Photoderm MAX Lait SPF 50 PPD 42

10 Reviews

1. 

   blissfulCake3

   Reply

   I love that it has a very high protection (UVB 50+ and UVA/PPD 42). The ingredients list is perfect, no alcohol, no fragrance or any irritating ingredients. I didn’t notice any smell at all. The texture is like the name of the product. It is milky, liquidy-lotion type (more liquid than lotion a bit). You have to be careful when pouring it out of the tube as it comes out quickly. Also it leaves sunscreen residue inside the cap so you will have to clean it if that bothers you. It sets into a dewy sheen, so it’s not matte. You would need to powder it or blot away some shine, as it can look greasy a bit. However I wouldn’t mind that if I were at the beach etc. But for everyday situations, going to work etc, it can make you look “shiny-dewy” a little bit too much. Not flattering. It is also sticky/tacky when it sets. It was easy to wash off with a very gentle cleanser. It costed me around 28 CAD (not that cheap) for 100mL. I like that it’s available to buy where I live so I do not have to order online.

   On their website they say it is recommended for normal to dry skin type. I have combination skin that can get dehydrated and I can still use it. I agree that it wouldn’t suit combo-oily/oily/very oily skin type as it can be a little bit too heavy/greasy. The thing is, it’s not that moisturizing, I still have dry spots, but it’s not drying either or making my skin feel tight/flake, did not make my skin feel uncomfortable. It’s just not “nice looking” on the skin if I could say, I think during the very cold winter time, I would need to moisturizer before as it will cling to dry spots and make them more noticeable, which brings me to the next problem of this sunscreen.

   The biggest problem for me was the white cast and how it clings to dry spots/hair line/eyebrows if you don’t blend it in well. I can find a solution for the greasy/shiny problem but not the white cast (plus I don’t wear makeup). Yes, when you spread this milky-lotion it goes on white but blends in without a white cast, however it’s not perfect. I could still see some white streaks where I didn’t blend well. And if you use the recommended amount of sunscreen, the white cast/white streaks is extremely noticeable but less than what a mineral sunscreen can do. This sunscreen is recommended for fair to very fair skin on their website, so it’s no wonder that I have this problem.

   I still think it’s a good chemical sunscreen for a high protection without irritating my sensitive skin or burning/stinging my eyes. Right now I use it around my eye area only and it’s perfect. I had no reaction, like a rash etc. I think it may have contributed to a few clogged pores on my face (not eye area) but it was very minimal since I use it for about a week and stopped. It may cause a breakout but I’m not certain. I would definitely use it if I’m going on a trip where I would be spending lots of time in the sun and where I wouldn’t mind a sunscreen that is not cosmetically elegant. Sadly, not for everyday uses and not recommended for darker skin tone, but it could work for you if you have very fair skin tone that is not too oily and not too dry.

   —
   EDIT May 8 2019: I’m not using it around my eyes anymore. It was making my eyes watery/sting a little bit/uncomfortable as I kept using it. I didn’t notice any problem at first but recently it started to make my eyes very uncomfortable. I can’t use it on the upper eyelid, however under the eyes it was okay. I wouldn’t repurchase since it’s a big tube to just use around the eyes, also knowing that I can’t use it anymore since it made my eyes teary/watery throughout the day.

   Ingredients: AQUA/WATER/EAU, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, OCTOCRYLENE (10%), METHYLENE BIS-BENZOTRIAZOLYL TETRAMETHYLBUTYLPHENOL [NANO] (Aka Tinosorb M, 6%), BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE (Aka Avobenzone, 5%), BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE (Aka Tinosorb S, 2.5%), CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, C20-22 ALKYL PHOSPHATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, MANNITOL, XYLITOL, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, LAMINARIA OCHROLEUCA EXTRACT, C20-22 ALCOHOLS, DECYL GLUCOSIDE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, ECTOIN, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, XANTHAN GUM, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, DISODIUM EDTA, CHLORPHENESIN, PHENOXYETHANOL

2. 

   sincereBuzzard9

   Reply

   A dermatologist suggested this product after a laser treatment. I got the European version with the plus ratings.

   It worked pretty well without giving me a white cast and it absorbed quite fast.

   Overall, a good sunscreen but the formula I tried is not available in North America.

3. 

   shyPretzels0

   Reply

   Before, I thought that regular SPF 15 moisturizer was enough, and that SPF 30 was a bonus. However after learning about UVA and PPD on Reddit, I sought this product last summer.

