I don’t know what is going on at L’Oréal’s laboratories, but it seems like nothing good. Here’s a review of another light sunscreen, this time by Vichy. 

The product contains exclusively chemical filters, as all L’Oréal sunscreens, it’s formulated with Mexoryls. It also has alcohol and fragrance, the latter in a tiny amount. 

European sunscreens are intrinsically heavy and rather moisturising. However, this one was supposed to be light and refreshing – it offers neither of these. The sunscreen has a consistency of a dense gel; it doesn’t leave a white cast but a yellowish tint, which only shows up on fabrics, not on skin. The sunscreen reminds me of La Roche-Posay’s Shaka Fluid and Lancome’s UV Gel, in the sense that it also makes my skin shiny. Though this one wins the contest amongst all three, because after applying it my skin looks as if I smeared olive oil all over my face; I am not joking. It’s also much more substantial than Lancome’s UV Gel. Also, something makes me think that the Khiel’s ULTRA LIGHT DAILY UV DEFENSE AQUA GEL SPF 50 is close to this sunscreen from Vichy and Lancome’s UV Gel. This idea isn’t too far-fetched considering that Khiel’s is one of L’Oréal’s brands and all three sunscreens share quite a few similarities. 

Going back to Vichy’s sunscreen, I cannot use it. The only way to make this sunscreen wearable is to blot off some of the product with a tissue, but then you remove the sun filters. It never sets and always remains glossy on the skin. I have given it a few chances, but even small amounts make me look greasy. It’s just awful. I don’t know who at Vichy thought that someone would use and like this product. I do not recommend this sunscreen, and if you like it, please let me know in the comments. 

Ingredients:

WATER – HOMOSALATE – ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE – BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE – OCTOCRYLENE – ETHYLHEXYL TRIAZONE – ALCOHOL DENAT. – PROPANEDIOL – BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE – DIMETHICONE – DROMETRIZOLE TRISILOXANE – ACRYLATES/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER – p-ANISIC ACID – ASCORBYL PALMITATE – CARBOMER – DISODIUM EDTA – GLYCERYL OLEATE – HYDROGENATED PALM GLYCERIDES CITRATE – LECITHIN – NYLON-12 – PEG-8 LAURATE – PHENOXYETHANOL – STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER – TOCOPHEROL – TRIETHANOLAMINE – FRAGRANCE (vichy.fr)