Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 for skin with dark spots
Glacial Glycoprotein
Fountain Plant Extracts
Squalane
Avobenzone
Homosalate
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few sunscreens fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your normal skin, this moisturizer provides excellent hydration with glycerin and squalane, while broad-spectrum UV filters like avobenzone and octisalate offer essential sun protection.
- While it offers general skincare benefits, it does not specifically target your main goal of pigmentation.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no harsh ingredients that would pose an irritation risk to your normal skin.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizing sunscreen AM daily to protect your normal skin and fight dark spots.
- Apply this product as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently spread a coin-sized amount evenly over your face, avoiding rough rubbing.
- Apply this product on clean, dry skin for the best coverage and protection.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and reapply every two hours when outdoors.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly praised for its effective and long-lasting hydration, leaving skin soft and preventing dryness. It is also noted for its ability to absorb without leaving a white cast, making it suitable for various skin tones. Some users with oily or combination skin find the finish too greasy or shiny, and a moderate number report eye irritation. A low number of users experience pilling under makeup or find the scent unpleasant.
Highlights
Provides hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Long-lasting hydration”
- “Keeps skin hydrated”
- “Soft and moist”
- “Prevents dryness”
No white cast Often Mentioned
- “Invisible on dark skin”
- “No white residue”
- “Absorbs without residue”
- “Clear finish”
Greasy or shiny finish Often Mentioned
- “Too greasy”
- “Oily residue”
- “Leaves face shiny”
- “Heavy finish”
Absorbs quickly Sometimes Noted
- “Readily absorbs”
- “Sinks in fast”
- “Rapid absorbency”
- “Layers well”
Smooth texture Sometimes Noted
- “Silky texture”
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “Glides on smooth”
- “Nice consistency”
Causes eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Stings my eyes”
- “Burns eyes”
- “Watery eyes”
- “Eye irritation”
Pills under makeup Rarely Noted
- “Pills under makeup”
- “Balls up”
- “Flakes off”
- “Bad under foundation”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Sunscreen smell”
- “Chemical scent”
- “Strong odor”
- “Smells like plastic”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, kiehls.com, ulta.com, whatsinmyjar.com, sarahfynn.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizer is a great fit because it provides essential sun protection with broad-spectrum UV filters and keeps skin hydrated, though it does not specifically target dark spots. It is very safe and unlikely to irritate normal skin.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cream is a great fit for your skin because its broad-spectrum UV filters like avobenzone and octisalate protect against sun damage, while glycerin and squalane provide deep hydration. It is safe and gentle on normal skin, though it does not specifically target dark spots.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Glacial Glycoprotein do for skin with dark spots?
Glacial Glycoprotein helps keep dry skin feeling soft and smooth by boosting hydration. A product of this type needs ingredients that lock in moisture and support the skin barrier to properly care for skin with dark spots.
What does Fountain Plant Extract do for skin with dark spots?
Fountain Plant Extract helps calm skin and may brighten dark spots over time. It is a gentle addition to your routine that supports a more even, smooth look.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizing spf goes in the morning routine after your cleanser and hydrating toner, and before your sunscreen. It is a great fit for your skin, providing deep hydration with squalane and glycerin alongside daily UV filters, though it does not actively fade dark spots on its own.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol by applying it either before or after your retinol treatment to help keep your skin comfortable. This type of moisturizer is very safe and gentle, and using it alongside your treatments is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing SPF every morning as the final step of your daytime routine. Daily application helps keep your skin well hydrated and protected from the sun.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your skin, as it has a very safe profile with gentle ingredients that do not irritate normal skin. Sunscreens and moisturizers of this type generally show minimal risk of causing skin irritation or breakouts.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate showed no to minimal risks of dermal irritation, sensitization, photo-allergy, and photo-irritation in human subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008Dermal application of a sunscreen containing 10% homosalate in four volunteers resulted in delayed elimination with terminal half-times around 24 h and a bioavailability of cis-homosalate a factor of 2 lower than trans-homosalate, while metabolite ratios supported using oral-route urinary excretion fractions for dermal exposure assessments.
Archives of Toxicology, 2024Homosalate exhibited the highest permeation among tested filters with a relative permeability rate of 4.2% and a depth of 60 um, and specific thickeners and emulsifiers successfully reduced its permeation without inhibiting the skin permeation of niacinamide.
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2026An online-SPE-LC-MS/MS method successfully quantified specific urinary homosalate metabolites for up to 96 hours after dermal sunscreen application in a volunteer and detected metabolites exclusively in three German pilot participants who had used sunscreen within five days.
Analytica Chimica Acta, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitic Acid, Tocopherol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Steareth-100, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Ectoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Myristic Acid, Peppermint Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Salicylic Acid, Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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