   I was surprised that for such a high price there was so little product. The bottle is super tiny and I was not able to find it for any less than $12. Usually my price range is in the ELF and Wet and Wild range. So I used some of it every day especially on hot days, concentrating on my face. Surprisingly, it didn’t break me out.

   This was the first year that I was able to truly avoid making my perma-tan worse and actually reduce excessive tanning on my neck, elbows, and after-pimple spots, even though I hike, bike and garden. My neck and forehead are now the same color as my face.

   I was able to achieve this without using any chemical peels, tretinoin or hydroquinone since I started those products very recently. Previously, I had used Walgreens and other brands and I both burned and tanned through them, plus they smelled bad and were greasy. Although it creates a white film at first, I rub it in and the film goes away.

4. 

   spiritedMussel8

   Reply

   Okay so this is what I can tell about this product from my experience:
   Pros:
   1- It provides good protection from sun.
   Cons:
   1- Horrible texture.
   2-Bad smell.
   3- makes the skin looks very white in a weird way (like a ghost) and makes it shines after sometime.
   4-Feels heavy on the skin.
   5- You can’t put it before make up cause it will make your skin oily, if you have an oily/combination skin.
   5-Expensive for what it provides and all these Cons.
   Simply I’m not going to buy it again :)!

5. 

   bubblyHyena8

   Reply

   This SS is listed twice on MUA reviews so I’m copying my review to this page as well.

   I am reviewing Bioderma Photoderm MAX Milk (Lait) SPF 50+ (the European/French version with UVA 38)

   I have extremely fair skin that is super sensitive to the sun. I never tan, only burn. My face is especially sensitive and it will be pink after only several minutes of direct, Florida summer sun.

   I’ve been using this for over two months now and I like it.

   ~~Pros~~

   – High high high UVA and UVB protection
   – Photostable
   – Has Tinosorb S and M, Avobenzone, Ectoin, and Octocrylene
   – I’m pretty sure it doesn’t break my acne-prone skin out. Hard to tell sometimes though.
   – Does not irritate my sensitive skin.
   – No fragrance! (But it does smell remarkably similar to Elmer’s glue)
   – Doesn’t leave a white cast (But note that my skin is nearly bone-white so maybe it does and I just can’t tell)

   ~~Cons~~

   – Runs out of the cap really fast due to the runny texture and large opening. This can cause spills and loss of precious precious sunscreen. If the cap had a smaller opening it would be better.

   – Leaves my already oily skin looking a bit shiny. I wouldn’t say this product is greasy though. I’ve definitely had experiences with greasy greasy sunscreens and this doesn’t feel GREASY… just sort of sticky/rubbery/tacky/goopy and leaves a bit of shine… but not a greasy shine, just more of a “I-have-a-thick-coating-of-sunscreen-on-my-face” shine. Yes, keep in mind I really slather on my sunscreen. Those who use a wimpy layer of ss probably won’t experience these texture issues. Overall the texture resembles a less gluey elmer’s school glue and leaves the skin feeling sticky-ish.

   – Takes a while to blend in and soak in but that’s to be expected.

   – Contains Denatured alcohol which can be drying. ‘

   – I don’t find this sunscreen to be moisturising. I know I can’t expect everything in one bottle, but it would be nice if I didn’t have to rub in a bit of face cream before applying this.

   – May be expensive depending on your budget (I see it ranging from 27 to 40 USD for 100 ml) IMO considering the bottle is 100ml and the protection is great, it’s worth the cost.

   Overall I give this sunscreen a 8/10. I would like it to be more moisturising, less sticky-feeling, less shiny-looking, contain less alcohol, but other than that this is my go-to sunscreen. I know there’s no perfect sunscreen so as it stands this stuff is quite good. Definitely better than drug store options, with better UVA protection than all the LRP ss I’ve seen.

   Before I repurchase this, I want to try the FLUID version of the Photoderm MAX line because it’s supposedly better for oily/combo skin like mine.

   Ingredients:
   WATER (AQUA), DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, OCTOCRYLENE, METHYLENE BIS-BENZOTRIAZOLYL TETRAMETHYLBUTYLPHENOL, BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, CYCLOMETHICONE, ALCOHOL DENAT., C20-22 ALKYL PHOSPHATE, BIS-ETHYL-HEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE, PTFE, C20-22 ALCOHOLS, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ECTOIN, MANNITOL, XYLITOL, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGO-SACCHARIDES, LAMINARIA OCHROLEUCA EXTRACT, DECYL GLUCOSIDE, XANTHAN GUM, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER, DISODIUM EDTA, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN.

