Peter Thomas Roth Sunscreen Review: Which Formula Is Better?

Last Updated on March 13, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

As I started writing this Peter Thomas Roth sunscreen review, my first thought was, “wait the brand does NOT have a proper sunscreen?!” They’ve recently discontinued the only sunscreen they had, Max Vitamin D-Fense™ Sunscreen Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 50. All that’s left are cosmetics with SPF: tinted moisturiser, primer with SPF… these are NOT sunscreens and to put them in the same category is maddening. Unless you apply them as generously as sunscreen (and who the heck applies 1/3 of a teaspoon of moisturiser), you’re NOT getting the SPF stated on the bottle. You’re getting much less protection from UV radiation (here’s the science for you). Now we’re on the same page about that, here are my reviews of the brand’s remaining products with SPF (and please Peter Thomas Roth come up with a real sunscreen soon):

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Hyaluronic Cloud Moisturizer

This is one of those products that makes you pause for a second because technically yes, it has SPF 45 on the label, but once you actually start using it you immediately realise… this is just a moisturiser. And to be fair, it’s a pretty nice moisturiser. The texture is light and creamy at first, but as you spread it around it sort of melts into this watery gel situation that feels very hydrating and very easy to apply. It disappears quickly, leaves the skin feeling comfortable and hydrated, and doesn’t leave behind that thick sunscreen layer some SPF moisturisers do. The finish is fresh and slightly dewy, the kind that makes skin look plump and healthy rather than matte. If you have oily skin you’ll probably start noticing shine later in the day, but normal and dry skin will probably enjoy the extra hydration. The formula leans heavily on humectants like a 30% complex of hyaluronic acid, which basically pull moisture into the skin and make the whole thing feel like a liquid cloud of fluffy-light moisture. If you like lightweight moisturisers that work well for daily wear, this is actually a pretty elegant product. So yes, it’s pleasant. It’s hydrating. It layers well under makeup. But at the end of the day it’s still a moisturiser with SPF, not a sunscreen you’re realistically applying in the amount required to protect you from sun exposure.

Peter Thomas Roth Max Clear Invisible Priming Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45

The one is so misleading, but make no mistake. This isn’t a sunscreen. This is a premier with SPF. Big difference. It comes out as a completely clear gel and the moment you start spreading it you get that familiar silky, slippery feel you normally associate with silicone primers. Skin suddenly feels very smooth, pores look a bit softer, and everything has that slightly blurred look that makeup artists love. It sits on the skin as a thin, velvety layer and creates that smooth base that foundation tends to glide over. The finish is more on the soft-matte side.

The upside of the clear gel texture is that it’s completely invisible. Unlike physical sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, there’s no risk of a white cast here. Like the other products here, it relies on chemical sunscreen filters, not mineral actives (they’re not dangerous, but they could irritate sensitive skin). The downside is that formulas like this can be a little temperamental depending on what you layer underneath. If you rub too much or combine it with certain skincare products, pilling can happen.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Hyaluronic Cloud Sheer Tint Moisturizer

If the regular Water Drench SPF moisturiser is a moisturiser pretending to be sunscreen, this one is basically a tinted moisturiser pretending to be sunscreen. The base formula is very similar to the original. It starts out as a light cream and then melts into that watery, hydrating gel feel as you spread it across the skin. It’s lightweight, easy to blend, and doesn’t feel heavy or sticky once it settles. The difference here is the universal vanishing tint that looks on pale skin too. The tint comes from iron oxides, which are commonly used in tinted products to add colour and help even out skin tone. Coverage is extremely sheer, so think more “slightly more even skin tone” than actual good coverage. It can soften redness a little and give the skin a more uniform look, but if you’re expecting foundation-level coverage you’re definitely not getting it. The finish is natural and a bit glowy thanks to the hydrating base. Skin looks fresh and slightly plumped rather than matte. If your skin is already oily this may start looking shiny by midday, but dry and normal skin will probably appreciate the extra hydration. A good product, just not a tinted sunscreen.

Availability

All products are available at Peter Thomas Roth.

The Bottom Line

And that’s the current SPF situation with Peter Thomas Roth: moisturisers, primers, and tints… all wearing sunscreen labels. None of these are bad products. The textures are nice, they sit well on the skin, and they do what they’re supposed to do as cosmetics. The problem is the SPF part. Because realistically, nobody is applying primer or tinted moisturiser in sunscreen quantities. They can add a little extra protection in a routine or help boost sun protection on top of a real sunscreen, but they’re not something you should rely on for high SPF, reliable sun protection on their own.Which makes the whole thing a bit strange. For a brand that does skincare so well, not having any actual broad-spectrum sunscreens in this innovative skincare line feels like a pretty obvious gap. Hopefully that changes.