We all know it: wearing sunscreen daily is key to maintaining healthy, youthful skin. But it can be hard to find a sunscreen for the face that feels good, rather than greasy and sticky, and sometimes we just forget! So what's the easiest way to stick to daily sunscreen application? It's to replace one of the products you use in your routine with something that contains SPF, rather than adding an extra step. Less effort, less time means you're much more likely to be consistent!

Of course you could use a moisturizer with SPF. But if you're like me and prefer weightless gel formulas in the summer, this type of moisturizer might feel too heavy. The solution? A primer with sunscreen! I've been testing the Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-aging Primer by La Roche-Posay for a few weeks, keep reading to find out how it fits into my routine.

La Roche-Posay is one of the major French pharmacy skincare brands that are based on thermal water, similar to Avène or Vichy. I wrote a long and detailed article explaining everything you need to know about thermal/mineral water in skincare, take a look if you want some background information. In the US La Roche-Posay is best known for their popular line of sunscreen called Anthelios.


The range includes a large variety of products with high SPF for all skin types, including this Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-Aging Primer with SPF50. The sun protection in this primer is achieved with the use of classic "chemical" sunscreens: avobenzone, oxybenzone and a handful more. If you prefer to stick to mineral sunscreens La Roche-Posay does have a mineral version based on titanium dioxide that's also tinted (to avoid the white cast).

I really like that this primer offers a high level of protection: SPF50 is not something I see very often, most face products with sunscreen I own are SPF30 max. I also appreciate the fact that it's fragrance-free. For those who are picky about their skincare like I am, it doesn't contain any alcohol and parabens either.

I would describe the Anthelios 50 Primer as a blurring primer: it's silicone-based, clear, and fills in imperfections on my skin such as large pores and fine lines. It's rather thick at first, coming out of the tube looking like a paste. But you just need to warm it in between your finger for it to melt and become silky. It's completely invisible on my skin, except that it really softens any texture and leaves my face looking velvety smooth. If you like pore-blurring and smoothing primers like the Smashbox Photo Finish, Benefit Porefessional or Clarins Instant Smooth, this one will feel familiar.


I know it's called a primer, but you really don't need to wear makeup on top of the Anthelios 50 if you don't want to. On low makeup days I just use concealer under my eyes, mascara and gloss and go about my day. The smoothing effect improves the look of skin enough that I can get away with it, and sometimes I just add a bit of powder to even out the tone.

When I do wear foundation, the Anthelios 50 Primer works as a good base to help my makeup go on more smoothly. The silicone-y formula covers any dry spot that I may have, but it also contains ingredients that absorb oil so it won't make oilier areas look greasy. I don't notice that it makes my foundation last longer, but to be honest I never feel like any primer really makes a big difference in wear time!

The one and only complaint I have with this primer is its price: almost $40 for a 40ml tube (1.35 floz) is pretty steep! But it's actually cheaper per ounce than the Smashbox blurring primer, which doesn't even contain SPF.



The Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-aging Primer by La Roche-Posay makes it easy for me to wear sunscreen every day without having to add an extra step in my beauty routine. I like the high SPF50 it provides, and I enjoy the blurring effect that makes my pores and lines less visible!




The product featured in this review was purchased by me. I received no compensation to write this post, which only reflects my personal opinion. This post contains affiliate links. I receive a very small commission when you click on those links, and the money generated covers a small portion of my expenses to purchase products for review. Clicking on those links helps ensure that Beaumiroir continues to publish reviews of new and exciting high end French products - at no cost to you!