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e.l.f. Cosmetics Hol… vs Kiehl's Since 1851 A… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Ingredients
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How We Score

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/e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser
/vs
/Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser

e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser vs Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser

Head to head

e.l.f. Cosmetics

Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser

cleanser

7.9

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

K-Beauty

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

Kiehl's Since 1851

Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser

cleanser

6.2

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

e.l.f. Cosmetics wins 3

Tied 2

Kiehl's Since 1851 wins 0

7.9e.l.f. Cosmetics

+1.7vs

6.2Kiehl's Since 1851

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

e.l.f. Cosmetics WINS

5.3

4.4

e.l.f. Cosmetics

Kiehl's Since 1851

Irritation Risk

e.l.f. Cosmetics WINS

9.5

7.6

e.l.f. Cosmetics

Kiehl's Since 1851

Active Ingredient Strength

e.l.f. Cosmetics WINS

8.1

2.7

e.l.f. Cosmetics

Kiehl's Since 1851

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

e.l.f. Cosmetics

Kiehl's Since 1851

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

e.l.f. Cosmetics

Kiehl's Since 1851

Ingredient face-off

14% overlap

29e.l.f. Cosmetics

4Shared

29Kiehl's Since 1851

Only in e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser

25 unique

Water (Aqua)Decyl Glucoside Cocamidopropyl Betaine Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Sodium Hyaluronate Fragrance (Parfum)+15 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Glycerin Sodium Chloride Phenoxyethanol Citric Acid

Only in Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser

25 unique

Aqua / Water Kaolin Coco-Glucoside Alcohol Denat Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate Coco-Betaine Acrylates Copolymer Silica Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder / Apricot Seed Powder Moroccan Lava Clay+15 more

Why e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser comes out ahead

Where e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.1 compared to Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser's 2.7. Its formula features Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Ceramide Np in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Irritation Risk is another area of separation. e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser scores 9.5 here versus 7.6 for Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser brings Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Ceramide Np as actives, while kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser relies on Salicylic Acid and Tocopherol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 does the heavy lifting
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.7 lead

e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

7.9e.l.f. Cosmetics

6.2Kiehl's Since 1851

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser or Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser?

Based on ingredient analysis, e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser and Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser and Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser→Full analysis: Kiehl's Since 1851 Age Defender Dual Action Exfoliating Cleanser→

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