I adore this sunscreen with an ardour that is frankly slightly crazy. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Suncreen is a firm favourite of derms and skincare nerds the world over.
For years the perfect sunscreen alluded me. I hated the greyish white cast and the sticky residue. Pilling, balling and generally just peeling off in a sticky mess was always an issue.
Then there was ‘the chemicals’. Sunscreen is a big deal, especially because I live in Queensland Australia. Don’t get me wrong it’s beautiful, but she’s a hottie. Summers regularly get to the mid-’90s for weeks at a time.
The sun feels like it bites you it’s so intense. That is a good thing. It makes you stay inside out of the searing heat. Still, sunscreen is important. Especially for anti-ageing and skin pigmentation issues.
Even when you stay inside, sunlight comes through the windows and into the car when you drive.
Despite my personal love affair with this sunscreen, it’s not the one I would recommend above all others.
What! Is there a better one? Send me to that link now! Well, there is a better one. It’s the ‘one’ that you will wear every day.
The best sunscreen is the one you wear everyday
Finding one that works for you and that you can use and wear every day is crucial. I personally put sunscreen as the most important step in looking after your skin. In fact, if you’re only prepared to do 1 thing for skin health then wear sunscreen.
So, let’s take look at the info from the website.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SUNSCREEN MADE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN VERY HIGH UVA/UVB PROTECTION, INVISIBLE FINISH, NO WHITE MARKS
WHAT IT IS
NEW ANTHELIOS INVISIBLE FLUID SPF 50+ is a lightweight daily facial sunscreen made for sensitive skin providing very high UVA/UVB protection while delivering an invisible finish.
This fragrance-free facial sunscreen is suitable for normal to combination skin and also specifically designed for sensitive skin types. The invisible fluid sunscreen formula is non-greasy and non-comedogenic, meaning it protects your skin without clogging pores.
UV radiation is present every day of the year. Ensure your skin is protected from the damaging UV rays by integrating into your skincare routine a daily SPF 50+ sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
If you have oily skin, we recommend the Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Dry Touch SPF 50+ for a matte, lightweight finish.
If you have dry skin, we recommend the Anthelios ULTRA Cream SPF 50+ for a nourishing, lightweight finish.
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply as the last step of your skincare routine. Suitable for use under make-up. Apply the sunscreen product 20min before exposure. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, towelling and perspiring in accordance with directions.
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection so wear protective clothing and seek shade. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight.
TEXTURE
Featuring a lightweight, virtually invisible fluid that absorbs easily and is non-greasy and non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores or be visible under makeup.
KEY BENEFITS
• Lightweight formula is comfortable for daily wear
• Very High UVA/UVB protection
• Fragrance-free formula
• Formulated for sensitive skin
• Invisible finish, that is easy to seamlessly apply makeup over
• Non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog pores
• Packaging is sleek and easy-to-use and designed to reduce product wastage
Tested under dermatological control on sensitive and reactive skin.
Tested under ophthalmological control on sensitive eyes and eye area. Tested on contact lens wearers.
Allergy tested.
This information was taken directly from the La Roche-Posay Australian Website.
The Ingredients
AQUA / WATER • ALCOHOL DENAT. • DIISOPROPYL SEBACATE • SILICA • ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE • ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE • ETHYLHEXYL TRIAZONE • BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE • BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE • GLYCERIN • C12-22 ALKYL ACRYLATE/HYDROXYETHYLACRYLATE COPOLYMER • PROPANEDIOL • DROMETRIZOLE TRISILOXANE • PERLITE • TOCOPHEROL • CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE • ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE • TEREPHTHALYLIDENE DICAMPHOR SULFONIC ACID • TRIETHANOLAMINE • TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE • PARFUM / FRAGRANCE
All good, apart from the usual perfume issue.
The Anthelios range comes in many formulations and there is really one for everybody. Some countries don’t allow certain ingredients and some only have it certain formulas. I have tried nearly all of them, and never meet one I haven’t loved from the start.
Summary
I have been using this sunscreen daily for 4 years. It is my favourite, by a long way and I have tried many sunscreens.
Here is why I love this sunscreen.
- Lightweight.
- Doesn’t leave a cast.
- Allows your skin to sweat without stinging your eyes.
- You can get it really close to your eyes as it doesn’t sting.
- It does not pill or ball, although this is also down to the application method.
- You can see the tips for use at the end of the section.
- Looks great under makeup.
- Doesn’t have any nasty or off-putting smell.
- Absorbs like a dream.
- Has good to great ingredients that don’t kill coral reefs.
- What? Does sunscreen kill coral reefs? Yes, sadly it does, but this one doesn’t.
There is nothing about this sunscreen that annoys me. I tried hard to find something. Ok, there is one thing and that is the price. A 50ml bottle costs in Australia between $28 – $32. At the recommended application dose of 5 ml(1 teaspoon) twice per day, that’s a bottle every 5 days!
However, I wear this brand when I am at home and only on my face, neck ears and decolletage. I only apply it once. If I am going out to the beach, or swimming (who am I kidding I never go to the beach! I hate sand.) But I do swim a lot in summer. I wear a cheaper brand.
Look, if you’re going to spend money on a product, let it be sunscreen. Then maybe vitamin C. I love this product and realistically a 50 ml bottle lasts me 3 – 4 weeks.
I will spend the money when a product delivers, is great to use, performs well and doesn’t kill off coral reefs.
Would we recommend and repurchase this product?
In a heartbeat. I buy it at least once a month because my children use it as well, that’s another thing children do not object to putting this sunscreen on.
Want to know even more about this sunscreen hero?
We love Dr David Lim and respect his take on all things skincare. This video is great at explaining why La Roche-Posay Anthelios sunscreen is beloved by dermatologists around the world.
Buy La Roche-Posay Ultra Light Anthelios XL Sunscreen
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