Side-by-side comparison

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream vs Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream

Both are moisturisers. They share a 70% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

70%Active overlap
Kiehl's
MoisturiserPremiumMorning or evening
DrynessDamaged Barrier

A squalane + glacial glycoprotein daily cream for dry to normal skin. Rich but not greasy, very lightly fragranced. A sensible daily moisturiser that won't interfere with actives — though the price/performance ratio against CeraVe is debatable.

Tatcha
MoisturiserLuxuryMorning or evening
DrynessDullnessDehydration

A rich, dewy-finish cream with Japanese purple rice, hyaluronic acid and botanical extracts. Luxuriously hydrating for dry skin and a glass-skin glow; heavy and fragranced, so less suited to oily or reactive skin.

The verdict

Which should you choose?

On price, the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream sits in the Premium tier versus Luxury for the Tatcha — so it's the more budget-led pick if the overlap is what you're after. The Kiehl's leans toward Damaged Barrier. The Tatcha leans toward Dehydration, Dullness.

The overlap

What they share

At 70% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Kiehl's — top of the list

  • Aqua / Water~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Squalane~3–10%
  • Cyclohexasilox…~2–6%
  • Bis-PEG-18 Met…~1.5–4%

Tatcha — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Squalane~3–10%
  • Caprylic/Capric…~2–6%
  • Butylene Glycol~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

Kiehl'sTatcha
CategoryMoisturiserMoisturiser
Price tierPremiumLuxury
Best forDryness, Damaged BarrierDryness, Dullness, Dehydration
Usage notesMorning or eveningMorning or evening
Active overlap70% — Squalane
Questions

Common questions

Is the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream or the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream better?
Neither is universally better — they share 70% active-ingredient overlap, so for the actives that drive results they're close. The Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream is the more budget-friendly option, while the other may differ on texture, finish and supporting ingredients. Pick based on your skin's priorities rather than a single 'winner'.
What's the difference between the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream and the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream?
Both are moisturisers that share Squalane. Where they differ: they sit in different price tiers (Premium vs Luxury); the Kiehl's targets Damaged Barrier; the Tatcha targets Dehydration, Dullness.
Are the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream and Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream dupes for each other?
They share 70% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Squalane. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
Can I use the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream and Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream together?
They both fill the moisturiser slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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