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Kiehl's vs Aēsop

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

Kiehl's and Aēsop are distinguished skincare brands known for their thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, serums, and cleansers. The American brand is cherished for anchoring its products in nourishing ingredients like glycerin and squalane, suiting mature skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas the other is widely loved for compositions driven by botanical and scientifically validated ingredients that suit balanced, combination, and sensitive skin best. Through these distinct approaches, both offer tailored relief for targeted concerns while differing in their primary ingredient philosophies and ideal skin types.

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Aēsop products

People Say

Kiehl'sAēsop
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “woke up with baby-soft skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Savior of my winter-fueled dry skin. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs well into the skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Care Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “perfect for retinol newbies — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “skin looked & felt smoother — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “I used to have severe flaking... but after using this product, it's disappeared. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • Scent and Fragrance Experience Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells divine — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Soft herbal scent that feels fresh and floral. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
    • “calming lavender smell — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Skin Rescue and Soothing Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “saved my skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Reduces inflammation overnight. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “my small blemishes noticeably diminished — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
  • High Price and Poor Value 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”
    • “quantity is too small — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Sticky Finish and Pilling Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “leaves a tacky film — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “rolled off my face — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “pills under my makeup — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Thick, almost honey-like, and needs a moment to melt in. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
  • Packaging and Design Flaws Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “Dropper doesn't reach bottom — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “The downside is the pump. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • Insufficient Moisture or Ineffectiveness Often MentionedNot noted
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Aēsop: which is better?

Kiehl's performs better overall across the products on this page, offering superior options for texture improvement and sensitive skin care. Aēsop provides a more luxurious scent experience, but reviewers note it can sometimes lack sufficient moisture.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Aēsop?

Kiehl's provides a larger selection of products on this page with high or superior Lovi fit levels for dry and mature skin types, whereas Aēsop offers a more limited range. Kiehl's is frequently noted by reviewers for lightweight moisturizers, while Aēsop is recognized for luxurious and refreshing scents.

Kiehl's or Aēsop: which cleanser is better?

Kiehl's offers a wider range of cleansers on this page with higher Lovi fit levels across skin types, such as the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, which achieves a Superior fit for oily skin. Aēsop features fewer cleanser options on this page, with the Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser reaching an Average fit for most skin types.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Aēsop?

Both brands are noted for a high price point, so neither is more affordable.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or Aēsop?

Both brands offer products that help manage breakouts, but reviewers note that Kiehl's sometimes causes breakouts and skin irritation.

Between Kiehl's and Aēsop, which brand offers better options for sensitive skin?

Kiehl's offers better options for sensitive skin, as the products on this page achieve a High or Superior Lovi fit level for sensitive skin across a wide range of gentle cleansers, toners, and serums. Reviewers frequently note that Kiehl's provides gentle, lightweight care, whereas Aēsop has a more limited selection on this page.

How do the fragrance profiles of Kiehl's and Aēsop products compare based on their ingredients?

Kiehl's has 26 of 28 products on this page listing no fragrance, with only the Age Defender Moisturizer and Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men containing fragrance. In comparison, every Aēsop product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand has products specifically rated as superior or high for dry skin, Kiehl's or Aēsop?

Kiehl's features products on this page specifically rated as Superior or High for dry skin, whereas Aēsop has High ratings for dry skin without reaching Superior. Lovi rates Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate as Superior for dry skin.

Kiehl's or Aēsop: which moisturizer is better?

Kiehl's offers a wider variety of moisturizers with specialized fit levels for different skin types, whereas Aēsop focuses on lightweight, non-greasy options like B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides deep hydration with ingredients like glycerin and squalane, while Aēsop is known for luxurious scents.

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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