I’ve tried THOUSANDS of SPFs and these are the ones I genuinely rate....
The beauty industry has totally overcomplicated sun protection, so let's make this easy...
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Why does the beauty industry insist on making SPF so bloody hard to understand? If it’s not the stupidly named products, it’s the confusing jargon or the cloying scents. SIGH.
Over the last decade I‘ve tried thousands of SPFs through my work, when judging beauty awards, through my dad - a retired dermatologist - and partly from being on the never-ending quest to find ones I actually like wearing. So here is my guide to finding an SPF you’ll like wearing, which includes the ones I genuinely buy and use myself.
Three quick points before we begin….
1- SPF ‘in your moisturiser or make-up’ is always an added bonus rather than actual SPF. You need to apply 2 fingers worth of SPF to cover your face/neck - which is not how much moisturiser you’re using is it? Don’t lie to me - I’m a Capricorn, and our BS detectors are top notch.
2 - Sunscreen pilling is annoying AF. That’s when your SPF rolls into little balls on your skin and is absolutely something that puts people off wearing it. So to prevent it, leave a gap of like 30 mins after using any skincare before applying SPF. And make sure you’ve really rubbed in all your skincare too - it’s the incompatibility in formulas that creates the pilling. Just FYI, when SPF pills, it’s not protecting you so you’ll need to reapply it.
3- To put this mega crudely, mineral SPF creates a barrier to reflect UV off the skin whilst chemical SPF creates a thin barrier that absorbs UV light before it hits the skin. Mineral can be better for sensitive skins, but they do also tend to be a bit heavier and leave a white cast on dark skins. Pick whatever suits you best, and whatever you will actually wear.
THE BEST FACIAL SPFS (ALL CHEMICAL/MIXED SUNSCREENS UNLESS I SAY OTHERWISE…)
Best for oily skin or anyone who likes a matte finish
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face, SPF 50+ £35
GOOD: Aussie’s make some of the best SPF on the market and this one has been a low-key best seller in the US/UK for ages and it’s now properly available to buy online without batshit shipping charges. The tube is huge, it’s not greasy at all and you genuinely can’t feel it on the skin at all - so could be great for teens. The packaging is chic too which is always a bonus.
BAD: Nothing to report - but dry skins may find it isn’t hydrating enough.
Best for dry skin or a ‘sheen’ to the skin
Supergoop! Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion SPF 50, £29
GOOD: I grabbed this from my beauty cupboard before my recent Vegas trip and wasn’t expecting much honestly because the name doesn’t really tell you what it does - but it’s fast become my new daily SPF. It’s mega light, and gives a sort of ‘bouncy’ hydrated finish to the skin I've not found with any other SPFS. It’s very ‘Korean’ in its approach in that it applies like skincare, and works well with make-up etc. But I think it’s epic for dry-combo skins.
BAD: It’s pretty small for the price, and has a stupid name that doesn’t really explain what it does.
Best SPF face spray
Kate Somerville UncompliKated SPF 50 Soft Focus Make Up Setting Spray, £34
GOOD: I remember when La Roche Posay came out with a facial SPF spray that worked over make-up and I lost my shit - it was a joyous moment indeed. Since then there’s been a stack of other brands doing spray on facial SPFs and let me tell you pals, I’ve tried them all. Kate’s protects, can be used as a primer and really does help make-up stay on too. I usually hate scented skincare/SPF but this smells like lavender joy.
BAD: No bad here, although it does work out as a tad pricey for daily use and again, the name doesn’t explain what it does properly.
Best for hardcore protection/people who live in sunny climates
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid Non-Perfumed Suncream SPF50+ 50ml, £20
GOOD: LRP Anthelios has a UV filter called MEXORYL400 which sounds like it’s a robot, but is in fact a patented technology that fends off damaging extra-long UVA rays (ones that can cause cancer/accelerate premature ageing.) L’Oreal (parent company to LRP) have the patent on this ingredient so it’s not in anything else and isn’t likely to be for at least another decade. It’s sweat and sand resistant, and pretty good for sensitive skins too - it’s my summer facial SPF to go and if you live somewhere sunny, you ski, or you just want the most effective protection then this is it. It’s well priced too.
BAD: Isn’t heavy at all, but isn’t quite as light as some of the others.
Best for very reactive skin, people with actinic keratosis
Eucerin Actinic Control SPF 100, £30
GOOD: this SPF was designed to prevent actinic keratosis which are dry scaly patches of sun damage on the skin and non-melanoma skin cancer. It’s fairly light, and fine for everyday use.
BAD: No bad here, but it is best suited to people who need it as it’s a weeny bit joyless. But if you need it use it. Please.
Best for added ‘glow’
Ultra Violette Super Glow Drops SPF50 Bronzing, £33
GOOD: If you’re looking to add a bit of a pearlescent finish to the skin as you protect, then this is definitely the best choice. The SPF itself is mega light and comes from an excellent - if not one of the best - sun protection brands, and it comes in two shades which is ace too.
BAD: The packaging is orange and I really hate the colour orange, but that’s my trauma to deal with. There’s no actual bad here….