6. 

   yearningPudding4

   Reply

   Let me start off by saying I now have very severe UVA solar hypersensitivity. While my face, ears and upper self are most affected by this problem, my body is pretty quick to complain in the sun as well. For this reason I have purchased probably over 50-60 sunscreens in the last year alone, and Bioderma Photoderm Max 50+ is easily one of the best body sunscreens for my needs. In a nutshell, it feels moist, non-irritating, non-drying, spreads quickly and gives excellent protection. Note that the version I have advertises PPD38 and was sourced from France.

   This sunscreen is also photostable, for anyone wondering, due to the presence of lots of Tinosorb and Octocrylene. This product contain both Tinosorb S and M to give excellent protection across the spectrum, these filters are among the best sunscreen ingredients currently known to man. While this could be considered an all-chemical formula, the Tinosorb M is actually considered a hybrid chemical-physical filter.

   Scent wise this product is fragrance free, and does not smell like gross chemicals like many domestic sunscreens. It smells slightly fresh. It also contains some interesting compounds (such as rhamnose and others) which I believe are part of what Bioderma calls their “Cellular Bioprotection”. I don’t know for sure, but I suspect these may help to boost the UVA protection of the product or otherwise help sun affected skin, as many reputable sunscreen companies are adding their own cocktail to try to maximize effectiveness and boost PPD lately.

   Texture wise I find this product quite pleasant. It comes out of the tube whitish, with good spreadability for smearing large areas quickly. It feels soft, moisturizer like and dries down relatively quickly. Applying it too generously can leave some slight tackiness but it isn’t too egregious in that department. It’s somewhat substantive and is advertised as being water resistant, but it isn’t as tenacious as some of the thicker more plasticky feeling type products. It may be slightly whitening on darker skin tones, but I don’t notice that on my pale body. It is less whitening than many all-physicals I’ve tried, but not completely clear. It does not leave chalky texture on the palms of my hands after application. It is slightly dewy, so not completely matte, but on my body I really do not notice. I find it’s overall pretty cosmetically elegant relative to the high protection it offers (i.e.: the higher the protection, the less likely any given SS is going to be elegant in my experience… Though there is more to it than that of course. 😉

   If I didn’t have another SS I love for my face, I would definitely consider using it for that and would say it’s worth a try for paler drier skin types. It’s likely best suited to skin types that aren’t overly dark, and worth a look for people who are sensitive to certain chemical sunscreens but not to others. It’s also definitely recommended for people with sun sensitivity conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, polymorphous light eruption and other UVA sensitive conditions — as it will give much superior UVA protection to most garden variety random drugstore products.

   In terms of packaging and price I have no real complaints. I feel the price is very reasonable given the volume of product and the increased protection. The packaging is solid, sturdy and I really like the stand-up tubes. The one improvement I can think of is if the hole was slightly smaller so that the flow of product was easier to control. I do not like wiping the opening of the tube with my fingers for hygienic reasons, and I find these large body-tube size openings allow less control. On the upside, it encourages people to dispense more sunscreen (and hence more protection) which is probably a pretty smart move.

   INGREDIENTS: water (aqua), dicaprylyl carbonate, octocrylene, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, cyclomethicone, c20-22 alkyl phosphate, glyceryl stearate, peg-100 stearate, ectoin, mannitol, xylitol, rhamnose, fructooligosaccharides, laminaria ochroleuca extract, c20-22 alcohols, decyl glucoside, pentylene glycol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer, xanthan gum, propylene glycol, citric acid, caprylic/capric triglyceride, disodium edta, sodium hydroxide, chlorphenesin, phenoxyethanol.

7. 

   puzzledUnicorn1

   Reply

   I wanted to end my never-ending search for the perfect SPF with this product but it didn’t happen. PROS: It did not make my sensitive skin have an allergic reaction and it has the high level of protection I am looking for. CONS: I looked like I had painted my face with a thin layer of white paint/powder. At first I thought I had just put too much on but it happened again with half the amount. So…I won’t use this as an everyday SS but it will be great for skiing and other activities where I don’t care how I look!

