La Roche Posay • Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 • Moisturizers

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RThorn on 6/19/2013 8:24:00 AM more reviews by RThorn

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

This has been a mainstay sunscreen for me for several years now. I have dry skin, and anything with a dry or matte finish (as a lot of sunscreens have) dries me out too much. This is like the polar opposite of that. It's not just a moisturizer; it's a cream, and incredibly emollient. When fully absorbed, it leaves a somewhat shiny finish, so you have to wear makeup over it (at least I do). I tend to wear a fair amount of it because I want the sun protection as well as the moisturizing benefits.

I would say it absorbs decently well. It's not the kind of sunscreen that you just smooth it on and it's gone--you have to work at it a little bit. On the other hand it does become fully absorbed and doesn't just sit on top of the skin. It has a really nice feel to it.

The price is a little high, at $10/ounce, but if you buy it with a 20% off coupon online or at the drugstore it becomes more reasonable, especially if it takes the place of two products for you (sunscreen and moisturizer). The packaging is OK, but I wish there were an easier way to get the last bits out. I always keep an empty 1/2 ounce jar on hand and when no more will squeeze out I cut the tube open with kitchen shears and scrape out what's left. It always comes to 1/2 ounce or more! That's $5 worth of sunscreen left in the tube.

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beautycalls09 on 5/6/2013 1:54:00 PM more reviews by beautycalls09

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Olive   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

Did some research and found that this is the only mexoryl-containing product for sale in the US. (Mexoryl (ecamsule) is the ingredient that blocks UVA rays responsible for photoaging--it's also way more photostable than comparable sunscreens which is why it is so popular outside the states.) This contains a 2% concentration, and I'm not sure how much that is in comparison to other LRP products in Europe, but I am only looking for a daily moisturizer with some sun protection and not a heavy-duty sunscreen, so it works for me.

I've only been using this for two days but as a moisturizer I think I can safely say I like it. It is a bit heavier than other moisturizers I've used and it does take a few minutes to sink in completely (I apply my makeup over this so I want it to be totally absorbed first) but once absorbed I forget i'm wearing it. It doesn't leave a white residue at all.

This is pretty expensive (for me) costing around $35 dollars for a 3.4 oz tube. I bought it at CVS when they had a $10 extra bucks rebate. It will also last quite a while as I only use a dime size for my entire face.

Overall not a bad product if you're prioritizing sun protection in your search for a daily moisturizer.

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ShalimarMoon on 3/9/2013 11:31:00 PM more reviews by ShalimarMoon

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I've tried dozens of sunscreens over the years (chemical and mineral--you name it), and this is the best. I had some mild sun spots for years that had resisted retinol, glycolic acid, peptides, etc. I went through a whole jar of Clinique Even Better SPF 20, and it brightened my skin a little but didn't reduce the spots or even out my skin noticeably. Then I switched to Anthelios SX. A couple weeks later, I noticed that my skin was looking more even. It got more even over the following weeks, and now, a few months later, my sun spots are much diminished. I believe this product simply protects from UVA rays more effectively than other sunscreens, and that is all a sunscreen needs to do to improve one's skin.

It is a bit sticky, but also highly moisturizing. Happily, it's gentle enough that I can use it around my eyes, although it will sting if it actually gets in my eye. But I work out and sweat a lot while wearing it, and it doesn't travel into my eyes.

As others have reported, it can cause breakouts. It gave me small pimples here and there for weeks, but the improvement in my skin tone made me want to use it anyway, and eventually the breakouts stopped. I have only moderately acne-prone skin, however, so I can see that this product is not for everyone. But if you can tolerate it, it's a very effective sunscreen.

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kerryanne44 on 2/21/2013 12:56:00 PM more reviews by kerryanne44

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I really love this stuff. It's rich, but my skin is dry so I need it. I like that it has a fairly high PPD, and the SPF/PPD is fine for the winter when I hardly get any sunlight. It's also so convenient to be able to buy it at CVS. It's a bit pricey compared to what I usually spend for moisturizers, but it lasts quite a while. I will probably try to find something with a higher SPF/PPD for the spring and summer, but will definitely return to this in the winter.

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livefree on 7/8/2012 10:31:00 AM more reviews by livefree

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

If you suffer from acne stay far far away from this product. Every time I used this I got a horrible breakout. My face was sticky, greasy, and shiny all day. After a few days I stopped using it on my face and just used on the back of my hands. If you don't have acne and have extremely dry skin, this may work for you. It is very heavy. The only thing that I liked about this product is that it felt soothing when applying to the face and there is no white cast.

