La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50+ Stick
67/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50+ Stick is a hybrid sunscreen in stick format, combining modern filters such as Ethylhexyl Triazone and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine with Homosalate and Octocrylene. White cast stays low and it does not commonly sting, but it carries a dewy finish, a medium-weight feel, and a medium pore-clogging reading that may not suit very acne-prone skin. With excellent protection and a score of 67/100, it offers reliable targeted coverage for spots like the nose and ears, though it is less ideal as a makeup base.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
91
- +11.4 Homosalate at #5, UV filter
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #6, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #7, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +32 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +11.2)
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- β32.1 UVB coverage saturated
- β11.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
63
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Avobenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Homosalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- β20 Polyethylene at #3, wax film
- β2 Microcrystalline Wax at #14, wax film
- β2 Synthetic Wax at #17, wax film
- β6 Paraffin at #10, wax film
- β5 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #12, butter/occlusive fat
- β5 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #11, butter/occlusive fat
- β10 Ricinus Communis Seed Oil at #1, heavy oil
- β12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
- +9.3 Volatile hydrocarbon at #4, flashes off
π΄
Comedogenic
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- β32 Isopropyl Palmitate at #2, heavy comedogenic ester
- β7 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #11, comedogenic oil/butter
- β1 Glycine Soja Oil at #16, moderate comedogenic signal
π
Fungal acne
High
4
- +100 Starting score
- β50 4 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Glycine Soja Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter)
- β36 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate)
- β10 2 different Malassezia-feeding families high in the list
π
Fabric stains
High
27
- +100 Starting score
- β38 Avobenzone at #8, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #7, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Mexoryl XL at #9, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 3 emollient lipids (Glycine Soja Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter)
β¨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 7 3 emollient lipids (Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Glycine Soja Oil)
- β 6 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate)
- β 8 Occlusives seal moisture in (Ricinus Communis Seed Oil)
π
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 20 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +18 4 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (19)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Botanical extract
- β 10 heavy oil
- 8 β dewy occlusive
- β 36 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 32 heavy comedogenic ester
- 6 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 36 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 20 wax film
- β 10 wax water lock
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate)
- β 11.4 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- β 20.9 UV protection
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 32 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
10 Paraffin
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
-
Botanical extract
- β 5 butter/occlusive fat
- β 7 comedogenic oil/butter
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
- β 5 butter/occlusive fat
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
-
15 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
-
18 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
19 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does the Anthelios SPF 50+ Stick leave a white cast?
No, white cast stays low. It is a hybrid formula, though it carries a dewy finish rather than a dry matte look.
Is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50+ Stick good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is a mixed fit. It does not commonly sting, but the dewy finish and a medium pore-clogging reading mean very acne-prone skin may prefer a lighter, mattes option.
Is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50+ Stick any good?
It scores 67/100 with excellent protection. The SPF coverage is strong and the stick is handy for the nose and ears, though it is weaker as a makeup base.