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Kiehl's vs Augustinus Bader

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

Kiehl's and Augustinus Bader are two distinct skincare lines built on different histories and formulations. The American brand, founded in 1851, is cherished for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more, all anchored by nourishing ingredients like glycerin and squalane that suit skin with dark spots and mature skin best. Meanwhile, the German brand founded in 2018 is loved for its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, and soothing eye products, all powered by sophisticated formulas that suit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. While both offer targeted relief for specific concerns through standout choices, they differ fundamentally in their foundational ingredients, heritage, and targeted 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

Augustinus Bader is a German skincare brand founded in 2018.

augustinusbader.combeautymatter.compitchbook.com

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Augustinus Bader products

People Say

Kiehl'sAugustinus Bader
  • Lightweight texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “light but nourishing — Augustinus Bader The Cream”
    • “sinks in instantly — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
    • “light gel texture — Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Deep hydration Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instantly hydrated — Augustinus Bader The Face Oil”
    • “Extremely dry skin saved — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “healthy glow — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Skin barrier and texture improvement Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Softens fine lines — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “skin is smoother — Augustinus Bader The Cream”
    • “skin felt noticeably firmer — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Brightening and dark spots Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Instant youthful glow — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
  • Makeup compatibility Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “concealer blends perfectly — Augustinus Bader The Eye Cream”
  • Gentle for sensitive skin Often MentionedNot 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”
  • High price point 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”
  • Ineffective or slow results Sometimes 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”
    • “didn't see dramatic results — Augustinus Bader The Cream”
  • Packaging and dispensing issues 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”
    • “excessive packaging — Augustinus Bader The Serum”
  • Breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Caused cystic acne — Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream”
    • “bumps on forehead — Augustinus Bader The Cream”

Kiehl's vs Augustinus Bader routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Augustinus Bader routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs Augustinus Bader routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Augustinus Bader: which is better?

Augustinus Bader is generally better, offering a Superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Kiehl's High fit, though the products on this page for both brands feature lightweight moisturizers.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Augustinus Bader?

Augustinus Bader is an independent German brand founded in 2018 with a single key ingredient called TFC8, while Kiehl's is an American brand owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000 that uses key ingredients like glycerin, vitamin C, and squalane. Augustinus Bader achieves a superior routine fit across most skin types on the page, whereas Kiehl's products on this page are rated High for many skin types. Reviewers find that Augustinus Bader does better with deep hydration and lightweight texture, while Kiehl's is noted for being gentler for sensitive skin.

Kiehl's or Augustinus Bader for dry skin?

Augustinus Bader is better for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Kiehl's High. Augustinus Bader products on this page like The Rich Cream provide deep hydration and improve skin barrier and texture.

Kiehl's or Augustinus Bader: which moisturizer is better?

Augustinus Bader provides superior moisturizers for dry and mature skin types compared to Kiehl's, according to the routine fit ratings on this page. Reviewers frequently note that Augustinus Bader delivers deep hydration and a radiant glow, though both brands feature lightweight moisturizer options.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Augustinus Bader?

Kiehl's is more affordable than Augustinus Bader, as reviewers often mention Kiehl's high price point while Augustinus Bader's extreme price is mostly mentioned.

Kiehl's or Augustinus Bader: which brand performs better for mature skin?

Augustinus Bader performs better for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's High fit on this page.

How do the fragrance options differ between Kiehl's and Augustinus Bader products?

Kiehl's features 26 fragrance-free products alongside options containing fragrance, whereas Augustinus Bader lists no fragrance in every product on this page.

Kiehl's or Augustinus Bader: which is better for treating skin with dark spots?

Augustinus Bader achieves a Superior fit level for treating skin with dark spots, while Kiehl's reaches a High fit level on the products on this page. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Kiehl's or Augustinus Bader for oily skin?

Augustinus Bader provides superior routine fit for oily skin compared to Kiehl's high fit on this page.

Kiehl's or Augustinus Bader for sensitive skin?

Augustinus Bader provides superior routine fit for sensitive skin, while the products on this page by Kiehl's are considered High fit.

Kiehl's or Augustinus Bader for acne-prone skin?

Augustinus Bader is a superior choice for acne-prone skin because Lovi rates its overall routine fit as Superior, whereas Kiehl's routine fit is Average.

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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