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Cetaphil vs Kiehl's

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

Cetaphil and Kiehl's are American skincare brands known for thoughtfully formulated cleansers, moisturizers, serums, toners, sunscreens, and more, enriched with key ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, panthenol, and squalane. Cetaphil suits acne-prone and combination skin best with glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol, while Kiehl's suits skin with dark spots and mature skin best through glycerin and squalane. They differ primarily in their ingredient profiles, founding years, and targeted skin concerns.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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 Cetaphil and Kiehl's products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Cetaphil vs Kiehl's products

People Say

CetaphilKiehl's
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy feel Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Skin smoothing and texture improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels incredibly soft afterwards — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Versatile and effective daily use Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “great for face and body — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “recommended by my derm — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “removes excess oil — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • 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 looks more radiant — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
  • Sensory and finish complaints Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
    • “smells like masking fragrance — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Lather, texture, and packaging issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “hate dipping fingers in — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Miss the bubbles, feels like washing with lotion. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which is better?

Cetaphil is better for acne-prone skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, whereas Kiehl's routine fit is Average. Cetaphil also does better on being gentle on sensitive skin and has a lower price point, while Kiehl's does better on skin smoothing and texture improvement as well as brightening and complexion enhancement.

What is the difference between Cetaphil and Kiehl's?

Cetaphil and Kiehl's are both popular skincare brands founded in the United States, but Cetaphil is owned by Galderma Group AG while Kiehl's has been owned by L'Oreal S.A. since 2000. For acne-prone skin, the products on this page from Cetaphil achieve a superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's. Additionally, Cetaphil does better for sensitive skin, whereas Kiehl's does better for skin smoothing, texture improvement, brightening, and complexion enhancement.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for dry skin, with Cetaphil being better on price and sensitive skin while Kiehl's is better for skin smoothing and texture improvement.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

Cetaphil is better for sensitive skin because the products on this page are gentler, while Kiehl's is better for skin smoothing and texture improvement.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or Kiehl's?

Cetaphil is more affordable, as Kiehl's is often noted by reviewers for its high price point.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which brand is more gentle on sensitive skin?

Cetaphil does better than Kiehl's for sensitive skin. The products on this page are mostly formulated without fragrance to help minimize irritation.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which brand is better for brightening and fading dark spots?

Kiehl's does better than Cetaphil for brightening and complexion enhancement. Reviewers on the page often mention brightening and fading dark spots as a positive attribute for Kiehl's.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which brand is better for skin smoothing and texture improvement?

Kiehl's does better for skin smoothing and texture improvement compared to Cetaphil.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer products on this page that are well-suited for oily skin, with routine fit levels rated as High for both brands.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

Cetaphil is better for acne-prone skin, where Lovi rates its products as Superior compared to Kiehl's Average. Cetaphil also tends to be better on price, as high price points are noted as a drawback for Kiehl's.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Cetaphil is better than Kiehl's for sensitive skin. Review themes show that Cetaphil is gentler on sensitive skin.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

When it comes to sunscreen, both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer products on this page that provide high Lovi fit levels for sensitive and mature skin. Cetaphil features options like Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 with a Superior fit for dry and sensitive skin, while Kiehl's includes products like Better Screen UV Serum which is well-suited for combination and acne-prone skin.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

Cetaphil is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to an Average fit for Kiehl's. Reviewers also indicate that Cetaphil is more gentle on sensitive skin and has a lower price point.

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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