🇮🇹Italy

Kiehl's vs NIVEA

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

Kiehl's and NIVEA are enduring skincare brands offering nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, and soothing daily essentials. The American apothecary relies on glycerin and squalane, while the German house highlights skin-softening glycerin throughout its formulations. Both choices suit sensitive and mature skin best by providing gentle care and dependable barrier support. Ultimately, the former emphasizes specialized botanical extractions and antioxidant properties, whereas the latter focuses on accessible sun protection and deep hydration.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

beiersdorf.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Kiehl's vs NIVEA products

People Say

Kiehl'sNIVEA
  • 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”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels smooth — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Relaxing and Classic Scents Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
    • “smells really nice — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “calming lavender smell — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Gentleness and Sensitivity Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “doesn't irritate sensitive eyes — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Value for Money Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Greasiness and Heavy Residue Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “didn't absorb well — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”
    • “I noticed some acne breakouts on my chin after using this crème for a while. — NIVEA Soft”

Kiehl's vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or NIVEA: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA are equally good choices, as Lovi shows they both provide high routine fit across all skin types. Kiehl's offers better gentleness and texture absorption with mostly fragrance-free formulas, while NIVEA provides better value for money and skin barrier improvement.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and NIVEA?

Kiehl's and NIVEA both offer high routine fit levels for all skin types, but Kiehl's is better for gentleness and sensitivity with mostly fragrance-free products, while NIVEA provides better value for money and skin barrier improvement.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for dry skin among the products on this page. Kiehl's features a high proportion of fragrance-free formulas, while NIVEA provides versatile multi-use moisturizers that help deliver intense deep hydration.

Kiehl's or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer moisturizers with a High routine fit for dry skin, with Kiehl's providing particularly lightweight formulas and NIVEA delivering versatile multi-use options. Emollients help support the skin barrier, which may improve moisture retention.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or NIVEA?

NIVEA provides better value for money than Kiehl's, whereas high price points are often mentioned for the products on this page by Kiehl's reviewers.

Which brand has better fragrance options, Kiehl's or NIVEA?

Kiehl's has better fragrance options because the products on this page feature far fewer added fragrances than NIVEA, with most formulas completely unscented. This helps minimize the likelihood of skin irritation for sensitive users.

How do Kiehl's and NIVEA compare regarding skin barrier and texture improvement?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer high routine fit levels for skin barrier and texture improvement across the products on this page. However, NIVEA does better regarding skin barrier and texture improvement.

Which brand offers better absorption and non-greasy texture, Kiehl's or NIVEA?

Kiehl's offers better texture and absorption than NIVEA for the products on this page.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer high routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers often mention NIVEA for blemish-clearing serums, while Kiehl's features specialized products like the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream that are well-suited for oily complexions.

Kiehl's or NIVEA: which sunscreen is better?

When comparing sunscreen options on this page, both Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum and NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+ help provide high fit levels for several skin types like combination and mature skin. However, Kiehl's is mostly noted for offering lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle serums, whereas NIVEA often features strong fragrances in its products.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Kiehl's is often preferred for gentleness, as the products on this page list almost no fragrance, whereas NIVEA leans toward stronger scents.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer high routine fit levels for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Kiehl's is often preferred for gentleness and sensitivity, while NIVEA provides blemish-clearing serums.

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