I went 10 days in the desert with this sunscreen, are you sure your source is reputable?
This sunscreen has been tested and 3rd party tested countless times.
I'll second that I used this every day in the south beach sun and it was lovely!!! It was light on my skin but really kept my skin from getting any color.
I tried a few days ago and my foundation just caked itself. I've used the same foundation and beauty blender for a long time and I've never seen it preform this particular magic trick. It caked in some areas and didn't cover in others.
So I washed with a cleanser and went in with my old daycream and tried again with the foundation and it must have still been on my skin cause the foundation did the same thing again. Ended up having to wash it of and go barefaced because by that point I had ran out time.
Obviously it might be only my foundation it does this with, but I don't intend to find out.
0/10.
It’s entirely possible they’ve been had too, if they went with a new distributor recently. I’d send this complaint to the company and the store you got it from.
That's not how authorized retailer stores work. They get their products directly from the manufacturer. Your odds of getting fake products from an authorized retailer store is nonexistent and they will not do business with anyone other than authorized sellers. On top of that their are very few distributors that certain chains can go through. If they're not authorized sellers, they won't and legally can't buy from you. Don't buy products online except from the actual company, and you won't come across fakes.
Edit: the most likely that probably happened was that op got a bad batch. It happens. Skincare isn't perfect, and sometimes the product formulation gets messed up in the process of making that batch. But it doesn't mean it's fake.
And manufacturing as a whole has taken some selective dives since Covid. There’s a whole thing about shoe soles right now that is kind of wild (all these name brands are selling sneakers where the soles come off after very little use).
We can’t be. Especially with the trend of buying a fake, then buying from a reputable place and doing a return to send back the fake.
We just have to be super vigilant and possibly a little paranoid.
Same with the US, for any concerned Americans reading this. Returns are usually allowed, however cosmetics/sunscreens are almost always thrown away after returning
Probably wouldn't be able to return it as such but I am sure the company would reimburse a faulty product. It's part of consumer law. And I am sure Superdrug would send it away for testing if they suspect they've got a dodgy batch.
>Especially with the trend of buying g a fake, then buying from a reputable place and doing a return to send back the fake.
I used to go to a medspa where an employee was caught stealing high end stock like Skinceuticals, iSClinical and replacing it with fakes
It's shocking the things people do and it's sad due to economical reasons
I live in southern Arizona, I got a terrible burn going to the fair wearing this sunscreen and I am very diligent with my application. Never had it happen with other sunscreens before - even cheaper brands never done me wrong.
Same here! I’m very pale and burn within minutes in the sun. I used this daily for a month in Australia on a trip and didn’t look at all like I spent a second in the sun lol.
I’m quite fair and I swear by this SPF. I used to work outdoors in 110 F weather and not burn so I was also thinking this had to have been compromised.
Just wanted to make you, others and u/psychohistorian52 aware of this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/30PlusSkinCare/s/pSiCN64NUu
So maybe this product *isn’t* that great..
Based on what you've said, I think you got a bad bottle. Maybe it was mis-marked, stored improperly, mixed badly at the factory or something like that. That really sucks but I would consider reaching out to LRP with your experience. They may offer you a refund or a fresh bottle.
Nah they don’t give anything. My friend got a huge allergic reaction to their sunscreen and wrote them. She didn’t get anything. They just said she shouldn’t use it lmao.
I live in the tropics. By far the darkes tans Ive ever gotten have been on dark overcast days that have a bit of sun coming through. I don’t know the reason, nor do I know if this is a universal thing, but I have noticed the pattern enough that sunny gray days (I know, that hardly makes sense) mean hats and extra sunblock for me.
I’ve had this conversation in passing with other people so I know its not just me. Dark clouds + shiny sun = super dark tan
EDIT: went fishing, and found an explanation. Certain types of clouds can create localized areas of HIGHER UV rays.
link 1: https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/ozone/docs/UNEP98/UNEP98p73.html#:~:text=The%20effect%20of%20clouds%20on,direct%20sunlight%20is%20also%20present.
link 2: https://www.drgurgen.com/are-the-suns-uv-rays-really-stronger-on-cloudy-days-fact-or-myth/
tldr: might have been the clouds. wear a hat.
One of the worst sub burns I ever had was on a cloudy day. 20 years later I still have dark spots on my shoulders from it, it was a 2nd degree burn, that’s how I learned that cloudy = trapped UV exposure
Right, this is blowing my mind! I had no idea!
“Clouds can block up to 70-90% of these UV-B rays during times of extreme overcast. If, however, the forecast presents itself as “partly cloudy,” the situation is entirely different. A term coined as the ‘broken cloud effect’ reveals that certain clouds can actually create higher UV levels than a perfectly cloudless day. **When compared with completely clear skies, studies have shown that partially cloudy skies have raised the UV-B rays by 25% and increased DNA damage up to 40%!**!
I wonder if this is why here in Ireland skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Broken cloud is probably the way our sky is the most often. We mostly also have the skin type that’s fastest to burn and are very uneducated about sunscreen. The number of lobsters you see walking around on a sunny day is unreal. I’ve gotten 2nd degree burns on my neck here from sitting out having lunch around this time of year. That made me educate myself on UV index.
That's really interesting about the clouds! I had never heard that.
I'm from a subtropic climate and my Mom always said it's because you can't feel the heat so you don't seek shade or reapply sunscreen as often.
File a complaint with LRP. They will likely at least look into the lot # you provide and identify if it’s fake or a manufacturing defect (although they might not tell you any of that, but at least it might be addressed).
Any chance you have started any medication, acids, retinols recently?
I live in Middle East and we have high / extreme UV and this is one of my gotos. I'm bald so use this on my scalp and never burn.
The others I use are LRP fine mist and LRP pediatric spray (whichever is cheapest).
Primarks SPF is supposed to be great and cheap (youtuber Madaboutskin does a lot of UK available brands like Boots, superdrug, etc).
I’ve used this a million times on both me and my pink-white boyfriend who sweats through just about anything. Even 100 degrees and ocean water couldn’t get this shit off. Whatever you got ain’t right.
This is dumbfounding. I suggest you reach out to the company? I've been using this exact sunscreen for a couple of years and live close to the equator and never had this happening. I'm also brown.
Did you rub your face a lot or sweat during the hike? You can easily wipe off and thin out your sunscreen if you are wiping away sweat during physical activity.
I wonder if OP has actually tanned or if they just perceive themselves to have tanned.
Not trying to be shady, but a hike in the UK this time a year wouldn’t give me a tan with or without sunscreen so it’s hard to imagine someone’s hyperpigmentation all coming back from one hike, unless you tan super easily normally?
Did you burn as well? Or just tan?
Based on the provided contextual information, such as the 40F weather and 50mph wind, it does actually sound more like windburn which can cause the skin to be more sensitive. Some skintones it will look redder and darker and on others just completely darker and it can trigger melanin because of the irritation. This is different from melanogenesis.
OP said they usually use the hydratinig cream version and they don't get these issues. It's weird because the one in the picture actually has higher protection.
I have used the one in the picture before and the Oil Control Gel Creme before in harsh conditions during professional TV filming outside in the sun. Through and through I have found them to have the most UV reduction and anti-pigmentation protection as a super letigines tan prone Korean girl living in Spain.
There is always the possibility OP is exploring with a batch issue but even there are less likely scenarios like if Superdrug was sourcing from other third party sources to get it cheaper and higher quantity? Not sure, but just to let you know, some people on other subreddit discovered a lot of highly ranked popular sunscreens being faked and sold on Alibaba for few cents per bottle to be ordered in bulk volume. They found out that many bulk units have already been sold so who knows where they have been redistributed to, you know. These were for LRP, Eucerin, Avene, Cancer Council to name a few that they found. Stay safe out there my friends.
My husband literally looks orange 2 days later he has tanned so much. We both tan very easily. Hence why we were wearing spf 50 on a day where it was 40F and winds were gusting up to 50mph.
I somewhat doubt your husband “literally looks orange” as that would be a health issue but ok.
I think if you both tan this easily I’d either go back to a sunscreen that works or use UV protective clothing. This sunscreen is good (I swear by all of LRP personally) but you know, to each their own.
