La Roche-Posay Sunscreen Review

Navigating the selection of sunscreen on today’s market can be quite daunting. Everyone wants to protect their skin from the sun’s damaging rays, but the sheer amount of options available can be overwhelming.

Enter La Roche-Posay, a French skincare brand and trusted name in skincare for over forty years that has created an award-winning line of sunscreens specifically designed to help protect our skin from the damaging rays of the sun.

BUT…La Roche-Posay sells a lot of sunscreens, so it can be difficult to determine which one is best for you.

So I went ahead and purchased several of their best sellers, tested them, and will share my experience with each sunscreen in this La Roche-Posay sunscreen review.

This La Roche-Posay sunscreen review post contains affiliate links, and any purchases made through these links will result in a commission for me at no extra cost to you. Please read my Disclosure for additional information.

La Roche-Posay Sunscreen Review

First, a few notes about the sunscreens that I tested.

All of the La Roche-Posay sunscreens in this post are fragrance-free, oil-free, non-comedogenic, and suitable for sensitive skin.

All of the chemical sunscreens that I tried had that chemical sunscreen scent, but it was not overwhelming, and only one of the chemical sunscreens caused my skin to break out (see below).

Perhaps that is because all the chemical La Roche-Posay sunscreens that I tried are oxybenzone and octinoxate-free.

Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two common chemical filters that have a toxic effect on the marine environment, can cause skin allergies and reactions, and may even be hormone disruptors.

About my skin: I am typically a mineral sunscreen user since my skin is often sensitive to chemical sunscreen filters. My skin leans towards the oily side, especially during warm weather.

I purchased both mineral and chemical sunscreens for this review and, for the most part, was pleasantly surprised by how my skin responded to La Roche-Posay’s chemical sunscreens.

La Roche-Posay Chemical Sunscreen Reviews

The La Roche-Posay chemical sunscreens that I tried contain the following chemical filters at different concentrations:

• Avobenzone
• Homosalate
• Octisalate
• Octocrylene

The face sunscreen contains the following chemical filters:

• 3% Avobenzone
• 15% Homosalate
• 5% Octisalate
• 7% Octocrylene

La Roche-Posay’s proprietary Cell-Ox Shield Technology combines UVA/UVB sun protection along with the antioxidant Senna alata.

Senna alata, also known as Cassia alata, is a potent antioxidant and tropical leaf extract that fights free radical-induced skin damage caused by the sun that can result in premature skin aging.

Like most La Roche-Posay products, this sunscreen contains skin-soothing La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, which contains minerals, trace elements, selenium, a skin-protective antioxidant,

Vitamin E is another antioxidant in this sunscreen that protects your skin against environmental stress.

As noted on the tube, the sunscreen provides a dry touch after it is absorbed, and it leaves a matte finish. Its perlite and silica complex of lightweight powders controls oil and shine throughout the day.

It has a white cream texture that disappears once absorbed. The fragrance-free sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

It does a great job of keeping my skin shine-free throughout the day, and it works well with makeup, too.

I do notice, though, that my skin feels a bit dry at the end of the day compared to the other La Roche-Posay chemical sunscreens that I tried, so this may not be the best choice for dry skin types.

Clear Skin Sunscreen SPF 60 hasn’t irritated my skin either, so I’m thrilled to have found a non-irritating chemical sunscreen that controls oil.

This award-winning chemical sunscreen has a luxe, velvety texture that melts into your skin, just as the name suggests.

It is a chemical sunscreen that contains the following chemical filters:

• 3% Avobenzone
• 10% Homosalate
• 5% Octisalate
• 7% Octocrylene

It is enriched with La Roche Posay’s Cell-Ox Shield Technology that combines UVA/UVB broad-spectrum sunscreen protection with antioxidant protection from the tropical leaf extract Senna alata.

Senna alata extract protects skin cells in the upper layer of your skin against damaging free radicals caused by the sun. It also has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant skin protective benefits.

