My Skin Profile: Oily-combination, acne & hyperpigmentation-prone.
Things to note before buying the La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
- La Roche-Posay markets two types of this moisturizer – One with SPF, and one without SPF. This review will be for the one WITH SPF.
- Retails for about $19.99 at most retailers.
- Comes in a 2.5 fl. oz tube (Paying $8/fl oz)
- Contains Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene – Ingredients typical of a chemical sunscreen.
Disclaimer: This review is not sponsored and this product was 100% purchased with my own $. However, as an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through links on my blog posts, these come at no additional cost to you.
For women (and people in general) who are on the darker end of the skin-tone spectrum, finding a good moisturizer with sunscreen or straight-up sunscreen that doesn’t leave that awful ashy cast on the skin is way harder than it should be. When trying a new product with SPF, I often brace myself for disappointment. Better yet, I plan to spend a considerable amount of time working it into my skin…until I found the La Roche-Posay Toleraine Double Repair Face Moisturizer with SPF 30. This review is more than two years in the making, as I’ve been using this moisturizer every single day since I purchased it over two years ago.
The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer came as a recommendation from a friend who claimed it smoothed her skin and helped calm her acne which was constantly irritated from wearing masks. I never dealt with maskne, but my skin definitely needed some help with irritation. Also, I had seen so many online ads, and endless reviews saying this $20 moisturizer cleared their skin, fixed their marriages, and increased their credit scores. I figured I might as well try it out and see for myself.
Topline product positives
- Oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic
- Contains UVA and UVB protection (the culprits of skin aging and skin burning)
- Serves as both a sunscreen and moisturizer
- Works great under makeup
- Dries down semi-matte
- Contains moisture/skin-barrier-supporting ingredients like glycerin, ceramide-3, and niacinamide.
First Impressions –
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer comes in a clean and simple squeeze tube. My first impression was that it’s very “clinical” looking, which mirrors what we’ve seen with brands like Proactive and Skinceuticals brands. But it’s pretty consistent with the La Roche Posay brand. When dispensed, the moisturizer is a white-colored cream with a slightly thick consistency. However, once rubbed in, it’s actually pretty light and glides smoothly on the skin. One of my concerns was that this moisturizer would smell ‘sunscreeny’ but it didn’t! There’s a very faint smell when initially put on the skin, but it’s barely noticeable and fades in a second. I like my moisturizers unscented, so this works great for me.
How I use it –
Since this moisturizer doubles as my sunscreen, I try to use a lot of it every morning. I learned about a year ago that you’re supposed to use two full finger lengths of sunscreen every day, so I use quite a bit.
After showering, I pat my face dry with a face or paper towel and apply it immediately! I do this quick because I’ve found that if I wait too long, my skin starts to dry out and this moisturizer feels like it’s sitting on top of my skin and not actually being absorbed. I can’t explain what that’s about, but my skin has to feel a bit moist, but not with actual water droplets for this moisturizer to “feel” absorbed. At the same time, I do not apply this to wet skin. I found that when I do, it glides on a bit weird, and although it dries down just fine, it doesn’t feel as hydrating. Also, water makes sunscreen less effective, and even if it’s just a little bit, I’d rather not water down the SPF effects.
My typical steps involve washing my face and patting it dry, applying any other skin treatments, and then using this as my moisturizer and sunscreen. When I plan to wear makeup, I will often use another moisturizing cream like the Neutrogena hydro boost gel cream, allow to dry, then apply the La Roche Posay moisturizer. I do this because I like my skin extra moisturized when wearing makeup, as foundations and powders can sometimes highlight dry patches on the skin.
When using this with any acne treatment, I tend to apply those first and use this as my very last step.