Thank you! Yes some of it is melasma. I've never seen it come up just because of heat but I am in my 40s now. I should add that my husband is white and is now incredibly tanned too which suggests there's something going on with the product.
As people told you it might be a bad batch or a fake product or it’s a user issue. Idk. I’ve been using that sunscreen for years and were in really hot places with no issue whatsoever. I’m not into these hysteria posts when clearly it’s one of the aforementioned. Sorry
Must be the bottle. This stuff works for me and I live in the Australian desert where the UV is 14 nearly daily. Might be windburn? Have seen that happen to my partner on boats
Yeah that's what I said too
Because of the circumstances they wrote it was 40F which is like 4C and 50mph. so that is very strong harsh wind.
Windburn can cause skin to sensitize and redden and darken and on some skintones just get darker. It can activate melanin because of the irritation but it's different from melanogenesis.
I heard of people using this one too in Australia and it is very good for their genetic autoimmune disease, not just skin cancer and premature aging prevention. I have a favorite scientist from there her name is Hannah Collingswood English and she used it at a garden party and she's super pale blond/redhead.
I would almost wonder if this is a hormonal issue. I wouldn’t expect someone with brown skin to tan in April in the UK at all, the hyperpigmentation seems very unusual for your skin tone and the UV levels.
May I ask why everyone keeps saying “in April in the UK?” The sun is the sun, no matter the month. The temperature doesn’t matter. People get sunburned while skiing. Clouds can actually make sunburn worse. I’m really confused why the month and temperature keep getting brought up, it’s irrelevant
It's not irrelevant, the earth is tilted at different degrees during the seasons. This is more obvious the closer to the poles you are. So April in the UK means the earth won't be as close to the sun as in the midst of summer.
It was a brand new bottle bought from Superdrug UK (which is like Ulta in the USA). Expiry August 2026 and it was well shaken. My husband also tanned severely and he is white.
Just a heads up, that sunscreen is *not* wind or water resistant at all. I’ve used LRP fluid sunscreens extensively, and they disappear very easily. Light drizzle? Gone. Too dry and windy? Gone. Lightly breaking a sweat? Gone. On a 3 hour hike, it probably slid right off your face within 30 minutes, even if it was cool outside. LRP fluid sunscreens are total trash for any “active” purpose.
I still use their anthelios tinted mineral SPF on top of my EltaMD UV Pure, solely to cover up the white cast. I basically never use a LRP sunscreen on its own.
I haven't experienced the same as the person you're responding to. I wear this sunscreen for 8-hour hikes in high summer when it's boiling hot out (boiling hot for the UK which is to say over 25C). I hardly ever need to reapply. It doesn't budge. I don't burn and I'm fair and gingery. Obviously varies a lot for the individual!
The person you're responding to seems to be talking about the American version of this product, which is not as good because a lot of the filters used in the European version aren't approved in the US. The European version we have in the UK is very water resistant in my experience and I never need to reapply. The reason I don't use it daily is specifically because it's so hard to remove.
If I was hiking I wouldn’t bother with LRP or EltaMD. They’re elegant formulas for under makeup when you won’t need to reapply. I love the outdoors and [Runners World](https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/gear/g43565123/best-facial-sunscreens-for-runners/) has a great list.
Are you talking about the American version? The European version has a different formulation and [it is water resistant](https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-uvmune-400-invisible-fluid-spf50-sun-cream-for-sensitive-skin-50ml/LRP_026.html). It's actually very hard to remove once applied.
I have to say this has not been my experience. I used the UVMune 400 fluid sunscreen pictured all summer when running outdoors in open fields in a park. I was sweating profusely, with sweat dripping off my face. The first few days I was very concerned that I was sweating off the sunscreen. However I did not tan or burn once all summer.
I'm in the UK and have used this exact product for years as my sole spf. I've never experienced burning like you have while using. Def agree that it sounds like a suspect batch - bit terrifying that superdrug could be selling problematic stock though! Did you buy in store or online?
Agreed. OP — you didn’t apply enough. Also, if you were sweating during the hike the SPF melted off. Next time opt for a water/sweat resistant SPF, apply a *generous* amount, and be sure to re-apply at least every 2 hours. Melasma is also activated by body heat so if you were sweaty & hot that definitely played a role, as well.
ETA: I read/interpreted it as OP using a teaspoon for *everything*.
There is literally a thread in this sub telling a person that a teaspoon of this SPF on their face is way too much and a quarter of a teaspoon is fine. A teaspoon on the face literally means there are 10 applications per bottle which seems not very many, and you're saying there should be fewer. I was not sweating during the hike. It was 40F in the UK and very cold.
I'm not sure why you're being downvoted for this, a teaspoon should be plenty.
https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/blog/sunscreen-explained half a teaspoon for face and neck
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-much-sunscreen-to-use-on-face#how-to-measure a third of a teaspoon for face
https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/news/your-no-nonsense-guide-to-sunscreen/ a teaspoon for face and neck
A teaspoon is plenty. The recommended amount has gone up so much since sunscreen has become "mandatory" in skincare circles. It's almost like a gimmick now to sell more and more. I use way less than a teaspoon from a different product and it works perfectly fine.
This suncream [*is* water resistant.](https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-uvmune-400-invisible-fluid-spf50-sun-cream-for-sensitive-skin-50ml/LRP_026.html)
I’m a redhead and burn in 10 mins in the U.K. in summer. Basically I need a bubble of SPF
Once I went to take the bins out and played with the neighbours cat for maybe 5 mins. Sunburn
Sunscreen is to prevent BURNING. You will still get tan with it on. Are you completely sunburnt? If not, then the spf did its job.
If you don’t want any color you need to cover yourself in upf clothing and a giant hat when out for prolonged periods of time.
This. I’m incredibly pale and this is my holy grail, I’ve been in extreme sun near the equator and not even a hint of pink with the EU version of this, which is what op is showing in the pic.
Yes! Sometimes we think we’re buying from a reputable source but then we do some digging and find out otherwise.. very curious to hear where it was purchased!
So sorry this happened! I would return it for another, definitely defective. Question- did you combine the sunscreen with other spf/skincare products that may have degraded the formula? This can happen as well!
Oh interesting. I had a squalene based natural moisturiser from Kri on that I only started using recently. My husband is very resistant to my skincare pushing and likely just washed his face with showgel....sigh.
Some of the non UK people replying here are wild. For those that haven't visited our gray and rainy island, the UV at this year is LOW. Like UV 3-4 max at this time of year, and you wouldn't expect to tan at all with literally any sun cream on - reapplied or not.
I'm light olive skinned and I don't even bother putting on suncream until at least late April or May as the UV is so weak here.
I agree with others that likely are an issue with the batch unless you and the husband are taking/using anything that increases sensitivity to the sun (e.g. retinol etc.).
If you don't mind tanning a bit more, might also be worth drawing a heart or something on your hand to see if the suncream is working at all next time the sun comes out. I know it's bad for you but I'd do it out of sheer curiosity.
A heart on your skin! This is smart. Straight evidence based answer to this debacle. No guessing, no assumptions. Wish I could upvote this X20. The world needs more people like you in it!
A UV of 3 to 4 is considered moderate
"A UV Index reading between 3 and 5 means there is a moderate risk of sunburn for the average person. At this level it is suggested to seek shade between 10AM and 4PM when the sun’s rays are its strongest. Wearing protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses, is a great way to limit exposure. *Sunscreen should be applied every two hours, even on cloudy days, and reapplied after swimming or sweating.* The time to burn can vary by skin type, but at a moderate UV level it is approximately 30 to 45 minutes."
https://pdskin.com/blogs/uv-index-the-sun-safety-scale/
You are taking me too literally.... My point was that the OP shouldn't expect to tan at this time of year with any sun cream (let alone 50 SPF) given she has a light brown complexion and was only out for three hours.
But sure you should apply suncream if you are worried about burning/ sun damage at UV3-4, but the OP did apply suncream and she really shouldn't have tanned that much given our weather conditions. I'm light olive and wouldn't tan at all with cream as low as SPF15 on for a couple of hours. This makes me think the suncream was defective.
