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La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Melt-In Cream
La Roche-Posay

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Melt-In Cream

Efficacy75/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Glycerin, Dimethicone + 4 more
Works
What the product description says
“This comforting, non greasy texture melts into the skin fast, leaving it soft and velvety.”
Source: La Roche Posay Canada

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. 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. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin, propylene glycol.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, diisopropyl sebacate.

GlycerinKey activeEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~4–6%
DimethiconeKey activeEffect: HighA silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish~3.1–4.6%
Diisopropyl sebacateKey activeEffect: MediumHelps soften the upper layer of the skin without creatng a greasy finish~1.4–2.1%
Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoateEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product consistency while softening the upper layer of the skin~2–3%
Propylene glycolEffect: LowHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating~1.6–2.5%
Pentylene glycolEffect: LowUsed to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture~0.5–1.15%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Alcohol denat.
Medium risk
We flagged 6 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Alcohol denat.Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve productsHigh~3.9–5.9%est.
Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~1.6–2.5%est.
OctocryleneA 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" sunscreenMedium7%
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneAvobenzone. 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.Medium4%
Drometrizole trisiloxaneMexoryl XL. A UV filter. Effective in the UVB and UVA range. It is stable. Unfortunately, not approved in the US yetMedium3%
Pentylene glycolUsed to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product textureMedium~0.5–1.15%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Octocrylene7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Sun protection

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 Octocrylene
Ethylhexyl salicylate5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

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 salicylate
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Sun protection

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 methoxydibenzoylmethane
Drometrizole trisiloxane3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Sun protection

Mexoryl XL. A UV filter. Effective in the UVB and UVA range. It is stable. Unfortunately, not approved in the US yet

More about Drometrizole trisiloxane
Titanium dioxide2.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

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 dioxide
Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Glycerin~4–6%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

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 Glycerin
Alcohol denat.~3.9–5.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products

More about Alcohol denat.
Dimethicone~3.1–4.6%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingMattifying

A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish

More about Dimethicone
Styrene/acrylates copolymer~2.3–3.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to create an even product consistency. Can help boost efficiency of sunscreen filters

More about Styrene/acrylates copolymer
Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate~2–3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product consistency while softening the upper layer of the skin

More about Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate
Titanium dioxide2.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

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 dioxide
Propylene glycol~1.6–2.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating

More about Propylene glycol
Diisopropyl sebacate~1.4–2.1%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin without creatng a greasy finish

More about Diisopropyl sebacate
Stearyl alcohol~1.2–1.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

An emollient that helps soften the skin

More about Stearyl alcohol
Talc~1.1–1.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Absorbs oil and moisture helping to create a dryer product finish

More about Talc
Nylon-12~0.8–1.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to create a nice product consistency

More about Nylon-12
Synthetic wax~0.5–1.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize product formulations and thicken product consistency

More about Synthetic wax
Pentylene glycol~0.5–1.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture

More about Pentylene glycol
Phenoxyethanol~0.4–0.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Glyceryl isostearate~0.4–0.95%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Glyceryl isostearate
Ingredient list view

Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Drometrizole trisiloxane, Titanium dioxide, Water, Glycerin, Alcohol denat., Dimethicone, Styrene/acrylates copolymer, Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, Titanium dioxide, Propylene glycol, Diisopropyl sebacate, Stearyl alcohol, Talc, Nylon-12, Synthetic wax, Pentylene glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl isostearate

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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.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
La Roche-PosayAnthelios XL Melt-In CreamYOUR PRODUCTPurlisseMatcha Green Tea Antioxidant Priming MoisturizerEucerinHypersensitive Skin Anti Redness Concealing Day CreamAnuaZero-Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen
Match—38%37%34%
Price—$20.00$30.77$14.67
Shared key ingredients—4 of 64 of 64 of 6
Key difference—Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae ExtractTinosorb SNiacinamide
Irritancy Medium Medium Low Low
Drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol ———
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 8 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medicationsjaad.org
  3. 3
    Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
  4. 4
    Amended Safety Assessment of Acrylates Copolymers as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  5. 5
    Safety Assessment of Pentaerythrityl Tetraesters as Used in Cosmeticsjournals.sagepub.com
  6. 6
    Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Melt-In Cream
La Roche-PosayAnthelios XL Melt-In Cream
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.