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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 esteemed skincare lines that offer nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, gentle eye products, and cleansers. The American brand founded in 1851 relies on glycerin and squalane to suit dry skin and mature skin best, whereas the latter is enriched with niacinamide and glycerin to suit sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best. While both lines feature thoughtfully formulated options for various complexions, they differ in their heritage, foundational ingredients, and the specific skin types they naturally accommodate.

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 · S$209.58 · 92% fitBuy Olay routine · S$248.06 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitBuy Olay routine · S$485.72 · 81% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitBuy Olay routine · S$383.33 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Olay: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer strong options, but Kiehl's achieves a Superior fit level for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, mature, and oily acne-prone skin routines on this page. Reviewers note that Olay does better for skin smoothing and barrier benefits, while both brands perform equally well for hydration and brightening.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Olay?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer a wide range of popular skincare products, with Kiehl's routine fit rated as Superior for dry skin compared to Olay's High fit. Olay does better on high price concerns, while both brands perform equally on texture and hydration.

Kiehl's or Olay for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates Kiehl's routine fit as Superior and Olay's as High. The products on this page for both brands feature deeply hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to help improve skin moisture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Olay: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, both Kiehl's and Olay offer strong options, but Kiehl's generally features superior fit ratings for oily and acne-prone skin types across its cleansing range. For instance, the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash achieves a Superior fit level for oily and oily acne-prone skin on Lovi.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, whereas a high price point is often noted as a drawback for Kiehl's.

Kiehl's or Olay: which brand has better anti-aging options for mature skin?

Kiehl's provides superior routine fit for mature skin among the products on this page compared to Olay's high fit. Topical retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Which brand offers more fragrance-free products, Kiehl's or Olay?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer the same amount of fragrance-free products on this page, with twenty-six options each.

Kiehl's or Olay: which brand is better for treating dark spots and brightening?

Both Kiehl's and Olay are equal for brightening and radiance based on reviewer themes on this page. For treating dark spots, the products on this page show that Olay includes niacinamide, which may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Kiehl's or Olay for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates Kiehl's routine fit as Superior and Olay's routine fit as High. The products on this page from both brands help deliver lightweight, non-greasy hydration.

Kiehl's or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer effective moisturizers, with Kiehl's providing lightweight, non-greasy options and Olay focusing on intense hydration and skin smoothing. Lovi rates Kiehl's routine fit for dry skin as Superior and Olay's as High.

Kiehl's or Olay for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Lovi rates Kiehl's routine fit as Superior and Olay's as High. Both brands offer products with no fragrance listed for the vast majority of their items on this page.

Kiehl's or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

When comparing sunscreens on this page, Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum achieves a High fit level for sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, and mature skin, while Olay Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25 achieves a High fit level for mature skin, sensitive skin, and acne-prone skin.

Kiehl's or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on this page. Kiehl's features targeted products like the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner which achieves a Superior fit for this skin type, while Olay utilizes key ingredients like Niacinamide to help improve skin texture and smoothness.

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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