All about: the new Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50+ from La Roche-Posay

One of the best beauty brands on the block according to Allure magazine – along with many others – is France’s La Roche-Posay. Having French ancestry and having spent a lot of time in France over the last few years I’m a shameless lover of French pharmacy brands, and one of the top things on my to-do list after arriving in France was always to get my hands on some La Roche-Posay of my own before it was available in New Zealand. I did that for the first time in the little mountain town of Lectoure, where it held pride of place in the local pharmacy next to other top notch French beauty stars that are equally as kind on the wallet. The first product I grabbed was Anthelios XL Ultra-Light Fluid SPF50+, which Allure named the best facial sunblock on the market at the time, and I never looked back.
Fast forward ten years or so since that day in Lectoure and I get word that one of the all-time sunscreen legends has been levelled up - Anthelios XL Ultra-Light Fluid SPF50+being superseded by the all new Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50+ - the brand’s lightest sunscreen yet.
Renowned for their expertise in sun protection for sensitive skin, the brand’s newest offering gives the iconic original a new look and advanced formulation, and after having an initial play with it – I’m in love. La Roche-Posay is always about innovation, and the secret behind the lightweight texture of the new Anthelios Invisible fluid SPF50+ is the innovative intelligent polymer (Netlock) Technology. This unique technology encircles oil and UV filters with micro-crystallised structures, to create a highly efficacious, non-greasy formulation. The micro- crystallised structures also group together to form a strong film to protect skin from harmful and prematurely ageing UV rays – and you barely know you have it on.

How does it work? The intelligent polymers in Netlock Technology act as surfactants – re-organising the water and molecules into a harmonious co-existence. This results in the oily part of the formula being trapped within a semi-crystallised structure. When spread onto the skin, it forms an even layer and a way less greasy finish compared to classical emulsions. This new way of formulating enables the film to set on the skin without moving – you get a non-oily, non-greasy, ultra-light, invisible resistant finish. Every time.
I love that the new formulation is non-stinging and so suitable for sensitive eyes, and that it leaves no white marks. Like the original formulation, it is non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, and creates the ideal makeup base with zero pilling as far as I can tell thus far. Oh and the new formulation is also available in a universal tinted finish for a little extra glow on makeup-free days, which again – gets a big tick from me.
Key to getting the most out of both products is shaking them well before use – for better distribution and to ensure you’re getting all of the good stuff that the brand has put in there. Oh and both have an RRP of $29.95, which is definitely the price point that I would like to see more premium sunscreens at. When something is key to cancer prevention, shouldn’t it be affordable for all? Thank you La Roche-Posay!

Main photo by Jens Kreuter on Unsplash