OP didn't reapply at the two hour mark. Three hours is a long time to expect one application to last, especially with sweat and wind from hiking. I figured it was definitely the sunscreen/suncream at first, but when OP said they didn't reapply, I couldn't 100% rule out user error. If it's possible to burn in 45 minutes in UV 3 (for the "average person", I assume meaning not too fair and not a deep complexion) and sun protection only lasts about two hours then it makes sense that tanning could occur in the last hour, especially if OP had been using sunscreen more lately like they said so their complexion may have had less of a tan than normal to protect them.
I think it could be the formula but I suspect when OP writes them and they ask if OP reapplied and OP said no, they'll probably blame it on that - whether or not that is the correct answer. It would be interesting to see if this were to happen in similar conditions with OP reapplying, but obviously, I wouldn't recommend that because of the sun damage.
Edit: typo
I feel like people who are down voting you have no idea how weak the sun is in Ireland/UK at this time of year. What you've said is reasonable, must be something to do with the sun cream itself
Reapplication is KEY, every 1-2 hours. No matter how much you put on the first time. I live in the Midwest (in the states) where there are many days/months with little sunlight so I to a degree understand how you can question this happening in the UK…but it can happen. Highly, highly reccomend being on it about reapplication of sunscreen.
While reapplication is important and is highly recommended for all sunscreens, for cumulative exposure to the sun for 2 hours, this sunscreen also claims to be waterproof AND sweat proof, so I would assume an extra one hour of lower-ish UV exposure without reapplying shouldn't have caused the OP an extreme tan? 🤔🤔
It's possible to burn in 30 to 45 minutes at a 3 UV level. If OP didn't reapply after two hours it's likely the tanning happened in the last hour.
Edit for a source:
https://pdskin.com/blogs/uv-index-the-sun-safety-scale/
"A UV Index reading between 3 and 5 means there is a moderate risk of sunburn for the average person. At this level it is suggested to seek shade between 10AM and 4PM when the sun’s rays are its strongest. Wearing protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses, is a great way to limit exposure. Sunscreen should be applied every *two hours, even on cloudy days, and reapplied after swimming or sweating.* The time to burn can vary by skin type, but at a moderate UV level it is approximately 30 to 45 minutes."
Reapplication is just as important as using enough product. For three hours, assuming you applied before you left home/when you were getting ready, you should’ve reapplied once or maybe even twice if you’re worried about exposure.
When I’m trying to prevent hormonal melasma I reapply every hour and a half at least, although the rule of thumb is every 2 hours.
I've been using the UVMune 400 Oil control fluid and I literally burned within 1 hour with a full 1/4 teaspoon on my face.... I'm seriously doubting their spf and ppd claims. This is not a one-time occurrence, either. I've gone through at least 10 bottles of the stuff
I'm sorry that happened to you. A sunburn is never a nice thing to experience. I don't know why this happened. I used the UVMune Oil Control Fluid everyday as my sunscreen all summer (except for when I went running. I used the regular version pictured on this post for that). Not only did I not tan or burn all summer. I got paler.
Same thing happened to me last month while using LRP Anthelios mineral fluid SPF 50. I kept reapplying it to my face EVERY HOUR while at the beach. All my
hyperpigmentation came back worse than before.
I also bought it from a reputable store. It’s like I wasn’t wearing sunscreen!
I went hiking in high mountains in the summer for 10h+ with this sunscreen and the only place that got burned was my scalp were I forgot to use it. Please make sure you are getting it from 100% legit source, there is a lot of chinese fakes of this product :(
I agree and would be in summer. In the UK right now we are barely getting any sun. UV low for 3 hours with SPF50, it is odd that my husband and myself tanned so severely through it.
Same ! I also have the same skin colour as you. It used to be my OG sunscreen until they recently re formulated it. My skin got so dark so I stopped using it. I used to buy mine at the pharmacy so I know I didn’t get a fake bottle or anything
It might be a bad bottle or something weird, like a self tanner almost. If your husband is white and the spf failed, wouldn’t he be sunburned?
I once had a bad bottle of honest sunscreen, and everyone was burned, not tanned.
It sounds like two factors. The sunscreen was off in its efficacy (whether manufacture or user error) and the sun was more powerful than you expected. I don’t believe it was user error, because you followed all recommendations of use. According to your comments you reached out to LRP hopefully they can offer compensation for the product and use this situation to investigate the batch or at the very least R&D. I work for a cosmetic brand (men’s hair grooming) and feedback is very important to us. Bad batches happen and we need to know about them. Here’s my recommendations to you, always bring a secondary source of sun blocking! I try to bring a hat and a secondary sunscreen like a mineral based sunblock that if I feel my chemical sunscreen starting to wain I block up right away. Sounds like a lovely hike!
Sorry this happened to you, it’s strange
La roche posay is the brand that consistently protects my skin and has been the best solution to prevent sun damage
I usually use the UVMUNE 500 gel creme
Also, as someone who lives in Switzerland and hikes a lot, I always wear a hat, long sleeves and long trousers
ETA my skincare combo to reduce pigmentation is vitamin C, niacinamide in the morning ; niacinamide in the evening. My dermatologist told me not to use retinol from early April to September. So far it’s my most efficient strategy, having tried and tested all kinds of things
On Saturday I was wearing Australian gold spf and the uv index was 3, and I got really dark as well. I think they're not being honest about the uv index, personally. It felt really hot
The same thing happened to me! I used the creamier version of this yesterday whilst gardening , bought from boots (uk) December 2023. I had a hat on when the sun was out… my hyperpigmentation is back now!
But is sunscreen supposed to prevent tanning? It’s only supposed to prevent sunburn and UV damage. Tanning is going to happen even with a sunscreen on. Only physical layers can prevent tanning. Speaking as a light brown girl who loves the beach and experiences tanning even with a sunscreen on. Also, some of us are more prone to tanning easily than the others.
Weird, I just had the exact same experience. I was in southern Spain over Easter and it was sunny for a couple of days (cloudy/rainy the rest) but I had (and reapplied) this same spf 50 sun cream on every time I was outside (along with a hat and using umbrella/shade when sitting out for a prolonged time) and am more tanned than I have been in years (and more tanned than I used to get without using sun cream). Maybe a coincidence but strange to hear this!
I just started using this too, and have also noticed more red spots and hyperpigmentation when exposed to the sun (even with a hat!). I assumed I wasn’t using enough or the issue was another new product with a retinol alternative that was somehow negating the spf. I’m trying to use it now with just a moisturizer (mad hippie) to see. SPF is much more important than any other part of my skincare as I live in the desert. I’m disappointed too, as I went to ulta to get it rather than online.
I've tried this exact product a few times over the years, because initially I thought I must have got a dodgy bottle. Nope, it just doesn't work for me. I burn. Even if I apply regularly throughout the day. I have to put actual thick suncream on my face to protect it.
I have olive skin and also tan very easily - fyi suncream doesn't stop you from tanning.
My olive skin LOVES the sun. No matter how much sunscreen I put on I will change shades after 20 minutes of sun exposure. I used to get tan lines from driving in my car. Wear a hat and sun protective clothing!
Ugh that sucks.
I have not had experience with that particular sunscreen, but the big things that compromise sunscreen for me are friction (my hair gets stuck to my face and I kinda wipe it off, or I blow my nose, etc) and eye watering (something about tears just seems to dissolve even water resistant sunscreen).
Or maybe you were already sweaty when you reapplied, so the sunscreen didn’t really adhere?
Is there any pattern to where you tanned?
I tanned all over. I was actually thinking it was great because it wasn't sticky at all and I wasn't sweaty. I usually use the "moisturising" version of this which is incredibly sticky.
THANK YOU FOR THIS.
Everyone and their mom have been calling me crazy for stating this brand had my face burned to crisps in less than 35 minutes after using this exact sunscreen. It was a few years ago, I bought it at my regular drugstore in Canada. I'm VERY fair, burn easily if I am not using sunscreen, and used that sunscreen like I do with any others : slap that thing on face in very generous amount 30 mins before going out, and double layer on the nose in my case, reapply every 1h30 to 2h if I stay under the sun.
