As an person of very Northern European descent (Norwegian/Irish) with fair skin and red hair, I am at the top of the list when it comes to sun vulnerability. I burn within minutes, freckle rather than tan and am at the highest risk for skin cancer. I need my sunscreen, and am always on a quest for the perfect “One”.
What would my Holy Grail Sunscreen look like?
- Spf 30 or higher
- Physical with titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide being the main active ingredients
- Easy to apply
- No white cast
- Water resistant
- Less than $40 USD
I found La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Mineral 50 at my local CVS. When I lived in England (nearly 2 decades ago), LRP made my holy grail sunscreen which was not available when we returned to the US, and alas, is no more.
What it says it does:
For the first time, a mineral sun filter and powerful anti-oxidants are combined in a unique patent pending formula that offers 100% mineral sunscreen in a unique lightweight, non-whitening texture. The first line of defense is an advanced UV filtering system featuring an optimized blend of titanium dioxide (TiO2) that offers long-lasting**, broad spectrum protection with demonstrated efficacy against UVA rays. A proprietary dispersion technology is the key to assuring this enhanced uniform protection. The second line of defense features CELL-OX SHIELD™, a powerful patent-pending antioxidant complex featuring Senna Alata.
- SPF 50 for outdoor use
- Broad spectrum UVA/UVB
- Photostable, long-lasting** protection
- Light, satin finish
- Non-comedogenic
- Fragrance-free, PABA-free
- Safe for Sensitive skin
- Paraban-free
- Water resistant (40 minutes)
Ingredients
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 11% Other Ingredients: Water, Isododecane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Undecane, Triethylhexanoin, Isohexadecane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Nylon-12, Caprylyl Methicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Silica, Tridecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Talc, Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Alumina, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Peg-8 Laurate, Stearic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Tocopherol, Propylene Carbonate, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Benzoic Acid, Peg-9.
A drop of the product on my hand.
Anthelios Mineral 50 is quite liquidy and must be shaken before using or it will separate.
Blended onto the back of my hand.
It absorbs fairly well on dry skin, but is a little more resistant over a moisturizer. And despite its claim of not having a white cast, it definitely has a white cast that did not disappear on me.
The white cast is a deal breaker, unfortunately. It did meet other criteria — with SPF 50 of mineral origin and under $40 (it was around $33 at my local CVS).
I will continue using this sunscreen since it has a nice texture and looks fine under make-up…
but the quest for the Holy Grail continues…
Yup, titanium dioxide is both one of the most effective physical sunscreens and the one that leaves a white cast. It’s too bad because getting good protection is more than just SPF, I expect the next few years to develop some newer/more effective chemical suncreens so perhaps then it won’t be a Sophie’s choice.
John Su from Futurederm wrote some really good articles about sunscreen, I found them helpful to me in making choices about sunscreens, even if some of it’s over my head >_>
His articles should be listed here:
http://www.futurederm.com/tag/john-su/
Tiffany Martin recently posted..Review: The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask
Thanks for that link. I’ll definitely read up.