Versus

Origins Original Skin Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb Versus Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on March 06, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Original Skin Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb

Water

Skin Conditioning

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Alcohol Denat.

Antimicrobial
Alcohol IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Perfuming
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Zingiber Officinale Root Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil

Astringent
Oil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Citronellol

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Citral

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Geraniol

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Eugenol

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Skin Conditioning

Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Skin Conditioning

Sucrose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Bambusa Vulgaris Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Pisum Sativum Extract

Skin Conditioning

Castanea Sativa Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract

Masking

Salicylic Acid

Masking
BHA IconPreservative IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Astringent

Laminaria Saccharina Extract

Skin Protecting

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Skin Protecting
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Phospholipids

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glucosamine Hcl

Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Tromethamine

Buffering

Silica Silylate

Emollient

Hexylene Glycol

Emulsifying
0-2 / 0-1

Sodium Polyacrylate

Absorbent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Disodium EDTA

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Mica

Cosmetic Colorant
May worsen Eczema Icon

CI 77891

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 77491

Cosmetic Colorant

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.

What it does:

Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:

Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.

Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.

This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.

Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.

Learn more about Dimethicone
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Learn more about Butylene Glycol
Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid
Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

When to use

10 Routines
70% use in am
30% use in pm
90% use every day
255 Routines
58% use in am
42% use in pm
93% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Origins Original Skin Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb 58 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
VeronikMontefrisco_578's avatar
Review

Did not dry my skin nor felt thick. Very light, refreshing and keeps skin soft

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream 22 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 6 ratings
Absorbs Well (3) Works Well (2) Light (2)
TinaVidovic_79's avatar

TinaVidovic_79

1 year ago
Review

not too greasy, well under makeup, skin loves it

MeaganClare's avatar

MeaganClare

2 years ago
Review

Great moisturizer for summer
This cream is great for oily skin. I discontinued using this as I needed a more powerful moisturizer to repair my skin's moisture barrier, but I think it will be great in the summer and for those without the same issue with chemically drying their skin's top layer, lol