L'Oreal • Ombrelle-SPF60 cream • Sunscreen

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thirdsword on 7/12/2012 4:45:00 AM more reviews by thirdsword

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

EDIT: I now use it on my neck as I've found a way to minimize streak: I don't use a huge amount and I rub it in quickly and thoroughly. Also, my makeup goes on better if I wait a few minutes for the sunscreen to dry, but in the mornings, I generally don't have time for that! There's still the problem with it balling up, though, so using this on my arms is a no-go.

Kind of pricey for a drugstore sunscreen, but I was curious about Mexoryl, so I purchased this before heading off for a summer trip to Las Vegas. I applied this once every morning. It went on streaky and white, and it balled up whenever I rubbed an area with dry sunscreen, but it lasted FOREVER. I returned home the same shade as I was when I first went (and I tan easily)! I don't know if I'll be using this on my body very much in the future (again, because it's streaky), but I have and will continue to use this on my face (despite the oily texture) as I can hide the whitish cast with makeup... Always set this with powder! I also think my face has gotten a little lighter, which is good in my book--my face is a tad darker than my neck. Best of all, my face doesn't feel like it's burning when I slap this on!

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xyoru on 6/26/2011 10:26:00 PM more reviews by xyoru

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Other    

After using the neutrogena dry touch sunscreen for years, I wanted to try a different one on my face and picked this one because it was specifically for your face.
I wear sunscreen everyday, regardless of whether it's sunny or not. I found this felt extreme sticky, and made me look really oily. I already have oily skin, so I usually use a matte powder over this, and after an hour I look like a mess.
This didn't absorb into my skin nicely, or quickly either.
Would not repurchase, and I'm planning on using the rest of the sunscreen on my body as opposed to my face.

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Aude89 on 3/20/2009 2:43:00 PM more reviews by Aude89

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

This product IS very greasy-feeling upon first application, but it does eventually absorb into the skin. I would not recommend using this on your face or neck because it is heavy; however, if you choose to use this a facial sunscreen, I'd suggest setting it with some powder.
What I personally love about Ombrelle's formula is, it hasn't caused any irritation or breakouts on my face. Great protection overrides initial oily discomfort.

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Nica on 9/26/2008 10:28:00 PM more reviews by Nica

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I'd buy it again if desperate. I have normal/dry skin and this makes my face an oil slick by the end of the day, especially if it's a warm day. It doesn't sink in your skin, it just sits there.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sterlingK on 7/25/2008 8:55:00 PM more reviews by sterlingK

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily, Fair   Hair: Brown, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Other    

I am very pale and recently went on a trip to the Dominican, I was very worried about being burnt but also worried about my skin breaking out from the sunscreen. I brought a lot of sunscreens with me on the trip and this one (I actually bought the "milk" not the cream) was by far the best of the bunch. Smooth, light texture, never greasy or tacky and really worked well. I did not use this product on my face, body only. I will definitely continue to buy this a keep a bottle handy whenever it's sunny.

Edit - May 2013 - I hate the reformulation of this. It's terrible. I stocked up when I went away on vacation and could not use it. It's so thick, pills up on my skin and never absorbs. It was too uncomfortable to keep using so I ended up having to buy some Hawaiian tropic and using that (which has also been reformulated and is lovely now btw). Too bad this was my fav sunscreen. Would not repurchase.

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audr90 on 9/13/2007 3:36:00 PM more reviews by audr90

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Oily   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is the most effective sunscreen that i've owned. Having said that, I think I'd be causing myself some other body cancers trying to prevent skin cancer by using this product. If you look at the ingredient lists, what's up with Triethanolamine, and ALUMINIUM Starch Octenylsuccinate being high up on the list? ALUMINIUM Hyrdozide and other parabans being in the middle and at the end. I bought this early in 2007 and it'll last 3 years. I'd rather prefer my sunscreen to last only about a year and have less parabans.
Also, when I used this on my face, it made my face whiter, which i don't mind at all, and greasier, but i didn't mind that either since it made my face look abit more dewy and healthier as long as i used the oil blotter occasionally. But it did clog pores somewhat. There's a face version of this that came out, and I'd prefer to buy that for my face, but b/c of the chemicals, I'm not buying anymore sunscreens. I'm resorting to natural sun preventer, aka my aloe vera plant, for everday use.
But if i had to go to the beach, I would use this one.

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fireball3 on 8/1/2007 2:37:00 PM more reviews by fireball3

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

I have been using this sunscreen on my rediculously pale, acne prone, Diffirin and Tazorac treated skin for over a year. It is the only product I have found (trying the La-Roche Anthelios XL 60 next) that keeps me from burning in the hot California and Arizona sun. I am good about reapplying often and don't mind the shine since it saves my skin. I road bike and/or skydive all day with this stuff and cannot recommend a sunscreen with a better level of protection for other pale redheads like me. It will give you a shine and if you are not pale the slight white tint may be a problem. On a regular day at work type day I just throw some powder on top and it takes away the shine, oh and no breakouts with it either, yeah!

