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You’ve probably seen the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Aqua Gel SPF 30 on the shelves and wondered — is this a moisturizer with sunscreen, or a sunscreen pretending to be skincare?
It promises hydration and UV protection in one — but here’s the catch: the amount you need to apply for proper sun protection is much more than you’d ever use for a moisturizer.
And while it feels lightweight and spreads easily, the finish? Definitely not invisible — we’re talking noticeable shine. So:
Is it a smart multitasker for dehydrated, oily skin? Or just marketing in a shiny bottle? Let’s break it down.
What the La Roche Posay Hyalu B 5 Aqua Gel SPF 30 claims
A gel moisturizer with SPF30 broad spectrum protection.
Facts about the La Roche Posay Hyalu B 5 Aqua Gel SPF 30
Prize and size
One tube contains 50 ml and is available for 27 € on the website here. It comes with a pump, which is very convenient.
Texture and smell
Aqua Gel is the perfect name, as it is baby blue in color and feels like a cooling gel with a fresh scent reminding me of “the ocean meets shower gel”, very pleasant when you ask me.
How to use the La Roche Posay Hyalu B 5 Aqua Gel SPF 30
Now how you use the product depends on what you want it to do: Is this supposed to be a moisturizer with a little added sun protection or do you want it to be your sunscreen with additional skincare benefits? The testing for the sun protection factor is always the same, no matter if a product is marketed as sunscreen or as moisturizer. If it has SPF 30 printed on the label, it has to offer SPF 30. If, and here comes the catch, you use the appropriate amount. And this is where things get tricky.
If I use it as sunscreen, I need six pumps for my face and neck – I measured it out. And that is a lot! While they spread easily on the face at first, they somehow get more body when you start rubbing it in – I don’t know how to best describe it – it gets a little firmer on the skin than how it initially feels when it comes out of the tube. Still, it is a lot of product and leaves the skin feeling very, very moisturized and quite shiny.
If I decide to use it as a moisturizer, you’ll probably need one pump. That is much easier to distribute, feels lovely and cooling on the skin and looks more natural in finish. Still, there is some glow to my skin that wasn’t there before, but not the mirror like shine six pumps will give me.
No matter how much you use though, there is only minimal tackiness and it works very well under makeup.
Ingredients of the La Roche Posay Hyalu B 5 Aqua Gel SPF 30
sii|h 0 0, Octocrylene sunsc, Homosalate sunsc, Ethylhexyl Salicylate sunsc 0 0, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 
sunsc, Alcohol Denat 
amic|solv|vc, Dimethicone emo 0 1, Pentylene Glycol solv|h, Drometrizole Trisiloxane sunsc, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide vc, Ethylhexyl Triazone sunsc, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer vc, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Ci 42090/Blue 1 col, Dextrin Palmitate emu|surf, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer vc, Panthenol so|h 0 0, Phenoxyethanol pres, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate vc, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, T-Butyl Alcohol perf|solv, Tocopherol aox 0–3 0–3, Xanthan Gum vc, Parfum/Fragrance perfHover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
For filters you will find Octocrylene, Homosalate, Octisalate, Avobenzone, Mexoryl XL and Uvinul T 150. The first four are old filters, the two last ones are newer ones offering excellent broad spectrum protection.
For hydration you have Glycerin, Dimethicone for some extra slip and then the soothing Panthenol that gives the name to the B5 line. (More info: Are silicones in skincare bad for you? and The benefits of Panthenol in skincare explained)
You will also find Alcohol denat., quite common in products designed to be lightweight, and fragrance for that ocean breeze scent. (More info: Is alcohol in skincare bad for you? and Is fragrance in your skincare bad for you?)
More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products
Does it live up to its claims?
That depends on how strict I am.
Yes, it is a gel moisturiser, and yes, it has SPF 30 broad spectrum protection, but it doesn’t have both at the same time. It can be either used as a gel moisturiser the way your would use a gel moisturiser OR it can give you SPF 30 broad spectrum protection.
How does it compare to…
Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+
I am a huge fan of sunscreens that feel like moisturizers, and this one from Beauty of Joseon is one of my favorites. The main difference between the one reviewed here and BoJs offer is that I can easily use the recommended amount of BoJ without it feeling or looking weird, and that it offers SPF 50. It is more of a lotion than a gel and a little more hydrating than the Hyalu B5 Aqua Gel, but the one I would always chose for protection.
You can read my full review of the Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief. Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ here
La Roche Posay UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF 50 +
Let’s compare it to another one of La Roche Posays sunscreen offers: the Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid, which has been my go-to sunscreen for summer outdoors for years now – both in the old and in the reformulated version shown here. That one feel much more like a sunscreen compared to the Hyalu B5 one, and I admit it is less comfortable and lightweight. Still it is very easy to apply the recommended amount without the skin getting that icky, sticky feeling and it has great UVA protection, something I actively look for whenever I know I will spend time outdoors as I struggle with hyperpigmentation. I simply wouldn’t trust the Hyalu B5 version to even come close in that protection.
You can read my full review of the La Roche Posay UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF 50+ here.
Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the La Roche Posay Hyalu B 5 Aqua Gel SPF 30 to?
Overall I think this is a nice moisturiser, but not my favorite as sunscreen – the low protection it has will only get lower if, following your comfort levels, you apply less than you actually would need. If your skin is dry or very dehydrated, you might feel different though. In my opinion it is an option best used for days when you want some protection, but know you will spend the majority of time indoors.
Shop La Roche Posay here
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