyaluronic acid. The American brand suits mature skin and sensitive skin best, while the British brand fits dry skin and sensitive skin best. They differ in their founding history, ownership, and key ingredient profiles.

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Kiehl's and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Medik8 products

People Say

Kiehl'sMedik8
  • Gentle on Sensitive Skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Improves Skin Barrier and Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Fades Dark Spots and Brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • No White Cast and Glowing Finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “doubles as moisturizer — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “Leaves skin looking glass-like and radiant — Medik8 Press & Glow”
    • “brightens skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
  • High Price Point and Poor Value Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
  • Greasy or Oily Residue Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Oily texture unpleasant — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “too oily — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Medik8: which is better?

Medik8 stands out for dry, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin types, while Kiehl's is noted for deep hydration and lightweight textures among the products on this page. Both brands offer high-performing routines, but Medik8 does better at fading dark spots and improving the skin barrier.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Medik8?

Medik8 is owned by L'Oréal Groupe, whereas Kiehl's is owned by L'Oréal S.A. Medik8 does better on sensitive skin, and Kiehl's does better on deep hydration and moisture.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for dry skin?

Medik8 offers a Superior routine fit for dry skin, while Kiehl's routine fit is High. Medik8 features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps provide deep hydration and improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 offer top-tier cleansers on this page, with Kiehl's providing options like Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash that are rated Superior for oily and oily acne-prone skin, while Medik8 features Surface Radiance Cleanse which is rated Superior for acne-prone skin, skin with dark spots, and oily acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Medik8?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 have reviewers noting a high price point. The products on this page do not provide specific price numbers to compare affordability further.

Between Kiehl's and Medik8, which brand is better for fading dark spots and brightening?

Medik8 does better at fading dark spots and brightening than Kiehl's according to the reviewer themes on the page. Both brands offer products on this page with High fit levels for skin with dark spots.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Kiehl's and Medik8 compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe as of 2025.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products on the page, Kiehl's or Medik8?

Kiehl's has more fragrance-free products on the page, with 26 out of 28 products listing no fragrance, compared to 11 out of 12 for Medik8.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, Kiehl's and Medik8 both achieve a High routine fit level on this page. Reviewers note that Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers while Medik8 provides deep hydration and plumping.

Kiehl's or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 provides a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Kiehl's provides a High routine fit for the same skin type. Both brands offer highly rated moisturizers on the products on this page, but Medik8 is noted for deep hydration and plumping with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Kiehl's or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Medik8 offers superior routine fit for sensitive skin on this page, while Kiehl's provides High routine fit. Medik8 reviewers frequently mention gentle and non-irritating serums, and review themes show Medik8 does better at being gentle on sensitive skin.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 are a High fit for acne-prone skin, with several products on this page rated High or Superior for this skin type. Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and deep hydration, while Medik8 is often noted for gentle, non-irritating serums that help improve skin texture.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play