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Kiehl's vs SkinCeuticals

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

Kiehl's and SkinCeuticals are heritage American skincare brands owned by L'Oréal that offer thoughtful moisturizers, serums, cleansers, and eye products. The former is cherished for formulas anchored by glycerin and squalane to suit skin with dark spots and mature skin best, while the latter is loved for targeted solutions formulated with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone that suit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. They differ through their distinct standout choices, such as the former featuring the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner, Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, and Ultra Facial Toner, whereas the latter highlights C E Ferulic, Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50, and A.G.E. Advanced Eye. Both support complexions effectively because their shared ingredient glycerin significantly increases hydration and restores epidermal barrier function.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

SkinCeuticals is an American skincare brand founded in 1994 and owned by L'Oréal since 2005.

loreal.comskinceuticals-za.compitchbook.com

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

Popular Kiehl's vs SkinCeuticals products

People Say

Kiehl'sSkinCeuticals
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “silky and non-greasy — SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye”
    • “absorbs quickly — SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Serum”
  • 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”
    • “Hydrated my skin beautifully. — SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2”
    • “Pure hydration in a bottle — SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “definitely gave me a glass skin texture — SkinCeuticals P-TOX”
    • “pores appeared less noticeable — SkinCeuticals P-Tiox”
    • “My skin is softer to the touch. — SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • 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”
    • “Perfect starting strength — SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3”
  • Brightening and Dark Spot Fading Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “I really love this product, as my skin is brighter. — SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF”
    • “Really fades brown spots, perfect for men and a little goes a long way! — SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF”
  • Pore Cleansing and Oil Control Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “keeps my oils at bay — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “gets rid of blackheads — SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel”
    • “reduces oil — SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel”
  • High Price Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Too pricey for the hype — SkinCeuticals P-TOX”
  • Lack of 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”
    • “haven't noticed much change on the deeper lines — SkinCeuticals P-TOX”
    • “did nothing — SkinCeuticals P-Tiox”
  • Greasiness and Heavy Residue Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “feels tacky — SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier”
    • “sticky residue — SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “skin went through a slight purge — SkinCeuticals P-TOX”
    • “made me break out — SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel”
    • “caused cystic acne — SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Serum”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”

Kiehl's vs SkinCeuticals routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs SkinCeuticals routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs SkinCeuticals routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals: which is better?

SkinCeuticals is better for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots, where Lovi rates its routines as Superior, whereas Kiehl's routines for those same types are rated High. For sensitive, mature, and combination skin, both brands offer an equal High fit.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and SkinCeuticals?

SkinCeuticals is a brand founded in 1994, while Kiehl's was founded earlier in 1851, and both are owned by L'Oréal S.A. Lovi rates SkinCeuticals as Superior for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots, whereas Kiehl's is rated High for those same skin types.

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals for dry skin?

SkinCeuticals is a superior choice for dry skin compared to Kiehl's, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior while Kiehl's routine is High. Both brands offer products that help provide deep hydration, but SkinCeuticals features a specialized selection like Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 that is particularly well-suited for dry skin.

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals: which cleanser is better?

Both Kiehl's and SkinCeuticals offer strong options, but Kiehl's is often preferred for gentle and sensitive skin care among the products on this page. Lovi rates the cleansing routines and products for both brands highly, while specific choices like Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and SkinCeuticals Simple Clean Gel match various skin types well.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals?

Both Kiehl's and SkinCeuticals share a high price point among the products on this page.

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals for fading dark spots?

For fading dark spots, Lovi rates SkinCeuticals as having a Superior routine fit, while Kiehl's is rated High. Both brands feature effective key ingredients like Vitamin C across the products on this page.

Which brand has fewer complaints about greasy residue, Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals?

Kiehl's has fewer complaints about greasy residue, as review themes on this page indicate that SkinCeuticals is the brand associated with greasiness and heavy residue.

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals for oily skin?

SkinCeuticals is a superior choice over Kiehl's for oily skin on this page, offering a routine fit of Superior compared to Kiehl's High. Reviewers note that SkinCeuticals provides effective acne and oil-controlling serums.

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, SkinCeuticals has a Superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Kiehl's High fit, making SkinCeuticals a better option for deep hydration on the products on this page.

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and SkinCeuticals offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Kiehl's is noted by reviewers for gentle and sensitive skin care.

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals: which sunscreen is better?

SkinCeuticals is better for sun protection because Lovi rates its Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 as Superior for skin with dark spots, whereas Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum is rated High.

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals for acne-prone skin?

SkinCeuticals is a better option for acne-prone skin because Lovi rates its routine as High, whereas Kiehl's routine fit is Average.

Kiehl's or SkinCeuticals for mature skin?

Both Kiehl's and SkinCeuticals offer a High routine fit for mature skin. SkinCeuticals is owned by L'Oréal and was founded in 1994, while Kiehl's is owned by L'Oréal and was founded in 1851.

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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