Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily Uv Defense Aqua Gel Spf 50 Pa++++
94/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily Uv Defense Aqua Gel SPF 50 PA++++ is a hybrid sunscreen pairing modern chemical filters (Ethylhexyl Triazone, Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, Drometrizole Trisiloxane) with Titanium Dioxide. The aqua gel texture wears matte, feels lightweight and leaves a low white cast, and it is an excellent base under makeup with a low pore-clogging profile. The SPF 50 PA++++ delivers excellent protection. With a top score of 93.9 out of 100, it is one of the strongest daily facial sunscreens for those who want high protection and a near-invisible finish.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #5, UV filter
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +32 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #12, UV filter (UVA1 +11.2)
- −28.4 UVB coverage saturated
- −22.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- −3 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
👻
White cast
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- −7.5 Titanium Dioxide at #9 (nano)
- +0.5 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #9
- +2.4 Volatile alcohol at #2, evaporating texture
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Myristic Acid at #31, moderate comedogenic signal
- −1 Palmitic Acid at #17, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
42
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Myristic Acid)
- −42 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-8 Laurate, Ceteth-10, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate)
- −4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #8, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −10 Mexoryl XL at #12, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #9, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Sorbitol)
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 3 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate)
💄
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 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 (40)
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.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Supporting ingredient
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
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
-
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)
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
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 (Mexoryl XL), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 32 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
13 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
14 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 3 film former
-
19 Ceteth-10
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
27 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
30 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
37 Sorbitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Botanical extract
-
pH adjuster
-
40 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
Does Kiehl's Ultra Light UV Defense leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. The aqua gel texture absorbs to a near-invisible matte finish, which is part of why it works so well for daily wear.
Is Kiehl's Ultra Light UV Defense good under makeup?
Yes, it rates as an excellent base under makeup. The lightweight matte finish and low pore-clogging profile let foundation sit smoothly on top.
Is Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 worth it?
It scores 93.9 out of 100, one of the highest in this group. The SPF 50 PA++++ gives excellent protection and the modern hybrid filters deliver a light, invisible matte finish, making it a top daily facial choice.