La Roche-Posay sunscreen starts with a place. The brand is named for a spa town in France whose Thermal Centre dates to 1905, and the Laboratoire Dermatologique itself was founded in 1975 by a French pharmacist named René Levayer. A large beauty group acquired it in 1989. That mix of pharmacist, spa water and lab bench gives the brand its plain, slightly serious feel. I went deeper on a related idea in La Roche-Posay Tinted Sunscreen: The Mineral Fluids to Try.

 

The sun line, Anthelios, is what most people mean when they say the name. It uses patented filters such as Mexoryl XL and SX, and in 2006 Anthelios SX was described as the first FDA-approved filter in a sunscreen formula in more than twenty years. I would not take that as a reason to buy anything. I would take it as evidence that the brand pays attention to filters, which is the least glamorous and most important part.

 

The four here cover the ground. Anthelios Melt-In Milk is an SPF 60 milk, the one I would keep for the body and the face on a day with no makeup. Anthelios Mineral Tinted is a face sunscreen with a hint of color, useful when you want a little evenness. UV Correct is an SPF 70 face formula, and Clear Skin Oil Free is SPF 60, the oil-free version for skin that turns shiny by noon.

 

Shake the milk well, warm a little between your fingers, and press it in rather than dragging it across skin. Do the neck and the tops of the ears while you are there, since those are the spots most people skip. I also swipe any leftover on the backs of my hands, which age faster than we like to admit.

Every sunscreen fan has a favorite texture, and mine is fluid, quick and sheer. If you like the sort of feel that Anthelios gives you, these are the neighbors to try.

 

IT Cosmetics' CC+ Nude Glow is a lightweight foundation and glow serum with SPF 40 and niacinamide, the one to use when you want your sunscreen to do the job of makeup. Shiseido's Urban Environment Vita-Clear SPF 42 has vitamin C, a bright, clean formula. Lancôme's UVEX Supra SPF is another face option, and ILIA's Sun Serum is a mineral SPF 50 with eight-hour oil control, a smart pick for a very warm day.

 

Glow Recipe's Dew Shield is a hydrating fluid sunscreen at SPF 30, lovely on dry cheeks. Tower 28's SOS FaceGuard is a mineral SPF 30, and it is a mineral option if you dislike heavier formulas.

 

Here is how I choose between them. If I plan to wear makeup, I want the thinnest one, so the layers do not roll together. If I am working outdoors, I want a higher number and a mineral option. Give each sunscreen a full minute before anything else touches your face.

 

Keep the test simple: if you can still feel it on your face an hour later in a way that bothers you, try a lighter one. Reapply at lunch, pressing a fresh layer over the top of your makeup with clean hands, or use a formula that gives you that option.

The body is where most of us are less careful, and the products below are the ones that make reapplying feel like a treat. They are glowing, dry and light, and they are made to be enjoyed outside.

 

Sol de Janeiro's Rio Radiance Shimmering Body Oil Sunscreen is an SPF 50 oil with a little sparkle, the one I use on shoulders, collarbones and legs before an evening out. Supergoop's Glow Oil is an SPF 50 dry body oil. Supergoop's PLAY Antioxidant Body Sunscreen Mist is an SPF 50 mist for quick coverage, best on a beach chair and a back that needs help.

 

Each one leaves skin a little shinier than a cream would, so I would call them a summer formula, not a gym formula.

 

What I would skip: trusting a shimmery oil or a mist to tell you where you have applied it. Oils and mists are simple to miss in patches, and the shine can trick you into thinking you have covered more than you have. If the day is long and the sun is strong, put a lotion down first and finish with the oil. Use a lot, spread it out with your hands, and check the back of your shoulders in a mirror or with a friend.

 

Do the same on ears and feet, the two most forgotten places on a summer body.

If you want the shortest advice: pick a face sunscreen that you enjoy, put it on every morning, and give it time to dry. A mist or oil is for the beach, not a replacement for the base layer.

 

Look for a texture you like, since the one you like is the one you use. Reapply after swimming and after a long afternoon outside, and wear a hat and sunglasses too. If your skin reacts, or a mole changes, or a burn will not settle, see a doctor. Sunscreen helps protect skin, and it works best as one part of a plan.