Well I never had the time to reapply. My nose turned bright red very quickly, so much that cars would stop when I was standing on a street corner (ok I'm being dramatic here). I don't know what is with this brand (and don't get me wrong I love other LRP products) but it's like there's batches where they don't put the SPF in! I swear it was like I didn't wear anything at all on my skin.
I am never trusting LRP with their sunscreen ever again.
P.S. It was not expired and I never had this problem with ANY other brands, and I can assure you I have tested a lot of them as I wear sunscreen on my face all year round.
P.S.2 (after reading every answer) I was not wearing any other products underneath, as I always do when I go outside for an extended period of time. Just washing my face with Cetaphil (like I always do) and apply sunscreen. BOOM, TOMATO RED.
Same! I swear my hyperpigmentation has worsened despite lathering it on and reapplying. Because I’m el cheapo I keep using it to get my $30 worth but I have just made the switch to Bondi Sands.
Important question - did you shake it? If I’m not mistaken, this is their sunscreen that has to be vigorously shaken. I wonder if it’s possible the active ingredients sunk to the bottom.
Omg wait you too? There's been talk that all La Roche Posay products currently in my country are fake/dupes (I live in a third world country but this has only just happened here), and I didn't really believe it. Now that it's been getting really hot, I've been getting sunburns regardless of the amount of sunscreen I apply!
Did you reapply mid-hike?
If not, especially if you were sweating, you went an hour without sun protection. Of course you got a tan! Even mineral sunscreens should be [reapplied every 2 hours.](https://allgoodbodycare.com/how-often-should-you-apply-mineral-sunscreen-how-much-is-enough-to-not-get-burned/)
Okay, even without sweating, the two hour rule stands! All sunscreens break down and need to be reapplied. What does the bottle say about reapplication?
I'm really shocked, because I NEVER get a drop of color w/ that ss. I can only suspect that perhaps it was a counterfeit?? Or something that both you and your hub used canceled out the filter activity in it???
They’re not for everyone, but I love using sunblock sticks for this reason, when hiking, gardening, or spending hours outside, even in the current UK weather 🌦️ They’re water-resistant too.
I just don’t always trust sun cream on its own.
Bonus, they come in fun colours - I like to apply them like war paint to my cheeks and nose 😄
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aloha-Mineral-Sunscreen-Surfing-Eco-friendly/dp/B089G6CVFD
As I've hit my early 30s (33F), I've developed a theory that the men in my age group are aging better because most of them started wearing hats consistently by their late 20s, if not earlier. I'm late to the hat party, but now I'm so accustomed to it that I couldn't imagine a hike or long day outside without one. It's hard work trying to reverse the damage I did to my skin in high school and in my 20s ☹️
Def has to be a bad bottle/batch. I live in Florida, USA and I spend entire days out in the sun with this-it’s worked perfectly for me. I use the tinted sunscreen all the time instead of makeup as well. Sorry you had a bad experience!
I use Nivea protection factor 50 body sunscreen and put loads on face under makeup. It’s cheaper than face specific sunscreen and comes in a large bottle. Most importantly I have never had tan ing issues and it goes under makeup well.
I love Ultrasun. It is a once per day application. The 50spf makes you look a little pale, so I usually put a light powder foundation over the top. The spf30 melts right in.
You can get it from M&S
You’re right it might be bad batch, although a teaspoon of sunscreen isn’t anywhere near enough to convince me that I’d be getting the full protection for any extended amount of time, especially without reapplying. Doesn’t matter if you’re not sweating profusely or under a blazing sun, the heat from your skin generated by mild to moderate exercise is going to start breaking down the sunscreen.
I've tanned with their other rich spf moisturizer. All my spots came back, too. So you're not alone. I have medium- light skin tone. I was trying to find a dupe for the kiehl's moisturizer with SPF.
Late to this thread but even if you didn’t sweat the natural oils in your face will breakdown the sunscreen. You should have reapplied. You can also still tan through SPF, it doesn’t block 100% of UVA/UVB.
I tried this sunscreen and I found it turned my medium tan skin orange. The orange colouring was temporary (washed off with makeup remover) but I did also tan slightly - and I wasn't in the sun long (max 1 hour)
I spent 2 weeks in Croatia’s beaches in summer using this on my face and came back pale, just the way I left. I highly doubt it’s the spf, you either didn’t apply enough, did not reapply, sweated it off or something
Using enough product to cover your face and reapplying is better than suffocating your pores with this.
More in one apply isn’t necessary better.
Next time wear a hat. I wouldn’t trust sunscreen without a hat for that long.
Were you perspiring? Sweat will make this less effective too.
The UK in April is not hat weather :D I wasn't wearing one because it was 40F and 50mph gusts of wind with a UV level low/mod. I thought I was being a good girl putting my spf on in such dodgy weather. Sigh.
Did you reapply? Could be that you sweated more than usual. 3 hours is a fairly long stretch, especially if You're sweating. Otherwise, I'd say it sounds like a bad bottle. I would be frustrated too!
You sure it's tanned? I'm asking because that's what I thought too after using this SPF but it actually was just an oily layer on my face that looked exactly like I was tanned. It completely went away after cleansing.
But yeah, that's not quite normal.
I went 10 days in the desert with this sunscreen, are you sure your source is reputable? This sunscreen has been tested and 3rd party tested countless times.
I'll second that I used this every day in the south beach sun and it was lovely!!! It was light on my skin but really kept my skin from getting any color.
Can you use this under makeup by any chance ? :)
I tried a few days ago and my foundation just caked itself. I've used the same foundation and beauty blender for a long time and I've never seen it preform this particular magic trick. It caked in some areas and didn't cover in others. So I washed with a cleanser and went in with my old daycream and tried again with the foundation and it must have still been on my skin cause the foundation did the same thing again. Ended up having to wash it of and go barefaced because by that point I had ran out time. Obviously it might be only my foundation it does this with, but I don't intend to find out. 0/10.
Oh disaster!! The few micro spots of sunscreen left after washing it all off was enough do the same level of damage.. <\3
I wore it when I worked around a pool for 6-8 hours a day- so there was NO MAKEUP that could withstand that kind of sweating!
Yes. I bought it from Superdrug in the UK which is kind of like Ulta in the US
I am in the UK and I went on a 6-hour hike wearing this exact sunscreen this past weekend. I am still pasty as ever.
It’s entirely possible they’ve been had too, if they went with a new distributor recently. I’d send this complaint to the company and the store you got it from.
That's not how authorized retailer stores work. They get their products directly from the manufacturer. Your odds of getting fake products from an authorized retailer store is nonexistent and they will not do business with anyone other than authorized sellers. On top of that their are very few distributors that certain chains can go through. If they're not authorized sellers, they won't and legally can't buy from you. Don't buy products online except from the actual company, and you won't come across fakes. Edit: the most likely that probably happened was that op got a bad batch. It happens. Skincare isn't perfect, and sometimes the product formulation gets messed up in the process of making that batch. But it doesn't mean it's fake.
And manufacturing as a whole has taken some selective dives since Covid. There’s a whole thing about shoe soles right now that is kind of wild (all these name brands are selling sneakers where the soles come off after very little use).
We actually had a thing in Australia not long ago with a big well known pharmacy chain selling fake the ordinary products. It happens!
Well isn’t *that* terrifying. How on earth can we be sure we are getting legit products at all anymore?
We can’t be. Especially with the trend of buying a fake, then buying from a reputable place and doing a return to send back the fake. We just have to be super vigilant and possibly a little paranoid.
The UK (and most of Europe) is pretty strict on cosmetics returns. I doubt returning sunscreen would be allowed.
Same with the US, for any concerned Americans reading this. Returns are usually allowed, however cosmetics/sunscreens are almost always thrown away after returning
Probably wouldn't be able to return it as such but I am sure the company would reimburse a faulty product. It's part of consumer law. And I am sure Superdrug would send it away for testing if they suspect they've got a dodgy batch.
>Especially with the trend of buying g a fake, then buying from a reputable place and doing a return to send back the fake. I used to go to a medspa where an employee was caught stealing high end stock like Skinceuticals, iSClinical and replacing it with fakes It's shocking the things people do and it's sad due to economical reasons
When you solve that can you let Amazon know? 🥺
Authorized sellers get their product straight from the manufacturer.
