When it comes to skincare, Kiehl’s has been innovating since the late 1800s, when it opened its first New York pharmacy. Ever since, the brand has become a global success and earned a place on many bathroom shelves, with cult products like its ultra facial cream and avocado eye treatment. The latest launch is the better screen UV serum sunscreen, which has been a bestseller stateside and has now made its way to the UK.
The SPF 50 contains a concoction of skin-loving ingredients and promises to correct signs of existing damage, such as uneven tone, texture, and dullness. The non-comedogenic, lightweight formula is also said to add radiance to the skin, while working well under makeup.
At £42, it’s not a cheap SPF by any means, so we’ve spent a week of this summer’s heatwave putting it to the test through sweltering commutes, long office days and blasting AC.
Sabrina Sahota
Rating: 4/5
Many SPF formulas can feel pore-clogging on my combination skin, so I was excited to try the new Kiehl’s sunscreen, with its promise of a lightweight, serum consistency. Application took a bit of trial and error – at first, I went with the two-finger rule (squeezing two full lines along my index and middle fingers) and applied it all in one go, but after a few hours, I noticed pilling on my cheeks. When I tried it the next day, I gradually applied the same amount. Thankfully, I didn’t experience any pilling and was able to incorporate it seamlessly into my everyday skincare routine. It’s easy to rub in and doesn’t leave a white cast on my warm skin tone.
It layers well under makeup and acts almost like a radiant primer. When used with a glowy skin tint on top, my skin looked ever so slightly oilier than usual towards the end of the day. With this in mind, I’d pair it with a soft matte base and use a setting powder if you have combination/oily skin. Nonetheless, it felt comfortable on my skin throughout the day, and didn’t result in any spots (this is often the case with heavy sunscreens on my skin).
Why we love it: Makes skin look radiant, doesn’t leave white cast
Take note: Apply gradually as it can pill
Helen Wilson-Beevers
Rating: 4.5/5
The Kiehl’s serum-style sunscreen glides across skin and needs very little rubbing in to absorb. It fades into an invisible finish on my complexion. The lightweight consistency means it feels breathable, and I liked the glowy effect created (both underneath makeup and on bare skin).
I have dry, sensitive skin and found the SPF to be smoothing without causing any irritation. There was no greasiness once applied, just a softening, hydrating effect – thanks to the inclusion of skincare ingredients. Sabrina and I both noticed the strong chemical scent to begin with, but this disappeared once absorbed, so it wasn’t an issue.
The bottle with its push-down dispenser makes for easy application throughout the day, without the risk of spilling when on the move. And because of the radiant effect it creates, I layered it on top of makeup for a quick SPF fix at times, too.
Why we love it: Smoothing and hydrating, leaves a glowy finish
Take note: Quite a strong scent to begin with
With a formula that contains glycerin and vitamin E, the Kiehl’s better screen UV serum nourishes the skin and provides a glowy, radiant base that’s perfect for summer and minimal make-up days. There’s no denying it’s pricey, but this is down to ingredients that are said to visibly correct signs of UV damage. As we only tested the SPF 50 for a week, we’re unable to comment on this effect, but we both agreed that it’s an SPF we’d happily keep using as part of our everyday routines.
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How we tested
We tested the Kiehl’s better screen SPF for a week in the middle of a heatwave, with temperatures reaching 30C. We considered how easy it was to apply, whether it left any white cast and how it felt on our skin throughout the day. Helen is in her 40s, so was able to assess how the sunscreen performed on mature skin that is on the dry side, while Sabrina was able to judge how it acted on combination skin.
Read more: I tested L’Oreal’s affordable anti-ageing skincare that claims to reduce wrinkles
