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CeraVe vs Kiehl's

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

CeraVe and Kiehl's are American skincare brands known for offering thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, sunscreens, and other essentials. The former brand features ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, making its formulations best suited for acne-prone skin and combination skin, while the latter brand incorporates glycerin and squalane to best suit dry skin and skin with dark spots. Both lines differ in their targeted concerns and active components, as CeraVe relies on hyaluronic acid to lengthen wrinkle reduction duration and Kiehl's uses squalane to counteract oxidative stress and stimulate fibroblast migration.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

Popular CeraVe vs Kiehl's products

People Say

CeraVeKiehl's
  • Fragrance-free and gentle formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Improving skin texture and acne marks Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Oil control and acne clearing Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Never breaks me out — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “helped to stop my breakout in its tracks — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “keeps my oils at bay — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • Brightening and complexion enhancement Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “skin is literally glowing — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
  • Price point and value concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Texture and consistency issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “feels like washing with conditioner — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “face feels stripped — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “leaves a tacky film — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “developed tiny white bumps — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

Buy CeraVe routine · SAR 659.02 · 89% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,309.98 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

Buy CeraVe routine · SAR 1,155.51 · 87% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,172.23 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

Buy CeraVe routine · SAR 993.85 · 91% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,149.18 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which is better?

CeraVe works better for acne-prone, oily, and combination skin on this page, while Kiehl's matches it on dry and mature skin. Both brands provide deep hydration, but CeraVe offers completely fragrance-free formulas.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Kiehl's?

CeraVe fits best for acne-prone, combination, and oily acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's is ideal for dry skin, skin with dark spots, and combination skin. Every CeraVe product on this page is fragrance-free, whereas two Kiehl's products contain fragrance. CeraVe relies on ceramides and hyaluronic acid, while Kiehl's features ingredients like squalane and vitamin C.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are a High fit for dry skin on this page, offering deep hydration with key ingredients like glycerin and emollients. Reviewers note that both brands provide lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe is better for acne-prone, oily, and oily acne-prone skin, as the cleansers on this page achieve a Superior fit for these skin types, whereas Kiehl's cleansers reach a High fit. CeraVe formulas also rely entirely on fragrance-free ingredients across the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Kiehl's?

CeraVe is more affordable than Kiehl's, as Kiehl's frequently receives reviewer feedback regarding its high price point. CeraVe offers better value, whereas price point and value concerns are noted as a negative theme for Kiehl's on this page.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which brand is better for combination skin?

CeraVe is better for combination skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior while Kiehl's is High.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which brand is better for brightening and fading dark spots?

Kiehl's does better for brightening and fading dark spots, featuring key ingredients like vitamin C. Lovi rates both brands as High for skin with dark spots, but CeraVe lists no fragrance across the products on this page.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are a High fit for oily skin. CeraVe offers products on this page that list no fragrance.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe offers superior options for acne-prone, combination, and oily acne-prone skin on this page, while both brands feature lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers. CeraVe products on this page list no fragrance, whereas certain Kiehl's moisturizers contain fragrance. Ceramides help restore the skin barrier.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which brand is better for oily acne-prone skin?

CeraVe is better for oily acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's High level. CeraVe offers multiple products like the Blemish Control Cleanser and Acne Control Gel that are specially formulated to help with oil control and acne clearing.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

CeraVe achieves a High fit level for sensitive skin, matching Kiehl's. CeraVe offers fragrance-free formulas across all products on this page.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

CeraVe provides the Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen and the Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30, both rated High for sensitive skin, alongside the Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 rated High for sensitive skin. Kiehl's offers the Better Screen UV Serum, which is rated High for sensitive skin.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

CeraVe is a better fit than Kiehl's for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine level compared to Kiehl's Average. Its products on this page help control oil and clear acne gently, featuring key ingredients like Salicylic acid and Niacinamide.

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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