Is La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen Reef Safe?
Not by the law. Not allowed in any of the 9 places we track. See why
- Not allowed: Hawaii
- Not allowed: Maui County
- Not allowed: Hawaiʻi County
- Not allowed: U.S. Virgin Islands
- Not allowed: Palau
- Not allowed: Aruba
- Not allowed: Guam
- Not allowed: Northern Mariana Islands
- Not allowed: Thailand
La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen is not allowed in any of the 9 places with a sunscreen law that we track. It uses five chemical UV filters: avobenzone 2.68%, homosalate 9.6%, octisalate 2.88%, octocrylene 5.38% and oxybenzone 3.46%. It is a broad-spectrum facial sunscreen lotion made by La Roche-Posay (L'Oréal USA Products, Inc.) and is not water resistant. Its FDA National Drug Code (NDC) is 49967-370.
Where La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen is allowed
| Location | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (statewide) | Not allowed | Oxybenzone: banned by name. |
| Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) | Not allowed | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) | Not allowed | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone: not permitted actives (mineral only). |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Not allowed | Oxybenzone and octocrylene: banned by name. |
| Palau | Not allowed | Oxybenzone, octocrylene, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and phenoxyethanol: banned by name. |
| Aruba | Not allowed | Oxybenzone: banned by name. |
| Guam | Not allowed | Oxybenzone and octocrylene: banned by name. |
| Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Not allowed | Oxybenzone: banned by name. |
| Thailand (all national parks) | Not allowed | Oxybenzone: banned by name. |
Guidance and repealed rules (4)
| Mexico: federal marine protected areas (e.g., Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún & Punta Nizuc) | Against guidance | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone: not mineral actives. |
| Bonaire (Bonaire National Marine Park) | Against guidance | Oxybenzone: on the avoid list. |
| U.S. National Parks with coral reefs (NPS guidance) | Against guidance | Oxybenzone and avobenzone: on the avoid list. Homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene: not mineral actives. |
| Key West, Florida | No rule in force | Oxybenzone: banned by name. |
La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Avobenzone | 2.68% | Chemical |
| Homosalate | 9.6% | Chemical |
| Octisalate | 2.88% | Chemical |
| Octocrylene | 5.38% | Chemical |
| Oxybenzone | 3.46% | Chemical |
La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen inactive ingredients
WATER, DIMETHICONE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, TOCOPHEROL, ACRYLATES/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, SILICA, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, DISODIUM EDTA, DIETHYLHEXYL SYRINGYLIDENEMALONATE, POLYACRYLAMIDE, C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN, LAURETH-7, CASSIA ALATA LEAF EXTRACT, MALTODEXTRIN, TRIETHANOLAMINE
Highlighted ingredients are regulated somewhere; red ones are restricted in at least one location we track. Dotted ones are listed below.
Fragrance allergens, essential oils and alcohol
None of the 80 fragrance allergens on the EU list appear on this label, and it lists no fragrance, essential oil or drying alcohol.
The EU requires these allergens to be named on cosmetic labels above 0.001% in leave-on products (Regulation 1223/2009, Annex III). They can cause skin reactions in people who are sensitized; they don’t affect whether a sunscreen is legal anywhere we track.
Note: Serum texture. Contains oxybenzone.
Common questions about La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen
Is La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen reef safe?
“Reef safe” isn’t a regulated label claim, so we answer by law instead. It is not allowed in any of the 9 places with a sunscreen law that we track.
Is La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen legal in Hawaii?
Under Hawaii’s statewide law (Act 104, which bans oxybenzone and octinoxate) it is not allowed because it contains oxybenzone. In Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi), which allows only mineral sunscreens, it is not allowed because it contains avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone, and Maui’s rule covers using it there, not just selling it. In Hawaiʻi County (the Big Island), which has a mineral-only rule for sales, it is not allowed. Oʻahu and Kauaʻi have no county rule, so only the statewide law applies there.
Where is La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen not allowed?
Hawaii statewide: it contains oxybenzone, which is not allowed there. Maui County: it contains avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone, which are not allowed there. Hawaiʻi County (Big Island): it contains avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone, which are not allowed there. The U.S. Virgin Islands: it contains oxybenzone and octocrylene, which are not allowed there. Palau: it contains oxybenzone, octocrylene, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and phenoxyethanol, which are not allowed there. Aruba: it contains oxybenzone, which is not allowed there. Guam: it contains oxybenzone and octocrylene, which are not allowed there. The Northern Mariana Islands: it contains oxybenzone, which is not allowed there. Thailand's national parks: it contains oxybenzone, which is not allowed there.
Does La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen contain oxybenzone?
Yes. It contains oxybenzone 3.46%. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are banned in Hawaii and most other places with a sunscreen law.
Is La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Chemical. Its UV filters are avobenzone 2.68%, homosalate 9.6%, octisalate 2.88%, octocrylene 5.38% and oxybenzone 3.46%.
Is La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen water resistant?
No. It makes no water-resistance claim, so it isn’t meant for swimming or heavy sweating. Use a water-resistant sunscreen for time in the water.
What is the NDC and UPC for La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen?
La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen is listed with the FDA under National Drug Code 49967-370, and its UPC barcode is 3606000403703. The NDC identifies this sunscreen on its FDA drug label (DailyMed); package sizes carry longer package NDCs.
Alternatives to La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 Sunscreen for Hawaii statewide, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, Aruba, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks
Mineral sunscreens from other brands, allowed in all 9 places, ranked by label: water resistance, SPF 30–50, broad spectrum, no listed fragrance. How we rank
Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
Thinksport SPF 50 Clear Zinc Face Sunscreen
SPF 30 Mineral Facial Sunscreen
Sheer Face Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion