🇬🇧United Kingdom

La Roche-Posay Anthelios for dry skin

La Roche-Posay Anthelios

High

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for dry skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 high protection against UV rays due to the presence of homosalate and octocrylene, which is beneficial for your dry skin, while glycerin provides humectant action to aid hydration.
  • The formula offers general skincare benefits and is safe for your dry skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • While it provides essential sun protection and basic hydration, the absence of specialized moisturizing ingredients like ceramides means it does not fully address your dry or flaky skin concerns.

How to apply

  • Apply this sunscreen during your AM routine every morning. Reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun.
  • Apply the sunscreen as the final step in your morning routine after your moisturizer.
  • Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing.
  • Apply the sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even protection and absorption.
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before first use.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviews

Based 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 skin?

La Roche-Posay Anthelios is a great fit for dry skin because it protects against UV rays with homosalate and octocrylene while using glycerin to help keep your skin hydrated. It is also safe for your skin since it is formulated without harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry skin?

Homosalate and octocrylene make this cream a good fit for dry skin by offering high protection against UV rays, while glycerin helps boost skin hydration. Chemical sunscreens generally show low risks of irritation, making them safe for daily use.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

What does Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine do for dry skin?

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine is a sunscreen ingredient that protects dry skin from sun damage and premature aging caused by UV rays. It is unlikely to cause irritation and stays stable in sunlight to provide reliable daily defense.

What does Ethylhexyl Triazone do for dry skin?

Ethylhexyl Triazone is a sunscreen ingredient that protects your skin from the sun's burning rays. It absorbs ultraviolet light to help keep your skin safe during daily outdoor exposure.

Toxicology in Vitro, 1994

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

Apply this sunscreen as the last step of your morning skincare routine, after cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. It provides high UV protection and basic hydration with glycerin, though dry skin may need a dedicated moisturizer underneath to fully manage flaky areas.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this sunscreen in the morning as the final step after your moisturizer and before makeup. It is unlikely to irritate dry skin, though you should apply a dedicated moisturizer underneath to fully manage dryness.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

How often should I use this cream?

Apply this sunscreen every morning as the final step in your daytime routine, and reapply throughout the day if you are exposed to the sun. Chemical sunscreens like this one generally show minimal risk of skin irritation with daily use.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, as its formula lacks heavy ingredients that typically block pores. It is generally safe for your skin type, though it may occasionally cause mild eye stinging for some users.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

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, 2017
  • Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.

    Antioxidants, 2025
  • Chemical 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, 2025
  • The 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, 2024
  • Maximal topical applications of 6% bemotrizinol in a model sunscreen formulation did not result in meaningful systemic exposure in humans.

    Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2023
  • Microencapsulation 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, 2019
  • A 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, 1994
  • Encapsulation 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, 2011
  • Microencapsulation 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, 2011
  • Following 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, 2008
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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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Prices checked 10 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

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