La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Dry Touch Facial Sunscreen SPF50+

I received this product as part of a trial team and was really excited to test it out on my oily skin as usually sunscreens end up an oily greasy mess. I did a little patch test which had no reaction so away I went.

I did my usual skincare (cleanser, toner, moisturiser) then followed with the sunscreen. It was very thick and difficult to spread over my face, and didn't really "rub in" like creams usually do. It did dry down to a powder-finish which is good in terms of my skins oiliness but the dots of powder were visible in my pores and the texture of it made my skin look aged. Later in the day I noticed there were dry patches around my face. I'm not completely sure if it was my skin that was dry or if it was the product flaking up but either way it wasn't nice to see or feel.

Removal with a cleanser is fine, it does seem to be otherwise resistant to water which is good if you are having a brief swim.

Over all, this product isn't for me. I didn't enjoy the powder feel on my skin and definitely didn't like the flaking that came later.

After one of my favourite YouTubers (Dr Dray) highly recommended this product I purchased it to try.

The packaging is easy to use and I like that it has a lid so I can throw it in my bag without worrying it will leak.

The application is nice and it feels good on my skin. Not too oily or greasy as the ‘anti-shine’ claim suggests, and I feel happy reapplying it throughout the day.

Unfortunately I can’t repurchase because it stings my eyes. This is such a subjective thing and you just don’t know until you try a product on your face whether it will make your eyes water.

A real shame, but I’ll keep trying other LRP sunscreens. They have a great reputation!

I really wanted to like this sunscreen as my usual one is a lot more expensive and I was hoping to find something a little kinder on the wallet. At face value, the sunscreen does everything it says it does (I'm not 100% sure on the SPF rating of course but if it is sold in NZ then it should be fully tested). It has a light cream-like consistency with no scent. The packaging is nice - it has a pump at the top of the tube which makes for easy dispensing and the tube itself is perfect size to keep in your bag for reapplication. I found the cream to be still quite thick and when I spread it on my face it felt quite drying and it was difficult to make sure it was rubbed in evenly. For those with oily skin, this may well be an advantage but I like a little glow when I apply my sunscreen under make up. Because I always apply my sunscreen before make up, I often rely on it to act as a primer as well. My make up did not want to sit nicely on top of this product and it took me awhile to get my foundation look acceptable. There was a small amount of pilling which I had to try and even out. Once my make up had settled, my face did sit nice for the rest of the day and I didn't notice any additional shine or grease associated with the product. This facial sunscreen would be perfect worn alone and for those looking to remove shine. I have donated the rest of my tube to my husband as I think his skin (and requirements of a sunscreen) is better suited to it.

I love this sunscreen .... the one thing I hate about sunscreen is I don't like the thick greasy feeling on my face. This product has no greasy feel..as a runner it didn't feel like it was light on my skin and didn't run into my eyes with sweat. The smell is pleasant the pump lid allows easy application without mess. Was a great base for under my makeup. I couldn't review effectiveness of the spf due to little to no sun. I am taking this sunscreen to work so I can apply when I go outside. Can't wait for summer.. finally have sun protection that doesn't ruin a day at the beach.

Excited to trial this sunscreen for sensitive skin as my skin gets really oily and extra sensitive in the summertime. Unfortunately, in Dunedin we haven’t had enough sun to really test it properly but I have used it daily since receiving it and am reviewing based on what I think of it on my skin etc. I have heard a bit about La Roche-Posay products but haven’t tried any prior. I like how the box has braille down the side. The sunscreen is a non-perfumed dry touch gel-cream, it comes in a nice sized tube with a pump applicator and so you can sit it upside down when not in use. The sunscreen claims to be 50+ SPF very high protection which is great as I have old facial burns from when I was a baby, which I have always been told by specialists to ALWAYS wear a high SPF sunscreen for all of my life. It is also anti-shine which is great as my skin gets really shiny due to oils etc (especially when I have to wear other sunscreens). If found that this sunscreen was great worn under my makeup, was not shiny at all and didn’t interfere with my foundation! The consistency is lovely, as it’s a gel-cream it’s thick but not too thick, applies really easily and doesn’t drip at all. It blends into my skin really well and absorbs quickly which is important for me. I like the product, I’m unable to say how it works in the sun as I haven’t had much here yet haha, but will take it away with me on my summer break and see how it goes!! I would purchase this product as I have tried it on my 10 year old daughter who has very sensitive skin and she can use it fine, so pretty happy with it.

I’m quite oily in my T zone so wanted something light that wouldn't transfer throughout the day. It does say it’s anti-shine, once applied, it was very matte, although it took a bit longer to spread out as it dries very quickly. Being an SPF 50+ mineral sunscreen it's a lot thicker in texture, which I don't mind, it blends well, and my skin was soft and dewy- no dryness. It would be a great base for makeup, (or to wear on its own) you probably wouldn't even need a primer. However, I think it would be even better if it was lightly tinted and came in a bigger tube!