Kiehl’s Auto-tone Discoloration & UV Serum
71/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Kiehl's Auto-tone Discoloration & UV Serum is a hybrid sunscreen serum combining the chemical filters Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene with Titanium Dioxide, an older filter approach. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and a low tendency to clog pores, though it may sting somewhat near the eyes. With good protection and a score of 71.3/100, it is a serviceable daily option for those wanting tone and UV care together.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
75
- +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
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- −12.2 UVB coverage saturated
- −4.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
☢️
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #11
- −2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #19, butter/occlusive fat
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
👕
Fabric stains
High
20
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #11, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate 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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
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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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
- ↑ 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
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
10 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
14 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
25 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
26 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
27 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
32 Tin Oxide
Colorant or pigment
-
33 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
34 Ci 14700
Colorant or pigment
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does the Kiehl's Auto-tone Discoloration & UV Serum leave a white cast?
No, it commonly leaves little to no white cast despite containing Titanium Dioxide. Its balanced finish helps it wear clear on most skin tones.
Is the Kiehl’s Auto-tone Discoloration & UV Serum mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid serum, combining the chemical filters Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene with mineral Titanium Dioxide.
Is the Kiehl’s Auto-tone Discoloration & UV Serum a good sunscreen?
Its protection is rated good and it scores 71.3/100, making it a serviceable daily option for those wanting tone correction and UV care in one step.