Oh, the best laid plans…
Recently, I wrote about how much I love Paula’s Choice RESIST Skin Restoring Moisturizer SPF 50, and I do. But sometimes finances takes precedence.
I am just about out of the travel size Paula’s Choice moisturizer with SPF 50, and I want to buy a full size. I love the lightweight consistency that works so well under makeup. I especially love the fact that it doesn’t leave a white cast on my skin. But it’s priced at $33 for 2.0 oz., and right now, there isn’t a sale on either the Paula’s Choice or the Dermstore websites. Boo. I will wait for a sale that I hope will materialize before the warm weather gets here.
What Did I Buy Instead and Why?
I had $10 in CVS Extrabucks, and it made sense to me to use that “money” toward something that I needed. And I needed a daytime moisturizer with SPF. La Roche-Posay is a good brand of serious French pharmacy skincare, and I know they make good sunscreens. Also, it was on sale. So I chose Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer UV Broad Spectrum SPF 30. Since it is still mostly cold and wintry here and I’m not spending a ton of time outdoors, I thought that SPF 30 would be fine. Plus this particular daytime moisturizer was on sale for about $15, so with my Extrabucks, the price was $5. Worth a try.
Also, on the front of the box, it had some appealing information:
- ceramide-3
- niacinamide
- prebiotic thermal water that soothes and hydrates skin and contains minerals and anti-oxidants
- fragrance-free.
Plus, it’s oil-free and good for sensitive skin.
It is called “Double Repair” because:
- it hydrates skin for up to 48 hours (not that I would go that long on one application)
- the ceramides in the formula help strengthen skin’s natural barrier to keep skin hydrated.
Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer SPF 30 contains chemical sunscreen ingredients. Usually chemical sunscreens don’t leave a white cast, and they tend to be lighter weight than mineral sunscreens. I know some people cannot wear chemical sunscreens, but I don’t have a problem with them.
What’s It Like To Use It?
Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer SPF 30 comes in a wide, flat plastic tube that’s fairly large, but it should still pack well if I need to travel with it. I like tubes for skincare because they’re easy to use and I don’t have to worry about using a scoop to keep the moisturizer clean.
The moisturizer is rather thick and white. It feels nourishing on the skin. Because the cream is white, I do have to rub it in fairly well to get rid of the white color, but it is not a white cast that sits on the skin like with a mineral sunscreen. Though initially thick during application, it completely disappears, and it seems completely lightweight. It’s almost hard to believe that a fairly heavy cream disappears to nothingness, but that’s what it does. As a result, it works very well under foundation.
I am very satisfied with La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer SPF 30. I wish it had an SPF 50 so I could use it all summer, but hopefully, there will be a sale and I can buy the Paula’s Choice. But I am happy with my La Roche-Posay purchase, and for the $5 that I actually paid, I’m much more than satisfied!
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer UV SPF 30 contains 2.5 oz./75 ml. The MSRP is $19.99, but it can be less depending on where you buy it. If you buy it on the La Roche-Posay website, you can use the code “LRP25” for 25% off. It’s widely available at CVS where I bought mine, Walgreens, BluMercury, Target, Lovelyskin.com, RiteAid, Walmart, and Ulta Beauty (where you can use the $3.50 off coupon that’s always on the Ulta catalogue).
Ingredients: AQUA / WATER (LA ROCHE-POSAY PREBIOTIC THERMAL WATER) • GLYCERIN • DIMETHICONE • HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE • NIACINAMIDE • AMMONIUM • POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE • MYRISTYL MYRISTATE • STEARIC ACID • CERAMIDE NP • POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE • ISOBUTANE • GLYCERYL STEARATE SE • SODIUM HYDROXIDE • MYRISTIC ACID • PALMITIC ACID • CAPRYLOYL GLYCINE • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • XANTHAN GUM • T-BUTYL ALCOHOL • ACRYLONITRILE • METHYL METHACRYLATE • VINYLIDENE CHLORIDE COPOLYMER • TOCOPHEROL.
Which daytime moisturizer do you like best these days?
I am a huge fan of La Roche-Posay, and French pharmacy products in general, but I haven’y tried their sunscreens yet. Your description has convinced me to try this next time that I need a sunscreen! Thank you for the wonderful review, Allison!
Thank you, Helen. It’s a good one if you ever find yourself in need of a daytime moisturizer.
I love my PC Resist moisturizer, too! And for the same reasons as you, have been searching for a drugstore option. I had my eye on this very moisturizer just last week. But I recently picked up CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream SPF 30. Great ingredients but pilled under primer and foundation. Boo. Then I saw that there was an ultra-light version and that is much better. I returned the first one. I used my %off coupons, a manufacturer coupon and CVS bucks to get it.
Thanks for letting me know about the CeraVe, Lynne! I started to look at the CeraVe part of the shelf, but the sale on LaRoche-Posay got my attention. I bought CeraVe Eye Repair Cream after getting a sample in an Ipsy bag a couple of months ago and loving it. I haven’t started using it yet because I want to finish up the MyChelle Vitamin C Eye Cream first. I need to try more stuff from CeraVe. The ultralight version of the Day Cream you bought sounds perfect for the warmer weather. I’ll put that on my list! Glad you used all your coupons and Extrabucks to score a good deal on it too!
I almost picked up the Eye Repair Cream. I’ll wait for another sale. When I was reading up on how to repair the skin barrier (menopause did a number on my oily skin!), ceramides were recommended. I used Cerave’s night cream and their Skin Renewing Gel Oil and love both. The Ultra Light has all the ceramides and cholesterol, which is great for repairing the skin barrier. I do still peruse Beautypedia even though Paula Begoun is no longer associated with it, and use my own judgement. I haven’t tried MyChelle before. Is that only available online?
I am a huge fan of this brand too but I don’t think I’ve seen this where I work. Will have to check again in my next shift.
I literally discovered this one on the shelf. Not sure if it’s new or if it has been around a while. It’s consistency is thicker out of the tube than the Paula’s Choice Skin Restoring Moisturizer, but when I apply it, it seems very lightweight. Quite interesting.
It’s great that you found a budget alternative, I’ll keep this in mind.
What a steal! It sounds like a good sunscreen for daily use under makeup.
Can’t beat paying 5 bucks for a good moisturizer!
Sounds like a good sunscreen! As far as SPF goes, anything above 30 doesn’t offer as much protection, this is based from American Dermatology guidelines. The important thing to remember about sunscreen is reapplication, minimum of 2 hrs, more frequent if you get wet and sweaty.
You’re right, Kathryne. Remembering to reapply after 2 hours is so difficult. But at this time of the year in winter gloomy New England where we’re in a house or building all day long, we get a bit of a reprieve. I carry a brush-on block in my bag during our outdoor months.
This sounds pretty great and even better at that price!
For 5 bucks, I couldn’t be happier!
Allison, you just gave me an idea for what to take on my next trip to the sun (Where I’ll be under an umbrella). This La Roche spf 30 moisturizer sounds fabulous. One of my biggest peeves is that some spf makes my skin look scaly bec I am so dry. I love the sound of this.
I really like the Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer SPF 50 but the LaRoche-Posay Toleriane SPF 30 is a little heavier, more moisturizing.