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Kiehl's vs SK-II

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

Kiehl's and SK-II are established skincare brands offering nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, gentle eye products, and restorative masks. The American brand relies on dependable ingredients like glycerin and squalane to suit mature and sensitive skin best, while the Japanese brand is anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera, to suit dry and acne-prone skin best. Ultimately, both differ primarily in their core formulations and targeted benefits, allowing users to choose according to their specific needs.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

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

Popular Kiehl's vs SK-II products

People Say

Kiehl'sSK-II
  • 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”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Deep hydration Often 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”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Radiance and glow Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “noticeable skin brightening effect and glow — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Improves skin barrier and texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Makeup compatibility and primer Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • Fades dark spots and brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “My skin is glowing now. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Reduced sun spots — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • High price and cost Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “overpriced for what it does — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Slow or ineffective results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “results were subtle — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “did break out some while adjusting — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”

Kiehl's vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or SK-II: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and SK-II are strong skincare brands, with Lovi rating the routine fit for both brands as High across all skin types. Kiehl's is often noted for lightweight texture and deep hydration, while SK-II tends to do better for radiance, glow, and fading dark spots.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and SK-II?

When comparing the products on this page, Kiehl's and SK-II differ primarily in their ingredient focus and review themes, where Kiehl's is known for lightweight textures and deep hydration while SK-II stands out for radiance and glow, though Lovi rates both brands as High for all skin types.

Kiehl's or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, both Kiehl's and SK-II achieve a Superior routine fit according to Lovi. Kiehl's offers products like the Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate with a Superior fit for dry skin, while SK-II features options like the Facial Treatment Essence with a High fit.

Kiehl's or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing the products on this page, both Kiehl's and SK-II offer popular moisturizers, with Kiehl's providing lightweight, non-greasy options like the Ultra Facial Cream and SK-II featuring the well-known Facial Treatment Essence.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or SK-II?

Reviewers note that both brands feature a high price point.

Which brand has better fragrance-free options, Kiehl's or SK-II?

SK-II has better fragrance-free options because every product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas Kiehl's includes fragrance in some of its items.

Which brand performs better for fading dark spots and brightening, Kiehl's or SK-II?

SK-II performs better for fading dark spots and brightening than Kiehl's. The products on this page for SK-II achieve a Superior fit for skin with dark spots according to Lovi.

What are the key founding countries and parent companies of Kiehl's and SK-II?

Kiehl's was founded in the United States in 1851 and is owned by L'Oréal S.A., while SK-II was founded in Japan in 1980 and is owned by The Procter & Gamble Company.

Kiehl's or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates both Kiehl's and SK-II as High. The products on this page help provide oil control and deep hydration.

Kiehl's or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Lovi rates the sensitive skin fit for the products on this page as High for Kiehl's and High for SK-II.

Kiehl's or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands offer products on this page with High fit levels, while Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High.

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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