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Sea2 on 5/26/2007 6:36:00 PM more reviews by Sea2

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

I bought the one for the face. The sunscreen is really good, i never had sunburns, but it leaves my skin oily. I just have to put my Marcelle loose powder and it's okay.

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andekhi on 5/8/2007 8:23:00 PM more reviews by andekhi

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have really really sensitive skin which can't bear sun even for like five mins... other sunblocks didn't work for me at all.. instead they will irritate my skin .. then my dermatologist gave me sample of this sunscreen last summer and now i am using this since then.. no irritation for my sensitive skin... but i guess as you go up the SPF spectrum it tends to get greasy.. anyways it works for me .. oh and i have acne prone skin and it doesn't break me out...

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*TOP REVIEWER* KittySkyfish on 3/27/2007 3:51:00 PM more reviews by KittySkyfish

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Ombrelle 60 has been pretty good at protecting my skin and preventing hyperpigmentation patches from darkening. It's also very, very moisturizing. Too moisturizing, in fact. When I put on the required amount I look extremely greasy. This is really ugly but T.LeClerc loose powder fixes the shine for good! Just wait for 20 minutes for everything to settle, apply concealer where needed and start brushing on a LIBERAL amount of T.LeClerc, followed by repeated buffing with a powder brush to soften the powdered finish. How much is 'liberal'? Dip your brush into the powder enough to completely and heavily coat the bristle tips...that's my version of liberal. With normal moisturizers this would give an extremely powdery finish but again, Ombrelle 60 has a glue-like finish and completely eats any powder that's applied. If it wasn't for T.LeClerc, I wouldn't be able to wear this sunscreen because it's that darn greasy. But I give it a 4 instead of a lesser score because it *does* a great job of protecting my skin. Will I repurchase? Probably, because my skin tolerates it and it does the job.

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Angela75 on 11/3/2006 10:22:00 PM more reviews by Angela75

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I would buy this again, only because it's sun protection is unequalled. Not one freckle, even after hours in the sun in the summertime on a boat with the glare of the water trying to burn me. I've used it for a year and summer or winter, my skin is very pale. The protection is really quite amazing. However, and I hate to say it, it's GREASY...terribly greasy and my skin seems to want to overproduce oil when it's on my face. My pores look gigantic. *sigh* I don't want to wear spf15 because I honestly think it's not enough to prevent wrinkles, but the tradeoff is looking like you're sweating...constantly....

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LizLizLiz on 10/7/2006 1:12:00 PM more reviews by LizLizLiz

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

Miracle product! In one year, my neck has become so ivory-white it looks like I'm wearing foundation on it. My 39-year-old face, which was developing rosacea from sun damage, is getting creamy white in places. There are actually jagged tan lines on my wrists and upper arms, where I threw on Ombrelle as an afterthought, and I've been using sunblock on my arms for 20 years. Don't settle for anything less than 3% mexoryl. Just watch out for the packaging, the cream runs out quickly. It is a fairly thick cream, but you don't need much.

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silvercatt on 9/28/2006 7:57:00 AM more reviews by silvercatt

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This is the only sunscreen I trust with my skin in the summer.
I completely agree that it feels disgusting (especially in the summer) and leaves a white cast, and is runny but that's a small price to pay.
At first I just found it "moisturizing" but after a while, the whole " I can't touch my face/clothes/arms/anything around me etc." thing becomame kind of annoying.
I spent the summer with white pearlized stains on my clothes. On the bright side, I didn't get burned once-first summer ever- while wearing this. it did NOT break me out and the white cast complemented my natural skin tone.
IMHO it's better than La Roche Posay and the texture is not that different.
Worth $15, though I do wish it was less tacky and sticky. I'm going to try their sensitive skin SPF 30 and kids SPF 45 versions to compare, but for now: HG sunsreen.

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lagercat on 9/8/2006 1:34:00 AM more reviews by lagercat

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Blue    

This is excellent sunscreen, and I use it daily when the weather is a bit cooler. Since I walk most places and tend to perspire, in the summer I don't feel confident that it isn't coming off. Also, this is a rather heavy lotion, which is not ideal for my combination skin in humid weather. During cool weather, it will absorb fairly well if I rub it in properly, but I've found that Neutrogena Dry Touch 55 w/helioplex works much better for summer on my skin.

One thing I don't care for is the fact that it contains titanium dioxide, which is an extremely effective physical block, but which gives a whitish cast to the skin. Rubbing it in well and dusting with bronzer and sheer powder helps with this, but I've still noticed in some pictures that I look whiter with it.

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cutiebumblebee on 7/20/2006 3:59:00 PM more reviews by cutiebumblebee

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I have a solution to the runny sunscreen problem. I leave this tube in my fridge and take it out whenever I need to use it. Since it becomes thick and cool, I've got more control in how much product comes out. The cool sunscreen feels great applied in this hot summer heat. Good luck!

