La Roche-Posay
Anthelios Oil Control SPF 50+ Gel-Cream
face sunscreen
La Roche-Posay
face sunscreen
Added Last edited
Fit by skin type
General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.
See how this fits your skin
Take the skin test and I'll show you how suitable this product is for you.
Take the skin testProtect sensitive skin with the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine SPF50+; a dry-touch gel cream that offers optimal sun protection and a shine-free, matte finish. The cult-favourite formula utilises a patented photostable filtering system called Mexoplex, which offers superior UVA protection to help shield skin from sun damage.
Anthelios Oil Control SPF 50+ Gel-Cream is a lightweight sunscreen from La Roche-Posay, a brand based in France. It is rated SPF 50+. Its job is UV protection, with the rest of the formula working on hydration. The ingredient list runs to 35 ingredients, each broken down in full below.
By its ingredient list the formula reads as light: water and humectants lead, with emollients kept lower in the order. Silicones in the formula tend to give a smooth, blurred finish and help it grip under makeup. Hydration is handled by Butylene Glycol, Glycerin and Water, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.
It uses a hybrid filter system — Homosalate, Titanium Dioxide, Octisalate, Uvinul T 150, Tinosorb S, Mexoryl XL, Avobenzone, Octocrylene, Tinosorb M and Mexoryl SX — combining mineral and organic filters. Between them those filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so the formula is broad-spectrum in the meaningful sense: it reaches past 340 nm, where the ageing wavelengths sit. The formula contains a photounstable filter alongside a stabiliser, which is the standard and effective way to keep it from degrading in sunlight.
Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water and C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate.
Oil control: Moderate. Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine, and here that comes from Silica, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate and Aluminum Hydroxide.
On richness alone it suits Balanced skin best, and is the least natural fit for Dry and Combination (dry) skin. Nothing in the list is flagged as a common irritant, which is a reasonable starting point for reactive skin — though a patch test is still the only way to know.
The formula contributes little or nothing on barrier support, antioxidant protection, brightening and tone and cell renewal. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it.
Reading the full list, the formula is fragrance-free, essential-oil-free, no drying alcohol, paraben-free, microplastic-free and sulfate-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging.
Use it in the morning. In a routine it goes final morning step, before makeup. Apply about two finger-lengths for the face and neck — under-application is the single most common reason sunscreen underperforms. Reapply every two hours of sun exposure, and after swimming or towelling off. Let it set for a couple of minutes before makeup so it does not pill.
This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.
Drawn purely from the ingredient list
Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.
Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
Regulates sebum production to reduce shine and greasiness
None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.
Hybrid mineral and organic filter system · broad-spectrum through UVA I
Another solvent-filter: modest UVB coverage, mostly there to carry other filters.
Strong UVB and short-UVA protection, but it stops before UVA I — a mineral formula leaning on titanium dioxide alone needs zinc oxide beside it for deep UVA.
A weak filter used mainly as a solvent — it dissolves the crystalline filters (avobenzone, oxybenzone) so they can be formulated at all.
The most efficient UVB absorber available by weight, which is why high-SPF formulas reach SPF 50+ without feeling heavy. Contributes nothing to UVA.
One of the most photostable filters in use, and it stabilises avobenzone and octinoxate alongside it. Oil-soluble, cosmetically light, no white cast.
Oil-soluble and broad-spectrum, with two absorption peaks covering UVB and UVA.
The workhorse UVA filter, and the fragile one: it loses a large share of its protection within an hour of sun unless the formula pairs it with a stabiliser such as octocrylene or Tinosorb S.
Mostly present to stabilise avobenzone rather than for its own modest UVB coverage. Degrades slowly into benzophenone over a product's shelf life.
A hybrid: it absorbs like an organic filter and scatters like a mineral one, because it is dispersed as microfine particles rather than dissolved.
Water-soluble UVA filter, which is unusual — most UVA filters are oil-soluble.
The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
2nd on the list. Regulation caps it at 7.34%, so it is present at roughly 3.67–7.34%.
Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl ester
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Silicon dioxide
5th on the list. Regulation caps it at 5%, so it is present at roughly 2–5%.
2-Ethylhexyl salicylate
6th on the list. Regulation caps it at 5%, so it is present at roughly 2–5%.
Benzoic acid, 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltriimino)tris-,tris(2-ethylhexyl) ester; octyl triazone
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Benzoic acid, C12-15 alkyl esters
8th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
2,2'-[6-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diyl]bis[5-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]-phenol]
9th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Phenol,2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-Methyl-6-(2-Methyl-3-(1,3,3,3-Tetramethyl-1-(Trimethylsilyl)Oxy)-Disiloxanyl)Propyl
10th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
1-[4-(1,1-Dimethylethyl)phenyl]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione
11th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
2-Cyano-3,3-Diphenyl Acrylic Acid 2-Ethylhexyl Ester
13th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Titanium dioxide (CI 77891)
14th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Starch, hydrogen octenylbutanedionate, aluminum salt
Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.
Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin
Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity
Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution
Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine
Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks
Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity
Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover
Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support
A photounstable filter is present, paired with a stabiliser
"Active" here means an ingredient carrying a recorded active type or a recognised UV filter.
Solvents, emollients, texture agents and preservatives — the formula that carries the actives.
Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.
Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone
CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492
Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.
Nothing in this formula belongs to a group our rules can put in conflict, so it layers freely. Order still matters — thinnest texture first.
This product is the "Protect" step.
Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.
Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 35 ingredients on the label.
Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula
Absorbs or scatters ultraviolet light
Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells
Forms a film that slows water loss
Dissolves and carries everything else
Lifts oil and dirt, or holds oil and water together
Draws water into the upper layers of skin
Changes how the product smells or looks
Keeps the product free of microbial growth
Binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula
Loosens or dissolves dead surface cells
Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
2nd on the list. Regulation caps it at 7.34%, so it is present at roughly 3.67–7.34%.
Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl ester
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
CI 77891 is classed chemically as an inorganic colour (see also INCI: Titanium dioxide). It conforms to the formula
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Silicon dioxide
5th on the list. Regulation caps it at 5%, so it is present at roughly 2–5%.
2-Ethylhexyl salicylate
6th on the list. Regulation caps it at 5%, so it is present at roughly 2–5%.
Benzoic acid, 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltriimino)tris-,tris(2-ethylhexyl) ester; octyl triazone
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Benzoic acid, C12-15 alkyl esters
8th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
2,2'-[6-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diyl]bis[5-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]-phenol]
9th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Phenol,2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-Methyl-6-(2-Methyl-3-(1,3,3,3-Tetramethyl-1-(Trimethylsilyl)Oxy)-Disiloxanyl)Propyl
10th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
1-[4-(1,1-Dimethylethyl)phenyl]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione
11th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
2-Cyano-3,3-Diphenyl Acrylic Acid 2-Ethylhexyl Ester
12th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer is a polymer of Styrene and a monomer consisting of Acrylic Acid, Methacrylic Acid or one of their simple esters.
13th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Titanium dioxide (CI 77891)
14th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Starch, hydrogen octenylbutanedionate, aluminum salt
15th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Diiron trioxide; Ferric oxide
16th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Iron oxide
17th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Sodium Phosphorus/Zinc/Calcium/Silicon/Aluminum/Silver Oxides is the product obtained by the calcination of calcium dihydrogen phosphate, phosphoric acid, zinc oxide, zinc phosphate, boric acid, cerium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, sodium nitrate, silicon dioxide and silver nitrate.
18th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
1-hexadecanol, phosphate, potassium salt
19th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
2,2'-Methylene-bis-(6-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol)
20th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Propane-1,2-diol
21st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
1,1,1,3,5,5,5-Heptamethyl-3-octyl-trisiloxane
22nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
23rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
C10-30 alkyl propenoate, polymer with propenoic acid, butenoic acidand/or alkyl propenoates, product with propenyl sucrose ether or propenyl 2,2-dihydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol
24th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Aluminium hydroxide
25th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
26th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Octane-1,2-diol
27th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–3% of the formula.
