Kiehl's Mini Super Fluid Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+
Works for
Sun protectionSPF 50 · 5 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
Anti-agingSide benefit the brand mentions · TocopherolWorks well
“Skin Type Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily Skincare Concerns Dark Spots and Fine Lines and Wrinkles Formulation Cream Highlighted Ingredients , Vitamin E Minimizes the look of pores.”
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
Evens skin toneSide benefit the brand mentions · No ingredient credited for this claimWorks well
“Skin Type Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily Skincare Concerns Dark Spots and Fine Lines and Wrinkles Formulation Cream Highlighted Ingredients , Vitamin E Minimizes the look of pores.”
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
MoisturizingSide benefit · Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane + 3 moreWorks
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: dimethicone, isostearyl alcohol.
Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy12 flagged ingredientsLow risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Homosalate~5.1–7.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not offer meaningful protection against protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen. When used in low concentrations, helps to stabilize the product formulation
More about HomosalateDimethicone~3.6–5.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeOctocrylene~3–4.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocryleneAlcohol denat.~2–3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Silica~1.8–2.7%
Styrene/acrylates copolymer~1.3–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create an even product consistency. Can help boost efficiency of sunscreen filters
More about Styrene/acrylates copolymerEthylhexyl salicylate~1.7–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about Ethylhexyl salicylateButyl methoxydibenzoylmethane~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneButyloctyl salicylate~0.55–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
More about Butyloctyl salicylatePeg-30 dipolyhydroxystearate~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Peg-30 dipolyhydroxystearatePolymethylsilsesquioxane~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that improves product texture and helps dissolve other ingredients. Can form a non-greasy film on the skin to prevent moisture loss
More about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneTocopherol~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolPhenoxyethanol~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolPeg-8 laurate~0.15–0.5%
Lauryl peg/ppg-18/18 methicone~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together. It might be irritating for some people
More about Lauryl peg/ppg-18/18 methiconeSodium chloride~0.15–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chlorideCaprylyl glycol~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolIsostearyl alcohol~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Isostearyl alcoholPoly c10-30 alkyl acrylate~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
P-anisic acid~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps preserve products. Can mask unpleasant smell. Could be irritating
More about P-anisic acidPentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to increase stability of product formulations
More about Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamateTrisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate~0.01–0.05%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve stability of the formulation
More about Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinateSodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonateIngredient list view
Water, Homosalate, Dimethicone, Octocrylene, Alcohol denat., Silica, Styrene/acrylates copolymer, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butyloctyl salicylate, Peg-30 dipolyhydroxystearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-8 laurate, Lauryl peg/ppg-18/18 methicone, Sodium chloride, Caprylyl glycol, Isostearyl alcohol, Poly c10-30 alkyl acrylate, P-anisic acid, Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Kiehl'sMini Super Fluid Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+YOUR PRODUCT | La Roche-PosayMelt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 60 | SkinCeuticalsLight Moisture UV Defense SPF 50 Oil free sunscreen for face and body | EucerinAge Defense, Lightweight Sunscreen Lotion For Face, SPF 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 46% | 46% | 41% |
| Price | — | $28.99 | $40.00 | $32.08 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 5 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Carnitine |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| SPF | SPF 50 | SPF 60 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Face Reality Skincare Brilliant Defense SPF 50Garnier Ambre Solaire Expert Sun Mist SPF 50+
Product summary
We assess that "Kiehl's - Mini Super Fluid Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredient list. We love that it can protect from both UVA and UVB rays (not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
Because it includes good moisturizing ingredients, it can also work as a hydrating day cream. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product has an anti-aging benefit.
Sunscreen filters
This is a so-called "chemical" sunscreen. It means that it uses organic UV filters. They typically offer good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for some people with sensitive skin. The UV filters in this sunscreen are: avobenzone 1.40% - 2.10%, butyloctyl salicylate 0.55% - 1.25%, homosalate 5.10% - 7.60% and octocrylene 3.00% - 4.50%.
Irritation risk
There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be low. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 62.00CA$ in Canada and for 46.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 10 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 4
- 5
- 6Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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