🇸🇬Singapore

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 established skincare brands known for offering nourishing moisturizers, soothing toners, and gentle cleansers that cater to different complexion needs. The American brand utilizes key ingredients like glycerin and squalane in its targeted serums and rich moisturizers, making it best suited for dry and mature skin to address moisture loss and barrier resilience. Meanwhile, the British brand relies on nourishing niacinamide and glycerin within its makeup removers and gentle formulas, offering a comforting routine that suits oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin. Ultimately, the two differ in their core ingredient profiles and ideal skin types, giving users distinct pathways to hydration and balance.

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 · S$209.58 · 92% fitBuy Simple routine · S$261.94 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitBuy Simple routine · S$459.69 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitBuy Simple routine · S$355.99 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Simple: which is better?

Kiehl's and Simple both offer products on this page that help various skin types, with Kiehl's achieving a Superior routine fit for dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, sensitive skin, mature skin, and oily acne-prone skin, while Simple achieves a High routine fit across these categories.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Simple?

Kiehl's and Simple are both well-known skincare brands, but Kiehl's generally achieves a Superior Lovi fit level for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and mature skin types on the products on this page. Meanwhile, Simple focuses more on offering value-friendly options and is noted by reviewers as being particularly gentle for sensitive skin.

Kiehl's or Simple for dry skin?

For dry skin, Kiehl's is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, whereas Simple is rated as High. The products on this page for Kiehl's also feature hydrating key ingredients like glycerin and squalane to help lock in moisture.

Kiehl's or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Both Kiehl's and Simple offer cleansers on the products on this page, but Kiehl's achieves a Superior fit level for oily and oily acne-prone skin compared to Simple's Average fit for those skin types.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Simple?

Simple is more affordable, offering affordable value as noted by reviewers. Kiehl's, on the other hand, frequently receives feedback regarding its high price point.

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

Simple has more fragrance-free products on this page, as every single one of its products lists no fragrance, whereas Kiehl's has 26 of 28 products without fragrance.

How do the foundation years and 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.

Which brand performs better regarding gentle care for sensitive skin?

Simple performs better regarding gentle care for sensitive skin, as Simple is noted for being more gentle for sensitive skin among the products on this page.

Kiehl's or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, Kiehl's is rated as a Superior routine fit, while Simple offers a High routine fit. The products on this page for Kiehl's include specialized options like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream, which help address excess oil.

Kiehl's or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers that are gentle for sensitive skin, while Kiehl's provides options like Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate with a Superior fit level for dry skin. However, some reviewers note that Simple may lack sufficient hydration or moisture, and Kiehl's has a high price point.

Kiehl's or Simple for sensitive skin?

Kiehl's has a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, while Simple has a High fit on the products on this page. Kiehl's features fragrance-free formulations in the vast majority of its products on this page, which helps reduce the likelihood of irritation.

Kiehl's or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple are suitable choices for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates both brands at a High routine fit level for this skin type. Reviewers note that both brands may cause breakouts or irritations.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play