8. 

   truthfulWildfowl7

   Reply

   First off, you just cannot beat the sun protection of this product. However, I feel the “lait/milk” is incredibly misleading. I expected something akin to the Shiseido runny watery type s/s. This is thick and slippery. 1/4 tsp is a lot. Application is somewhat tricky for me. You must make sure it is completely rubbed in or any heavy patches will ball up. I use powder fdtn and if I miss rubbing in completely my brush will cause this to ball up and flake off. It leaves a very, very slight whitish cast that I don’t seem to mind as it tones down my redness some. Overall, a fabulous sunscreen and I bought an extra tube for my DH and DD to use. I live in sunny CA and have never burned not got even a slight tan using the Bioderma. **EDIT** 9/08
   I cannot use this anymore without it balling up on me. I’ve taken to using Cellex C serum followed by HA and it’s not a good combination. The s/s never seems to sink in even after waiting 10 min between application of serums. Off to try LRP. Sigh.

9. 

   ferventMoth0

   Reply

   I’ve used two tubes of this and it kept my skin fair and burn-free….but it exacerbated my melasma. Yea yea yea you skin care fanatics, I used enough of it. Between 1/4 and 1/2 teaspoon for JUST my face. I applied it in staggered layers about 5 minutes apart so I could get it to all sink in. I also avoid direct sun on my face whenever possible too. But the problem with melasma is that it responds to heat as well as UV-wavelengths. Chemical-only sunscreens absorb solar radiation and transform it into heat energy. For most people this is completely tolerable but in my own case and experiences, this accelerated the darkening of my melasma. I have had much better success at keeping my melasma under control with chemical + physical blends or physical-only sunscreens such as Shiseido Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55, All Terrain Terra Sport Spf 30+, or MyChelle Sun Shield SPF 28. The physical sunscreen part keeps my skin cooler than chemical-only formulas. I also find that DHC’s Q10 Moist color base works well too since it has 20% zinc oxide and at least 11% titanium dioxide. They won’t have as high of PPD ratings but I prefer sunblocks that keep my melasma in check.

   EDIT 9/25/08 – I can’t say for sure what the connection is between Photoderm and my hyperpigmentation. I have several theories that I’ve been testing – hormones, hyperpigmentation as the result of prolonged skin irritation and the heat theory stated above. I’ve had labwork done on my hormones and they are all within normal ranges (including thyroid). I’ve also found that my pigment patches seem to fade the fastest on a minimalist treatment routine + physical only blocks, which would seem to support my skin irritation theory, and they are about 80% gone. This is all based on trial-and-error experimentation and I’m learning as I go. But fortunately my skin is looking MUCH better than it did this time last year or even this spring.

   So I guess what does this have to do with Photoderm? No matter what my current thories are, my prior experiences were not favorable with Photoderm and it was during its usage in the low-sun months that my patches were at their darkest, even when paired with anti-pigment treatments. As a comparison, I’m currently using a very gentle physical sunscreen (DHC Q10 Color Moist Base) during the sunny Texas summer and they’re fading evenly and without regression.

10. 

    trustingCod1

    Reply

    This is my favorite sunscreen! It has a very smooth texture and it’s pretty easy to apply on your skin. I use it on both my face and body. I am allergic to certain ingredients in sunscreen such as PABA – which gives me by far the “most deadliest” allergic reaction, whitin minutes I’d look like an alien if I get it on my skin. So I have to be very careful when selecting sunscreen. This is the first sun screen which offers such a high protection and yet does not trigger violent allergic reaction on me like all the other products I tried before. The other sunscreens such as Neutrogena and Coppertone all gave me rashes, even if it’s labeled dermatologically tested, for sensitive skin, free of allergent, etc. I just simply can’t use them. The only one which worked for me was Banan boat up to SPF 30. Anything beyond that was impossible.

    I discovered this sunscreen from a friend of mine who has very fair skin. I was skeptical about it since I had never found a sunscreen with such a high protection level and yet gentle enough for me skin. I tried a teeny tiny bit on my arm. Hours gone by, the night over, and miraculously the spot was totally free of any sign of nasty rash! I was converted. Bought it immediately. It gives me very good protection and it has not caused problems for me on my face even after 3 years of using it loyally. However, I do have to point out that with continual use for a few days and a large amount of it (when I’m having a beach vacation for example), I do develop very mild rashes. However it is usually mild and not itchy and does not bother me much and it disappear usually the next day. I found out that even when this happens and even if I still continue using it, it does not worsen the rashes. Just little bit of redness can be noticed and it’s gone immediately the day I stop applying. Considering all the bad reactions I had previously even with something of SPF 15, this level of irritation is something I can live with given the high protection. Definitely will buy it again. As a matter, I just did, and now I have 3 of these ready for the summer!