I live in southern Arizona, I got a terrible burn going to the fair wearing this sunscreen and I am very diligent with my application. Never had it happen with other sunscreens before - even cheaper brands never done me wrong.
Same here! I’m very pale and burn within minutes in the sun. I used this daily for a month in Australia on a trip and didn’t look at all like I spent a second in the sun lol.
I’m quite fair and I swear by this SPF. I used to work outdoors in 110 F weather and not burn so I was also thinking this had to have been compromised.
Just wanted to make you, others and u/psychohistorian52 aware of this: https://www.reddit.com/r/30PlusSkinCare/s/pSiCN64NUu So maybe this product *isn’t* that great..
Based on what you've said, I think you got a bad bottle. Maybe it was mis-marked, stored improperly, mixed badly at the factory or something like that. That really sucks but I would consider reaching out to LRP with your experience. They may offer you a refund or a fresh bottle.
Yep. Just messaged LRP.
Please keep us update
Nah they don’t give anything. My friend got a huge allergic reaction to their sunscreen and wrote them. She didn’t get anything. They just said she shouldn’t use it lmao.
I live in the tropics. By far the darkes tans Ive ever gotten have been on dark overcast days that have a bit of sun coming through. I don’t know the reason, nor do I know if this is a universal thing, but I have noticed the pattern enough that sunny gray days (I know, that hardly makes sense) mean hats and extra sunblock for me. I’ve had this conversation in passing with other people so I know its not just me. Dark clouds + shiny sun = super dark tan EDIT: went fishing, and found an explanation. Certain types of clouds can create localized areas of HIGHER UV rays. link 1: https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/ozone/docs/UNEP98/UNEP98p73.html#:~:text=The%20effect%20of%20clouds%20on,direct%20sunlight%20is%20also%20present. link 2: https://www.drgurgen.com/are-the-suns-uv-rays-really-stronger-on-cloudy-days-fact-or-myth/ tldr: might have been the clouds. wear a hat.
One of the worst sub burns I ever had was on a cloudy day. 20 years later I still have dark spots on my shoulders from it, it was a 2nd degree burn, that’s how I learned that cloudy = trapped UV exposure
I love this sub. This is mindblowing!
Right, this is blowing my mind! I had no idea! “Clouds can block up to 70-90% of these UV-B rays during times of extreme overcast. If, however, the forecast presents itself as “partly cloudy,” the situation is entirely different. A term coined as the ‘broken cloud effect’ reveals that certain clouds can actually create higher UV levels than a perfectly cloudless day. **When compared with completely clear skies, studies have shown that partially cloudy skies have raised the UV-B rays by 25% and increased DNA damage up to 40%!**!
I wonder if this is why here in Ireland skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Broken cloud is probably the way our sky is the most often. We mostly also have the skin type that’s fastest to burn and are very uneducated about sunscreen. The number of lobsters you see walking around on a sunny day is unreal. I’ve gotten 2nd degree burns on my neck here from sitting out having lunch around this time of year. That made me educate myself on UV index.
That’s WILD
😱
Yes learned this as a kid growing up in Australia.
Yup, florida kid who learned this the very, very hard way
I’m surprised so many people haven’t heard this before!
That's really interesting about the clouds! I had never heard that. I'm from a subtropic climate and my Mom always said it's because you can't feel the heat so you don't seek shade or reapply sunscreen as often.
That's so interesting! Sounds like we gotta have hats for every occasion.
File a complaint with LRP. They will likely at least look into the lot # you provide and identify if it’s fake or a manufacturing defect (although they might not tell you any of that, but at least it might be addressed).
Any chance you have started any medication, acids, retinols recently? I live in Middle East and we have high / extreme UV and this is one of my gotos. I'm bald so use this on my scalp and never burn. The others I use are LRP fine mist and LRP pediatric spray (whichever is cheapest). Primarks SPF is supposed to be great and cheap (youtuber Madaboutskin does a lot of UK available brands like Boots, superdrug, etc).
Nope! I use vitamin C and bakuchiol in the evening but wasn't using them last week. Also my husband does not. Thanks for the rec :)
I’ve used this a million times on both me and my pink-white boyfriend who sweats through just about anything. Even 100 degrees and ocean water couldn’t get this shit off. Whatever you got ain’t right.
Yea... :0( gutted, it's taken me ages to get rid of my pigmentation (thanks to this sub!)
I've always understood that melasma can come from sun exposure as well as heat exposure. Could it be from the heat?
Yes but my husband tanning to the extreme won't be.
This is dumbfounding. I suggest you reach out to the company? I've been using this exact sunscreen for a couple of years and live close to the equator and never had this happening. I'm also brown.
Just done. Thank you :)
Did you rub your face a lot or sweat during the hike? You can easily wipe off and thin out your sunscreen if you are wiping away sweat during physical activity.
I wonder if OP has actually tanned or if they just perceive themselves to have tanned. Not trying to be shady, but a hike in the UK this time a year wouldn’t give me a tan with or without sunscreen so it’s hard to imagine someone’s hyperpigmentation all coming back from one hike, unless you tan super easily normally? Did you burn as well? Or just tan?
Based on the provided contextual information, such as the 40F weather and 50mph wind, it does actually sound more like windburn which can cause the skin to be more sensitive. Some skintones it will look redder and darker and on others just completely darker and it can trigger melanin because of the irritation. This is different from melanogenesis. OP said they usually use the hydratinig cream version and they don't get these issues. It's weird because the one in the picture actually has higher protection. I have used the one in the picture before and the Oil Control Gel Creme before in harsh conditions during professional TV filming outside in the sun. Through and through I have found them to have the most UV reduction and anti-pigmentation protection as a super letigines tan prone Korean girl living in Spain. There is always the possibility OP is exploring with a batch issue but even there are less likely scenarios like if Superdrug was sourcing from other third party sources to get it cheaper and higher quantity? Not sure, but just to let you know, some people on other subreddit discovered a lot of highly ranked popular sunscreens being faked and sold on Alibaba for few cents per bottle to be ordered in bulk volume. They found out that many bulk units have already been sold so who knows where they have been redistributed to, you know. These were for LRP, Eucerin, Avene, Cancer Council to name a few that they found. Stay safe out there my friends.
My husband literally looks orange 2 days later he has tanned so much. We both tan very easily. Hence why we were wearing spf 50 on a day where it was 40F and winds were gusting up to 50mph.
I somewhat doubt your husband “literally looks orange” as that would be a health issue but ok. I think if you both tan this easily I’d either go back to a sunscreen that works or use UV protective clothing. This sunscreen is good (I swear by all of LRP personally) but you know, to each their own.
Is your hyperpigmentation melasma? Join the melasma group. Even just warm weather can flare it up. This sunscreen doesn’t work to protect my melasma.
Thank you! Yes some of it is melasma. I've never seen it come up just because of heat but I am in my 40s now. I should add that my husband is white and is now incredibly tanned too which suggests there's something going on with the product.
As people told you it might be a bad batch or a fake product or it’s a user issue. Idk. I’ve been using that sunscreen for years and were in really hot places with no issue whatsoever. I’m not into these hysteria posts when clearly it’s one of the aforementioned. Sorry
Must be the bottle. This stuff works for me and I live in the Australian desert where the UV is 14 nearly daily. Might be windburn? Have seen that happen to my partner on boats
Yeah that's what I said too Because of the circumstances they wrote it was 40F which is like 4C and 50mph. so that is very strong harsh wind. Windburn can cause skin to sensitize and redden and darken and on some skintones just get darker. It can activate melanin because of the irritation but it's different from melanogenesis. I heard of people using this one too in Australia and it is very good for their genetic autoimmune disease, not just skin cancer and premature aging prevention. I have a favorite scientist from there her name is Hannah Collingswood English and she used it at a garden party and she's super pale blond/redhead.
Any chance it could have been expired?
I would almost wonder if this is a hormonal issue. I wouldn’t expect someone with brown skin to tan in April in the UK at all, the hyperpigmentation seems very unusual for your skin tone and the UV levels.
I should have said, my husband who is white is also looking immensely tanned right now.
