Serum Skincare Sunscreen: Benefits of Anti-Ageing SPF
SKINCAREJULY 2026
Though you may not think of it, sunscreen is an essential part of a modern skincare routine.
With so much emphasis on products that mitigate or reverse the effects of ageing, using one that can limit the effects of ageing before they take hold is a vital step in any skincare routine. Using SPF for skincare can help to limit wrinkles and dark spots, and potentially reduce the amount of collagen your body loses.
In this article, we’ll look at serum and anti-ageing SPFs, diving into how they can protect the skin from visible signs of ageing, why you may choose to use them over regular sunscreens, and how they fit within Kiehl’s pro-ageing philosophy of supporting healthy skin at every age.
Serum skincare sunscreen: Key takeaways
- UV radiation is a key factor in early ageing, and can cause the skin to lose elasticity, a change in pigmentation, and form fine lines and wrinkles.
- Continued exposure to UV can also damage collagen in the skin, diminishing the skin’s regenerative ability.
- While sunscreen can prevent further skin damage from UV rays, most will not tackle existing signs of ageing on the skin.
- Serum anti-ageing SPFs, like Kiehl’s Better Screen™ UV Serum Sunscreen, combine skincare-grade anti-ageing benefits with sunscreen-level protection.
- Kiehl’s Better Screen™ UV Serum Sunscreen uses collagen peptide fragments to reduce the visible signs of ageing and offer broad-spectrum sun protection to your face and neck.
Why Is Anti‑Ageing SPF Essential for Daily Skincare?
UV radiation is a key factor in ageing. As we go through life, continued exposure to UV light causes changes to our skin, including:
- A loss of skin elasticity.
- Fine lines and wrinkles.
- Sun spots.
- Changes in pigmentation.
- Spider veins (broken capillaries).
Simply put, UV exposure accelerates the causing the early onset of symptoms that should occur much later in life. This means that an anti-ageing SPF is one of the best ways you can reduce your chances of early ageing, while also combating any signs of ageing already present on your skin.
While daily sunscreen for the face and body is always important, anti-ageing SPF is a great option for those who are especially concerned about the ageing effects of UV as opposed to just its short-term effects (burns, blisters, etc.).
Benefits of Using a Sunscreen Serum for the Face
Traditional UVB and UVA protection sunscreens have worked as a preventative measure against further UV damage, looking to reduce the risk of further UV damage to the skin. While this approach works well for preventing further sun damage, it does not help counteract any damage already done to the skin by the effects of UV rays.
This is where anti-ageing SPFs come in. A modern, skincare-focused approach to sunscreen, anti-ageing SPFs, like Kiehl’s Better Screen™ UV Serum Sunscreen, combine elements of anti-ageing skincare with broad-spectrum sun protection. Some of the key benefits of Kiehl’s anti-ageing sunscreen include:
- A lightweight and non-greasy formula: Our Better Screen™ UV Serum Sunscreen is high-action, but lightweight. With an invisible finish across multiple skin tones, it is a seamless addition to your skincare routine and the ideal choice for a lightweight sunscreen for the face.
- Skincare-grade benefits: With collagen peptide fragments specifically formulated to help visibly correct signs of ageing, our Better Screen™ UV Serum Sunscreen offers skincare-level anti-ageing benefits. 92% of users agree skin feels firmer after use, with 90% also agreeing that their skin tone looks more even*.
- Sunscreen-grade protection: With broad-spectrum clinically demonstrated SPF 50 PA++++, you can use our collagen sunscreen without fear of compromising on sun protection benefits.
- Works well underneath makeup: Struggling with whether to use sunscreen before or after makeup? Our anti-ageing sunscreen layers perfectly under makeup for the first application, and can be seamlessly applied over makeup for re-application throughout the day.
How to Apply Serum Sunscreen in Your Skincare Routine
Step 1: Apply as your last skincare step
As with our other sunscreens, our Better Screen™ UV Serum Sunscreen should be applied at the last step of your skincare routine. It layers seamlessly underneath makeup, so feel free to apply any cosmetics after using the anti-ageing sunscreen.
Apply a generous layer of our Better Screen™ UV Serum Sunscreen to your face and neck, and massage it into your skin after your morning skincare routine.
Step 2: Wait 15 minutes
After applying your non-greasy facial sunscreen, make sure to wait at least 15 minutes before direct sun exposure. This gives the formula a chance to seep into your skin and properly protect your skin from UV rays.
Reapply every 2 hours
You should use a UVB and UVA protection sunscreen every day, regardless of the weather, but just as important as making it a part of your skincare routine is re-applying regularly.
Reapply your collagen sunscreen every 2 hours to keep your skin properly protected against UV damage.
Shop Kiehl’s serum sunscreens for anti-ageing
For those looking to combine skincare and sun protection, Kiehl’s Better Screen™ UV Serum Sunscreen is the ideal choice. Formulated to protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays whilst also visibly reducing signs of ageing, it is the perfect choice for those looking for the best of the serum and sunscreen worlds.