The sunscreen milk also contains glycerin to help keep skin moisturized throughout the day, antioxidant vitamin E, and skin-protectant dimethicone.

It is enriched with La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water sourced in France, which contains minerals, trace elements, and the antioxidant selenium.

This sunscreen has a lightweight, slightly creamy texture that spreads easily over my skin and absorbs quickly.

It is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

I can see why this sunscreen milk is so popular as a face and body sunscreen. It has a silky texture that melts into my skin and has a natural finish. It leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized.

This chemical sunscreen contains the following UV filters:

• 3% Avobenzone
• 10% Homosalate
• 5% Octisalate
• 7% Octocrylene

Like other La Roche-Posay sunscreens, Anthelios Light Fluid Sunscreen contains La Roche Posay Cell-Ox Shield Technology.

Cell-Ox Shield combines UVA/UVB broad-spectrum sunscreen protection and antioxidant protection from Senna Alata extract, a tropical leaf extract that protects against skin-damaging free radicals caused by UV rays.

The sunscreen also contains La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, antioxidant vitamin E, and skin protectant dimethicone. Lightweight silica powder absorbs excess oil and reduces the look of shine.

The fragrance-free sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

It’s very similar to La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60, but there are a few differences: It doesn’t contain glycerin like Melt-In Milk Sunscreen but does contain silica to control oil and shine.

It also has a thinner consistency and feels more lightweight on my skin.

This is another La Roche-Posay sunscreen ideal for oily and acne-prone skin, but doesn’t feel as drying as La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen SPF 60, so I prefer it over Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen SPF 60.

Of the chemical La Riche-Posay sunscreens I’ve tried, I think this is the best sunscreen I tried (for my face).

La Roche-Posay Mineral Sunscreen Reviews

There are only two mineral sunscreen filters approved by the FDA: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. La Roche-Posay uses both filters in most of their mineral sunscreens.

The sunscreen contains the following physical sunscreen filters that provide SPF 50 broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection:

• 5% Titanium Dioxide
• 15% Zinc Oxide

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide absorb and reflect UV rays (both UVA/ UVB) and are ideal for sensitive skin types that may be prone to irritation.

Silica powder gives the sunscreen a silky feel and a soft focus effect. Lipo-Hydroxy Acid (LHA), a derivative of salicylic acid, offers exfoliating benefits. Vitamin E provides antioxidant benefits.

This physical sunscreen contains Cell-Ox Shield technology that combines broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with antioxidants that protect against free radical damage in the skin.

The non-greasy sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

It has a somewhat thick, chalky texture that creates an obvious white cast (on my light skin tone) upon application.

I am happy to say that it does dissipate once absorbed, but I’m not sure how well this will work for you if you have a darker skin tone.

Due to the thicker nature of this mineral sunscreen, I will continue using this on my body only and use one of the more fluid La Roche-Posay mineral sunscreens on my face due to their more lightweight texture and feel on my skin.

Mineral filters are much more suitable for sensitive skin than chemical filters.

It contains the following mineral filters that provide broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection:

• 6% Titanium Dioxide
• 5% Zinc Oxide

The thin liquid texture absorbs quickly and leaves a matte finish on your skin.

It contains Cell-Ox Shield technology combining broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with skin-protecting antioxidants.

Vitamin E provides antioxidant benefits, while silica powder gives this sunscreen a light, velvety feel. Dimethicone helps reduce water loss and forms a protective barrier against external aggressors.

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water offers anti-irritating properties to soothe sensitive skin.

The fragrance-free sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes.

I find this sunscreen to be lightweight on my skin and leaves a very natural matte finish.

It does have a bit of a white cast on application, but it fades away (on my light skin tone) once the sunscreen is absorbed.

This is my favorite La Roche-Posay mineral sunscreen that I tried.

The mineral filter in this sunscreen is:

• 11% Titanium Dioxide

Like other La Roche-Posay sunscreens, this tinted sunscreen contains Cell-Ox Shield technology that combines broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with skin-protecting antioxidants.

