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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 beloved skincare brands offering thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more. Kiehl's features trusted ingredients like glycerin and squalane, suiting dry skin and skin with dark spots best, while the other brand is enriched with nourishing niacinamide and glycerin to suit sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best. These brands differ in their formulations and targeted skin needs, as the American brand focuses heavily on moisture retention and brightening through squalane, whereas its counterpart relies on niacinamide to improve wrinkles, pigmentation, and skin aging.

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

Buy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,309.98 · 84% fitBuy Olay routine · SAR 1,177.59 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Olay routine · SAR 1,429.16 · 84% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,172.23 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,149.18 · 83% fitBuy Olay routine · SAR 1,320.33 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Olay: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer strong options, with Kiehl's achieving High routine fit for dry skin and Olay achieving High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Olay?

Kiehl's and Olay both offer products that generally achieve a High routine fit across most skin types on the products on this page, though Kiehl's is better suited for dry skin routines while Olay is better suited for acne-prone skin routines.

Kiehl's or Olay for dry skin?

For dry skin, Kiehl's offers a High routine fit while Olay has an Average fit on this page, making Kiehl's the better choice for this skin type. Reviewers often mention that the products on this page provide deep hydration, helping to address dryness effectively.

Kiehl's or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer a range of facial cleansers, but Kiehl's features cleansers with a High to Superior fit across more skin types on this page.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, as the products on this page often mention high prices as a negative for Kiehl's while Olay is noted as having a high price concern less frequently.

Which brand has better options for brightening and fading dark spots?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer products on this page with High or Superior fit levels for skin with dark spots, and reviewers note that both brands help with brightening and fading dark spots. Niacinamide, a key ingredient found across Olay products, is supported by studies showing it helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer predominantly fragrance-free selections among the products on this page. Specifically, 26 of 28 Kiehl's products and 26 of 27 Olay products list no fragrance.

Which brand performs better for skin smoothing and barrier repair?

Olay performs better for skin smoothing and barrier repair according to the review themes on this page, while both brands feature key barrier-supporting ingredients like glycerin and vitamin E. Clinical research indicates that ingredients such as niacinamide help improve skin texture and reduce pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Kiehl's or Olay for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer high routine fit levels for oily skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands provide lightweight and non-greasy options.

Kiehl's or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer a range of moisturizers with high ratings for hydration, though Olay does better for skin smoothing and barrier support. Kiehl's routine fit for dry skin is High, whereas Olay's routine fit for dry skin is Average.

Kiehl's or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer products that have a High Lovi fit for sensitive skin. Reviewers note that both brands generally provide gentle formulations, though shoppers should check individual product ingredients for potential irritants.

Kiehl's or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

When it comes to sunscreens on this page, both Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum and Olay Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25 achieve a High Lovi fit level for mature skin, skin with dark spots, and combination skin.

Kiehl's or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Olay is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as High while Kiehl's is Average.

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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