La Roche-Posay Anthelios Pocket SPF50+
Works for
Sun protectionSPF 50 · 7 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
Anti-agingSide benefit · TocopherolWorks well
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
Evens skin toneSide benefit · No ingredient credited for this claimWorks well
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
MoisturizingSide benefit the brand mentions · Glycerin, Caprylyl glycol + 6 moreWorks
“Easy to apply with moisturising and velvety texture.”
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, caprylyl glycol.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: Alcohol denat.Medium risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer~23–34%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together
More about Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerAlcohol denat.~6.2–9.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Aluminum hydroxide~4–6.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is used to add opaque (non-transparent) appearance to formulations. Can be used to coat other ingredients for even dispersion. This is a different ingredient compared to the ones used in antipersperants (aluminium chloride and aluminium chlorohydrate)
More about Aluminum hydroxideWater~3.3–5%
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane~3–4.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneCaprylyl glycol~1.7–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolCyclohexasiloxane~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels
More about CyclohexasiloxaneDisodium edta~0.5–1%
Ethylhexyl salicylate~1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about Ethylhexyl salicylateEthylhexyl triazone~0.95–1.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Uvinul T. A UV filter. Effective against UVB rays. It is photostable. Can increase water resistance properties of the sunscreen. Unfortunately, not approved by the FDA (US) yet
More about Ethylhexyl triazoneGlycerin~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinGlyceryl isostearate~0.35–0.85%
Glyceryl stearate~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateHomosalate~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not offer meaningful protection against protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen. When used in low concentrations, helps to stabilize the product formulation
More about HomosalateMyristic acid~0.3–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Helps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic
More about Myristic acidOctocrylene~0.2–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocrylenePalmitic acid~0.15–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that is naturally present in skin and helps soften it
More about Palmitic acidPeg-100 stearate~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearatePhenoxyethanol~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolPotassium cetyl phosphate~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Potassium cetyl phosphatePropylene glycol~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolStearic acid~0.35–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidStearyl alcohol~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Stearyl alcoholSynthetic wax~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize product formulations and thicken product consistency
More about Synthetic waxTalc~0.1–0.45%
Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Ecamsule, Mexoryl SX. A UV filter. Is effective mostly against the UVA rays. It is legally marketed in the US with the FDA approval since 2006, even though the ingredient is not on the official FDA list of the approved sunscreen active ingredients. It is photostable
More about Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acidTitanium dioxide~0.01–0.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
More about Titanium dioxideTocopherol~0.01–0.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolTriethanolamine~0.01–0.05%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell
More about TriethanolamineIngredient list view
Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Alcohol denat., Aluminum hydroxide, Water, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Caprylyl glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Disodium edta, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Ethylhexyl triazone, Glycerin, Glyceryl isostearate, Glyceryl stearate, Homosalate, Myristic acid, Octocrylene, Palmitic acid, Peg-100 stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium cetyl phosphate, Propylene glycol, Stearic acid, Stearyl alcohol, Synthetic wax, Talc, Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid, Titanium dioxide, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| La Roche-PosayAnthelios Pocket SPF50+YOUR PRODUCT | SkinCeuticalsOil Shield UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 | Peter Thomas RothMax Matte Shine Control Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45 | Beauty of JoseonDay Dew Sunscreen Lightweight Water-Resistant SPF 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 42% | 42% | 40% |
| Price | — | $53.60 | $34.00 | $18.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 6 of 6 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Tinosorb S | Ceramide Eos | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| SPF | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 45 | SPF 50 |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Vichy Capital Soleil Cell Protect Invisible High UVA + UVB Sun Protection Spray SPF30 for All Skin TypesBioderma Photoderm Dry touch Mat Finish Sunscreen SPF50+
Product summary
"La Roche-Posay - Anthelios Pocket SPF50+" is using UV filters in a relatively low concentration. Because of this, it might not be able to provide reliable sun protection.
Its formula is also hydrating, so you might not need an additional moistruizer during the day.
Sunscreen filters
This is a so-called "chemical" sunscreen. It means that it uses organic UV filters. They typically offer good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for some people with sensitive skin. Here are the exact UV filters in this sunscreen: avobenzone 3.00% - 4.40%, uvinul t 0.95% - 1.45%, octocrylene 0.20% - 0.80% and terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid 0.10% - 0.35%.
Irritation risk
This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this sunscreen to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 10.00£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 9 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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