Given the miserable, cloudy nature of our climate, do we need to wear SPF in the UK every single day, rain or shine? No. Is it highly, highly recommended? Absolutely. The truth is, although UVB rays (the ones responsible for skin burning) can’t penetrate clouds or glass, UVA rays (the ones responsible for an acceleration in skin ageing) can. So although we might not require the daily application of SPF to the extent that other countries with higher UV indexes might, if you’re serious about preventing premature skin ageing, applying an SPF to exposed skin is the single best thing you can do for it.
And no area of skin is more exposed to the sun than our faces. While the majority of our body remains protected underneath clothes, our faces lap up all of the damaging UVA rays that come their way, often resulting in dark spots, fine lines and crêpey texture. With experts agreeing that the best way to prevent skin ageing is by protecting it from sun exposure, daily SPF application on the face and neck particularly is highly encouraged.
I get it. You probably think SPF is kind of gross. It’s notoriously sticky and messy and can leave skin looking ashy and void of life. But what if I told you that SPF has come on leaps and bounds? No longer are facial sun creams formulated for days at the beach. Instead, brands have tweaked their formulations for everyday wear—they’re lightweight, they’re invisible on the skin, and they feel much like luxury lightweight lotions.
The tricky part is finding an SPF that slots into your existing skincare routine seamlessly. However, what I have learned over my many years of perilous SPF reviewing is that the very best formulas aren’t suited to skin type but instead work for everybody. In essence, a good daily SPF should feel totally invisible and have you forgetting you ever applied it. So to skip the trial and error, keep scrolling for the 15 best daily SPF products that suit just about everyone.
This facial sunscreen is widely regarded to be the best SPF product ever created—and I’m inclined to agree. Yes, it’s expensive, but the smooth-as-silk texture makes it worth every single penny. It’s slightly hydrating, which originally put me and my oily skin off. However, I have found that swapping out my usual morning moisturiser for this stuff doesn’t cause any upset at all. In fact, I think it’s just as great for oily skin as it is for dry.
There isn’t a single person out there who wouldn’t benefit from adding this SPF spray into their daily routine. Apply your normal SPF cream first thing and keep your protection topped up all day by misting this SPF 50 over your face every couple of hours. It leaves skin glowing and shielded from damaging UV rays, and it won’t disturb your makeup.
I think this broad-spectrum SPF is a little underrated. It is beautifully lightweight and glides onto the skin to create an invisible veil of protection. I didn’t think SPF could get much better. But then I received the upcoming Murad Correct & Protect Serum Broad Spectrum SPF45 and was proven very wrong. It has the same liquid nature as City Skin but helps to work against existing dark spots and pigmentation while it’s at it.
You do not need to spend £110 on an SPF to get really good results. In fact, any of the SPFs on this list are just as lovely as this stuff. However, if you have a penchant for luxury beauty products, it can be tough to find a sunscreen that delivers an elite tier of luxury—but this stuff does. The “sun drops” are hydrating and glow-boosting and make daily SPF application such a joy that you’ll never forget to apply sunscreen to your face ever again.
A cult favourite, Unseen Sunscreen is a totally invisible SPF product that has a silky, jelly-like texture. It’s high in silicone content, making it a great smoothing base for makeup and the perfect way to protect skin while you’re at it.
If you’re asking me, I’d say La Roche-Posay Anthelios is probably the most important product in beauty. It set the precedent for beauty brands far and wide to up their game when it came to their SPF offering. This stuff is the very definition of a skin veil, delivering unrivalled protection and a finish that looks just like your normal skin.
If you want value for money, Garnier has you covered. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to give skin a plumping dose of hydration, it’s also fast-absorbing, lightweight and non-comedogenic, so you know it won’t contribute to blocked pores. My honest opinion is that if you want a no-frills everyday sunscreen, this should be it.
If I were to put aside what I think most people want from a sunscreen and give you a totally biased, personal opinion, then I’d say that this is my favourite SPF ever created. It’s a mineral sunscreen, which makes the texture slightly thicker, but it melts into skin like whipped cream and leaves my complexion blurred and perfectly fit for a no-makeup day.
I really like this product. Like La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios and Garnier’s Ambre Solaire Ultra-Light, it’s runny and spreads like water. It is, however, a little more hydrating than the others but is also specially formulated for breakout-prone skin, so you can rest easy knowing it’s not clogging your pores.
Whenever someone asks me for a daily SPF recommendation, this is the first one I tell them to try. Compared to others out there, it’s not wildly expensive, and the tube will last you the whole season. It’s lightweight and full of moisturising goodness and feels just like any other daily moisturiser you might use, just with supercharged sun protection.
If you find that your skin reacts and becomes sensitised to SPF, I urge you to give this stuff a go. It’s seriously lightweight, dries down in record timing and is specially formulated for skin that is prone to irritation.
New from Caudalie, I’d say that this pretty yellow tube is the one SPF product I am most excited to use this spring. I’ve given it a test run and couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. The fluid is runny, and a little goes a long way, but it also hydrates skin in a way that doesn’t leave it feeling greasy or tacky. It’s a feat.
Calling all oily skinned gals and guys: Don’t skip on this SPF. In fact, this stuff suits just about anyone who isn’t looking for serious hydration from their sunscreen (but it can of course be applied over your usual moisturiser). The minute it touches the skin, it transforms into a dry-touch, silky veil that goes totally undetectable. Come summer, I’ll be carrying this tiny little bottle in my handbag everywhere I go.
This was easily my most-used facial SPF of 2021, and I’ve already repurchased it for 2022. It’s not too dissimilar from La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios (in fact, they’re almost identical in feel), but it has an ever so slightly dewier finish that leaves skin looking glowing but not greasy.
I challenge you to find a dermatologist who doesn’t adore this product. It can be hard to get your hands on, but once you’ve purchased a tube, you won’t regret it. The dry-touch, gel texture makes it a dream to apply, and its oil-free nature means you can rest easy knowing it won’t break you out.
Next up, these are the 18 affordable anti-ageing skincare products that actually work.
