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Kiehl's vs Simple

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

Kiehl's and Simple are heritage skincare brands offering thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, cleansers, and toners enriched with beneficial ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and niacinamide. The American line, established in 1851, utilizes squalane and glycerin to best suit dry skin and dark spots, whereas the British brand, founded in 1960, features niacinamide and glycerin to ideally target acne-prone and oily complexions. While both collections effectively improve skin hydration and barrier function, the former emphasizes moisture retention and antioxidant support through targeted extracts, and the latter focuses on gentle, balancing care across its daily essentials.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Simple products

People Say

Kiehl'sSimple
  • Gentle for sensitive skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Non-drying and hydrating formulas Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Makeup compatibility Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “makeup lays well — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “works well under foundation — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Affordable value Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Cleansing and pore care Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Skin feels soft not dry — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • High price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Insufficient moisture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,309.98 · 84% fitBuy Simple routine · SAR 891.11 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · SAR 1,151.23 · 88% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,172.23 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · SAR 983.37 · 87% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,149.18 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Simple: which is better?

Simple helps better for acne-prone skin with its High Lovi fit level, whereas Kiehl's fits that skin type at an Average level. Both brands reach equal Lovi routine fit levels for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, mature, dark spot, dry sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Simple?

Kiehl's and Simple are both well-suited for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, mature, dark spot-prone, and dry sensitive skin, but Simple is better for acne-prone skin. Simple also offers more affordable value and more gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers, while Kiehl's provides a lighter texture.

Kiehl's or Simple for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High Lovi fit level for dry skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Simple offers non-drying and hydrating formulas while Kiehl's provides deep hydration.

Kiehl's or Simple: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, the products on this page show that Kiehl's features specialized options like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser, which achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for oily and oily acne-prone skin. In contrast, Simple offers the Refreshing Facial Wash, which has an Average Lovi fit level for most skin types and is noted by reviewers for being gentle and value-friendly.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Simple?

Simple is more affordable, as high price is a frequently mentioned drawback for Kiehl's while Simple is noted for offering affordable value.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Kiehl's or Simple?

Simple has more fragrance-free products on this page, as every Simple product lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas two Kiehl's products contain fragrance.

How do the founding years and current parent companies of Kiehl's and Simple compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

Which brand offers better results for acne-prone skin based on their routine fit?

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

Kiehl's or Simple for oily skin?

Kiehl's and Simple both achieve a High routine fit level for oily skin. Kiehl's offers specific products on this page such as the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream with an oily skin fit of High, while Simple provides products like the Micellar Cleansing Water with an oily skin fit of High.

Kiehl's or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and Simple offer lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers on the products on this page, but they differ in suitability across specific skin types. Lovi rates Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream as High for dry skin and mature skin, while Simple provides options like the Hydrating Light Moisturiser that help maintain daily hydration without a heavy residue.

Kiehl's or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple are a High fit for sensitive skin on this page, and reviewers note that Simple is gentle for sensitive skin while Kiehl's offers lightweight textures.

Kiehl's or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Simple fits acne-prone skin better, achieving a High Lovi routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average level. Both brands may cause breakouts or skin irritation, but Simple tends to be more reliable for this skin type.

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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