Clinique vs Kiehl's:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Clinique had more branded searches than Kiehl's among skincare brands in the United States. Clinique had about 201,000 branded searches, while Kiehl's had 165,000. Clinique made up 8.9% of all skincare brand searches we track, and Kiehl's accounted for 7.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about skincare brands, Clinique appeared in one of the five answers and Kiehl's in none.
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Top skincare brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Clinique was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kiehl's did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
CeraVe1st
La Roche-Posay2nd
The Ordinary3rd
Cetaphil4th
Paula's Choice5th
Clinique6th
SkinCeuticals7th
Tatcha8th
Aesop–
Kiehl's–- +5 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- The Ordinary4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- La Roche-Posay3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- CeraVe3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Cetaphil2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Paula's Choice2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Clinique1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- SkinCeuticals1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Tatcha1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Aesop0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Kiehl's0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about skincare brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which skincare brand should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best skincare brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is a good skincare routine for dry skin?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“skincare”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“skin care products”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.
Is Clinique or Kiehl's more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Clinique and Kiehl's by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 skincare brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Clinique, Kiehl's. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | La Roche-Posay | Aesop | CeraVe | Clinique | The Ordinary | Kiehl's | Summer Fridays | SkinCeuticals | Cetaphil | Paula's Choice | Laneige | Neutrogena | Byoma | Glow Recipe | Tatcha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 12.2% | 12.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 12.2% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 3% | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 9.2% | 11.2% | 6.1% | 9.2% | 7.5% | 9.2% | 16.8% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 4.1% | 6.1% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 4.1% | 4.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 12.4% | 10.1% | 6.8% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 18.5% | 4.5% | 3% | 3.7% | 6.8% | 3% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 3% |
| Jan 2026 | 15.4% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 10.3% | 5.6% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 6.9% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 4.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 14.9% | 10% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 5.5% | 12.2% | 5.5% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3% | 3% |
| Mar 2026 | 13.7% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 5% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 15.4% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 10.3% | 5.7% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| May 2026 | 16% | 10.7% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 3.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 17.2% | 7.7% | 11.5% | 7.7% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.8% |
| Jul 2026 | 17.9% | 6.6% | 9.8% | 8% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 16% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 10.7% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 2.6% |
| Sep 2026 | 16.3% | 10.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 6% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4% | 4% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% |
How has the Clinique and Kiehl's comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Clinique was ahead of Kiehl's in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Clinique’s share of searches among skincare brands in the United States moved from 8.2% to 8.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 201K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kiehl's’ share of searches among skincare brands in the United States moved from 5.5% to 7.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 165K.
How did search popularity change for United States skincare brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Kiehl's overtook Neutrogena to rank 6th among skincare brands in the United States, with 7.3% of the searches.
Clinique’s share of searches among skincare brands in the United States has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 7.7% to 8.9% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Clinique’s and Kiehl's’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
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