🇬🇧United Kingdom

Kiehl's skincare

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

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Kiehl's is cherished for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more, all anchored by nourishing ingredients like glycerin and squalane. Its products suit skin with dark spots and mature skin best, offering targeted relief for these specific concerns. The standout choices include the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner for acne-prone skin, the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash for skin with dark spots, and the Ultra Facial Toner for mature skin. Through these formulations, glycerin significantly increases hydration and restores epidermal barrier function, while squalane counteracts oxidative stress and stimulates fibroblast migration.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006

This page covers some of the most popular Kiehl's products; for the whole Kiehl's range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.

Kiehl's moisturizers

Kiehl's serums and treatments

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 59.9k+ reviews

Reviewers most often praise Kiehl's for lightweight texture, deep hydration, and brightening complexion. The most common complaints are breakouts and heavy formulas.

Highlights

  • Lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Sinks in instantly — Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Gentle serums Mostly Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “perfect for retinol newbies — Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “No irritation at all — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • Deep hydration Often Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “skin looked & felt smoother — Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Brightening and fading dark spots Sometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “faded acne scars — Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Makeup compatibility and primer benefits Sometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “sits great under foundation — Better Screen UV Serum”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “overpriced for what it does — Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Causes breakouts and skin irritation Often Mentioned
    • “burned my face immediately — Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “caused cystic acne — Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Product not rich or effective enough Often Mentioned
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • Greasy or heavy residue Sometimes Noted
    • “oil slick in summer — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “didn't absorb well — Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, reddit.com, and more

Other Kiehl's products

Questions and answers

Is Kiehl's good for oily skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for oily skin, as Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for oily skin. Reviewers mostly mention lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers among the selections.

Is Kiehl's worth it?

Kiehl's may be worth it for shoppers seeking lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle serums, though reviewers often mention a high price point and potential for breakouts. Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, combination skin, and acne-prone skin.

What are Kiehl's's best products?

Kiehl's features several top-performing items with high fit levels depending on skin type, such as the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream for oily skin, Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate for dry skin, and Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner for sensitive skin. Lovi rates the brand-focused routines High across most skin types like dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin.

Which Kiehl's moisturizer is best for dry skin?

Lovi rates Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate as the best moisturizer for dry skin, followed by Super Multi-Corrective Cream and Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream.

Does Kiehl's cause breakouts?

Yes, Kiehl's may cause breakouts, as reviewers often mention that some products lead to breakouts and skin irritation. Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for acne-prone skin.

Is Kiehl's fragrance-free?

Yes, the Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, as 26 of 28 items list no fragrance. Reviewers note that the brand helps deliver lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle serums.

What are the key ingredients in Kiehl's products?

The key ingredients across the Kiehl's products on this page include glycerin, vitamin C, squalane, shea butter, and vitamin E.

How do I build a Kiehl's skincare routine?

To build a morning routine for dry skin with Kiehl's, start with the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, follow with Ultra Facial Toner, apply Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate as your moisturizer, and finish with Better Screen UV Serum. Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry skin.

Where can I buy Kiehl's, and how much does it cost?

Kiehl's products on this page are available at stores in the United Kingdom, with prices ranging from £15.75 to £78.00 and most falling between £24.75 and £53.25.

What are good alternatives to Kiehl's?

CeraVe, Cetaphil, Paula's Choice, Neutrogena, Dermalogica, and Good Molecules are good alternatives to Kiehl's. Lovi rates the CeraVe-focused routine Superior for oily skin, sensitive skin, combination skin, and acne-prone skin, and High for dry skin.

Kiehl's vs CeraVe: which is better?

Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin, while CeraVe-focused routines reach Superior fit for oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin and High for dry skin. Reviewers often mention that Kiehl's products come with a high price point and can cause breakouts and skin irritation.

Who owns Kiehl's, and where is it from?

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Is Kiehl's cruelty-free?

PETA, Leaping Bunny, and Cruelty Free International, the registries Lovi checks, do not list Kiehl's as cruelty-free.

Is Kiehl's good for dry skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for dry skin because Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry skin. Reviewers often mention that the products provide deep hydration.

Which Kiehl's cleanser is best for oily skin?

The Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash is the best cleanser for oily skin, with Lovi rating it Superior. The Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser is also rated Superior, while the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser rates High for oily skin.

Is Kiehl's good for sensitive skin?

Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for sensitive skin. The Kiehl's products on this page are generally fragrance-free, as 26 of 28 products list no fragrance.

Which Kiehl's sunscreen is best for sensitive skin?

Lovi rates Better Screen UV Serum High for sensitive skin.

Is Kiehl's good for acne-prone skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for this skin type. Reviewers often mention that the brand provides gentle serums, though some users note that certain products may cause breakouts and skin irritation.

Is Kiehl's good for skin with dark spots?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for skin with dark spots because Lovi rates skin with dark spots as one of the skin types the brand fits best. The Kiehl's products on this page help improve skin tone, with 26 of 28 products listing no fragrance.

Is Kiehl's good for mature skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for mature skin, as Lovi rates the brand-focused routines High for this skin type and the Kiehl's products on this page include items like Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Research behind Kiehl's's key ingredients

Behind these ratings

Lovi rates every product from its 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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