Up for review today are two fantastic sunscreens (well, one fantastic and one great) from esteemed French skincare brand La Roche Posay. One’s a very high protection sunscreen and the other is a high protection sunscreen formulated especially for oily, acne-prone skin.
I’m reviewing two sunscreens from their 2010 release:
- Anthelios XL Very High Protection SPF50+
- Anthelios AC High Protection SPF30
Read on for a full review!
La Roche Posay’s suncare line, Anthelios, is pretty well known for being at the forefront of suncare that’s extremely high in protection as well as cosmetically elegant (that means they don’t go on all thick, sticky and shiny).
Let’s start with the Anthelios XL Very High Protection SPF50+
This sunscreen offers La Roche Posay’s highest PPD in a sunscreen at 38 with a reduced amount of chemical filters which makes it a nicer product on the skin. It’s also fragrance/paraben free, water resistant and tolerance tested on sensitive skin.
My thoughts:
Pros
- Protection. This sunscreen provides an amazing level of sun protection, high SPF and high PPD – everything you could need in a sunscreen. I think this is the highest protective sunscreen i’ve come across so far.
- Finish. With a sunscreen this high in protection, you’d expect it to be very heavy on the skin. Good thing is that it’s not at all. This sunscreen has a very fluid, runny texture that’s a breeze to apply. It might be a little sticky but compared to other sunscreens on the market that offer this level of protection, it’s nothing.
- Packaging. It’s small and has a nozzle applicator so you can squeeze out the right amount of product without this runny sunscreen going everywhere.
Cons
- Irritation. While this didn’t irritate my skin at all, it did make my eyes sting a little when applied in that general area. The sensation didn’t last but you should be aware of that.
- Finish. I loved the runny texture of this but there’s no getting around the fact that a sunscreen offering a level of protection this high is going to be a bit sticky and white. The stickiness I can deal with (it’s nowhere near as sticky as comparable sunscreens) but once you’ve applied a liberal amount of this stuff your face is going to be looking a bit ghostly. This can be easily solved by mixing a tiny bit of Clinique Men’s liquid bronzing gel but I hate extra steps. Another thing to note about this sunscreen is that while it doesn’t make you greasy or oily, it won’t actively control shine either.
Who’s this for?
- Anyone going on a tropical vacation/living in sunny climes.
- Anyone who doesn’t want a tan(!)
- Anyone who has very sun sensitive skin (from skin treatments, medication, those who are cancer-prone etc).
- Anybody serious about preventing the premature ageing effects of the sun; this is going to give you some of the best sun protection available in arguably one of the best finishes. With this you can slow down the onset of premature wrinkles and problems with pigmentation.
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Next up, my favourite of the two – the Anthelios AC High Protection SPF30.
This is a version of the previously mentioned Anthelios XL Very High Protection SPF50+ with slightly less sun protection that’s been modified for acne prone and oily skin. I’ve been using this daily since I got it in the mail and i’ll be buying another tube soon!
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| I drew a zigzag on my palm with the sunscreen but by the time I grabbed my camera it was running off my palm. This stuff is runny. |
Pros
- Protection. Whilst this provides less protection than its SPF50+ counterpart, the Anthelios AC High Protection SPF30 still provides an excellent level of protection for most people. SPF30 is perfect unless you’re prone to burning in the sun and with a PPD of 19 it still provides a level of UVA protection heads and shoulders above similar products.
- Finish. Love the finish of this, it’s comparable to the brilliant Japanese sunscreens I go on about so often. It’s very runny, light, has a matte finish and best of all, even after applying a quarter teaspoon of this stuff to my face it doesn’t leave me looking white. Whatever slight white cast this leaves on my naturally tanned skin seems to disappear within about half an hour. Basically this offers a very similar finish to Japanese sunscreens (though not as mattifying as something like the Sofina Lucent) but with almost double the amount of UVA protection – that’s the stuff that’s going to lead to premature skin ageing and pigmentation darkening.
- No breakouts. I’ve been wearing this for about 2 weeks straight and haven’t experienced any clogged pores or breakouts from this.
- Packaging. It’s small and has a nozzle applicator so you can squeeze out the right amount of product without this runny sunscreen going everywhere.
Cons
- Irritation. While this didn’t irritate my skin at all, it did make my eyes sting a little when applied in that general area. The sensation didn’t last but you should be aware of that.
- Protection. SPF30 is perfectly fine for me as I don’t burn very easily but it may be a little low if you’re very pale or prone to burning. That said, this should be a perfectly fine level of protection for most people. In terms of UVA protection (the important stuff), this provides a fantastic amount of protection.
Who’s this for?
- Anyone who’s oily or acne prone and needs a high level sunscreen for summer.
- Anyone who’s looking for a good sunscreen because acne treatments have left their skin bvery sensitive to the sun.
- Anybody serious about preventing the premature ageing effects of the sun; not only does the level of UVA protection in this help to prevent sun damage to skin, it’s also enough to prevent acne scars from getting darker with daily use.
So there you have it, two fantastic sunscreens from a wonderful brand. I’ll be using the Anthelios AC High Protection SPF30 every day and will probably take the Anthelios XL Very High Protection SPF50+ along with me when I go on vacation this summer.
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Isn't it a problem that denatured alcohol is near the top of the ingredient list of these products?
In Paula Begoun's cosmetic ingredient dictionary (cosmeticscop.com) one reads that not only can be extremely drying and irritating to skin, but also can generate free-radical damage.
I have the extreme fluid one, the first one you reviewed.. and it unfortunately clings to dry patches of my skin. It's so great though. But it's so expensive for the amount you receive in it.
Also, oh dear, that picture of your hand.. is it really sunscreen? Hahaha
How do you find out the PPD value of your sunscreen? They dont show up on the bottle in america.
@Olyrous – Not a problem for me but potentially for others! The alcohol is what helps to make the sunscreen so matte and light. It'd be a problem for dry skin but perfectly fine for oilier skin like mine. Any free radical damage (which is minimal at best) is negated by the high SPF and antioxidants in the sunscreen.
@GeekyEejit – Oi, cheeky! Yeah it can be a little too dry for dry skin, you'd probably be better off with something a touch more moisturising or you could wear a light moisturiser or moisturising serum underneath.
@Kevin – Unfortunately American sunscreen manufacturers don't have to label the PPD values of their products. I think they will in a few years but til then you have to rely on looking at the percentages of chemical filters they use in the sunscreen. In Europe and Asia they have a code system for identifying the PPD.
I have the spf 60 version http://tinyurl.com/23gxl2x
is it the same as the one you mentioned above?
Also I saw in other posts that you recommended the Shiseido Sun Lotion and also the Elta MD UV Clear.
Between these three which one would you recommend for oily/acne prone skin?