With the exception of Cleanance Solaire SPF 40 (which is just sticky & shiny - not whitening), all the lotion-based Avène sunscreens I've tried have been whitening, have balled up, & were both shiny AND sticky. The various Avène SPF sprays I've tried, while clear, have all been shiny & sticky. I don't care how amazing an SPF's ingredients are; looking like a sweaty old clown is just out of the question.
All the same, I thought I would give Avène a final chance on my latest trip to Europe. To really be fair & increase the chances of cosmetic elegance with this one last go, I went as far down on the SPF I was willing to go: 30. The result? White, shiny, sticky finish, with pencil eraser-like marks from balling up. It's the kind of finish that is so ridiculously awful that you either want to don a hat, look down, & avoid eye contact the entire day ... or just cry uncle & go wash it off.
Bye, Avène SPF! I tried. continued >>