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Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen With Collagen Peptide Versus Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 Weightless Mineral Sunscreen

Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen With Collagen Peptide Versus Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 Weightless Mineral Sunscreen This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging. This hybrid sunsc

Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen With Collagen Peptide Versus Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 Weightless Mineral Sunscreen

This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.

This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%

Homosalate 7%

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%

Octocrylene 7%

Water

Glycerin

C15-19 Alkane

Propanediol

C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer

Tocopherol

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Butylene Glycol

Cetearyl Alcohol

Sclerotium Gum

Hydroxyacetophenone

Caprylyl Glycol

Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate

Glyceryl Stearate

Jojoba Esters

Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax

Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Carbomer

Sodium Lactate

Sodium Hydroxide

Polysorbate 20

Polyglycerin-3

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Polyglycerin-3, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Zinc Oxide 10%

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone

Dimethicone

Isododecane

Tridecyl Salicylate

Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer

Caprylyl Methicone

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Niacinamide

Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate

Silica

Squalane

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract

Hydrolyzed Silk

Bisabolol

Allantoin

Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract

Arctium Lappa Root Extract

Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Lecithin

Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract

Lactobacillus

Maltodextrin

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

PEG-10

Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate

Propylene Glycol

Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone

Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate

Phosphoric Acid

Sodium Chloride

Hexylene Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Iron Oxides

Zinc Oxide 10%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Tridecyl Salicylate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Niacinamide, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Silica, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Maltodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, PEG-10, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Propylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Butylene Glycol, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

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Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 03Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
  4. 04It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
  5. 05This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
  6. 06Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
  7. 07The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
  8. 08It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
  9. 09Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
  10. 10Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
  11. 11Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
  12. 12Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
  13. 13Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
  14. 14Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
  15. 15Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
  16. 16Ethylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
  17. 17It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
  18. 18You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
  19. 19The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
  20. 20Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
Source · skinsort.com
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Product index

Related product references

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Comparison edit

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