This is priced at Rs 3,000 for 30ml (as of 28 April 2020) and is one of the more expensive sunscreens on Nykaa’s best-selling sunscreen list. It is marginally cheaper outside India. Should you fork out INR 3,000 for this product? Find out here.
Sunscreen test
Harmful chemicals
The product contains Oxybenzone and that in itself is sufficient for me to reject this product. Oxybenzone is a hormonal disruptor and a known skin allergen. If you’d like more details on the deleterious effects of Oxybenzone, please read my blog, Chemicals to Avoid – Oxybenzone).
This is an SPF 30 product and it does contain UVA and UVB filters
As this is an American sunscreen, the active filter quantities are publicly available. This is from Kiehl’s website:
AVOBENZONE 3%
HOMOSALATE 10.72%
OCTISALATE 3.21%
OCTOCRYLENE 6%
OXYBENZONE 3.86%
The SPF 50 is being provided by UVB filters, Homosalate, Octisalate and Octocrylene.
The primary UVA filter is Avobenzone that is included at the maximum amount permitted by US law. It is however, notoriously photounstable, and therefore, this formula contains both Octocrylene and Oxybenzone to stabilise the formula.
If I model the actual photostability of just these quantities, this is what the protection looks like:
Source: sunscreen modelClearly, the formula is not 100% photostable and its stability varies depending on the length of the UV radiation in question. This is a natural consequence of the product containing the UVA filter, Avobenzone.
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that EVEN in its photo-unstable format, Avobenzone provides significant UVA protection. Is it PA++++ meaning it offers “extremely effective protection against UVA?”
I am extremely doubtful. At best, this is a PA+++ product, which means it offers “very effective protection against UVA.” (see also What is PA++++?)
Closing remarks
If I had INR 3,000 to buy one Kiehl’s sunscreen it would not be this product. It would be Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 PA++++ that does provide high protection against UVB and UVA, without using Oxybenzone. (see my review of this product HERE)
Drop me a line at email@happyskindays.com if you have any comments or questions. I’d love to hear from you.
See also