Kiehl’s Super Fluid Uv Defense Spf 50+
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Kiehl's Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50+ is a chemical sunscreen built on older-generation filters including avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone. It delivers a matte finish, a lightweight fluid feel, and low white cast, and it works well under makeup with a low pore-clogging profile. Sweat resistance is high, so it is more likely to sting eyes when you perspire. With a score of 61.8 and good protection, it is a serviceable everyday face fluid.
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
28
- +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
- −4 Volatile alcohol at #8
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- −14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate)
👕
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
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #8
- ← 6 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Nylon-12)
- ← 6 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Nylon-12)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 1 Volatile alcohol at #8
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Ether)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #8), fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (27)
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
-
6 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
9 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 7 film former
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
13 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
16 Nylon-12
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
26 Dodecene
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
Is the Kiehl’s Super Fluid Uv Defense Spf 50+ mineral or chemical?
This is a chemical sunscreen built on older-generation filters including avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone.
Is the Kiehl’s Super Fluid Uv Defense Spf 50+ good for oily skin and makeup?
Yes, the matte, lightweight fluid finish suits oily skin, it works well under makeup, and it has a low pore-clogging profile.
Does it sting the eyes?
Sweat resistance is high, so it is more likely to sting eyes when you perspire. It is more comfortable for low-activity, everyday wear.