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Kiehl's vs Good Molecules

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

Kiehl's and Good Molecules are American skincare brands offering moisturizers, serums, eye products, and more. The former is cherished for its thoughtful array anchored by glycerin and squalane, suiting skin with dark spots and mature skin best. The latter is deeply loved for its thoughtful formulations centered around glycerin and hyaluronic acid, suiting dry skin and skin with dark spots best. While both brands use glycerin to increase hydration and restore barrier function, they differ in their heritage, ownership, and secondary key ingredients.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Good Molecules is an American skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by Beautylish, Inc..

beautymatter.comgoodmolecules.compitchbook.compreqin.com

This page compares some of the most popular Kiehl's and Good Molecules products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Good Molecules products

People Say

Kiehl'sGood Molecules
  • Affordable and Great Value Price Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “best value for money — Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “great value — Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy 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”
    • “absorbs quickly... zero irritation or tacky feeling — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “skin appears smooth and supple — Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “no skin purging — Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream”
    • “leaves my face feeling clean without the drying — Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks like brand new baby skin — Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment”
    • “Leaves skin "baby soft," "super smooth," "polished feel" — Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder”
    • “softened fine lines — Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Fades Dark Spots and Brightens Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “scar on your chin doesn't look nearly as noticeable — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
    • “skin looks more radiant — Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner”
  • High Price and Value Concerns Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “face broke out everywhere — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
    • “gave me little white bumps — Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum”
  • Packaging and Design Issues Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Dropper doesn't reach bottom — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Metal tube cracks — Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel”

Kiehl's vs Good Molecules routines for dry skin

Buy Good Molecules routine · £93.06 · 92% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · £181.95 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Good Molecules routines for oily skin

Buy Good Molecules routine · £187.96 · 89% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · £283.08 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs Good Molecules routines for combination skin

Buy Good Molecules routine · £170.27 · 89% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · £285.07 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which is better?

Good Molecules is the better choice for sensitive, acne-prone skin and dry skin, as the products on this page offer superior routine fit for these skin types. Good Molecules is also noted for being more affordable.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Good Molecules?

Good Molecules offers a superior routine fit for dry skin, sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots, whereas Kiehl's fits these skin types at a High level. Reviewers mention that Good Molecules provides affordable and great value serums, while Kiehl's is known for lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for dry skin?

For dry skin, Good Molecules offers a superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's. Good Molecules is noted for affordable and hydrating moisturizers, whereas the products on this page for Kiehl's lean toward high price points and potential breakouts.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which cleanser is better?

Good Molecules offers a Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel with high fit levels for dry and sensitive skin, while Kiehl's features cleansers like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash that achieves a superior fit for oily and oily acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Good Molecules?

Good Molecules is more affordable, as reviewers often mention its affordable and great value serums and moisturizers. In contrast, reviewers on the Kiehl's page frequently note a high price point as a drawback.

Which brand has better fragrance-free options, Kiehl's or Good Molecules?

Good Molecules has better fragrance-free options because every product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas 2 out of 28 Kiehl's products contain fragrance.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Kiehl's and Good Molecules compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000. In contrast, Good Molecules was founded much later in 2019 in the United States and is owned by Beautylish, Inc.

Which brand performs better for skin barrier and texture improvement?

Good Molecules performs better for skin barrier and texture improvement. Reviewers note that Good Molecules excels specifically in skin barrier and texture improvement compared to Kiehl's.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Good Molecules offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers often note that the products on this page from Kiehl's provide a lightweight and non-greasy texture.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which moisturizer is better?

Good Molecules offers superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Kiehl's. Good Molecules features hydrating moisturizers that are affordable, while Kiehl's provides lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers that often come at a high price point.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for sensitive skin?

Good Molecules is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's High fit on this page. Good Molecules also has no fragrance listed across the products on this page.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which sunscreen is better?

Good Molecules Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 achieves a Superior fit level for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, sensitive skin, skin with dark spots, and mature skin, whereas Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum reaches High for these same skin types.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for acne-prone skin?

Good Molecules offers a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's provides a High routine fit. Reviewers often mention Good Molecules for affordable serums that help fade dark spots and improve skin texture, while Kiehl's is noted for lightweight moisturizers.

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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