La Roche-Posay used to be one of those if-you-know-you-know brands, but the French drugstore brand is a household name now. I chalk it up to three things: increased availability (it’s in pretty much every drugstore these days), nearly 50 years of expertise, a celebrity fanbase including the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker (she used the brand for a decade), and effective shopper-loved formulas. Such is the case with its Anthelios SPF 50 Tinted Sunscreen.
Although it’s called a tinted sunscreen, after reading hundreds of reviews I would say think of La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios SPF more like (as one shopper put it) a “soft-focus filter [that] conceals hyperpigmentation,” and gives you “a radiant complexion.” The SPF 50 is just a bonus.
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To explain why and how this product is so exceptional, let’s get into a quick skincare-science lesson. There are two types of sun protection: mineral and chemical. Mineral is considered to be more effective, more efficient, and better for your skin and the environment. The problem with it, and the reason people will sometimes opt for chemical SPF, is that it can leave behind a ghostly white cast. La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen is a mineral formula (thanks to titanium dioxide) that doesn’t do that, at least according to hundreds of reviews.
The other pertinent ingredients here are La Roche-Posay’s signature thermal spring water, vitamin E, and dimethicone. The first has healing and calming properties, the second is a moisturizing antioxidant that protects from damage that causes aging. And the third retains moisture, reduces oiliness, and smooths texture.
With all that in mind, the 14,500-plus five-star ratings are starting to come into perspective. One shopper with “brown” skin says this doesn’t leave a “ghostly cast” or “get stuck in wrinkles and pores.” Another 55-year-old shopper said they always get complimented on their “hydrated and glowy” skin thanks to Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen.
With the sun starting to peek out it’s a great time to get yourself a “blurring” skin tint with built-in sun protection. Head to Amazon or La Roche-Posay’s website to shop its Anthelios SPF Tinted Sunscreen.
