Sunscreen for the body is as important as for the face, especially in summer when we’d like to wear things like shorts, shorter sleeves, and swimsuits. Except that we don’t always want to wear sunscreen. Well, I get it. Most of them are sticky, have a major white cast, too expensive, or smell funny. In this Garnier Ambre Solaire Eco-Design SPF50 review, I will tell you if it fits all want in a body sunscreen!
What Is It?
Garnier Ambre Solaire
The brand Garnier is owned by L’Oréal and easily available in your local drugstore (at least here in Germany). This year, Garnier released a bunch of new sunscreen lineups, including the famed Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti Age Super UV SPF50. This lineup uses the newer, more elegant sunscreen filters not approved in the US yet (sorry US readers!) but it means most of these products would have better broad range protection filters.
Garnier also has several sustainability initiatives, from committing to more sustainable ingredients and packaging, to taking part in the Ocean Conservancy and Plastic for Change programs. What it’s still lacking is their palm oil policy (and this product still uses palm oil).
The Product
What is actually the product name? It’s basically just a bunch of description put together on the packaging. Even dm (one of the biggest drugstore chain in Germany) seemed to think so. They called it Garnier Ambre Solaire Sonnenmilch ocean eco design LSF50 on their online shop. The German version of the packaging says it’s “Garnier Ambre Solaire Ocean Conservancy Eco-Design Pack LSF50 Sonnenmilch“. I’ll just call it Garnier Ambre Solaire Eco-Design SPF50 (because they also have the SPF30 version).
It claims to be suitable to use for face and body with broad spectrum SPF 50 protection, hydrating, coral-friendly, and the packaging is from recycled plastic.
Ingredients
Sunscreen Actives
| Sunscreen Filter | Type | Spectrum | Remarks |
| Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine / Tinosorb S | chemical | broad-spectrum (UVA & UVB, 280-400 nm, peak at 310-345 nm) | very photostable, available elsewhere but the US |
| Ethylhexyl Salicylate / Octisalate | chemical | UVB (280-320 nm) with peak at 306 nm | not a strong filter, used with other filters to solubilize. |
| Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane / Avobenzone | chemical | full UVA protection | not photostable |
| Ethylhexyl Triazone / Uvinul T 150 | chemical | photostable UVB filter | oil soluble, odorless & colorless powder, available elsewhere except the US & Canada |
Full Ingredient List
Garnier Ambre Solaire Eco-Design SPF50 Review
Formula and Consistency
This Garnier Ambre Solaire is simply one of the best body sunscreen I have ever tried. It’s lightweight on the skin, just like a regular body lotion. The formula sinks quickly with no stickiness and no residue, although it has the tendency to feel oilier if you put on a lot. At least it doesn’t have that gritty feeling you sometime have from sunscreens. The most important thing for me though, it has no white cast! Woo-hoo!!
My left hand on the picture just looked more hydrated compared to the right. Which adds a point on this sunscreen.
Comparison
Although Garnier Ambre Solaire Eco-Design Sonnenmilch (8.95€ / 200ml) is a great sunscreen, it doesn’t feel as luxurious as the Ultra Violette Extreme Screen Hydrating Body & Hand SPF50 (31€ / 150ml). Ultra Violette feels silkier on the skin and gives a faint glow, while Garnier Ambre Solaire simply hydrates & protects without the fancy effect.
Compared to the Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti Age Super UV SPF50 we’ve reviewed earlier on the blog, this is less heavy and less moisturizing. It doesn’t have the antioxidant and other goodies that the Anti Age has, but in terms of comfort on the skin, this Eco Design is better.
Garnier Ambre Solaire Eco-Design SPF50 Review: Verdict
This is a staple product for me. It’s a benchmark for other products to live up to, especially with the price and availability. Will happily repurchase again and again!
Rating
Holy Grail
Good ✓
OK
Meh
Throw away
OK, so I am easy to please when the product is both affordable and easy to get. This product ticks all my boxes for sunscreen for the body. I don’t mind the alcohol and the watermelon fragrance is refreshing in summer. Not holy grail because I will still be on a lookout for better sustainable product.
Garnier Ambre Solaire Eco-Design SPF50 is something I am happy to wear every day, on a sunny day. That is the most important thing in a sunscreen, isn’t it?
Availability & Price
8.95€ for 200ml at my local dm.
Please note that this review is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods, or money, for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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