As of 2010, this is one of the 2 products with chemicals approved by FDA that offers both UVA and UVB protection. The product was recommended by a friend in Europe who got her recommendation from her dermatologist. I have been using Shiseido sunscreen for years, and found this product superior in the following ways:
1. Very powerful: spent a wk in CA coast, 10 hrs in the sun, my skin was intact, didn't show any irritation I usually got from intense sun exposure
2. Non greasy, absorbs really well and not drying at all
Some considerations:
1. It gives a greasy, whitish look especially after 2-3 applications, but Shiseido has it too. I don't mind it outdoor, but would prefer to clean it off before I go out for a nice dinner
2. As it is so effective to filter out the UV's, I didn't get much sun tan. So you may want to get a SPF 30 version if getting a tanned look is more important
3. As it absorbs so fast, I had to be careful to apply generously and made sure that no exposed area was skipped. On the 1st day when I was not so careful, parts of my shins were burned after a few hrs in the sun. But the mistake never happened again
4. I prefer to put on face cream before sunscreen. It seemed the sunscreen would roll onto the face cream on the skin and turned into many tiny white stuff that just fell off. The trick is to to wait for an hr or so until the face cream is thoroughly absorbed and dried before apply sunscreen.
Below is a chart that shows Anthelios XL product line's UVA and UVB protection. I bought the fluid face and fluid body because of their highest ppd level. The face fluid is more liquid than the body fluid. During hiking, I often carry only the body fluid to reduce the amount of stuff I carry. It works equally well on the face.
type spf ppd ml skin type
face cream 50 30 50 dry
face fluid 50 38 50 normal/combo
body spray 50 22 200
body fluid 50 32 125
Update: 07/2012. We have been using this for 2 years on our all day bike ride or skiing every weekend. Never ever had our skin burnt. In the beginning, I prefer to use face cream before this product, then I found it was unnecessary, as it never dry out my skin. I also purchase the lip balm from this line. I found it to give better protection to my lips than the face fluid.
If like me, you are looking for a sunscreen with Mexoryl, and want to use it for everyday use, this is not the product for you. This product only goes on smooth when used on skin with nothing else on it and even then, it sometimes flakes off and leaves a strange flaky residue caked up on your skin. If you wear a skin primer like a firmer or a moisturizer, this product will lump up and create these clumpy flakes. This product also will not work under or over makeup. I now have to go back to using the American one since that at least goes on flawless (the Melt-in cream only) regardless of whether or not it has Mexoryl.
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I could not test the benefits of this product because it rolled-up into little balls of sunscreen before I could use it outdoors.I like to wear moisturizer under my make-up and sunscreen, but this product interacted poorly with a second product.BUYER BE WARE: Omprphia Shop will not allow you to return this item once you've purchased it.
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I love the way this product goes on, however, everytime I try to put my liquid foundation over it, it causes the product to "roll".My skin ends up with little flecks of product all over it.It takes a few minutes to remove it....Suggestion, wear it only without foundation, as when you are swimming or doing outside sports.
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I have been using this sunblock for years. It is the most effective protector and by having a light and a richer formula, I can use all year round.
I hate this lotion version. I literally had to re-wash my face to remove the balls. On the contrary the cream version works fine on me.
