Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 for sensitive skin
Glacial Glycoprotein
Fountain Plant Extracts
Squalane
Avobenzone
Homosalate
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 effectively hydrates with glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, while squalane provides emollient benefits to maintain skin comfort.
- The inclusion of ectoin and pseudoalteromonas extract ferment offers moderate soothing and protective benefits to help manage your redness and irritation.
- This formula is safe for your sensitive skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and is unlikely to cause irritation.
How to apply
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM daily as the final step of your morning routine. Always reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun.
- Apply after your regular moisturizer and before makeup. This product combines hydration and sun protection in one easy step.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount evenly across your face and neck. Avoid rubbing harshly to keep sensitive skin calm.
- Apply the moisturizing sunscreen to clean , dry skin for the best protection. Let it absorb ⏱ fully before stepping outside.
- Avoid direct contact with your eyes. Do a patch test before your first use since your skin is sensitive.
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 sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit for sensitive skin because it uses glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid to hydrate, along with squalane to keep skin comfortable. Ingredients like ectoin and pseudoalteromonas extract ferment help soothe and protect against redness and irritation, and the formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit for sensitive skin because it uses glycerin and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid to keep skin hydrated, while squalane keeps it soft and comfortable. It also includes ectoin and pseudoalteromonas extract ferment to help calm redness and irritation, and the formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Glacial Glycoprotein do for sensitive skin?
Glacial Glycoprotein helps keep sensitive skin hydrated and protected against dryness. It supports the skin barrier so it stays calm and comfortable throughout the day.
What does Fountain Plant Extract do for sensitive skin?
Fountain Plant Extract helps calm and soothe sensitive skin while keeping it soft and comfortable. It is gentle and unlikely to cause irritation, making it a great addition to your daily routine. Products for sensitive skin of this type also need nourishing ingredients that strengthen the skin barrier and prevent dryness.
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer goes in the morning routine as your moisturizing SPF step, after cleansing and applying a soothing toner. It is safe for your sensitive skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with this cream. This formula is safe for sensitive skin as it lacks harsh ingredients and is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
Use this moisturizing spf every morning as the final step of your daytime routine. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and protects it from the sun while remaining gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is safe for your sensitive skin and is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts. It lacks harsh ingredients and relies on gentle components that help keep skin calm and comfortable.
Is this moisturizer 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
How does it fit your skin?
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