I've extremely fair and sensitive skinned; freckled and such. So as you can imagine I've spent a great deal of my life smelling something like a beach (usual evoked image when smelling sunscreen) and familiar with slathering on layers of sunblock. I've had 2nd degree sunburns before, with scars to prove it (childhood trip to Florida), and ever since I've been religious about wearing some hint of SPF daily. All of my lotions and makeup, even some of my clothing have it in some fashion. But I've noticed the higher the SPF the worse the products tend to be in application. You end up flaky or splotchy and white-streaked because of the viscus nature of the lotions on the market. All are well and good in the results, just so long as you're not burning or pinkening up...but I was still suffering with the application of some wearing onto my clothing or not fully getting absorbed into my skin or even breaking me out because they would leave me feeling like a grease slick after a few hours because I also have sensitive acne prone T zone skin. THIS is possibly the BEST sunscreen/block I've ever used. Now, I will say I've not baked myself into the summer sun with it just yet, but I have been applying it to my face the last few weeks since I got it and the wearability (thus far) is fantastic. I don't feel like I've painted on a white face when putting on a 50+ sunblock. It absorbs extremely well and fast. A little dab will do you, but I warn it'll draw in quickly once you apply it. Doesn't streak or flake, and my skin doesn't react poorly in regards of building up excessive oil or acne because of it. The only disappointment I have is the product is fairly expensive (nearly twice that of the average bottle in the stores) and the bottles are rather small, but I would still buy again and again...especially during the late spring through the summer months. The two packs I've found ARE the best deal possible and if you can find it with free shipping take it. From this seller, the items arrived quickly and as pictured. Pleased.
As of 2010, Anthelios XL 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 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. The bottle doesn't last long, particularly if you apply it generously. For my husband and me, it only last about 8-12 full biking days. But it is worth the money, as it gives us superb protection.
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. During hiking, I'd carry only the body fluid. It is a bit thicker than the face fluid. 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, and our skin never felt dry afterwards. I also purchase the lip balm from this line. It gives better protection to my lips than the face fluid.
Buy La Roche Posay Anthelios XL 50+spf Fluide Extreme Body pack of 2 Now
This is the best sunscreen out there!
My wife tried several other ones for years.
Even her Doctor told her to use this one.
Read Best Reviews of La Roche Posay Anthelios XL 50+spf Fluide Extreme Body pack of 2 Here
My dermatologist recommended this sunscreen as the best one on the market (followed by Neutragena) for blocking harmful UVA/UVB rays.Clearly this sunscreen is expensive and pricing through Amazon was the best I could find.I have used it for about 1 month now.It seems to work well, though I have not noticed any difference compared to other sunscreens (Coppertone Sport, Neutragena, etc.) I'll have to rely on my dermatologist and lab tests for that.The only negative thing I can say (besides price) is that after a lot of garden work in hot weather (i.e., after sweating a lot!), the sunscreen appeared to exude from my skin to form white patches.I have not seen this happen with other sunscreens.
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I'm sun intolerant, so fair that a kid asked if I am a vampire. this stuff is simply the best on the market. mess-free, grease free, matte, fast absorbing... and no one sells as cheap as this seller, and it's the genuine stuff. not to mention the extremely convenient shipping costs and how fast you get it. love love love will always buy from them.
I have fair, dry, acne-prone skin with melasma and I am so happy I finally found a safe, natural sunscreen that is effective, doesn't make me break out and looks great! I use a moisturizer under this product, and a little neutral finishing powder on top because it is a bit shine-inducing. I think it has just the right amount of coverage for evening out my skin tone without looking like I'm wearing a lot of makeup. I especially like how flawless my face looks in photos when I'm wearing this. And I wore it all summer with little exacerbation of my melasma, which gets darker with the tiniest amount of sun exposure. Awesome, awesome product! And the only natural face sunscreen with zinc I have found that doesn't clog my pores ...
