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Kiehl's vs SK-II

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

Kiehl's and SK-II are heritage skincare brands that offer nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, restorative masks, and clarifying toners. The American brand is beloved for featuring trusted ingredients like glycerin and squalane, while the Japanese brand is cherished for its gentle formulations powered by pitera. Both suit dry skin best, though the former also targets dark spots and the latter balances combination skin. Ultimately, the former uses glycerin and squalane to increase hydration and counteract oxidative stress, whereas studies show the latter's pitera improves pore area, roughness, and redness.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

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

Popular Kiehl's vs SK-II products

People Say

Kiehl'sSK-II
  • 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”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Deep hydration Often 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”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Radiance and glow Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “noticeable skin brightening effect and glow — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Improves skin barrier and texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Makeup compatibility and primer Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • Fades dark spots and brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “My skin is glowing now. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Reduced sun spots — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • High price and cost Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “overpriced for what it does — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Slow or ineffective results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “results were subtle — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “did break out some while adjusting — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”

Kiehl's vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,309.98 · 84% fitBuy SK-II routine · SAR 2,157.75 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · SAR 1,935.93 · 89% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,172.23 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · SAR 2,044.94 · 90% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · SAR 2,149.18 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or SK-II: which is better?

SK-II has a superior fit for combination, acne-prone, and dry sensitive skin compared to Kiehl's. Reviewers find that SK-II does better at fading dark spots, bringing radiance, and improving skin texture, whereas Kiehl's is noted for deep hydration and lightweight texture.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and SK-II?

Kiehl's products on this page are known for lightweight textures and deep hydration, while SK-II products excel at delivering radiance, improving skin barrier and texture, and fading dark spots. Lovi fit levels show that SK-II is Superior for dry sensitive skin and acne-prone skin, whereas both brands offer High routine fits for dry skin and oily skin.

Kiehl's or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and SK-II achieve a High routine fit level for dry skin. The products on this page for both brands feature hydrating ingredients like sodium hyaluronate.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and SK-II offer highly rated moisturizers, such as Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream and SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, but Kiehl's is frequently noted for providing lightweight texture and deep hydration.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or SK-II?

SK-II is often considered the more affordable option when comparing price points, as high price and cost are frequently mentioned drawbacks for the products on this page by Kiehl's reviewers.

Which brand is better for fading dark spots and brightening, Kiehl's or SK-II?

SK-II does better for fading dark spots and brightening than Kiehl's. The products on this page for SK-II help improve radiance and glow.

Do Kiehl's or SK-II products contain fragrance?

Kiehl's includes fragrance in only 2 of the 28 products on this page, while every SK-II product lists no fragrance.

Which brand is better for combination skin, Kiehl's or SK-II?

SK-II is better for combination skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, whereas the products on this page for Kiehl's achieve a High fit level.

Kiehl's or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and SK-II are a High fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides lightweight textures, while SK-II offers fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page.

Kiehl's or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and SK-II achieve a High fit level for sensitive skin based on the products on this page. Kiehl's features 26 fragrance-free products alongside gentle serums, while every SK-II product lists no fragrance.

Kiehl's or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

SK-II is better for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior while Kiehl's is Average. Reviewers also note that SK-II does better with radiance and fading dark spots, though it may occasionally cause breakouts.

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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