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brandirae on 5/23/2012 11:28:00 AM more reviews by brandirae

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I wear this moisturizer everyday, usually without any makeup over, maybe some powder. It does leave a slight greasy feeling (I live in TX), but just barely. This doesn't break me out. I wish it had more spf, but I'm not in the sun for very long. This is the most expensive moisturizer I've purchased. I do wish it was cheaper, but I'm willing to pay a little extra for this all-in-one moisturizer. I will repurchase until I find a comparable product with a higher spf that costs less.
UPDATE: Now that its full on summer in TX, my face gets pretty shiny from this stuff. Currently looking for a new daily lotion.
UPDATE: This product makes me break out! I am not using this anymore!
UPDATE: I stopped using this and now, two months later, I no longer get the gross acne that I did when I used this!

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thefallenangel525 on 5/19/2012 8:35:00 PM more reviews by thefallenangel525

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Very light but moisturizing sunscreen. It's perfect for winter in California although I can probably use this for lounging about during the summer. However, I used this at a theme park w/ 3 applications a few days ago and I did not burn. I started turning a bit red but the next day I was fine. My skins medium though so those who are fair will probably burn. I really like it though!

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*TOP REVIEWER* lemonz4us on 1/19/2012 5:16:00 PM more reviews by lemonz4us

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is a review for the la Roche posay US moisturizer spf 15 . I bought this due to reviews. I'm searching for my perfect 'lounge' day moisturizer with spf. What does that mean? Well I use a Bioderma sunscreen in warmer months (far superior protection) but its precious to me and I don't want to waste any product on days where I'll be 1) inside 2) outside for short periods ( think school, or going to the market and back home) or 3) it's cloudy or raining 4) or it's sunrise or sunset(less powerful sun). On these occasions an actual sunscreen is overkill , and since my bioderma sunscreen is a bit expensive, i want to use it only when I need to. Anyway I've been looking for something that still can protect during those times as sun protection is necessary but not as strong . So far I've tried olay sensitive spf 15, sensitive spf 30 and regenerist spf 15 and Avalon organics vitamin c spf 15. The olay sensitive spf 15 was, although stable, low PPD, so not enough UVA protection. The spf 30 was a bit more protection from burn but not much more UVA. The Avalon organics one was horrible for protection. Wouldn't recommend that one at all. The regenerist SPF 15 had the best stable protection thus far. I wanted something with more protection but not quite the punch of a full on sunscreen.
Sorry for the huge wind of background !!
Onto the LRP !!
This moisturizer has a stable spf of 15 and a relatively high PPD of 10.5 (in the sunscreen stimulator calculator) or so. The texture is milky , like the olay SPF 15 sensitive. Slightly more thick. It comes in a white squeeze opaque bottle. Although this is available at CVS online, I've only seen it at certain retail CVS's where I live. Anyway it retails for 31.50 where i am plus tax. Pretty steep for something at the drug store. I'm really unhappy with the price, why should the US have to pay a higher price for protection!? It's not fair! One day... Maybe. Anyway! On the plus you get a full 3.4oz ! Or 100ml that's way more than any moisturizer gives. Usually only 1oz. It'll last a while. Compared to my olay regenerist uv 15 this is slightly more pricey per oz $8/oz olays(2.5oz total) and $9/oz LRP(3.4oz total)
Ok, lots of info I know! But onto the review!! Here we go.
Like I said before it's milky like olay sensitive SPF 15 slightly thicker but spreads well. Make sure you use 1/4 teaspoon for your entire face. And 1/4 teaspoon for the neck . Slightly more (make sure it goes on and behind your ears too if they're exposed to light! It spreads really well and leaves an initial white cast but fades quickly. After 20 minutes of letting it absorb I gently blot away excessive moisture/shine. I have problems with shine throughout the day. Eh
My other problems with it. It's great but it has no added cell communicating ingredients according to Paula Begoun. It has no anti-oxidants either. Your skin needs to be defended against the environment as well as sun. To remedy this I put a serum under it in the morning that has anti's in it ;) you could use a cream with anti's as well. It's up to you. I wish the moisturizer had anti-oxidants so I could eliminate extra steps in my routine. Btw the olay DOES contain all that . Niacinamide and vitamins b5, C, E etc .. That's a toss up I'll have to weigh . Higher protection with LRP or anti-oxidants with Olay ... hmm
Overall I give this 3 lippies. I subtracted 1 for no added benefits (anti-oxidants or cell communicating ingredients) and subtracted 1 for the price. If this stuff is sold at the pharmacies in Europe for 10-18 euros (12-20ish) us dollars it's ridiculous that this is nearly 30 dollars and the protection isn't even the highest.
Anyway this hasn't given any reactions or breakouts so I might repurchase. Hope this review was helpful to you.