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vfer on 7/20/2006 2:51:00 PM more reviews by vfer

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I tried several Ombrelle sunscreens this summer and my review is the same for them all! PROS: Didn't burn my eyes or face. No odor. CONS: Expensive, GREASY, got huge red zits, feels like Crisco on my face and body.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Thena on 7/17/2006 9:02:00 AM more reviews by Thena

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Ombrelle is probably the best midrange sunblock in Canada. After trying this, I'll experiment with LRP and Vichy as well, each line carrying a high SPF of 60 and PA rating. This is my first time wearing SPF60, and the Ombrelle does leave me a white cast. It's not great, but it is a strong sunblock. I rather have a white cast than not to use this at all since it seems to make me tan less than other sunblocks. The packaging is not great as the cream is very fluid and thin so it runs out quickly. I usuaully tilt it up rather than stand it down. It goes on just a bit sticky, but it still looks matte if you're not perspiring too much. It is moisturizing which is good and one can bypass a moisturizer if you use it in the mornings or possibly even in the winter. It ranges from $13-17 in Canada for 120mL.

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*TOP REVIEWER* 2westies on 6/18/2006 12:04:00 PM more reviews by 2westies

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

This has been my daily workhorse sunscreen for almost 2 years- after an exhaustive search. It simply answers every need and requirement; super effective protection being #1. I see a vast improvement in the condition of my skin regarding age spots, old acne scarring, fewer wrinkles and better overall texture. Mexoryl may not be USFDA approved but I wish they'd get with the program because it truly works. In addition to regular daily use I have worn this all day every day on several Florida beach vacations and—unlike Sage SPF 40 which I had been using before— never saw a trace of tan on my face. The texture is creamy and easy to spread without being too greasy, it sinks in fairly quickly with not a trace of dreaded white cast, doesn't intrude under makeup, and considering I have to buy online from Canada, is affordably priced at approx. USD 14.50 for a 4 ounce tube. For the record, I also switch off and use LRP Anthelios XL Fluide Extreme spf 60, another favorite, but it is more slippery and shiney, not as makeup friendly, and way more expensive.

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so_fee_ahh on 5/17/2006 11:23:00 AM more reviews by so_fee_ahh

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy   Eyes: Hazel    

I'm kinda hesitant to rate this as I have just began using this product. First off, it is not a product that is readily sold in the United States so I had to research where I could purchase it. I finally found a website that sold it by the least expensive price (because it was way overpriced on ebay and Amazon, etc.) Go to http://www.westcoastskin.com and look for it there for only $13.99.

On with the review now, I love how it has Mexoryl as no sunscreen within the U.S. has goten onboard with this ingredient yet (mere substitutions do not count in my view). However, reviewers are right about one thing, unfortunately! I put a tiny dab onto my whole face and my whole face is an oil slick! The first time, actually, I had put a generous amount of the sunscreen on and can you imagine? It was so oily, I had to systematically blot my face throughout the entire day. Not only is that time-consuming and annoying, it still remained just as oily despite my best effort. That is why I tried dabbing on just a tiny bit, however, that didn't reassure me that I was getting suitable sun protection because I know I needed a good amount of the SPF 60 cream on my face and neck.

One more thing I have a problem with is the packaging. At first glance, the tube that this sunscreen cream comes in looks perfectly fine. However, I have a problem with once it's being squeezed. A large amount comes gushing out!!! And it's hard to reopen the cap so that I can put the excess amount back in, so I'm forced with this glob of sunscreen all over my hand. I just wanted to use this specifically for my face and neck only, not on my body because I use Ocean Potion sunscreen for the body. Lol, yes, I suppose I am quite particular about the application process. Anyway, that's the thing that makes me take off a couple lippies.

I'm still quite ambivalent with this product as you can tell. On the one hand, I love the immense protection I am getting (comopared to the past when I would go out in the hard day sun with my face naked of any sun protection products), but at the same time I don't want to have to compromise with that making my face look so oily and greasy!

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astroathena on 5/1/2006 7:52:00 PM more reviews by astroathena

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Before using Ombrelle SPF 60 creme, I used various SPF 45 sunscreens I bought in the US (Neutrogena, Coppertone, etc.) that I would apply in the mornings. Having just moved to Arizona (aka. hot desert), I was getting used to turning pink everday after school when I would have to wait for the bus for more than 5 minutes (even after lunchtime re-application!). Since using Ombrelle, I don't turn any color at all (even after sitting in the sun for a few hours)! I stay pale/uncolored, and I don't even need to re-apply the sunblock even after wearing it after a 9-12 hour school day. This is all fantastic.

My only complaint is the greasiness. It makes my face very shiny for the entire day, and feels very thick even hours after I've applied it, I'm afraid of touching my skin for fear of rubbing more off. I haven't experienced any breakouts so far (been using for 2 weeks now), and hope not too.

The greasiness makes me want to switch back to my drier sunblock (Neutrogena Ultra Sheer), but its hard after this being the most effective sunblock I've ever tried. I can't wait for the FDA to approve Mexoryl in the states -- I dream of Neutrogena making an Ultra Sheer version of this stuff. :)


So if you want a sunblock that REALLY works and don't mind greasiness, try this!

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