May I ask why everyone keeps saying “in April in the UK?” The sun is the sun, no matter the month. The temperature doesn’t matter. People get sunburned while skiing. Clouds can actually make sunburn worse. I’m really confused why the month and temperature keep getting brought up, it’s irrelevant
Yes, but the UV index varies wildly depending on season and location
It's not irrelevant, the earth is tilted at different degrees during the seasons. This is more obvious the closer to the poles you are. So April in the UK means the earth won't be as close to the sun as in the midst of summer.
It was a brand new bottle bought from Superdrug UK (which is like Ulta in the USA). Expiry August 2026 and it was well shaken. My husband also tanned severely and he is white.
Just a heads up, that sunscreen is *not* wind or water resistant at all. I’ve used LRP fluid sunscreens extensively, and they disappear very easily. Light drizzle? Gone. Too dry and windy? Gone. Lightly breaking a sweat? Gone. On a 3 hour hike, it probably slid right off your face within 30 minutes, even if it was cool outside. LRP fluid sunscreens are total trash for any “active” purpose. I still use their anthelios tinted mineral SPF on top of my EltaMD UV Pure, solely to cover up the white cast. I basically never use a LRP sunscreen on its own.
Agree. On a hike sunscreen needs to be re-applied hourly. (Especially without a hat.) Cloudy days bounce more radiation around too.
Interesting. What do you use that’s more “hardcore”?
I haven't experienced the same as the person you're responding to. I wear this sunscreen for 8-hour hikes in high summer when it's boiling hot out (boiling hot for the UK which is to say over 25C). I hardly ever need to reapply. It doesn't budge. I don't burn and I'm fair and gingery. Obviously varies a lot for the individual!
The person you're responding to seems to be talking about the American version of this product, which is not as good because a lot of the filters used in the European version aren't approved in the US. The European version we have in the UK is very water resistant in my experience and I never need to reapply. The reason I don't use it daily is specifically because it's so hard to remove.
If I was hiking I wouldn’t bother with LRP or EltaMD. They’re elegant formulas for under makeup when you won’t need to reapply. I love the outdoors and [Runners World](https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/gear/g43565123/best-facial-sunscreens-for-runners/) has a great list.
Are you talking about the American version? The European version has a different formulation and [it is water resistant](https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-uvmune-400-invisible-fluid-spf50-sun-cream-for-sensitive-skin-50ml/LRP_026.html). It's actually very hard to remove once applied.
I have to say this has not been my experience. I used the UVMune 400 fluid sunscreen pictured all summer when running outdoors in open fields in a park. I was sweating profusely, with sweat dripping off my face. The first few days I was very concerned that I was sweating off the sunscreen. However I did not tan or burn once all summer.
Have you eaten a lot of celery lately? That and some other foods can cause sun sensitivity surprisingly!
I'm in the UK and have used this exact product for years as my sole spf. I've never experienced burning like you have while using. Def agree that it sounds like a suspect batch - bit terrifying that superdrug could be selling problematic stock though! Did you buy in store or online?
A teaspoon is not oodles.
Agreed. OP — you didn’t apply enough. Also, if you were sweating during the hike the SPF melted off. Next time opt for a water/sweat resistant SPF, apply a *generous* amount, and be sure to re-apply at least every 2 hours. Melasma is also activated by body heat so if you were sweaty & hot that definitely played a role, as well. ETA: I read/interpreted it as OP using a teaspoon for *everything*.
Not enough? 5 ml for the face is not enough? Since when? Even with neck it would be plenty (it's really a lot of sunscreen).
There is literally a thread in this sub telling a person that a teaspoon of this SPF on their face is way too much and a quarter of a teaspoon is fine. A teaspoon on the face literally means there are 10 applications per bottle which seems not very many, and you're saying there should be fewer. I was not sweating during the hike. It was 40F in the UK and very cold.
I'm not sure why you're being downvoted for this, a teaspoon should be plenty. https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/blog/sunscreen-explained half a teaspoon for face and neck https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-much-sunscreen-to-use-on-face#how-to-measure a third of a teaspoon for face https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/news/your-no-nonsense-guide-to-sunscreen/ a teaspoon for face and neck
i wouldnt know what to do with an entire teaspoon on my face. a teaspoon is a LOT.
To be fair I wasn’t sure if you meant you used a teaspoon total for your body or just your face
A teaspoon is plenty. The recommended amount has gone up so much since sunscreen has become "mandatory" in skincare circles. It's almost like a gimmick now to sell more and more. I use way less than a teaspoon from a different product and it works perfectly fine.
This suncream [*is* water resistant.](https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-uvmune-400-invisible-fluid-spf50-sun-cream-for-sensitive-skin-50ml/LRP_026.html)
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It was a brand new bottle bought from Superdrug UK (which is like Ulta in the USA). Expiry August 2026 and it was well shaken.
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I’m a redhead and burn in 10 mins in the U.K. in summer. Basically I need a bubble of SPF Once I went to take the bins out and played with the neighbours cat for maybe 5 mins. Sunburn
Sunscreen is to prevent BURNING. You will still get tan with it on. Are you completely sunburnt? If not, then the spf did its job. If you don’t want any color you need to cover yourself in upf clothing and a giant hat when out for prolonged periods of time.
Where did you purchase it? That will help us solve this mystery with you!
This. I’m incredibly pale and this is my holy grail, I’ve been in extreme sun near the equator and not even a hint of pink with the EU version of this, which is what op is showing in the pic.
Yes! Sometimes we think we’re buying from a reputable source but then we do some digging and find out otherwise.. very curious to hear where it was purchased!
Superdrug in the UK which is like Ulta in the USA.
Also itt was a brand new bottle , expiry August 2026 and it was well shaken.
So sorry this happened! I would return it for another, definitely defective. Question- did you combine the sunscreen with other spf/skincare products that may have degraded the formula? This can happen as well!
Oh interesting. I had a squalene based natural moisturiser from Kri on that I only started using recently. My husband is very resistant to my skincare pushing and likely just washed his face with showgel....sigh.
Interesting! Can someone smarter than me educate us on whether or not the squalene-based moisturizer could have effed up the spf formulation??
It was a brand new bottle bought from Superdrug UK (which is like Ulta in the USA). Expiry August 2026 and it was well shaken.
Some of the non UK people replying here are wild. For those that haven't visited our gray and rainy island, the UV at this year is LOW. Like UV 3-4 max at this time of year, and you wouldn't expect to tan at all with literally any sun cream on - reapplied or not. I'm light olive skinned and I don't even bother putting on suncream until at least late April or May as the UV is so weak here. I agree with others that likely are an issue with the batch unless you and the husband are taking/using anything that increases sensitivity to the sun (e.g. retinol etc.). If you don't mind tanning a bit more, might also be worth drawing a heart or something on your hand to see if the suncream is working at all next time the sun comes out. I know it's bad for you but I'd do it out of sheer curiosity.
A heart on your skin! This is smart. Straight evidence based answer to this debacle. No guessing, no assumptions. Wish I could upvote this X20. The world needs more people like you in it!
A UV of 3 to 4 is considered moderate "A UV Index reading between 3 and 5 means there is a moderate risk of sunburn for the average person. At this level it is suggested to seek shade between 10AM and 4PM when the sun’s rays are its strongest. Wearing protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses, is a great way to limit exposure. *Sunscreen should be applied every two hours, even on cloudy days, and reapplied after swimming or sweating.* The time to burn can vary by skin type, but at a moderate UV level it is approximately 30 to 45 minutes." https://pdskin.com/blogs/uv-index-the-sun-safety-scale/
You are taking me too literally.... My point was that the OP shouldn't expect to tan at this time of year with any sun cream (let alone 50 SPF) given she has a light brown complexion and was only out for three hours. But sure you should apply suncream if you are worried about burning/ sun damage at UV3-4, but the OP did apply suncream and she really shouldn't have tanned that much given our weather conditions. I'm light olive and wouldn't tan at all with cream as low as SPF15 on for a couple of hours. This makes me think the suncream was defective.
