🇬🇧United Kingdom

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 heritage skincare brands that have earned distinct followings across the globe. The American line is cherished for its targeted moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products anchored by nourishing glycerin and squalane, suiting mature skin and dark spots best. Meanwhile, the British brand is beloved for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners crafted with niacinamide and glycerin, which suit acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots. Ultimately, both offer specialized formulations, yet they differ in their specific ingredient profiles and the primary skin concerns they address.

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 Simple routine · £136.73 · 83% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · £181.95 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · £221.50 · 87% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · £283.08 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · £185.60 · 85% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · £285.07 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Simple: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit across all skin types on this page. Simple does better for being gentle for sensitive skin, while Kiehl's does better for a lightweight texture.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Simple?

Kiehl's offers a wide range of targeted serums and moisturizers containing key ingredients like Vitamin C and Squalane, whereas Simple focuses on straightforward, fragrance-free basics with Niacinamide and Glycerin. Reviewers note that Simple generally provides a more affordable value and is gentler for sensitive skin, while Kiehl's is frequently recognized for lightweight textures and specialized options.

Kiehl's or Simple for dry skin?

Kiehl's and Simple are both a High fit for dry skin on this page, with Kiehl's featuring a range of emollient-rich moisturizers that help condition the skin barrier, while Simple offers gentle, hydrating cleansers and makeup removers.

Kiehl's or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Both Kiehl's and Simple offer cleansers, but Kiehl's provides a wider range with higher Lovi fit levels for specific skin types such as oily and acne-prone skin. Lovi rates Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser as Superior for oily and oily acne-prone skin, whereas Simple's Refreshing Facial Wash has an Average fit for those skin types.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Simple?

Simple offers more affordable value compared to Kiehl's, which is often noted for a 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 Simple product lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas two Kiehl's products contain fragrance.

How do the key ingredients differ between Kiehl's and Simple skincare products?

Kiehl's products feature key ingredients like glycerin, vitamin C, squalane, shea butter, and vitamin E, while Simple products use niacinamide and glycerin. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

When and where were Kiehl's and Simple founded and who owns them?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, while Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Unilever PLC.

Kiehl's or Simple for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. Lovi rates Kiehl's cleanser and toner products as Superior for oily skin, while Simple offers makeup removers that Lovi rates as High for oily skin.

Kiehl's or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers value-friendly moisturizers with hydrating glycerin and niacinamide, while Kiehl's provides lightweight options containing ingredients like squalane and vitamin C. Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High across skin types, including dry skin.

Kiehl's or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Simple does better for being gentle for sensitive skin.

Kiehl's or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple are a High Lovi fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Kiehl's offers targeted serums and cleansers containing vitamin C and glycerin, while Simple provides gentle makeup removers and 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

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