Dimethicone
28th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate
29th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
30th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate is the product formed by the reaction of lauryl isocyanate and Inulin
31st on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (8 mol EO average molar ratio)
32nd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Phenoxyethanol
33rd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Octadecan-1-ol
34th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,3'-(1,4-Phenylenedimethylene)bis[7,7-dimethyl-2-oxo-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-methanesulfonic acid]
35th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Xanthan gum
Products in the same category that share this formula's distinguishing ingredients.
La Roche-Posay
Shares 9 key ingredients with Anthelios Oil Control SPF 50+ Gel-Cream: Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Triazone
La Roche-Posay
Shares 9 key ingredients with Anthelios Oil Control SPF 50+ Gel-Cream: Water, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene
La Roche-Posay
Shares 9 key ingredients with Anthelios Oil Control SPF 50+ Gel-Cream: Water, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Drometrizole Trisiloxane
La Roche-Posay
Shares 9 key ingredients with Anthelios Oil Control SPF 50+ Gel-Cream: Water, Silica, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone
La Roche-Posay
Shares 8 key ingredients with Anthelios Oil Control SPF 50+ Gel-Cream: Water, Silica, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
La Roche-Posay
Shares 8 key ingredients with Anthelios Oil Control SPF 50+ Gel-Cream: Water, Silica, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
WATER, HOMOSALATE, CI 77891, SILICA, ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE, ETHYLHEXYL TRIAZONE, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE, DROMETRIZOLE TRISILOXANE, BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, OCTOCRYLENE, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE, CI 77491, CI 77492, SODIUM PHOSPHORUS/ZINC/CALCIUM/SILICON/ALUMINUM/SILVER OXIDES, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, METHYLENE BIS-BENZOTRIAZOLYL TETRAMETHYLBUTYLPHENOL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CAPRYLYL METHICONE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DIMETHICONE, DISODIUM EDTA, GLYCERIN, INULIN LAURYL CARBAMATE, PEG-8 LAURATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, STEARYL ALCOHOL, TEREPHTHALYLIDENE DICAMPHOR SULFONIC ACID, XANTHAN GUM.
Apply the sunscreen product just before exposure. Re-apply frequently and generously to maintain protection, especially after swimming, perspiring or towelling.
Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Balanced skin best. It is the least natural fit for Dry, Combination (dry) skin.
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
One ingredient could feed malassezia: Peg-8 Laurate. That describes the yeast's food supply, not a prediction that it will cause a breakout.
Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not medical clearance — check anything you use daily with your doctor or midwife.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is fragrance-free.
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.
No — it contains Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone.
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is essential-oil-free.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.
It layers well with Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Retinoids (retinol, retinal), AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide.
Use it in the morning, final morning step, before makeup.
It lists 35 ingredients, of which 10 are recorded as actives.
La Roche-Posay, a brand based in France.
It filters UV with Homosalate (homosalate), Titanium Dioxide (titanium dioxide), Octisalate (ethylhexyl salicylate), Uvinul T 150 (ethylhexyl triazone), Tinosorb S (bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine), Mexoryl XL (drometrizole trisiloxane), Avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), Octocrylene (octocrylene), Tinosorb M (methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol), Mexoryl SX (terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid).
Yes. Its filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so protection reaches past 340 nm into the deep-UVA range associated with ageing and pigmentation.
It may leave a slight cast. The formula mixes mineral and organic filters, so any cast is usually lighter than a fully mineral sunscreen's.
It contains none of the filters named in the Hawaii and Key West reef legislation (oxybenzone and octinoxate). "Reef safe" is not a regulated term, so treat that as a fact about the filter list rather than a certification.
Yes. Let it set for a couple of minutes before foundation so it does not pill, and reapply over makeup with a stick or powder rather than rubbing more in.
Every two hours of sun exposure, and immediately after swimming, sweating heavily or towelling off.
We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Attempting to reconnect