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CeraVe vs Kiehl's

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

CeraVe and Kiehl's are American skincare brands owned by L'Oreal that offer thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more, which harness hydrating ingredients like glycerin. Skincare enthusiasts love CeraVe for its soothing formulations that suit acne-prone skin and dry skin best, whereas the brand is cherished for its nourishing options featuring squalane that suit skin with dark spots and mature skin best. Both differ through their key ingredients and targeted choices, as the former utilizes hyaluronic acid while the latter incorporates squalane to address specific concerns.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular CeraVe vs Kiehl's products

People Say

CeraVeKiehl's
  • Fragrance-free and gentle formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Improving skin texture and acne marks Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Oil control and acne clearing Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Never breaks me out — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “helped to stop my breakout in its tracks — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “keeps my oils at bay — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • Brightening and complexion enhancement Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “skin is literally glowing — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
  • Price point and value concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Texture and consistency issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “feels like washing with conditioner — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “face feels stripped — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “leaves a tacky film — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “developed tiny white bumps — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which is better?

CeraVe and Kiehl's are both great choices, with CeraVe offering a Superior routine for acne-prone skin and Kiehl's providing a High routine for mature skin. Reviewers note that CeraVe is fragrance-free and gentle, while Kiehl's excels at brightening and complexion enhancement.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Kiehl's?

CeraVe and Kiehl's both offer solid routines across major skin types, but CeraVe achieves a Superior fit for acne-prone skin while Kiehl's focuses heavily on brightening. CeraVe formulas rely heavily on ceramides to help repair the skin barrier, whereas Kiehl's incorporates ingredients like vitamin C for complexion enhancement.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

CeraVe or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both brands offer an equal fit level for dry skin, with Lovi rating each as High. Reviewers note that the products on this page for both CeraVe and Kiehl's provide deep hydration.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe offers superior fit levels for acne-prone and oily skin types across the products on this page, whereas Kiehl's cleansers have higher price points and occasional skin irritation noted by reviewers.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Kiehl's?

CeraVe is generally more affordable than Kiehl's, as Kiehl's faces frequent user reviews noting a high price point. CeraVe offers better value concerns on this page, whereas Kiehl's products are positioned at a more expensive level.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which is better for brightening and reducing dark spots?

Kiehl's does better for brightening and complexion enhancement among the products on this page, while both brands reach a High Lovi fit level for skin with dark spots. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which brand is completely fragrance-free across all its products?

CeraVe is completely fragrance-free across all the products on this page. Kiehl's also offers many fragrance-free options, but a few of its products do list fragrance in their ingredients.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which is better for oily acne-prone skin?

CeraVe has a Superior fit for oily acne-prone skin on this page, making it a better option than Kiehl's, which has an Average fit. Reviewers note that CeraVe offers effective cleansers for oil and acne, while utilizing key ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

CeraVe or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are a High fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that both brands offer lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, but CeraVe does better for oil control and acne clearing.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe has a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's fit is Average for that skin type. Both brands feature lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and provide deep hydration.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

CeraVe and Kiehl's are both a High fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that CeraVe is particularly strong for fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

Both brands offer solid sunscreen options on this page, with similar high fit levels across most skin types. CeraVe features fragrance-free formulas, while Kiehl's provides choices like the Better Screen UV Serum that help brighten dark spots.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

CeraVe is a better fit for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to an Average fit for Kiehl's. The products on this page help control oil and clear acne effectively without fragrance.

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

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