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Kiehl's vs Simple

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

Kiehl's and Simple are heritage skincare brands known for nurturing everyday formulations, with the American label founded in 1851 and the British counterpart established in 1960. Kiehl's is loved for its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and gentle eye products relying on glycerin and squalane, while Simple is beloved for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners incorporating niacinamide and glycerin. Both brands suit mature skin and acne-prone or sensitive skin best, differing primarily in their specific target concerns and foundational heritage.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Simple products

People Say

Kiehl'sSimple
  • Gentle for sensitive skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight 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”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Non-drying and hydrating formulas Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Makeup compatibility Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “makeup lays well — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “works well under foundation — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Affordable value Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Cleansing and pore care Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Skin feels soft not dry — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • High price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Insufficient moisture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Simple: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve high routine fit levels across all skin types, with Simple doing better for sensitive skin, affordability, and hydration, while Kiehl's does better for lightweight texture.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Simple?

Simple tends to be more gentle for sensitive skin, while Kiehl's often features lightweight textures. Both brands share an equal level of routine fit across all skin types.

Kiehl's or Simple for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for dry skin on this page. Kiehl's features key ingredients like glycerin and squalane alongside lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, while Simple is noted for non-drying and hydrating formulas.

Kiehl's or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Simple features more gentle cleansers like the Refreshing Facial Wash, which reviewers note is sensitive-skin-friendly, while Kiehl's offers options like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash that fit oily skin at a Superior level.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Simple?

Simple offers more affordable value than Kiehl's among the products on this page. Reviewers often mention a high price point for Kiehl's, while Simple is noted for its value-friendly moisturizers.

Kiehl's or Simple: which brand offers better options for mature skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for mature skin on this page. Kiehl's features specialized options like the Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum, which helps address signs of skin aging.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Kiehl's or Simple: which brand has products that contain fragrance?

Kiehl's features products that contain fragrance, as two items on this page list fragrance in their ingredients, while every product from Simple on this page lists no fragrance.

Kiehl's or Simple: which brand is better for managing skin with dark spots?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for skin with dark spots on this page. Simple features Niacinamide across its products, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation. Kiehl's offers targeted options like its Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, which has a High fit for skin with dark spots on oily and acne-prone skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Kiehl's or Simple for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple are a High fit for oily skin. Kiehl's offers a lightweight texture, while Simple provides non-drying and hydrating formulas as well as affordable value.

Kiehl's or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers more value-friendly and hydrating moisturizers, whereas Kiehl's provides lightweight alternatives with key ingredients like glycerin and squalane.

Kiehl's or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple are a High fit for sensitive skin on Lovi. Simple does better for being gentle on sensitive skin, while Kiehl's offers a lightweight texture.

Kiehl's or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple are a High fit for acne-prone skin according to Lovi. Reviewers note that both brands may cause breakouts and irritation, but Simple is considered gentler for sensitive skin.

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?

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