Versus

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare All-Physical Ultimate Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 Versus Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50+

Sunscreen
Sunscreen
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on January 22, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, oils or parabens

What's Inside

They both contain silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
All-Physical Ultimate Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50
Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50+

Water

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate

UV Absorber
0 / 0 Chemical UV Filter IconMay cause irritation IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Drometrizole Trisiloxane

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter IconSilicon Icon

Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter Icon

Propylene Glycol

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Titanium Dioxide

Cosmetic Colorant
0 / 0 Mineral UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Alcohol Denat.

Antimicrobial
Alcohol IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Triethanolamine

Buffering
2 / 0

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Emulsifying

Nylon-12

Non-Reef-Safe Icon

Palmitic Acid

Emollient
2 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PEG-100 Stearate

0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Cellulose

Absorbent

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

Skin Conditioning
Chemical UV Filter Icon

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

UV Filter
Chemical UV Filter Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Aluminum Hydroxide

Emollient

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate

Cleansing

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Tromethamine

Buffering

Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract

Antimicrobial

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Isohexadecane

Emollient

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Myristic Acid

Cleansing
3 / 0 Bad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Disodium EDTA

Adenosine

Skin Conditioning
Good for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Polysorbate 80

Emulsifying
0 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Mannitol

Humectant

Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate

Skin Conditioning

Rna

Skin Conditioning

Pyridoxine Hcl

Skin Conditioning

Sorbitan Oleate

Emulsifying
3 / 0 Bad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sorbitol

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

BHT

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Histidine Hcl

Skin Conditioning

Zea Mays Kernel Extract

Sodium Chloride

Masking
Can worsen Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Faex Extract

Skin Conditioning

Phenylalanine

Masking

Mentha Piperita Extract

Cleansing

Rosa Gallica Flower Extract

Astringent

Tyrosine

Masking

Sorbic Acid

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.

What it does:

Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:

Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.

Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.

This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.

Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.

Learn more about Dimethicone
Masking

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

When to use

10 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
100% use every day
15 Routines
93% use in am
7% use in pm
100% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare All-Physical Ultimate Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 29 ingredients

All-Physical Ultimate Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50+ 54 ingredients

2.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Expensive (2) No Scent (2) Drying (1)
acelexa's avatar

acelexa

1 year ago
Review

Feels heavy, thick and not moisturizing. It's not my preference.

#expensive
#heavy
#no scent
mayaava's avatar

Maya Ava

2 months ago
Review

Feels like nothing on my skin but I didnt get sun damage all summer so it does the job. Only issue is it makes my texture worse and feels drying.

#expensive
#drying
#light
#no scent