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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 thoughtful cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and more, formulated with nourishing ingredients like glycerin. The first brand is widely loved for its formulations featuring niacinamide and panthenol, which suit combination skin and sensitive skin best. Conversely, the second brand is cherished for its array anchored by squalane, suiting skin with dark spots and mature skin best. Ultimately, both brands differ in their specific ingredient profiles and the primary skin types they target.

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 Cetaphil routine · £92.66 · 83% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · £181.95 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

Buy Cetaphil routine · £191.77 · 84% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · £283.08 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

Buy Cetaphil routine · £172.93 · 88% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · £285.07 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which is better?

Both brands are equally good, as both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer a High routine fit across all skin types. Cetaphil is generally better for sensitive skin and has a lower price point, while Kiehl's excels in skin smoothing, texture improvement, and brightening.

What is the difference between Cetaphil and Kiehl's?

Cetaphil and Kiehl's both offer high routine fits for all skin types, but Cetaphil is better for sensitive skin and has a lower price point, whereas Kiehl's does better with skin smoothing and brightening. Cetaphil is owned by Galderma Group AG and was founded in 1947 in the United States, while Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and is owned by L'Oreal S.A.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for dry skin, with Cetaphil leaning toward gentle hydration and barrier care while Kiehl's focuses on deeper treatments and texture improvement.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

Both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer highly effective cleansers, with Cetaphil being particularly noted for being gentle on sensitive skin and Kiehl's excelling in skin smoothing and texture improvement.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or Kiehl's?

Cetaphil is more affordable, as a high price point is a common reviewer complaint for Kiehl's while Cetaphil does better on price.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which brand is better for brightening and fading dark spots?

Kiehl's does better than Cetaphil for brightening and fading dark spots. Reviewers mention brightening and fading dark spots as a positive attribute for Kiehl's, and the brand is focused on skin with dark spots.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which brand is more gentle on sensitive skin?

Cetaphil does better than Kiehl's for being gentle on sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Cetaphil offers gentle, non-stripping cleansers across the products on this page.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which brand is better for skin smoothing and texture improvement?

Kiehl's does better than Cetaphil for skin smoothing and texture improvement according to reviewer themes on this page.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer products on this page that provide a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Cetaphil provides better performance for gentle daily use, while Kiehl's is better for skin smoothing.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

Cetaphil and Kiehl's both offer moisturizers with a High routine fit for various skin types. Cetaphil is generally better for sensitive skin with a lower price point, while Kiehl's is often noted for skin smoothing and texture improvement.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Cetaphil is better for sensitive skin, as the products on this page are gentler on sensitive skin compared to Kiehl's. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer, making the brand well-suited for sensitive care.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

Cetaphil offers superior sunscreens on this page, as its Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 achieves a Superior fit level for dry, dry sensitive, combination, and sensitive skin. Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum and other options on the page generally reach a High fit for these skin types.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

Both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer products that are well-suited for acne-prone skin, with both brands achieving a High routine fit level for this skin type. Reviewers note that Cetaphil provides gentle, non-stripping cleansers while Kiehl's features lightweight moisturizers and gentle serums.

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

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