Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 Pa++++
87/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense is an SPF 50 PA++++ daily fluid using a hybrid blend of advanced filters, including Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. True to its name it wears lightweight, leaves little to no white cast and is generally non-stinging, with low pore-clogging risk. The balanced finish sits okay under makeup and its protection is rated excellent. With a score of 86.5/100, it is an excellent high-protection option for everyday wear.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
97
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +38 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +13.3)
- +26.6 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +9.5)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +14.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #21, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +10.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #22, UV filter (UVA1 +6.6)
- −15.6 UVB coverage saturated
- −25.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- −7.5 Titanium Dioxide at #8 (nano)
- +0.5 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Volatile alcohol at #10
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Myristic Acid at #34, moderate comedogenic signal
- −1 Palmitic Acid at #15, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
High
39
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Myristic Acid)
- −24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate)
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- −7 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Dimethicone at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
👕
Fabric stains
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #22, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −10 Mexoryl XL at #5, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #8, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #10
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Nylon-12)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Sorbitol)
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Nylon-12)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 1 Volatile alcohol at #10
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 4 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #10), fast, even canvas
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (55)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL)
- ↑ 38 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl SX)
- ↑ 26.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
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)
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
pH adjuster
-
12 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 5 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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14 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
- ↑ 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
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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20 Cellulose
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 14.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 10.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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23 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
27 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
28 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
29 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
33 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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36 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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38 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
39 Mannitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
41 Rna
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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44 Sorbitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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46 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Botanical extract
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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54 Tyrosine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
55 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does Kiehl's Ultra Light UV Defense leave a white cast?
It generally leaves little to no white cast and wears lightweight, as the name suggests. The hybrid blend uses advanced filters that tend to absorb cleanly into skin.
Is the Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 Pa++++ mineral or chemical, and what SPF?
It is a hybrid SPF 50 PA++++ fluid, combining chemical filters like Drometrizole Trisiloxane and Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid with Titanium Dioxide.
Is Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense good?
It scores 86.5/100 with excellent protection, so it is generally an excellent high-protection daily option. It is non-stinging and has a low pore-clogging tendency, adding to its everyday wearability.