Unseen is the better primer under makeup. Anthelios is the better matte, sweat-proof sunscreen for oily skin.
These two have more in common than you’d think. Both are 1.7 oz face sunscreens built on the same four chemical filters, led by 3% avobenzone, and neither leaves a white cast. SPF 60 isn’t meaningfully stronger than SPF 50: they block about 98.3% and 98% of UVB.
The difference is the base. Supergoop Unseen is a waterless, alcohol-free silicone gel that feels like a makeup primer. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light is a thin, alcohol-based fluid that dries matte, lasts 80 minutes in water and costs less. We also look at the Unseen SPF 40 stick, which is best for touch-ups.
Which one fits your skin
| Primer-like gel Supergoop Unseen SPF 50 Clear Face Sunscreen | VS | Matte fluid La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 60 Ultra Light Fluid |
|---|---|---|
50 | SPF |
60 |
3% avobenzone, 7% homosalate, 5% octisalate, 9% octocrylene | UV filters |
3% avobenzone + homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene |
Waterless silicone gel, no alcohol | Base |
Water, silicones, denatured alcohol |
Smooth, primer-like | Finish |
Matte |
40 minutes | Water resistance |
80 minutes |
Makeup, normal to dry skin | Best for |
Oily skin, sweat, swimming |
| View | View |
Same filters, different feel
SPF 50 blocks about 98% of UVB and SPF 60 about 98.3%, so the higher number buys you very little. Both sunscreens use the same type of protection: four chemical filters led by 3% avobenzone, with homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene. Neither leaves a white cast.
What separates them is the base. Unseen is a waterless, alcohol-free silicone gel that feels like a primer and suits normal to dry skin under makeup. Anthelios is a water-and-alcohol fluid that dries matte, suits oily skin and stays on twice as long in water: 80 minutes against Unseen's 40. Anthelios also costs less for the same 1.7 oz.
The Unseen SPF 40 stick is for touch-ups. It carries the same filter family in a pocket-size solid, which makes reapplying over makeup easy. It costs far more per ounce, though, and a few quick swipes won't cover your whole face.
Supergoop Unseen SPF 50: the primer you can wear as sunscreen
Clear, primer-like gel for makeup wearers.
Unseen uses 3% avobenzone, 7% homosalate, 5% octisalate and 9% octocrylene. There’s no water and no alcohol in the formula. Isododecane and silicone crosspolymers make it a clear, slippery gel that dries to a smooth, velvety finish, so it doubles as a makeup primer.
It’s water and sweat resistant for 40 minutes and has no added fragrance. Red algae extract, shea butter, meadowfoam estolide and vitamin E round out the list, which makes it more comfortable than Anthelios on normal to dry skin.
Skip it if heavy silicone products clog your pores, or if you need sunscreen for long swims or workouts.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light SPF 60: matte and sweat-ready
Matte, water-resistant SPF 60 for oily skin.
Anthelios uses four chemical filters too: 3% avobenzone with homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene. There’s no oxybenzone or octinoxate. The difference is the base. It’s water, silicones and denatured alcohol, then silica, so it feels watery, dries fast and leaves a matte finish with no cast.
That base holds up for 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, twice as long as Unseen. Senna alata leaf extract and vitamin E add antioxidant support, and it’s fragrance-free and noncomedogenic. It also costs less than Unseen for the same 1.7 oz.
The alcohol is the catch. It helps oily skin stay matte, but it can sting dry, irritated or freshly exfoliated skin.
Unseen Sunscreen Stick SPF 40: for touch-ups
Clear stick for reapplying over makeup.
The stick uses the same four chemical filters as Unseen SPF 50 (3% avobenzone, 6% homosalate, 5% octisalate, 9% octocrylene) in a solid base of isododecane, esters and silica. It goes on clear, leaves no cast and is water and sweat resistant for 40 minutes.
At 0.7 oz, it costs far more per ounce than either full-size sunscreen, and swiping makes it easy to leave gaps. Use it to reapply over makeup at lunch or after the gym, not as your morning layer.
Getting full protection from a clear sunscreen
-
Measure, don't guess
Use about a half teaspoon for your face and neck, or two full finger lengths. Clear formulas make it easy to apply too little because you can’t see the layer.
-
Apply Unseen last in your skin care
Smooth it on after moisturizer and before makeup. It works as your primer, so you can skip a separate one.
-
Spread Anthelios quickly
The fluid is thin and dries fast because of its alcohol, so spread it across your face in sections before it sets.
-
Use the stick in overlapping passes
Go over each area three or four times, and don’t forget your ears, hairline and the sides of your nose.
-
Reapply on schedule
Every two hours outdoors, after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating with Unseen, and after 80 minutes with Anthelios.
Anthelios is water resistant for 80 minutes and Unseen for 40. That’s how long each holds up while you swim or sweat, not how long it lasts on a normal day. Reapply every two hours outdoors, and right after swimming or toweling off.
Which sunscreen should you buy?
Choose Supergoop Unseen SPF 50 if you wear makeup or your skin is normal to dry. It’s a waterless, alcohol-free silicone gel that goes on clear and works as a primer. It costs more and is water resistant for only 40 minutes.
Choose La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light SPF 60 if your skin is oily or you’ll be sweating or swimming. Its alcohol-based fluid dries matte, lasts 80 minutes in water and costs less for the same 1.7 oz. Skip it if alcohol stings your skin.
Neither leaves a white cast. Add the Unseen SPF 40 stick only if you want an easy way to reapply over makeup during the day.
