Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50+ Versus Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen SPF 42
Updated on June 03, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain SPF and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols and 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
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50+ 54 ingredients
Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen SPF 42 45 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50+ 54 ingredients
Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen SPF 42 45 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Triethanolamine
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingNylon-12
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cellulose
AbsorbentBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Citric Acid
Buffering
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingScutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Mannitol
Humectant
Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningRna
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Kernel Extract
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Mentha Piperita Extract
CleansingRosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentTyrosine
MaskingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Alcohol Denat., Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Nylon-12, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cellulose, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Citric Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Tromethamine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Myristic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Polysorbate 80, Arginine, Mannitol, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Rna, Pyridoxine Hcl, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitol, Pentylene Glycol, BHT, Histidine Hcl, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Sodium Chloride, Faex Extract, Phenylalanine, Mentha Piperita Extract, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Tyrosine, Sorbic Acid
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 5%
UV Absorber
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Isododecane
EmollientPEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
Masking
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Aminoethanesulfinic Acid
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Panthenyl Ethyl Ether
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingDimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTrisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 5%, Trisiloxane, Water, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Silica, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Isododecane, PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dextrin Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trehalose, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Sodium Chloride, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aminoethanesulfinic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Trisodium EDTA, Tocopherol, BHT, Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, CI 77120, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
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 ChlorideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50+ 54 ingredients
Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen SPF 42 45 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50+ 54 ingredients
Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen SPF 42 45 ingredients
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