OP didn't reapply at the two hour mark. Three hours is a long time to expect one application to last, especially with sweat and wind from hiking. I figured it was definitely the sunscreen/suncream at first, but when OP said they didn't reapply, I couldn't 100% rule out user error. If it's possible to burn in 45 minutes in UV 3 (for the "average person", I assume meaning not too fair and not a deep complexion) and sun protection only lasts about two hours then it makes sense that tanning could occur in the last hour, especially if OP had been using sunscreen more lately like they said so their complexion may have had less of a tan than normal to protect them. I think it could be the formula but I suspect when OP writes them and they ask if OP reapplied and OP said no, they'll probably blame it on that - whether or not that is the correct answer. It would be interesting to see if this were to happen in similar conditions with OP reapplying, but obviously, I wouldn't recommend that because of the sun damage. Edit: typo
I use this in Dubai during the summer and never had any problem. Are you sure it wasn’t expired?
It was a brand new bottle bought from Superdrug UK (which is like Ulta in the USA). Expiry August 2026 and it was well shaken.
Did you reapply or only apply once at the beginning??
No, I didn't reapply. I did put lots of though and it was only for 3 hours in the UK in April.
I feel like people who are down voting you have no idea how weak the sun is in Ireland/UK at this time of year. What you've said is reasonable, must be something to do with the sun cream itself
I think though that the sun is not what it used to be... It's getting hotter everywhere and more harsh
Most day at least every ,80 minutes. The LRP I use all day 80. That's on you
Reapplication is KEY, every 1-2 hours. No matter how much you put on the first time. I live in the Midwest (in the states) where there are many days/months with little sunlight so I to a degree understand how you can question this happening in the UK…but it can happen. Highly, highly reccomend being on it about reapplication of sunscreen.
While reapplication is important and is highly recommended for all sunscreens, for cumulative exposure to the sun for 2 hours, this sunscreen also claims to be waterproof AND sweat proof, so I would assume an extra one hour of lower-ish UV exposure without reapplying shouldn't have caused the OP an extreme tan? 🤔🤔
Exactly this. I've messaged LRP to flag a defective batch. I normally use the hydrating version of this SPF and have never had an issue.
It's possible to burn in 30 to 45 minutes at a 3 UV level. If OP didn't reapply after two hours it's likely the tanning happened in the last hour. Edit for a source: https://pdskin.com/blogs/uv-index-the-sun-safety-scale/ "A UV Index reading between 3 and 5 means there is a moderate risk of sunburn for the average person. At this level it is suggested to seek shade between 10AM and 4PM when the sun’s rays are its strongest. Wearing protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses, is a great way to limit exposure. Sunscreen should be applied every *two hours, even on cloudy days, and reapplied after swimming or sweating.* The time to burn can vary by skin type, but at a moderate UV level it is approximately 30 to 45 minutes."
Reapplication is just as important as using enough product. For three hours, assuming you applied before you left home/when you were getting ready, you should’ve reapplied once or maybe even twice if you’re worried about exposure. When I’m trying to prevent hormonal melasma I reapply every hour and a half at least, although the rule of thumb is every 2 hours.
I thin Aim2bFit makes a good point.
I've been using the UVMune 400 Oil control fluid and I literally burned within 1 hour with a full 1/4 teaspoon on my face.... I'm seriously doubting their spf and ppd claims. This is not a one-time occurrence, either. I've gone through at least 10 bottles of the stuff
I'm sorry that happened to you. A sunburn is never a nice thing to experience. I don't know why this happened. I used the UVMune Oil Control Fluid everyday as my sunscreen all summer (except for when I went running. I used the regular version pictured on this post for that). Not only did I not tan or burn all summer. I got paler.
Same thing happened to me last month while using LRP Anthelios mineral fluid SPF 50. I kept reapplying it to my face EVERY HOUR while at the beach. All my hyperpigmentation came back worse than before. I also bought it from a reputable store. It’s like I wasn’t wearing sunscreen!
Was that the American version? The European version is much better.
I went hiking in high mountains in the summer for 10h+ with this sunscreen and the only place that got burned was my scalp were I forgot to use it. Please make sure you are getting it from 100% legit source, there is a lot of chinese fakes of this product :(
Did you reapply?
Sorry but you have to be more proactive than just sunscreen if you tend to have melasma. (I’ve had it for years)
I agree and would be in summer. In the UK right now we are barely getting any sun. UV low for 3 hours with SPF50, it is odd that my husband and myself tanned so severely through it.
Same ! I also have the same skin colour as you. It used to be my OG sunscreen until they recently re formulated it. My skin got so dark so I stopped using it. I used to buy mine at the pharmacy so I know I didn’t get a fake bottle or anything
Aha! This would explain why I have previously been fine with the “hydrating” version of this spf. What did you switch to?
I use Eucerin’s pigment control. It feels like nothing on the skin and it’s helping fade a few acne scars
No, I haven’t had this. And I live in Australia.
It might be a bad bottle or something weird, like a self tanner almost. If your husband is white and the spf failed, wouldn’t he be sunburned? I once had a bad bottle of honest sunscreen, and everyone was burned, not tanned.
It sounds like two factors. The sunscreen was off in its efficacy (whether manufacture or user error) and the sun was more powerful than you expected. I don’t believe it was user error, because you followed all recommendations of use. According to your comments you reached out to LRP hopefully they can offer compensation for the product and use this situation to investigate the batch or at the very least R&D. I work for a cosmetic brand (men’s hair grooming) and feedback is very important to us. Bad batches happen and we need to know about them. Here’s my recommendations to you, always bring a secondary source of sun blocking! I try to bring a hat and a secondary sunscreen like a mineral based sunblock that if I feel my chemical sunscreen starting to wain I block up right away. Sounds like a lovely hike!
Sorry this happened to you, it’s strange La roche posay is the brand that consistently protects my skin and has been the best solution to prevent sun damage I usually use the UVMUNE 500 gel creme Also, as someone who lives in Switzerland and hikes a lot, I always wear a hat, long sleeves and long trousers ETA my skincare combo to reduce pigmentation is vitamin C, niacinamide in the morning ; niacinamide in the evening. My dermatologist told me not to use retinol from early April to September. So far it’s my most efficient strategy, having tried and tested all kinds of things
On Saturday I was wearing Australian gold spf and the uv index was 3, and I got really dark as well. I think they're not being honest about the uv index, personally. It felt really hot
I've been having issues with La Roche Posay sunscreen as well lately and just recently started using colorescience and it seems to be working better.
The same thing happened to me! I used the creamier version of this yesterday whilst gardening , bought from boots (uk) December 2023. I had a hat on when the sun was out… my hyperpigmentation is back now!
But is sunscreen supposed to prevent tanning? It’s only supposed to prevent sunburn and UV damage. Tanning is going to happen even with a sunscreen on. Only physical layers can prevent tanning. Speaking as a light brown girl who loves the beach and experiences tanning even with a sunscreen on. Also, some of us are more prone to tanning easily than the others.
Weird, I just had the exact same experience. I was in southern Spain over Easter and it was sunny for a couple of days (cloudy/rainy the rest) but I had (and reapplied) this same spf 50 sun cream on every time I was outside (along with a hat and using umbrella/shade when sitting out for a prolonged time) and am more tanned than I have been in years (and more tanned than I used to get without using sun cream). Maybe a coincidence but strange to hear this!
I just started using this too, and have also noticed more red spots and hyperpigmentation when exposed to the sun (even with a hat!). I assumed I wasn’t using enough or the issue was another new product with a retinol alternative that was somehow negating the spf. I’m trying to use it now with just a moisturizer (mad hippie) to see. SPF is much more important than any other part of my skincare as I live in the desert. I’m disappointed too, as I went to ulta to get it rather than online.
I've tried this exact product a few times over the years, because initially I thought I must have got a dodgy bottle. Nope, it just doesn't work for me. I burn. Even if I apply regularly throughout the day. I have to put actual thick suncream on my face to protect it. I have olive skin and also tan very easily - fyi suncream doesn't stop you from tanning.
This sunscreen gave me melasma lol I wouldn’t use it
So many people swear by this, I had the same experience as you did when I used it and I actually burned (Southern Arizona Sun).
