Anthelios Review

What You Should Know

How Anthelios Compares with Leading Beauty Products
 

Product	Star Rating	2 or More Patented Ingredients	Less Than $5 Shipping	Testimonials	Trial Offer
Nue Science (2013 Editors Choice)	(4.8)
Facial Toner	(4.6)
IQ Derma	(4.0)
Dermitage	(3.7)
Strivectin	(3.6)
Juvederm	(3.6)	N/A
Anthelios	(3.4)
Meaningful Beauty	(3.2)

*Picks were chosen by editor based on reader contribution. Details Here

Anthelios, a new product under La Roche Posay (which is owned by L’Oreal), is a new daily use moisturizer that focuses on preventing sun damage. A product that is designed to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays, which affect the skin even during cloudy days, are thought to be one of the main causes of aging because of their effect on the elasticity of the skin. UVB rays cause skin to burn and blister and these are what most of us associate with “harmful sun rays”. Anthelios advertises to have “complete broad spectrum protection” though a disclaimer at the bottom of the page says that refers to only the UVA spectrum.

Product Details

Anthelios uses three key sun filters: Avobenzone, Octocrylene and Mexoryl SX. Avobenzene blocks the harmful long UVA rays. Octocrylene protects against UVB rays, while stabilizing avobenzone. According to experiments, L’Oreal’s unique ingredient, Mexoryl SX, strengthens the stability of both other sun filters and protects against the short UVA rays. L’Oreal claims that Mexoryl SX works when it becomes stimulated by the UV photons which attempt to pierce your skin. It then deactivates the absorbed energy and releases it back out into the surroundings without harming you. Most sunscreens contain the first two ingredients; but Mexoryl SX is unique to Anthelios due to a patent by L’Oreal. As of right now this is the only ingredient of its type that it is approved by the FDA in the United States. This product has been around in Asia, South America, Europe, and Canada for over 15 years. A full list of ingredients is not provided on the website.

L’Oreal has a patent on Anthelios, and the key ingredient Mexoryl SX, so competitors are unable to produce similar results and customers will not be able to shop-around for a good deal. The product is expensive at $29.50 for a 3.4oz tube of SPF 15, or the same price for a 1.7oz tube for SPF 40.

The Good

• Fragrance free.
• Anthelios is allergy tested
• Anthelios use of Mexoryl SX is the only formula of its type approved by the FDA.

The Bad

• Anthelios products are prevention products, though they do hydrate the skin. Anthelios cannot heal prior sun damage.
• No full list of ingredients is given on the website.
• This is a daily use product so expect to run out and buy more regularly.
• There are no trial samples offered to test the product.

The Bottom Line

Other products will protect you from getting sunburn; but these can be poorly formulated to handle the aging affects of the sun. Anthelios does both though it advertises to be better at protecting against the UVB rays – which give you sunburn- than it actually is (according to the well-placed disclaimer). Anthelios has a range of products protecting against damage to skin, lips, and eyes in all SPF degrees. The big negative is that this product is costly and, because of its required “daily use”, could run you quite a high bill annually. Also, while this could be a very solid sunscreen, it will do little to treat existing fine lines and wrinkles.