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Kiehl's vs Olay

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

Kiehl's and Olay are two esteemed skincare brands offering thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, eye products, serums, and cleansers. The American brand founded in 1851 is cherished for formulas anchored by glycerin and squalane, suiting skin with dark spots and mature skin best. Meanwhile, the other brand is beloved for gentle formulations featuring niacinamide and glycerin that suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. Ultimately, they differ in their primary key ingredients and the specific skin types their standout choices target.

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 Olay products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Olay products

People Say

Kiehl'sOlay
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • 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”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Skin Smoothing and Barrier Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “Makeup goes on so smooth — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Brightening and Radiance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Gentle on Skin Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “fragrance-free — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
  • Makeup Compatibility Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “acts as primer — Olay Super Serum”
  • High Price Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Breakouts and Irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “caused cystic acne — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Caused breakouts — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Product Ineffectiveness Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Olay Super Serum”
    • “didn't see a difference — Olay Retinol24”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Olay: which is better?

Olay is better for acne-prone skin and mature skin, where Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to Kiehl's High. Reviewers note that Olay does better for skin smoothing and barrier repair.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Olay?

Olay achieves Superior Lovi fit levels for sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin, whereas Kiehl's reaches High fit levels for those skin types on the products on this page. Reviewers frequently note a high price point for Kiehl's, while Olay receives mentions for product ineffectiveness.

Kiehl's or Olay for dry skin?

Both brands offer products for dry skin, with Lovi giving Kiehl's a High fit and Olay a Superior fit for dry skin routines. For dry skin, Olay features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer solid cleanser options on this page, but Olay stands out with cleansers like the Regenerating Cream Cleanser that help improve skin texture and smoothness. Lovi rates Olay as Superior for acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's cleansers like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash provide a High fit for oily and acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, as reviewers often note a high price point for Kiehl's while Olay wins on price in the review themes on this page.

Between Kiehl's and Olay, which brand performs better for mature skin and skin with dark spots?

Olay performs better for mature skin and skin with dark spots, as Lovi rates its routines for both skin types as Superior compared to Kiehl's High level. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the fragrance options compare between Kiehl's and Olay skincare products?

Both brands offer mostly fragrance-free choices on the products on this page. Kiehl's includes fragrance in 2 of 28 products, while Olay includes fragrance in only 1 of 27 products.

Which brand is better suited for improving skin texture and smoothness according to reviewer themes?

According to the reviewer themes on this page, texture and absorption are equal between Kiehl's and Olay, but Olay does better for skin smoothing and barrier.

Kiehl's or Olay for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer a High routine fit for oily skin on the products on this page. Kiehl's features specialized cleansers like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash that achieves a Superior fit for oily skin, while Olay provides options such as the Super Serum with a High fit.

Kiehl's or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is better for moisturizers on this page, as Lovi rates its routines and options like Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with a Superior fit for mature skin and dry skin. Reviewers often mention Olay for intense hydration and improved texture. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and skin aging.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Kiehl's or Olay for sensitive skin?

Olay has a Superior fit for sensitive skin on Lovi, while Kiehl's has a High fit. Both brands offer fragrance-free options across most of the products on this page to help minimize irritation.

Kiehl's or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer sunscreens on this page with High fit levels for mature skin, skin with dark spots, and sensitive skin, but Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum additionally provides a High fit for acne-prone skin.

Kiehl's or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Olay is a better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Kiehl's Average fit. Olay features key ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid that help reduce blemishes, though some products may cause irritation if overused.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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