🇳🇱Netherlands

Kiehl's vs Medik8

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

Kiehl's and Medik8 are established skincare brands offering thoughtful selections of serums, moisturizers, toners, eye products, and more. Kiehl's is cherished for nourishing ingredients like glycerin and squalane, suiting skin with dark spots and mature skin best, whereas the British brand is built around hyaluronic acid and fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. Both houses differ through their distinct formulations, with the American label emphasizing barrier function and the latter focusing on wrinkle effect duration.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Kiehl's and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Medik8 products

People Say

Kiehl'sMedik8
  • Gentle on Sensitive Skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Improves Skin Barrier and Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Fades Dark Spots and Brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • No White Cast and Glowing Finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “doubles as moisturizer — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “Leaves skin looking glass-like and radiant — Medik8 Press & Glow”
    • “brightens skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
  • High Price Point and Poor Value Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
  • Greasy or Oily Residue Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Oily texture unpleasant — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “too oily — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Medik8: which is better?

Medik8 is better suited for sensitive skin with a Superior routine fit, whereas Kiehl's is better known for deep hydration and lightweight moisturizers. Both brands offer high-performing options for mature skin and dark spots, though reviewers note that Medik8 tends to have a higher price point.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Medik8?

Kiehl's and Medik8 both offer high-performing skincare ranges, with Kiehl's standing out for lightweight moisturizers and Medik8 performing better for sensitive skin and fading dark spots.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for dry skin?

Medik8 is a superior choice for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Kiehl's High fit. Reviewers also mention that Medik8 provides deep hydration and plumping for dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Kiehl's or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 stands out for sensitive skin as Surface Radiance Cleanse achieves a Superior fit, whereas Kiehl's cleansers reach an Average fit for that skin type. For oily and acne-prone skin, both brands offer Superior options on the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Medik8?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 are frequently noted by reviewers for having a high price point. The products on this page for both brands share this similar pricing feedback.

Between Kiehl's and Medik8, which brand is better for fading dark spots and brightening?

Medik8 does better for fading dark spots and brightening than Kiehl's according to the reviewer themes on the page. Both brands offer products that fit skin with dark spots well, such as Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum and Medik8's Oxy-R Peptides.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Kiehl's or Medik8?

Kiehl's features more fragrance-free products on the products on this page than Medik8, with 26 out of 28 products listing no fragrance compared to 11 out of 12 for Medik8.

How do the company origins and ownership compare between Kiehl's and Medik8?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe as of 2025.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, Kiehl's and Medik8 are both a good choice with a High routine fit on the products on this page. Kiehl's is noted for lightweight and non-greasy textures.

Kiehl's or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 is better for dry, sensitive skin with a Superior routine fit, while Kiehl's is better for lightweight, non-greasy moisture and deep hydration. Both brands offer products with high fit levels for dry skin on the products on this page.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's High fit on this page. Reviewers report that Medik8 is more gentle on sensitive skin.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for acne-prone skin on this page, achieving a High routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average. Medik8 helps deliver deep hydration and improves skin barrier and texture while remaining gentle on sensitive skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play