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (2%), Ecamsule (2%), Octocrylene (10%)

Inactive Ingredients: Carbomer 940, Carbomer copolymer Type B, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Edetate Disodium, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Isopropyl Palmitate, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Purified Water, Stearic Acid, Stearoyl macrogolglycerides, Stearyl Alcohol, Trolamine


Edit: keeping this at 2 stars but it's a ridiculous price . the aspects don't justify the price tag. It's my backup. I use a full on sunscreen now because it's cheaper(20$ for my ss, same 100ml tube) and way more protecting . My sunscreen has spf 50+ and PPD 38, this has spf 15 and PPD 10.5. I find when i use the full 1/4 tsp I have a lot of shine throughout the day and must blot/wipe away shine. My sunscreen is milky like this as well, and moisturizing, so it wins.Can't stand the sticky tacky feeling of this lrp. My ss doesn't do this. Oh well. It's good but not great. My ss is superior by far

I'll use it up but i wont repurchase, ill recommend it to others though, when its on offer for far less money, for a no-fuss ss/moisturizer that comes off with cleanser

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nmaste on 11/22/2011 11:31:00 AM more reviews by nmaste

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Red, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I love this daily moisturizer, or I should say my skin loves it! I agree with reviewers who say to let it sink in, and that it can sting eyes. I have Lupus, so using a good SPF is bot only to prevent skin damage, it is for my health. I live by the beach and I am not fooled by our morning fog, as UVA rays are magnified by it. I where this moisturizer and am set for the day!

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*TOP REVIEWER* ella343 on 10/15/2011 2:03:00 AM more reviews by ella343

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

While this provides comprehensive but moderate protection it provides thanks to a blend of avobenzone (2%), ecamsule (2%), and octocrylene (10%, UVB and stabilizer), I truly loathe how Anthelios feels on my skin, gummy and greasy at once; it takes a full half hour to absorb. In spite of the claim on the label, it is not suitable for sensitive skin; many people with intolerant skin count avobenzone among their irritants. I cannot even use this on my body, as it itches like mad, and burns if it gets in the eyes. For these reasons, I cannot use Anthelios, and no matter how well it's been formulated, ultimately a good sunscreen is one you use.



Cute name, though. Anti + helios = anthelios.

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michtou on 10/2/2011 3:47:00 PM more reviews by michtou

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Olive, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I've been using Anthelios SX for the past month. For the past year I used Neutrogena moisturizer with sunscreen, but it left a layer over my skin, and (especially in the summer heat & humidity) by 3pm I had an oily sheen on my t-zone. I've used various other La Roche Posay products and have always been very satisfied, so I splurged on this moisturizer.
So far I am really pleased. The texture is slightly thick but it has absolutely NONE of the thick, white, non-blending aspects of other sunscreens. This truly feels like a moisturizer that happens to have sunscreen in it. I use MAC Mineralize Skinfinish powder foundation on my t-zone and it absorbs readily into my skin without any intervention from the moisturizer.
It is fragrance free and has not aggravated my sensitive skin. I recommend it.
** 28/10/11 I've had to reduce the amount of product I put on my face because it can leave me shiny and oily on my t-zone. I'm a bit frustrated, but this doesn't mean I'll stop using the product. I just have a sneaking suspicion that sunscreens will never be perfect.

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emyd on 9/9/2011 3:55:00 PM more reviews by emyd

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

I *really* wanted to love this because of the stable spf, but it causes me to break out every time I try it. Feels great to apply, though.

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*TOP REVIEWER* LucyBelieves on 9/9/2011 12:34:00 AM more reviews by LucyBelieves

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

Non-stinging, moisturizing but non-pore clogging, fragrance free, wears well under makeup and doesn't make my eyes itch. Expensive but worth it.

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Jstar2009 on 9/3/2011 9:47:00 AM more reviews by Jstar2009

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This is one of the more elegant sunscreens on the market- its a genuine pleasure to apply. It melts right in and leaves the skin looking healthy without the shiny sheen. 10% Octocrylene, 2% Avobenzone and 2% Mexoryl SX- so as with all LRP sunscreens its stable and provides good UVA protection (PPD 12). My only gripe is that it doesn't contain Mexoryl XL- having both the mexoryls provides a synergistic effect in protection. Being from London I'm used to having both of the Mexoryls in my SS. I'm not sure this stood up to New York August sun...as I was told I had caught a *slight* colour. Although I look healthier, shouldn't a sunscreen keep your face completely pale? Jury is out on this one. I will stick to Vichy Aqulia Thermal spf 15 -the exact same SS ingredients but with both the Mexoryls (and in higher percentages- the PPD is 18). I would buy the Vichy if you wanted a mexoryl moisturizer. It's not available in the States but if money isn't an issue I would simply get it shipped or stock up when you are visiting!