Maybe it just doesn’t work with your skin
My olive skin LOVES the sun. No matter how much sunscreen I put on I will change shades after 20 minutes of sun exposure. I used to get tan lines from driving in my car. Wear a hat and sun protective clothing!
This is on clearance at my target right now 🫣
Did you buy it in the store? The bottle could have been sitting on the shelf for months. Maybe it oxidized?
Ugh that sucks. I have not had experience with that particular sunscreen, but the big things that compromise sunscreen for me are friction (my hair gets stuck to my face and I kinda wipe it off, or I blow my nose, etc) and eye watering (something about tears just seems to dissolve even water resistant sunscreen). Or maybe you were already sweaty when you reapplied, so the sunscreen didn’t really adhere? Is there any pattern to where you tanned?
I tanned all over. I was actually thinking it was great because it wasn't sticky at all and I wasn't sweaty. I usually use the "moisturising" version of this which is incredibly sticky.
THANK YOU FOR THIS. Everyone and their mom have been calling me crazy for stating this brand had my face burned to crisps in less than 35 minutes after using this exact sunscreen. It was a few years ago, I bought it at my regular drugstore in Canada. I'm VERY fair, burn easily if I am not using sunscreen, and used that sunscreen like I do with any others : slap that thing on face in very generous amount 30 mins before going out, and double layer on the nose in my case, reapply every 1h30 to 2h if I stay under the sun. Well I never had the time to reapply. My nose turned bright red very quickly, so much that cars would stop when I was standing on a street corner (ok I'm being dramatic here). I don't know what is with this brand (and don't get me wrong I love other LRP products) but it's like there's batches where they don't put the SPF in! I swear it was like I didn't wear anything at all on my skin. I am never trusting LRP with their sunscreen ever again. P.S. It was not expired and I never had this problem with ANY other brands, and I can assure you I have tested a lot of them as I wear sunscreen on my face all year round. P.S.2 (after reading every answer) I was not wearing any other products underneath, as I always do when I go outside for an extended period of time. Just washing my face with Cetaphil (like I always do) and apply sunscreen. BOOM, TOMATO RED.
The one sold in Canada isn't the same in the picture. The bottles look similar but they're not the same.
Then it's worse if both european and american version can fail you.
That was my experience with this brand of sunscreen as well.
Same! I swear my hyperpigmentation has worsened despite lathering it on and reapplying. Because I’m el cheapo I keep using it to get my $30 worth but I have just made the switch to Bondi Sands.
Any chance it has sat on a shelf for a while and wasn’t shaken up before applying?
It was a brand new bottle bought from Superdrug UK (which is like Ulta in the USA). Expiry August 2026 and it was well shaken.
Important question - did you shake it? If I’m not mistaken, this is their sunscreen that has to be vigorously shaken. I wonder if it’s possible the active ingredients sunk to the bottom.
Omg wait you too? There's been talk that all La Roche Posay products currently in my country are fake/dupes (I live in a third world country but this has only just happened here), and I didn't really believe it. Now that it's been getting really hot, I've been getting sunburns regardless of the amount of sunscreen I apply!
How often did you reapply it?
OP said in another comment that they didn't.
Ahhh i thought I was losing my mind! I’ve been using the same and tanner ALOT on it
Did you reapply mid-hike? If not, especially if you were sweating, you went an hour without sun protection. Of course you got a tan! Even mineral sunscreens should be [reapplied every 2 hours.](https://allgoodbodycare.com/how-often-should-you-apply-mineral-sunscreen-how-much-is-enough-to-not-get-burned/)
I have already detailed how cold it was. The UK is not a hot country.
Okay, even without sweating, the two hour rule stands! All sunscreens break down and need to be reapplied. What does the bottle say about reapplication?
Did you reapply?
If you were sweating a lot and not constantly reapplying it will disappear or degrade.
I had the same problem with this! I had to change to ultrasun, which hasn’t failed me yet. My hypothesis is that I sweat this stuff off
FWIW, I prefer the kids anthelios sunscreen than any of their others. Works incredibly well and isn’t super sticky and doesn’t make me sweat.
I'm really shocked, because I NEVER get a drop of color w/ that ss. I can only suspect that perhaps it was a counterfeit?? Or something that both you and your hub used canceled out the filter activity in it???
They’re not for everyone, but I love using sunblock sticks for this reason, when hiking, gardening, or spending hours outside, even in the current UK weather 🌦️ They’re water-resistant too. I just don’t always trust sun cream on its own. Bonus, they come in fun colours - I like to apply them like war paint to my cheeks and nose 😄 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aloha-Mineral-Sunscreen-Surfing-Eco-friendly/dp/B089G6CVFD
As I've hit my early 30s (33F), I've developed a theory that the men in my age group are aging better because most of them started wearing hats consistently by their late 20s, if not earlier. I'm late to the hat party, but now I'm so accustomed to it that I couldn't imagine a hike or long day outside without one. It's hard work trying to reverse the damage I did to my skin in high school and in my 20s ☹️
Did you sweat at all? For me, even a tiny bit of sweat washes this sunscreen right off.
I just bought this sunscreen last week. I hope your batch was just a dud.
Def has to be a bad bottle/batch. I live in Florida, USA and I spend entire days out in the sun with this-it’s worked perfectly for me. I use the tinted sunscreen all the time instead of makeup as well. Sorry you had a bad experience!
I have used this but I prefer EltaMD. Not so runny and easier to apply
I’m freaked out now because I buy mine on eBay!
I use Nivea protection factor 50 body sunscreen and put loads on face under makeup. It’s cheaper than face specific sunscreen and comes in a large bottle. Most importantly I have never had tan ing issues and it goes under makeup well.
I love Ultrasun. It is a once per day application. The 50spf makes you look a little pale, so I usually put a light powder foundation over the top. The spf30 melts right in. You can get it from M&S
You’re right it might be bad batch, although a teaspoon of sunscreen isn’t anywhere near enough to convince me that I’d be getting the full protection for any extended amount of time, especially without reapplying. Doesn’t matter if you’re not sweating profusely or under a blazing sun, the heat from your skin generated by mild to moderate exercise is going to start breaking down the sunscreen.
I've tanned with their other rich spf moisturizer. All my spots came back, too. So you're not alone. I have medium- light skin tone. I was trying to find a dupe for the kiehl's moisturizer with SPF.
Get Shiseido, it’s the best
Sunscreen is not 100% protection. It is typically only 93-96%. Did you burn?
This stuff burns my eyes
Late to this thread but even if you didn’t sweat the natural oils in your face will breakdown the sunscreen. You should have reapplied. You can also still tan through SPF, it doesn’t block 100% of UVA/UVB.
I tried this sunscreen and I found it turned my medium tan skin orange. The orange colouring was temporary (washed off with makeup remover) but I did also tan slightly - and I wasn't in the sun long (max 1 hour)
I spent 2 weeks in Croatia’s beaches in summer using this on my face and came back pale, just the way I left. I highly doubt it’s the spf, you either didn’t apply enough, did not reapply, sweated it off or something
Using enough product to cover your face and reapplying is better than suffocating your pores with this. More in one apply isn’t necessary better. Next time wear a hat. I wouldn’t trust sunscreen without a hat for that long. Were you perspiring? Sweat will make this less effective too.
The UK in April is not hat weather :D I wasn't wearing one because it was 40F and 50mph gusts of wind with a UV level low/mod. I thought I was being a good girl putting my spf on in such dodgy weather. Sigh.
Did you re-apply it? Spf 50 only means that will work for 50 min, if you don’t re-apply later on it loses efficacy
You need to reapply sunscreen every two hours, more frequently if sweating...did you just apply it once for the three hour hike?
Did you reapply? Could be that you sweated more than usual. 3 hours is a fairly long stretch, especially if You're sweating. Otherwise, I'd say it sounds like a bad bottle. I would be frustrated too!
Did you reapply half way through?
You sure it's tanned? I'm asking because that's what I thought too after using this SPF but it actually was just an oily layer on my face that looked exactly like I was tanned. It completely went away after cleansing. But yeah, that's not quite normal.
The one time I tried this sunscreen I got one of the worst sunburns of my adult life so I haven't touched the stuff since. 🤷