The ultimate sun cream guide you need this summer

Every dermatologist will agree that the sun is the most damanging external stressor for the skin as it causes photo-ageing, loss of elasticity, premature wrinkles and hyperpigmentation so incorporating sunscreen to the skincare routine is a non-negotiable.

Experts at Skin Health Alliance suggested that we need to protect our skin from both UVA and UVB rays, meaning a sunscreen with a high enough SPF and a decent UVA star rating is crcucial. In the UK, sunscreens are sold with two ratings – the SPF rating scores their protection against UVB, whilst the 5-star rating scores their protection against UVA.

There are many types of sunscreen on the market tailoring to different needs for different skin types and ultimately at different prices. Here is the guide for shoppers to pick a sunscreen best suited for their conditions. 

Ultra Violette Future Fluid, £38

The ultra-lightweight mineral sunscreen contains vitamin E and squalane to hydrate the skin, niacinamide to balance oil production and improve skin texture, as well as vitamin C to brighten the complexion and minimise the look of dark spots. It’s like a serum with sun protection, making it easy when it comes to topping up.

Following the standard two-finger rule, I dab the Future Fluid onto my face and neck, the light-beige colour almost leaves as a skin tint with a mild concealing effect to blur pores and provide light coverage on blemishes.

The twist and squeeze design is easy to use, but it also leaves product on the applicator, which can be messy to re-apply on-the-go. The sunscreen is available to purchase on Sephora, Boots and Cult Beauty.

Clarins UV Plus Multi-Protection SPF50 Moisturising Fluid, £34

Designed for city dwellers who work or live in the Big Smoke, the popular sun cream has been marked as an ‘Amazon’s Choice’ product.

Fuelled by the natural prowess of organic mango leaf extract, which imparts an irresistible mango aroma upon application, Clarins’ skincare marvel offers a shield against five common pollutants – those being atmospheric, indoor, pollen, blue light, and photo-pollution. 

Delighted Amazon customers rave about the Clarins sunscreen for its featherlight, fast-absorbing consistency that ‘works well with makeup’ and leaves no greasy or pale residue.

The powerhouse ingredients are proven to boost the skin’s own defensive barriers by 64%, ensuring moisture is sealed in for prolonged periods.

However, a dedicated fan of Clarins expressed dismay after noticing a shift in the Moisturising Fluid’s formula, lamenting: “It is no longer a light, thin, almost watery product (in the best way possible) but now more like a traditional sun screen product – thicker and stickier to apply. I found I had to use more product than usual as it didn’t ‘spread’ across the skin as freely.”

Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50, £10.65 (was £15.99)

For a budget SPF, I swear by the Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50. Biore is a huge brand in Japan and other South East Asian countries, and their sun care range has been top sellers at drugstores and there’s a reason why.

The Made in Japan formula delivers a lightweight cream that absorbs into the skin instantly without leaving any trace of white cast. I have gone through the entire tube within two months and it worked perfectly with my foundation – meaning there’s no rubber residue on my face and it didn’t leave my skin looking too white.

However, I did not like the applicator and struggled to get two lines of suncream on my fingers without splurting on my hand. I preferred to use it without the applicator instead.

Formulated with Hyaluronic acid and micro defence technology, the Biore SPF is oil-free and won’t clog pores and disappears into all skin tones for a cast-free finish.

Charlotte Tilbury XL Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF50++++ Shield, £65

It’s a sunscreen and primer bottled in one. The sunscreen primer is infused with hyaluronic acid, pollution defence and SPF 50 PA++++ to protect, hydrate and prime skin. The Flawless Poreless Primer was only available in one size, but now Charlotte has launched a bigger version in 60ml.

Shoppers love how the primer sunscreen wears “beautifully underneath makeup” and leaves a soft-focus glow filter. Founder Charlotte shared: “I always say you can’t have a beautiful painting without a beautiful canvas – and this primer creates the perfect flawless, poreless looking base for makeup. The way it smooths and blurs the look of skin is unlike any other SPF I’ve tried. I apply daily after moisturising with Charlotte’s Magic Cream for the perfect skin prep.”

Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection SPF45 PA+++, £73.60 (was £92)

The luxury French staple is a hardworking, one-step complexion builder that contains stabilised sun filters that block both UVA and UVB rays over time with minimal degradation or breakdown of the filter molecules. In other words, it works for longer hours without reapplying it frequently.

With ingredients like carnosine, it helps promote a more firm and toned appearance and soften the looks of wrinkles. Applying SPF should be a daily routine, so by using the Chantecaille SPF, it doubles as an anti-ageing shield over time and that is contributed by high quality pure botanicals including cherry blossom, lemon balm and white tea extract.

Meanwhile, carnosine works to promote a firmer and toned appearance and soften the looks of wrinkles.

La Roche-Posay UVMUNE Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid SPF50+ 50ml, £15.95 (was £20)

Developed for sensitive skin, the high protection, braod spectrum sun cream is a fluid forumla that is water and sweat and even sand resistant, which is perfect for a sunny beach day stroll. With their exclusive Mexoryl 400 filter, it protects against ultra long UVA and the netlock technology provides a strong non-migrating and very resistant protection.

Not to mention that the slim bottle design is light to carry and easy to pack, especially on travel. The La Roche-Posay Anthelios range has been tested under dermatological control on sensitive skin and contact lens wearers. With 20% off at LookFantastic, shoppers are snapping up the La Roche-Posay sunscreen and it’s been rated a “no nonsense SPF” as a five-star shopper shared: “It took a bit of getting used to the very runny liquid but it sinks in quick and makeup sits on top great with no pilling.”

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick, £27.12

Glow Recipe has taken the internet by storm with its Watermelon Glow range and is approved by actress Sienna Miller who loves using their tinted Hue Drops, £32 at Cult Beauty. Now it’s expanded to sun care, the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick is easy to apply, and it keeps the hands clean for reapplication.

Their new Watermelon Glow Dew Shield Hydrating Fluid, £32, offers a weightless sun protection with clinically proven results to hydrate skin without any unwanted oiliness thanks to the watermelon seed oil, vitamin E and niacinamide. Both the Sunscreen Stick and the Dew Shield are watermelon scented, so it might not be suitable for certain shoppers.

EviDenS de Beaute’s The Total Shield SPF 50 PA++++ Anti-Pollution Treatment, £95

The EviDenS de Beaute The Total Shield not only offers superior sun protection but also keeps the skin hydrated, preventing sun spots and hyperpigmentation.

We know that wearing high SPF can delay signs of ageing and works as a precautionary solution to skin cancer, the EviDenS de Beaute product enhances its formula with an exclusive anti-ageing ingredient – Triple Collagen – to preserve skin from the harmful effects of sunrays and pollutant particles.

The precious La Foux Spring Water, which originated in the south of France and is known for its incredible moisturising and curative properties, is what sets the EviDenS de Beaute SPF apart from others on the market. It is lightweight and quick to absorb, and the hint of white floral scent adds a bit of luxury to it.