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Cetaphil vs Kiehl's

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

Cetaphil and Kiehl's are American skincare brands known for their thoughtful ranges of cleansers, moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, and other essentials formulated with nourishing ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol. While the former suits combination skin and acne-prone skin best with balanced compositions, the latter suits dry skin and mature skin best through formulations that address moisture loss and barrier resilience. Both brands offer standout products for specific concerns, yet they differ because the first brand features ingredients that decrease hyperpigmentation and accelerate wound healing, whereas the second brand includes elements that counteract oxidative stress and stimulate fibroblast migration.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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

Popular Cetaphil vs Kiehl's products

People Say

CetaphilKiehl's
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy feel Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Skin smoothing and texture improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels incredibly soft afterwards — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Versatile and effective daily use Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “great for face and body — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “recommended by my derm — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “removes excess oil — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • 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 looks more radiant — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
  • Sensory and finish complaints Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
    • “smells like masking fragrance — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Lather, texture, and packaging issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “hate dipping fingers in — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Miss the bubbles, feels like washing with lotion. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$209.58 · 92% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · S$257.68 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · S$330.00 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · S$348.51 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which is better?

Cetaphil is better for sensitive skin due to gentler formulations, whereas Kiehl's is better for skin texture improvement and brightening. Lovi fit for sensitive skin is High for Cetaphil and High for Kiehl's.

What is the difference between Cetaphil and Kiehl's?

Cetaphil focuses on being gentle on sensitive skin and offers a lower price point, while Kiehl's specializes in skin smoothing, texture improvement, and brightening. Both brands offer products on this page that help hydrate the skin and provide lightweight feel. Lovi rates Cetaphil as High and Kiehl's as Superior for mature skin.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for dry skin?

For dry skin, Kiehl's is the better choice because its routine fit is Superior, whereas Cetaphil has a High routine fit. Additionally, Kiehl's excels in skin smoothing and texture improvement.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

Both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer high-performing cleansers tailored to different skin needs, with Cetaphil winning on gentler care for sensitive skin and Kiehl's excelling with specialized options like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash. Reviewers frequently mention Cetaphil for gentle, non-stripping cleansers, while Kiehl's provides targeted formulas for deep pore cleansing and oily skin.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or Kiehl's?

Cetaphil is more affordable than Kiehl's, as Kiehl's products frequently receive reviews noting a high price point while Cetaphil is recognized for being less expensive.

Between Cetaphil and Kiehl's, which brand is gentler on sensitive skin?

Cetaphil is gentler on sensitive skin compared to Kiehl's. Review themes show that Cetaphil performs better in being gentle on sensitive skin.

Which brand performs better for skin brightening and fading dark spots?

Kiehl's performs better for brightening and fading dark spots, as supported by reviewer feedback. Niacinamide, which is included in the products on this page, helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the founding years and corporate owners of Cetaphil and Kiehl's compare?

Cetaphil was founded in 1947 in the United States and is owned by Galderma Group AG, whereas Kiehl's was founded earlier in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for oily skin?

For oily skin, both brands offer products on this page with a Superior fit level. Lovi rates Kiehl's routine fit as Superior and Cetaphil's as High.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer effective options, but Cetaphil is generally better for sensitive skin while Kiehl's excels in mature and dry skin routines. Cetaphil features hydrating, non-greasy moisturizers across the products on this page, whereas Kiehl's provides formulations that help improve skin texture and hydration.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer products on this page with a High routine fit level, though Cetaphil does better specifically for being gentle on sensitive skin. Cetaphil features mostly gentle, non-stripping cleansers and avoids fragrance in almost all of its products on this page.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

Both brands offer sunscreens on this page, but Cetaphil achieves superior fit levels for sensitive skin and combination skin. Kiehl's sunscreen on the page, the Better Screen UV Serum, helps with skin with dark spots and sensitive skin with a High fit level.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

Both Cetaphil and Kiehl's are a High fit for acne-prone skin. Cetaphil features products on this page such as the Ceramide Serum which is a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's offers options like the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner which is also a Superior fit for acne-prone skin.

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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