Yes, I camped out in Geneva Airport for Anthelios!
Unfortunately we had yet another layover this year at the Geneva Airport coming back from our B.A.S.E. trip. We got to the airport at about 10 PM, but our flight did not leave until 9:30 AM the next day. Last year we slept in front of a little handbag boutique, but this year that spot was taken by another victim of a layover. SO! I chose the pharmacy about 30 yards away because lo and behold there was an Athelios 50+ sunblock display gleaming in the window!! Naturally, I camped out in front to bask in all its glory while I waited for it to open the next morning to buy a few tubes before my flight. They were on sale for $30.50 for the 100 ml tubes of Anthelios XL 50+ SCORE! I bought two!
My boyfriend had no clue as to why on earth I didn’t buy it at home or online. In the past I had bought the 50 ml tubes of XL 50+ for $40 ea on eBay, plus I had to pay for shipping. Granted my Anthelios 15 from the states works fine but for some reason I could not pass up the XL 50+. Just thought I;d share a few photos of the ordeal, knowing full well many of you have probably done something similar. Do not stand between a woman and her sunblock!!!
Camping out (with Flat Stanley for my niece) waiting for the pharmacy to open.
Score!! My wait paid off :) However, I look like I need a shower and about 2 days sleep.
Marianne
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I really need to get me some of that. I've tried Sephora, Ulta and various drugstores to no avail. I'm currently using Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF70 with Helioplex but I don't think it really compares to using a product with Mexoryl.
Can I order this online? And is the US version exactly the same as the European version? Or is there a diffrence?
Hi Marianne, I didn't know until recently that you had a blog. I stopped posting on the skincare board for a while.
I totally understand about getting excited over high octane sunscreens, as I like to call them. :) You got a good deal. They are definitely cheaper in Europe than getting them online from the US. I also know in Paris it's even cheaper, and I've gotten Anthelios dermo peds 50 and others for about 12 euros, which was about $18 USD last time I went, for 100ml. Even cheaper than the US version Anthelios 15, which is about $29, and less UVA protection. It's also a good sunscreen for here, but the XL 50 has higher PPD, or UVA protection. It makes a difference over time.
In NYC, I can find the Anthelios XL 50 in some upscale pharmacies who import Euorpean products, but they charge about $50-60 just for one tube! Very ridiculously overpriced.
So everytime I go to Europe, I stock up.
Hope you had a good time, despite the layover. I know getting the sunscreen brightened your day. :)
Hi T!!
I did some checking around. It looks like you can't get the Anthelios 50 in the United States, although you can get the SPF 15 version. Anthelios 15 is FDA approved and has three sunscreen ingredients for a broad spectrum of coverage against UV light.
A high SPF factor is a good SPF factor. However, after a certain point, it is all moot.An SPF of 15 means that you should be able to stay out in the sun 15 times as long as if you were not wearing the product. So if you could stay in the sun for 10 minutes before burning without the product, you could stay out for 150 minutes (2.5 hours) with it.
So something that says it has an SPF of 50 would mean that you could stay out in the sun for 500 minutes or over 8 hours. This is good, but the directions on Anthelios 50 say to reapply every 2 hours and after you swim, so all the extra SPF is not really getting you anywhere.
I think I need to write a blog entry on SPF products. What do you think Marianne?
Valerie
The reason the Anthelios SPF 50 is better, is not about the SPF factor, but about the UVA factor, which is labelled by 'PPD' in Europe. These labels don't exist here in the U.S. yet, and haven't since the beginning of sunscreens.
In the EU sunscreens, often, the higher SPFs also contain the higher UVA factors, or PPD - stands for persistent pigment darkening.
Anthelios XL 50 lait has PPD 28, which is very high, but now there are some Anthelios 50 which have even higher, like 31,32. There are many different versions of Anthelios in Europe - spray, gels, extreme Fluide, Dermo Pediatrics lotions, etc.
The Anthelios approved for US contains Mexoryl SX, not the XL which is used in EU for many yrs now. They also use SX, so it's both SX+XL for many sunscreens. This just makes it a bit stronger and more water-resistant.
But Anthelios 15 sold in US has approximately a PPD of 15/16 (calculated through estimates of a Ciba site, not actually listed on the label).
So while it's good, it's not as highly UVA protective as PPD 28+, which are available in the EU versions which also happen to be SPF 50. some are SPF 40, and may have PPD 20.
So it's not so much about the higher SPF, which is not dramatically different from 15- although in long strong exposures, that small increase can make a difference. Also, not everyone applies enough, so an SPF is usually reduced by 1/2 or more.
For everyday short exposure use, Anthelios SPF 15 would be ok, but for strong sun or longer time outdoors, the higher SPF & UVA factor can make a big difference, esp. over time, since UVA damage is cumulative.
I forgot, with any sunscreen, even Anthelios 50 you should reapply after swimming. But after doing research for a while, and it seems that a highly stable sunscreen such as this one, can remain active on skin for a few hours, maybe 3-4, unless skin has perspired alot or the sunscreen has rubbed off. They always recommend every 2 hours and this usually refers to when 'in strong sun', since this may usually include perspiring or melting/sliding down of sunscreen.
But some people, including me, use this spf 50 daily, for regular incidental exposure, and I don't stay in the sun for too long, but doing errands, driving, etc, and the sunscreen has lasted me for a few hours - w/o any burning or tanning - which is most important indicator of damage, since skin may not necessarily burn, but get damaged. Some people will still tan no matter what, esp. if in the sun long enough, but with a higher UVA factor, they may not tan as much and endure less DNA damage caused by the longer UVA rays (invisible damage at first) which are blocked by the higher PPD, UVA factor, vs. a sunscreen with a lower PPD.
Magi,
I have no clue what happened to my post but I thanked you prfusely for posting this info. I guess when I hit send it must have timed out. I have satellite Internet so I am doomed no matter what lol! Anyway, this is amazing info thank you so much for it :) .