La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Stick Spf50+
70/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Stick SPF50+ is a chemical (hybrid) stick with strong filters including Drometrizole Trisiloxane and Titanium Dioxide for excellent protection. As a stick it is heavy and dewy with low white cast but a noticeably rich, occlusive feel, and it does not commonly sting. Its heavier base makes it a poor makeup primer and gives it a medium pore-clogging tendency. With a score of 69.6/100 and excellent protection, it is best for targeted areas like lips, ears and scars.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
86
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +32 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +11.2)
- β4.2 UVB coverage saturated
- β14.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Octocrylene at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π»
White cast
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- β17.5 Titanium Dioxide at #6 (nano)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Avobenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
High
24
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Titanium Dioxide at #6
- β20 Polyethylene at #3, wax film
- β12 Ozokerite at #7, wax film
- β5 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #11, butter/occlusive fat
- β5 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #10, butter/occlusive fat
- β10 Ricinus Communis Seed Oil at #1, heavy oil
- β10 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (basic)
- β12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
- +13.5 Volatile hydrocarbon at #5, flashes off
π΄
Comedogenic
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- β32 Isopropyl Palmitate at #2, heavy comedogenic ester
- β7 Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter at #10, comedogenic oil/butter
- β1 Glycine Soja Oil at #14, 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
17
- +100 Starting score
- β38 Avobenzone at #8, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Mexoryl XL at #9, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β10 Titanium Dioxide at #6, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- 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 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- 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
- β 3 High mineral load at #6 greys under foundation (nano)
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +17 2 water-locking waxes
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (16)
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
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- β 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- pills β 3 High mineral load greys under foundation (nano)
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 12 wax film
- β 7 wax water lock
-
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
-
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
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Botanical extract
- β 5 butter/occlusive fat
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
12 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
13 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
15 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
16 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Stick leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. It is a chemical hybrid stick with a small amount of Titanium Dioxide, but the finish stays largely clear on most skin tones.
Does the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Stick Spf50+ work under makeup?
Not well, makeup compatibility is rated poor. As a stick it is heavy and occlusive with a medium pore-clogging tendency, so it is better for targeted areas like lips, ears and scars.
Is Anthelios XL Stick SPF50+ any good?
It scores 69.6/100 with excellent protection. The protection is strong, but the heavy, rich texture makes it a spot-treatment stick rather than an all-over daily sunscreen.