A few weeks ago, one of my best friends texted me for a face sunscreen recommendation. Asks like these are a common occurrence—after all, I’m the senior beauty editor at Glamour and test makeup and skin care products for a living—so my family and friends really trust my opinion when it comes to beauty.
I usually give a few options, rattling off a well thought-out list of products they can try depending on their skin type or preference. But when it comes to face sunscreen, there is only one product I’ll ever recommend: La Roche Posay Anthelios UV Hydra Daily Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50.
IMO, La Roche Posay Anthelios UV Hydra is the greatest face sunscreen of all time. It’s a bold statement to make, given all the exemplary SPFs on the market (not to mention the constant new launches from brands like Supergoop!, Glow Recipe, and Youth to the People), but Anthelios UV Hydra is the only sunscreen I’ve used that checks off all my boxes. And let me tell you, I have a lot of boxes.
La Roche Posay Anthelios UV Hydra Sunscreen (SPF 50)
Amazon
For starters, the formula has to be safe for sensitive and acne-prone skin. My skin has gone through a lot the past couple of years as a result of the severe acne I suffered as a teenager. I have a lot of scarring, which I’ve treated with intense laser treatments and tretinoin creams that make me especially vulnerable to UV rays—hence why I never skip sunscreen. I’ve progressively become more and more sensitive to certain skin care products, especially anything too occlusive or fragranced. To make matters worse, my eyes are also very sensitive and I tend to having stinging, watery reactions to most sunscreens on the market.
Additionally, I only wear SPF 50 and up. As recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends, the baseline for all sunscreens should be SPF 30, but many dermatologists agree SPF 50 is the gold standard. I wear SPF under my makeup, so I need a formula that doesn’t pill and works well under foundation. Lastly, the formula must have zero white cast (the chalky residue that some sunscreens can leave behind on melanated skin), especially during the summer when my skin gets darker and tanner.
La Roche Posay Anthelios UV Hydra Daily Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50 fulfills every single requirement. When I first tried the product, I was shocked and double-checked the label to make sure it was actually sunscreen. Although it features solid SPF 50, it doesn’t feel like sunscreen at all. No tackiness, no dryness, no off-putting smell. The texture goes on silky smooth, almost like a lightweight moisturizer or serum, leaving your skin feeling plump and hydrated. It absorbs beautifully and vanishes into your complexion. Seriously, you won’t be able to detect you’re even wearing sunscreen.
What is this sorcery, you ask? According to the brand, it’s “Cell-Ox Shield Technology,” which combines UVA/UVB protection with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid. As most skin care buffs know, hyaluronic acid is a holy grail humectant used in skin care and makeup to retain moisture, retain elasticity, and fight aging. In other words, it contains a whole lot of good stuff and none of the bad stuff like parabens, oxybenzone, or octinoxate. In fact, it feels so much like regular skin care that sometimes I forego moisturizer and serum altogether. Scandalous for a beauty editor, I know, but it’s that good.
If you really pile it on like I do (roughly one teaspoon is the dermatologist recommended amount) you’ll catch the faintest whiff of that sunscreen-y smell. But other than that, I zero complaints. No notes. This is a 10/10 sunscreen that I will continue to recommend to everyone I know and evidently to strangers on the internet. At $39.99, it’s a bit more pricey than your regular drugstore formula, but the extra splurge is definitely worth it. And if you’re a luxury devotee, this formula is miles better than any fancy sunscreen I’ve ever tried—and trust me, I’ve tried them all—so it’s practically a steal.
Ariana Yaptangco is the senior beauty editor at Glamour.
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