Same Name, Different Sunscreen.

Moving to Spain did a lot of things to my skincare routine, but the biggest shift was sunscreen. Not in a “I learned to reapply more” way, but in a “why does everything suddenly feel better than what I was using before?” way.

La Roche-Posay’s UVAir SPF 50 was one of the first products that genuinely stopped me in my tracks. It was weightless, invisible, and somehow still felt reassuringly high-performance. The kind of sunscreen you forget you’re wearing five minutes after application, which is exactly why you actually use it every day. I stocked up during a buy-two-get-one sale. Then I did it again. I’m still working through my six-pack.

So when I saw that the same product name had finally launched in the US at Ulta, I was excited for about thirty seconds. Then I looked at the ingredient list.

And that’s where this post starts.

1. The EU Formula Is the One That Made Me a Convert

Let’s be very clear upfront. The European UVAir is the one that made me a believer. It is the version I use. It is the one I repurchased multiple times without hesitation. It is the one I wrote a full in-depth review about and recently revisited again when the new tinted variants launched.

This formula feels like a modern sunscreen should feel. Ultra-light, no residue, no stickiness, no mental friction around applying enough. It disappears into the skin but still gives you the psychological comfort of knowing you are wearing something serious.

It’s the rare product where the performance is so good that it resets the bar.

2. The US Formula Is a Different Product in Disguise

The version that just launched at Ulta is not that formula.

It uses a classic US filter system: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, and Octocrylene. Yes, we are looking at the standard American sunscreen toolkit. It works. It is safe. It is what the FDA currently allows.

But it is not the same technology that made the European UVAir so special in the first place.

The EU version uses an entirely different filter stack that simply does not exist in the US regulatory system yet. That alone makes these two products fundamentally different, regardless of how similar the packaging looks.

UV Filter Systems: Side-by-Side

3. Texture and Wear Are Built on Different Philosophies

This is where the experience really diverges.

The US version is skincare-first. Creamy, hydrating, no alcohol, very familiar in feel. It behaves like a lightweight lotion. Comfortable, easy, and unlikely to offend anyone.

The EU version is performance-first. Alcohol denat., lightweight esters, and film-forming polymers create that fluid texture people rave about. It spreads instantly, sets quickly, and leaves behind almost no sensory footprint. You can layer it, reapply it, and forget about it entirely.

That difference in feel is not accidental. It is the result of two completely different formulation goals.

3.5 What Early US Reviews Are Already Saying

While I haven’t personally tried the US version yet, the early reviews is Ulta are already telling a very familiar story. Many users mention a shinier-than-expected finisha more noticeable sunscreen smelland a formula that doesn’t absorb as invisibly as they were hoping.

The common thread is that people do like how lightweight it feels on application, but the end result seems to land closer to “nice American sunscreen” than “barely-there fluid.”

If this sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve seen this exact pattern before with ISDIN’s Water Fusion. The European version was featherlight and borderline imperceptible. Sadly, the US version, reformulated with FDA-approved filters, ended up richer, slightly heavier, and nowhere near as elegant in wear.

Different filters. Different base. Different outcome.

It doesn’t mean the US UVAir is bad. It just means that expectations set by the European formula are unlikely to translate one-to-one.

For transparency, many of those early reviews are from users who received the product for free. I’ve purchased every La Roche-Posay sunscreen I’ve used with my own money. And the reason I’m so particular about this comparison is simple. Once you experience the European version, your baseline for what “lightweight” really means shifts permanently.

4. Packaging Changed Along With the Tinted Launch

The original European clear formula launched in a sharper-edged bottle with a twist cap. It felt sleek and almost technical, very much in line with classic French pharmacy design.

The newer packaging is more rounded, slightly bulkier, but technically smaller, and uses a pop-off cap. It feels more modern and a little more cosmetic.

In Europe, the original clear version is still available in the old packaging. The new tinted variants only come in the updated design. The US launch at Ulta highlights the new rounded bottle, even though the formula inside is not the same as the European original.

So visually, the US product looks like the modern EU one. Chemically, it is not.

5. The Bottom Line

These two products share a name, a brand, and a general category. That’s where the similarity ends.

The US UVAir is a solid American sunscreen. It is well-formulated within FDA limits and easy to wear.

The EU UVAir is a genuinely next-generation sunscreen. It uses more advanced filters, offers stronger long-UVA coverage, and delivers a texture that makes daily use effortless.

And the reason I stocked up six bottles deep in Spain is simple. The European formula is one of the very few sunscreens I have ever used that feels invisible enough to become automatic. No resistance. No mental negotiation. Just apply and move on with your day.

Once you experience that level of wearability, it becomes very hard to pretend all SPF 50s are created equal.

Where to Buy (Both US and EU)

The US formula is now at Ulta.com.

For EU variations that are far superior, check out lookfantastic.com and boots.com.

INCI side-by-side (US vs EU) for those interested

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to shop through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use, love, or would happily buy myself.