Honest Thoughts –
I’ve used this moisturizer religiously in the snow, rain, under the sea, in sickness, and in health and my feelings around it are pretty simple: It’s a great everyday moisturizer that hits several high points for me. Are there other products on the market that can give you some of the same benefits? Yeah, probably, but here are the reasons I’ve stuck with it so far:
Reason #1
It applies well to dark skin! Before I ever considered this product, the number #1 selling point for me was hearing that darker skin folks could use it without looking casket-ready. It was a pleasant surprise to see this for myself. Just apply it as you would apply any other moisturizer. When you first put it on, it might look like it could disappoint you, but just give it a second and your fears will dissipate.
Reason #2
It actually lives up to its claims! The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Facial moisturizer is quite hydrating and leaves your skin feeling pretty well moisturized for hours. Also, because it doubles as a sunscreen, you get to skip one step from your skincare routine. This moisturizer claims to help repair the skin’s barrier and provides 46-hr hydration. While I can’t speak to the 46-hour claim, I can say that I’ve had days where my skin has broken out terribly, and I couldn’t put anything else on it without fear of making it worse. On those days, this moisturizer has been the only thing I’ve felt comfortable enough to use because it’s simple and non-irritating. This has especially helped on days when I’ve over-exfoliated and left my skin feeling ‘raw’. I’m not claiming that this moisturizer soothes painful skin, but it has served as a safe option to help my skin feel more normal.
Reason #3
It’s fantastic for wearing under makeup and layering with other skincare. One of my favorite things about the La Roche Posay moisturizer is that it dries down semi-matte and somehow still manages to leave the skin hydrated. This provides a nice base for applying makeup. Even when I’ve used other moisturizers under it, it still dries down pretty semi-matte. I’ve seen some mentions of piling from reviews, but I’ve never had it happen to me. A tip to prevent piling is to let each layer of skincare absorb into the skin before applying the next thing.
Reason #4
It’s economical. The added bonus of this moisturizer is that it doubles as a sunscreen, which shaves off time spent on skincare every day. It also saves a couple of bucks as I can now get one dual-functioning product rather than two.
Quick FAQs on The La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Is this moisturizer good for oily, acne-prone skin?
As someone with oily, acne-prone skin, I highly recommend this moisturizer. It’s oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic, and I haven’t had any issues with clogged pores or irritation since using it.
Does this moisturizer clear acne on the skin?
Looking at the ingredient list, I couldn’t say that there’s anything that would instantly clear acne, especially active acne. However, some of the ingredients like niacinamide are known to calm inflammation. Others like Ceramide-3 and glycerin help maintain the skin’s moisture barrier which can impact acne. If you’re looking for something to instantly clear an active acne spot, check out my post on my recommended overnight spot treatments.
Can I apply this moisturizer at night?
You absolutely can! Personally, I reserve it for the daytime because that’s when I actually get the benefit of sun protection. Because my skin concerns are acne and hyperpigmentation, I’d rather reserve nighttime for more active skin ingredients. As far as I’m concerned, this moisturizer doesn’t have any actives that help with those concerns. La Roche Posay claims that the moisturizer contains a prebiotic thermal water that provides antioxidant benefits, so that may be of benefit to some.
If you do use it at night, be sure to apply lighter products like serums, or even prescription treatment first and apply this last. This is by no means a hard rule. If you use prescription products like tretinoin and find it too harsh for your skin to tolerate, you may be able to use this moisturizer as a buffer.
Does the La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer work well with makeup?
Yes! As stated before, it works easily with makeup. I apply it before using a makeup primer and have had no issues with piling or flakiness. I’ve also had no issues with this moisturizer separating with my foundation – both silicone-based, and water-based foundations have worked just fine over it.
Final Thoughts
The verdict for the La Roche Toleriane Double Repair Face moisturizer is that it is a fantastic everyday moisturizer/sunscreen for any and all skin types. It earns brownie points from me for being dark-skin friendly, acne & oily skin-friendly, and for how well it works on its own and with other products. This moisturizer does a good job of doing its job which is keeping skin hydrated and sun-protected, and that’s honestly the best that I can ask for.
If you’ve used this moisturizer, what are your thoughts? Have you found any higher or lower-end dupes for it?