La Roche-Posay Anthelios for dry sensitive skin

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Ethylhexyl Triazone
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
Glycerin
High
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate hydration for your dry and flaky skin due to the presence of glycerin, which provides humectant action, but lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients for optimal hydration.
- The formulation provides moderate protection against UV rays with homosalate and ethylhexyl salicylate, which is beneficial for overall skin health.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your sunscreen as part of your AM routine every morning. Reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun.
- Apply the sunscreen after your moisturizer as the final step of your morning skincare routine.
- Gently press a coin-sized amount of sunscreen evenly into your skin, and avoid rubbing it harshly. Let it set for a minute before going outdoors.
- Since your skin is sensitive , apply the sunscreen over your dry moisturizer to ensure better comfort and protection.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid direct contact with the eyes.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users find the Anthelios line to be lightweight and suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin, often feeling like a serum and not causing breakouts. The chemical formulas are frequently noted as invisible and hydrating, while the mineral versions sometimes leave a white cast on darker skin tones and can pill under makeup.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs in seconds”
- “feels like nothing”
- “non-greasy finish”
- “very runny but spreads easily”
No white cast (chemical) Often Mentioned
- “completely clear”
- “no ghostly residue”
- “great for dark skin”
- “invisible finish”
Sensitive skin friendly Often Mentioned
- “doesn't clog pores”
- “no stinging”
- “calmed my redness”
- “gentle on acne-prone skin”
Good makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “makeup sits perfectly”
- “smooth canvas”
- “no pilling under foundation”
- “acts like a primer”
Eye stinging Sometimes Noted
- “burns my eyes”
- “makes me tear up”
- “stings if I sweat”
- “eyes water all day”
White cast (mineral) Sometimes Noted
- “looked like a ghost”
- “purple cast”
- “too white for medium skin”
- “hard to rub in”
Pilling/flaking Rarely Noted
- “balls up on neck”
- “flakes off”
- “pills with my serum”
- “rubbed off in chunks”
Tint issues Rarely Noted
- “turned me orange”
- “tint is too dark”
- “looks muddy”
- “not for fair skin”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes La Roche-Posay Anthelios a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
La Roche-Posay Anthelios is a great fit because it provides moderate hydration with glycerin and protects against UV rays while offering an excellent safety profile that is unlikely to irritate dry and sensitive skin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin makes this sunscreen a good fit by bringing in moisture for your dry and flaky skin, while homosalate and ethylhexyl salicylate shield you from UV rays. Its safe makeup carries no risk of irritation for your sensitive skin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
What does Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine do for dry sensitive skin?
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine is a broad-spectrum UV filter that helps shield dry sensitive skin from sun damage without causing irritation. Because sensitive skin easily reacts to harsh ingredients, this type of product needs gentle, soothing components and reliable UV protection to keep skin calm and safe outdoors.
What does Ethylhexyl Triazone do for dry sensitive skin?
Ethylhexyl Triazone is a sunscreen ingredient that helps protect dry sensitive skin from sunburn and UV damage. It absorbs ultraviolet B rays effectively while maintaining a gentle profile that is unlikely to irritate sensitive areas.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2009Toxicology in Vitro, 1994
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cream goes in the morning routine as a moisturizing sunscreen, right after your soothing toner. It helps protect your skin from UV rays while offering moderate hydration, and is unlikely to cause irritation for your dry and sensitive skin.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning after applying your retinol and moisturizer, or as your final daytime step to protect your skin. It has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients, making it very unlikely to cause irritation on dry and sensitive skin.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this sunscreen every morning as part of your daily routine. Chemical sunscreens like this are unlikely to cause irritation on dry and sensitive skin.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your dry sensitive skin. Its safety profile is excellent, with no harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation or breakouts.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate showed no to minimal risks of dermal irritation, sensitization, photo-allergy, and photo-irritation in human subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Maximal topical applications of 6% bemotrizinol in a model sunscreen formulation did not result in meaningful systemic exposure in humans.
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2023Microencapsulation of ethylhexyl triazone in lipid microparticles significantly reduced its in vivo human stratum corneum penetration by 45.7% compared to the nonencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2019A topical sunscreen containing octyl triazone, phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, and methylbenzylidene camphor prevented UVB-induced suppression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and mixed-lymphocyte reaction in epidermal cell cultures compared to control sunscreens with comparable SPF lacking octyl triazone.
Toxicology in Vitro, 1994Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Alcohol Denat, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Propanediol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Diisopropyl Adipate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Triethanolamine, Tocopherol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Sodium Polyacrylate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Parfum
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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