Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protection Sunscreen Spf 50
83/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Kiehl's Activated Sun Protection Sunscreen SPF 50 is a hybrid formula with filters including Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone. It wears light with a balanced finish and low white cast, and it generally sits well under makeup. Pore-clogging risk is low, though it may sting somewhat if it reaches the eyes. Excellent protection and an 82.8/100 score make it a reliable high-SPF daily option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +12 Homosalate at #3, UV filter
- +38 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +13.3)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #7, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #11, UV filter
- +16.8 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #15, UV filter (UVA1 +6)
- −31 UVB coverage saturated
- −23.5 UVA2 coverage saturated
- −4.7 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
66
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −16 8 declared fragrance allergens
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
59
- +100 Starting score
- −9 Homosalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −10 Volatile alcohol at #6
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 7 declared fragrance allergens
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Glycine Soja Oil at #24, moderate comedogenic signal
- −1 Myristic Acid at #29, moderate comedogenic signal
- −1 Palmitic Acid at #17, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
48
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Myristic Acid)
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Glycine Soja Oil)
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
- −4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #10, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −10 Mexoryl XL at #5, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 13 Volatile alcohol at #6
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Zea Mays Starch)
- → 16 Glycerin at #2, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Glycine Soja Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Zea Mays Starch)
- ← 3 Volatile alcohol at #6
- → 7 2 emollient lipids (Glycine Soja Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 6 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #6), fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 3.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (35)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
2 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL)
- ↑ 38 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
pH adjuster
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 2 wax film
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl SX), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 16.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
16 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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20 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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25 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
26 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
30 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
31 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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32 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
34 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
35 Coumarin
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Does Kiehl's Activated Sun Protection Sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, it has a low white cast and a light feel with a balanced finish. As a chemical formula it generally blends in clear.
Is the Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protection Sunscreen Spf 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid built on chemical filters such as Drometrizole Trisiloxane and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine.
Is the Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protection Sunscreen Spf 50 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Pore-clogging risk is low, so it is generally considered acne-friendly. The finish is balanced and it sits well under makeup.
Is Kiehl's Activated Sun Protection SPF 50 good?
Yes. It scores 82.8/100 with excellent SPF 50 protection, though it may sting somewhat if it reaches the eyes.