Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector For Face And Body Spf 50
61/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Kiehl's Activated Sun Protector For Face And Body is an SPF 50 chemical formula using a broad set of older filters for face and body. It feels lightweight with a balanced finish and a low chance of white cast, but it has a high chance of stinging, so keep it clear of the eyes. Breakout risk is low and it works well under makeup. With a score of 60.8 and good protection, it is a versatile everyday option, with comfort the main caveat.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
66
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #5, UV filter
- −8.9 UVB coverage saturated
- −6.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
High
17
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Oxybenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −10 Volatile alcohol at #7
- −5 Cooling agents (Menthyl Lactate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
5
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #5, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 13 Volatile alcohol at #7
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 3 Volatile alcohol at #7
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 6 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #7), fast, even canvas
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (18)
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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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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6 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 7 film former
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
14 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
16 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
Does Kiehl's Activated Sun Protector sting?
It has a high chance of stinging, so keep it clear of the eyes. The finish is balanced with a low chance of white cast.
Is the Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector For Face And Body Spf 50 good under makeup?
Yes, it is rated a good makeup base with low breakout risk. It is also designed for both face and body use.
Is the Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector For Face And Body Spf 50 mineral or chemical, and is it good?
It is a chemical sunscreen using a broad set of older filters, scoring 60.8 with good protection. It is a versatile everyday option, with comfort the main caveat.