Kiehl's Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen for Body SPF 50

Kiehl's has introduced a "Dermatologist Solutions" Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen for Body with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($23). It's an oil-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, lightweight fluid sunscreen with patented, photostabilized, sun-filtering technology to provide broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Formulated to meet the new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, Kiehl's chemists worked to pack the sunscreen with additional benefits - three antioxidants to help ward off free radicals on the skin's surface.

"We have always taken sunscreen seriously at Kiehl's. We take extra care to educate our customers on sunscreens, how to use them, what SPF numbers mean, and how to properly protect your skin, so we were pleased to see the FDA's sunscreen labeling reforms, which are intended to better educate consumers on how sunscreens combat sun damage," said Dr. Angelike Galdi, Kiehl's Head Chemist and AVP of Research & Innovation. "We took the opportunity to not only meet the standards, but exceed them by adding powerful antioxidants to further protect the skin from environmental aggressors."

Kiehl's Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen for the Body with SPF 50 offers broad-spectrum protection with filters that can absorb different wavelengths of ultraviolet rays to ensure protection against UVA and UVB exposure. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen will help minimize skin tone irregularities and prevent premature skin aging.

Dr. Sherry Hsiung, a hyperpigmentation specialist skin cancer surgeon, and consulting dermatologist for Kiehl's said, "My patients often complain that sunscreen is too thick, tacky, and sticky, a misconception that leads to many people not applying sunscreen often enough or even at all. Kiehl's new Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 offers men and women...a formula that is ultra-light and absorbs easily. It's non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores and has even been proven to improve skin barrier function."

Kiehl's chemists used patented photstabilized technology to produce an effective and efficient sunscreen, which protects against harmful UVA rays that are responsible for the majority of UV radiation that reaches the earth. Because UVA rays are known to penetrate the skin deeply, they are responsible for skin cancer and premature aging. Kiehl's paired Avobenzone and Octocrylene at very specific levels to ensure optimal photostability. This factore helps the formula maintain its relative level of protection for a longer period than a non-photostabilized sunscreen can.

About 93% of the UVB rays are absorbed at SPF 15, and close to 95% at SPF 30. Many dermatologists feel that people are not applying sunscreens properly (in inadequate amounts and/or with inadequate frequency). As a result, UV radiation is still being absorbed by our skin, even when we think we are diligent with sunscreen usage. I've heard that the average sunscreen protects for only two hours.

The antioxidants in this new formula complement the sunscreen ingredients.

• Goji berry, a traditional Chinese medicine, is historically known to build the skin's own resistance and reduce free radical damage.
• Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant known for its ability to help protect against skin-damaging free radicals, helps provide increased protection when combined with a sunscreen.
• Einkorn wheat, one of the earliest cultivated forms of wheat (in approximately 7500 BC), is known to stimulate the skin's natural antioxidant defenses (when tested in vitro).

I wanted to tell you about this new sunscreen because Kiehl's sent me a bottle. I love it! It's fragrance-free and lightweight, making it easy and pleasant to use every day. Even if I'm not planning to sit out in the sun, I know my arms and hands are exposed when I'm wearing short sleeves.

In a consumer study, 90% of Kiehl's testers found it easy to apply, 92% found it gentle on the skin, 88% reported smooth skin, and 90% found that it protected their skin. I'm similarly impressed. Someone asked me for a sunscreen recommendation recently. This new product has become one of my top recommendations. Not only is it really nice, the price is right.

Photo courtesy of Kiehl's