Age Defender Moisturizer
The Kiehl's Age Defender Moisturizer is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 48 ingredients (34 low-risk) rates it Excellent (93/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Kiehl's Age Defender Moisturizer is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 48 ingredients (34 low-risk) rates it Excellent (93/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
|
|
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
|
|
|
|
Alcohol Denat.
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
|
|
Sucrose Stearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
(Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
(Binding Agent, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
THEOBROMA CACAO SEED BUTTER
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
|
|
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Octyldodecanol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Perfuming, Solvent) |
|
|
|
|
Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Palmitic Acid
(Fragrance, Opacifying, Sufactant, Surfactant Emulsifying Agentsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Palmitic Acid., Emollient) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Synthetic Wax
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Binding, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Polyacrylate
(Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Skin Conditioning Agent Emollient, Viscosity Controlling Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
|
|
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
|
|
|
|
Polyurethane-2
(Film Forming) |
|
|
|
|
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Polymethyl Methacrylate
(Film Forming) |
|
|
|
|
Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
|
|
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
|
|
|
|
Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Sunscreen Agent) |
|
|
|
|
Dimethiconol
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Moisturising) |
Silicone
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Caffeine
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Masking) |
|
|
|
|
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
|
|
Glycine Soja Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying) |
|
|
|
|
Myristic Acid
(Fragrance, Opacifying, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Perfuming) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Ascorbyl Glucoside
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
|
|
Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
|
|
|
|
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
|
|
|
|
Dimethyl MEA
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
|
|
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
(Moisturising, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
(Cleansing, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
|
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Dehydroacetate
(Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water
(Fragrance) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
Acer saccharum extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Citral
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
From the community
Used this product? Rate it in 10 seconds
Alternatives