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Kiehl's vs ISDIN

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

Kiehl's and ISDIN are esteemed heritage brands from America and Spain that offer thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and advanced sunscreens. The American label is cherished for anchoring its formulations in nourishing glycerin and squalane, suiting skin with dark spots and mature skin best, while the Spanish brand provides elegant daily comfort and dependable protection best suited for dry and sensitive skin. These ranges differ as the former relies on targeted relief for specific concerns, whereas the latter delivers gentle daily support that maintains a balanced complexion.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

ISDIN is a Spanish skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by Puig.

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

Popular Kiehl's vs ISDIN products

People Say

Kiehl'sISDIN
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “ultra-light fluid product, which makes it super easy to apply — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “Lightweight formula absorbs fast — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Sensitive/reactive skin tolerates — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
    • “no excessive exfoliation — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
    • “doesn't sting eyes — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep and Intense Hydration Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Improved moisture and texture — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
  • Makeup Compatibility Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “acts like a primer — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “My skin felt sooo hydrated and looks so plump and dewey. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “Great under makeup — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “skin was much smoother — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
  • Brightening and Dark Spot Fading Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “faded acne scars — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “My hyperpigmentation has lightened and skin looks more even, even shines more. — ISDIN Flavo-C Serum”
  • High Price and Value Issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “very expensive — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “My only wish is that ISDIN would make this product in a bigger size bottle. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
  • Unpleasant Scent and Fragrance Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smell is overpowering — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “smell is overpowering — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “don't see result — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”
    • “no noticeable changes yet — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • Burning, Stinging, and Irritation Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “this did make my eyes water water in the sun. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “mild redness or irritation — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”

Kiehl's vs ISDIN routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs ISDIN routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs ISDIN routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which is better?

ISDIN is the better-fitting brand on Lovi, offering a Superior routine fit across all skin types compared to Kiehl's High fit, and reviewers frequently highlight ISDIN for its ultralight sunscreens. Kiehl's products on this page often lack fragrance, while ISDIN is noted for lightweight moisturizers.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and ISDIN?

Kiehl's focuses on deep hydration, skin texture, and brightening dark spots, while ISDIN is noted for its ultralight, skin-friendly sunscreens and makeup compatibility. For routine fit across various skin types, Lovi rates Kiehl's as High and ISDIN as Superior.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN offer products that help with dry skin, but ISDIN has a Superior Lovi fit for dry skin compared to Kiehl's High fit. Kiehl's offers deep and intense hydration, while ISDIN is noted for its ultralight moisturizers and sunscreens.

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which moisturizer is better?

ISDIN is superior to Kiehl's for overall moisturizer routine fit across skin types, while Kiehl's offers better deep hydration and fading dark spots.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or ISDIN?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN share a high price point, so neither brand stands out as more affordable.

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which has more fragrance-free products?

Kiehl's has more fragrance-free products on this page, with 26 out of 28 products listing no fragrance compared to ISDIN's 3 out of 8.

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which brand is better for fading dark spots?

Kiehl's does better than ISDIN for brightening and fading dark spots. Reviewers note that Kiehl's helps with dark spot reduction, and Lovi rates the products on this page as having a High fit for skin with dark spots.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which brand is better for mature skin?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN fit mature skin well, with Lovi rating Kiehl's routines as High and ISDIN routines as Superior. ISDIN excels with ultralight sunscreens, while Kiehl's offers strong brightening benefits and deep hydration.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for oily skin?

For oily skin, both brands work well, with Lovi fit levels of High for Kiehl's and Superior for ISDIN.

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which sunscreen is better?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN offer sunscreens on this page, but ISDIN is better for dry sensitive skin, with Lovi fit levels of Superior for Eryfotona Actinica and Fusion Water, compared to Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum which has a fit level of Average.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for sensitive skin?

ISDIN is a Superior fit for sensitive skin on Lovi, while Kiehl's is High.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, ISDIN is a Superior fit on Lovi, whereas Kiehl's provides an Average fit. ISDIN excels with ultralight sunscreens and gentle formulations, while Kiehl's products on this page may sometimes cause breakouts and skin irritation.

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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