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lightsout91 on 8/11/2011 6:52:00 PM more reviews by lightsout91

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is just a fantastic moisturizer, period. The SPF 15 (not to mention with mexoryl as a filter and a PPD of 12) is an added bonus. When I use sunscreen, I pretty much always use a good heaping 1/4 teaspoon, so a S/S can easily make my skin look and feel greasy or dehydrated, depending on if the formula is matte or not. This moisturizer, even using 1/4 tsp, does NOT make my skin look greasy nor is it heavy! It just gives me a very nice looking dewy sheen, but not the sheen that makes your face look like plastic.
I've only used it about 10 times on and off since I bought it 2 months ago, but I'm fairly certain it DOES NOT clog my pores!!! :D and the way it's packaged is excellent, the cream is very concentrated so you're really getting your money's worth for $35 dollars. It's a very soothing, comfortable feeling moisturizer, I've even used it to prime my face for big nights out and it looks fabulous. This is ideally for normal to dry skin types, but it works just dandy with my oily face. I WILL be repurchasing this for the winter.

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jennafermarie on 7/29/2011 1:39:00 AM more reviews by jennafermarie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I've always considered sun protection to be very important, but most sunscreens caused me to break out so the best i could do without ruining my complexion was my jane iredale foundation (which I love). This the first sunscreen that doesn't cause me to break out, and trust me I've tried them all from vanicream to lavera to neutragena. First I put on my Kate summervile goat milk cream, let that sit, then my anthelios sx and let that sit while I do my hair, then my cle de peau concealer and my jane iredale powder. I don't wear traditional foundations so maybe that is why it doesn't mess with my make up. Also, I put this on in the morning and spent a full day sunbathing at the beach (awful I know) and did not get sunburned, which is something I do very easily.

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liteenie on 5/23/2011 4:33:00 PM more reviews by liteenie

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This product is too rich for my combination skin and caused some minor acne on my forehead.
It takes quite a while for it to completely dry, in fact it took 2-3 hours on my neck. It will be quite sticky unless you put powder over it. I haven't tried applying liquid foundation over it because after 2 days, I stopped using it and am now trying to return it.
One plus is that applying powder on top looked okay.
I don't doubt that this gives excellent broad spectrum protection but the consistency is just too thick for my taste.

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rebelprince on 5/18/2011 11:34:00 PM more reviews by rebelprince

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

There is something to be said for a moisturizer that I think suits most skin types except for very oily or very dry and has solid, stable sunscreen.

I love this stuff. It leaves my skin feeling soft. It's slightly greasy at first application but if you work it in for a few moments and let it sink in, it doesn't have that feeling at all. Plus, after 9 hours or more, I still have soft, comfortable skin.

The sunscreen gorgeous and tends to offer enough protection for me. No, this won't replace any actual sunscreen for extended sun exposure, but for daily use it's great.

This has no bells or whistles but it really is a great product for what it is. The price is a bit daunting, though. However, considering that most 1.7 ounce products can compete in this price range and this product is 3.4 ounces, it's not really all that bad.

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karasposa on 5/3/2011 11:57:00 AM more reviews by karasposa

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

The medical aesthetician who did my VI Peel gave me a good-sized sample of this last year. When I used it all up, I went back to my trusty Cetaphil moisturizer because I thought that this product was too expensive. I should have just looked at the money as an investment instead of a luxury.

This is the perfect moisturizer for combination, oily or acne-prone skin. It's light enough for warmer weather, but creamy enough to use in cold weather. I don't know how they do it, but it works. It also plays well with topical acne creams like Duac, Differin and Benzaclyn. A little goes a long way, and it feels good on my oily skin without making me feel like a greaseball.

I will definitely repurchase this.

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*TOP REVIEWER* joy2uandme on 4/10/2011 11:41:00 AM more reviews by joy2uandme

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Update: is definitely breaking me out and spf 15 not enough for this climate where we are 7 inches from the sun. Too bad.


Pros: Sunscreen quotient is great, contains emcapsule. Hydrating. Can readily find at drugstores. Lasts a long time under non duress conditions.

Cons: Sticky if you use correct amount but if I cut it back a tad, perfect. You will feel this on your skin. Must allow time for it to sink in. Will sting eyes if you sweat. Expensive--$35. May be breaking me out. SPF 15 is low. All makeup does not work over this; I have to use powders to set.

Not sure if I will repurchase as the cons outweigh the pros but am on the fence. I WANT to love this.

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