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The Ordinary vs Kiehl's

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

The Ordinary and Kiehl's are distinct skincare brands rooted in clinical simplicity and botanical heritage, respectively. The Canadian brand offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry sensitive skin and dry skin best. Meanwhile, the American brand is cherished for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more, all anchored by nourishing ingredients like glycerin and squalane, suiting skin with dark spots and mature skin best. Both brands differ primarily in their formulation philosophies and founding eras, yet each utilizes core hydrating compounds to support distinct complexion needs.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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 The Ordinary and Kiehl's products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Kiehl's products

People Say

The OrdinaryKiehl's
  • Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin feels incredibly soft afterwards — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Pricing Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Dark spots have faded noticeably — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “helped lighten post-acne scars — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “keeps my oils at bay — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • Sticky or Heavy Finish Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • High Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Skin Irritation and Stinging Sometimes NotedRarely 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”
    • “left my face bright red — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Pilling and Makeup Compatibility Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “rolled off my face — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “pills under my makeup — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”

The Ordinary vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Kiehl's: which is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for value and acne-prone skin, with the products on this page offering superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin. Kiehl's may be preferred for deep hydration and lightweight moisturizers, though reviews note a higher price point and potential skin irritation.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Kiehl's?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin, while Kiehl's is noted for deep hydration and lightweight moisturizers. The Ordinary is praised for value and acne-prone skin care, whereas Kiehl's carries a higher price point and may cause skin irritation or stinging.

The Ordinary or Kiehl's for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, whereas Kiehl's has a High routine fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary include moisturizers that help provide targeted dry skin care.

The Ordinary or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

When choosing between cleansers, The Ordinary is a better fit for value and blemish control, while Kiehl's may be better for lightweight hydration. Lovi rates the products on this page as having a Superior routine fit for oily skin with Kiehl's and Superior with The Ordinary.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Kiehl's?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers better value and pricing than Kiehl's, which reviewers frequently note has a high price point.

Which brand has a better routine for dry sensitive skin, The Ordinary or Kiehl's?

The Ordinary provides a superior routine for dry sensitive skin compared to Kiehl's. The products on this page help deliver deep moisture and barrier support while remaining fragrance-free.

The Ordinary or Kiehl's: which has better options for texture and pores?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary does better for texture and pores. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers affordable and great value texture-smoothing serums.

The Ordinary or Kiehl's for oily skin?

For oily skin, the products on this page show that The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit of Kiehl's. Reviewers indicate that The Ordinary does better for acne and blemish control as well as texture and pores.

The Ordinary or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Kiehl's achieves a High routine fit for dry skin. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free options and is praised for affordability, while Kiehl's is frequently noted for deep hydration.

The Ordinary or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, while Kiehl's has a High fit. Reviewers mention that The Ordinary offers gentle and non-irritating serums, whereas Kiehl's is frequently noted for skin irritation and stinging.

The Ordinary or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates The Ordinary High and Kiehl's Average. The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers better acne and blemish control.

The Ordinary or Kiehl's for skin with dark spots?

For skin with dark spots, The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit, whereas Kiehl's provides a High fit. Niacinamide helps in reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppressing melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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

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