Who remembers being a kid and being chased around by an adult back in the day, trying to get us to wear sunscreen? Or maybe you’re of my generation, where there was little to no information about SPF and the importance of wearing it? Thankfully, there’s so much information on the benefits of sunscreen nowadays and in this post, I’m going to share some of the sunscreens for the face that I’ve been trying this year.
But first, let me share why wearing SPF every day is vital.
Chances are, if you’re a sunscreen user, you’ll wear it on sunny days, but it’s essential to wear it even when it’s overcast as the UV rays can penetrate through the clouds. So if you use sunscreen as the last step in your morning skincare routine, you’ll be protected.
Is SPF in makeup or moisturiser enough?
A few years ago, I wrote a post on why I don’t rely on sunscreen in foundation, and the same thought process goes towards sunscreen in moisturisers. If you’re using enough product, great, but if you watch my reel showing how much foundation you’d have to wear to get close to full SPF50 protection, you’ll see why I prefer to use a separate sunscreen every day.
And the same goes for SPF protection in your daily moisturiser. I couldn’t apply half a teaspoon of moisturiser daily, or my makeup would slide down my face! That measurement is pretty much the same as applying two fingers’ worth of product to your skin, be it makeup or moisturiser, and chances are you won’t be applying that much. So my advice is to use a separate SPF.
It’s so important to find a sunscreen you like wearing because it won’t feel like a chore when you apply it. I apply my SPF as the last step in my skincare routine every morning, even if I’m going to be inside for most of the day because I want it to be a daily habit. If you forget to apply yours, leave it beside your serums and moisturisers and let it be the final step in your morning routine.
Here are some sunscreens for the face that I’ve been enjoying wearing. Some are old favourites, and some are new to me. For the record, I’m 46 and have combination skin with normal cheeks and an oily t-zone.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ – €20.90
This has such a runny yet lightweight formula and really does live up to its Invisible Fluid name. It gives UVA and UVB protection and is water, sweat and sand resistant. Even when you see claims like this, it doesn’t mean they’re water, sweat or sand-proof. Make sure to regularly reapply your SPF if you’re going to be out in the sun. This sits beautifully under my makeup and feels like skincare, with no greasy or sticky residue.
Who will love this?
All skin types, including those with sensitive skin.
Buy La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50 here
Skingredients Skin Shield Moisturising & Priming SPF50 – €57.00
I’ve loved this mineral sunscreen since it launched four years ago and have gone through so many bottles over the years. It has a light peachy tint, helping to even out my complexion, so on no-makeup days, I still feel like I’m getting a bit of coverage. It leaves a dewy-looking finish but dries down nicely on my skin, sitting well under makeup. Along with offering broad-spectrum UV protection, this sunscreen also has niacinamide and vitamin E to protect the skin and allantoin to smooth it. I’d love it if this one came in a travel size so I could bring it in my carry-on instead of having to decant it.
Who will love this?
All skin types, even those with sensitive skin. Those with oily skin will enjoy the dry down of this.
Buy Skingredients Skin Shield here.
Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF50 – €47.00
I love wearing this SPF on my no-makeup days as it’s got the consistency of a moisturiser. It has a lightweight texture but doesn’t dry down on my skin, so I tend to wear it alone or under a matte foundation. It absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving it moisturised thanks to Vitamin E and Biacalin. It’s one of my all-time favourite sunscreens for the face.
Who will love this?
All skin types, but those with oily skin might prefer something with more of a matte finish.
Buy Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense here.
Garnier Ambre Solaire SPF50_ Super UV Daily Invisible Serum – €17.99
After packing for a trip to Spain recently, I realised I’d forgotten to pack any facial SPF on the way to the airport. Typical! I hit up the Boots in Duty-Free and bought this, having heard nothing about it. But they’d a tester on the shelf, and I liked the texture and how it absorbed quickly into the back of my hand. And I was also interested in the fact that it had ceramides to help instantly protect the skin’s barrier.
It has a beautiful, lightweight formula that quickly absorbs into my skin, drying to a satin-like finish. It sits nicely under makeup, too, giving me complete UV protection.
Who will love this?
All skin types, those with sensitive and oily skin too.
Buy Garnier Ambre Solaire SPF50+ Super UV Invisible Face Serum here
Eucerin Oil Control Face Protection Sun Cream for Oily & Blemish Prone Skin SPF50+ – €21.00
Eucerin sent a few of their sunscreens to test out, and this is the one I went for first as it’s aimed at those with oily skin, and I wanted to see how it performed on my T-zone. I was worried when I pumped some product out the first time as it had a really thick texture compared to the other SPFs, but once I started massaging it into the skin, it disappeared almost instantly. It has a beautiful matte finish for those with oily bits but doesn’t feel chalky or dry on the skin. It’s one of the best matte sunscreens for the face I’ve ever used, and the lightweight, dry-touch finish is incredible.
Who will love this?
Oily, acne-prone skin or those who like a dry-touch finish.
Buy Eucerin Sun Oil Control Face Protection SPF50 here.
Dermalogica Clearing Defense SPF30 – €34.00
This is another sunscreen aimed at those with oily, breakout-prone skin. It has an even thicker texture than the Eucerin one but melts into the skin quickly. It helps to reduce shine with natural Tapioca, while antioxidant willow bark extract, green tea extract, and vitamin C help protect the skin from pollution. This sits well under makeup and keeps shine at bay too.
Who will love this?
Oily, blemish-prone skin who like a dry-touch finish
Buy Dermalogica Clear Start Clearing Defense SPF30 here.
I’ll update this post as I try out more sunscreens for the face this year, so make sure to check back regularly for more recommendations. And for first looks at new beauty launches, head to my Instagram page!