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water helps soothe and refresh skin. Dimethicone forms a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, and vitamin E offers antioxidant benefits.

Silica powder helps absorb oil and contributes to the sunscreen’s matte finish. Iron oxides provide the tint.

The fragrance-free tinted sunscreen is water-resistant up to 40 minutes.

The tinted sunscreen has a lightweight and non-greasy texture that blends easily into my skin. It’s a medium shade that is slightly too dark for my light skin tone, but I am able to lighten the shade with my foundation and makeup products.

I love that it doesn’t create any white cast, but because it only contains titanium dioxide, you don’t get as robust protection against UVA rays since titanium dioxide protects more against UVB and provides some UVA protection.

It’s a trade-off: zinc oxide, which is not in this sunscreen, provides better protection against UVA rays but contributes to the unpleasant white cast.

Keep in mind that each sunscreen tube is very small, so you won’t get more than a use or two out of each, but they are a great way to test out the different formulas that La Roche-Posay has to offer.

This sampler includes:

• Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30 (0.10 fl oz.)
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen SPF 60 (0.10 fl oz.) (reviewed above)
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50 (0.17 fl oz.) (reviewed above)
• Anthelios UV Correct SPF 70 Daily Face Sunscreen (0.17 fl oz.)

Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30 is a La Roche-Posay’s beloved Double Repair Face Moisturizer with added sunscreen protection.

Chemical filters include:

• 3% Avobenzone
• 5% Homosalate
• 5% Octisalate
• 7% Octocrylene

It takes a unique prebiotic action on the skin microbiome and restores the skin barrier in just one hour.

The moisturizer contains skin-loving ingredients like La Roche-Posay prebiotic thermal water, ceramide-3, niacinamide, and glycerin.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Correct SPF 70 Daily Face Sunscreen contains La Roche-Posay’s Cellox-B3 Shield technology plus niacinamide to help correct uneven skin tone, fine lines, and uneven skin texture.

Chemical filters include:

• 3% Avobenzone
• 13% Homosalate
• 5% Octisalate
• 10% Octocrylene

Niacinamide is an all-star multi-tasking ingredient that also reduces the look of pores, boosts collagen production for firmer-looking skin, calms redness and inflammation, and strengthens the skin barrier.

Anthelios UV Correct SPF 70 Daily Face Sunscreen was the only sunscreen that I tried that caused me to break out. Maybe it was due to the higher chemical filters in this sunscreen.

Butyloctyl Salicylate in Mineral Sunscreens

Please note that La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Zinc Oxide Sunscreen SPF 50 and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50 (and many other mineral sunscreens on the market) contain butyloctyl salicylate.

Butyloctyl salicylate is a solvent and active ingredient that helps boost the SPF rating of sunscreens.

It has a similar structure as the chemical sunscreen octisalate, but butyloctyl salicylate is not approved as a chemical sunscreen by the FDA in the US. Please note this if you are allergic to salicylates.

La Roche-Posay Sunscreen Review: My Picks

As you can see from the sunscreen filters and active ingredients in this post, many La Roche-Posay sunscreens are very similar, with small differences in sunscreen concentrations.

Overall, I thought the best chemical face sunscreen was La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 60. It has a lightweight consistency that is comfortable on my skin and didn’t irritate my skin at all.

If you want both face and body coverage, I was impressed with La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60.

If you have an oily skin type and are looking for the best La Roche-Posay sunscreen for oily skin and acne, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen SPF 60 is a great choice.

If you have sensitive skin, La Roche-Posay mineral sunscreens will be your best bet. You can choose the mineral sunscreen that works best for your skin tone.

Consider the sampler to test out a few different sunscreen options if you’re unsure.

Regardless of which you choose, just don’t forget to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) every day to protect your skin from sun exposure. You can pair it with a vitamin C serum for a boost in antioxidant protection.

Apply your sunscreen as the last step of your skin care routine, and your skin will thank you for it years from now!

Thanks for reading!

Read Next: La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum Review