I’ve Tried Hundreds of SPF Products—17 I’d Actually Recommend

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I've Tried Hundreds of SPF Products—17 I'd Actually Recommend

I’ve always been into my skincare. (Ask any girl with hormonal acne and I’m sure she’ll tell you the same). The desire to find that one wonder product started in my teenage years, where I’d spend hours lusting over the just-launched cleansers and shiny posts of moisturisers in the monthly glossies, while most weekends involved poring over the shelves in Boots deciding how to spend the £30 I’d earned from my Saturday job. (Which, for the record, actually happened to be in Boots.)

Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to try some of the best skincare products on the market and have created a routine that works for my skin and its needs. But I have to admit that my routine was distinctly lacking in one skincare product until a few years ago: SPF.

However, when you spend so much time chatting to celebrity facialists and dermatologists about the best ways to care for your complexion it soon becomes clear that skin experts unanimously agree that SPF is an integral part of any successful skincare routine. Yet so many of us choose to ignore it.

Personally, I think there are two main reasons for our hesitance around using a daily SPF. Firstly, the UK isn’t exactly renowned for its amazing weather (especially during the winter months when you might not have seen the sun for weeks). It isn’t normally until a heat wave rears its head on the weather forecast that we feel any kind of desire to start slapping on the sun protection on a daily basis. Secondly—between UVA and UVB protection, broad spectrums and star ratings—knowing what to look for when choosing an SPF can feel like a bit of a minefield to say the least.

So to help debunk the myths around SPF and get to the root of exactly why it is so important, I caught up with some skincare experts for the full lowdown. Keep scrolling for a foolproof guide to choosing the best sun protection for you and to shop the best SPF products out there.

Let’s start with the basics, shall we? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and, in the UK, is a measure of the amount of ultraviolet B radiation protection. Simply put, the higher the factor number, the higher the UVB protection.

UVA, on the other hand, stands for ultraviolet A radiation and can be measured by the star rating on UK sunscreens. The higher the star rating, the better the protection—with a five-star rating being the best.

If a sunscreen refers to itself as “broad spectrum” then this means that it offers both UVA and UVB protection. However, in the UK, if sunscreen has both an SPF rating and a star rating, then it will also protect you against both types of rays.

Understanding the difference between UVA and UVB rays feels a little like heading back to school for a science class. “They are different wavelengths of light,” explained David Colbert, New York Dermatology Group founder and head physician. “The UVB waves burn and age the skin, the UVA waves penetrate deeper and tan the skin, and both waves damage collagen and age the skin.”

UVA rays make up about 95% of the UV light that reaches us and are considered the largest threat to our skin. They’re present whenever it’s daylight—regardless of whether the sun is out or not—and can penetrate through glass. UVB rays, meanwhile, have a much smaller range but are responsible for the visible changes that you see to the surface of your skin—like burning.

While both UVA and UVB rays have been proven to play a role in skin cancer, UVA rays penetrate your skin much more deeply than UVB rays—eroding firmness, elasticity and causing wrinkles.

There’s plenty of conflicting advice about how much SPF to apply, but it’s widely accepted that most of us just don’t slather on enough of it. Official National Health Service guidelines advise using two teaspoons of sunscreen for your head, arms and neck, or two tablespoons for your entire body. But in case you don’t want to treat your sun protection like you’re baking a cake, Colbert says you can use SPF “just like a moisturiser—enough to lightly cover the skin.”

When it comes to applying SPF, you should do so about 30 minutes before you head outside. I apply it as the last step in my skincare routine before doing my hair and makeup. However, if it’s a summer’s day, you’re advised to reapply it just before you leave the house and every couple of hours that you’re outside. If you really want to save time, then opt for beauty products that have SPF built in. There are plenty of moisturisers, foundations, lip balms and hair sprays that are formulated with sun protection so you don’t have to worry about applying it separately. However, you shouldn’t rely on SPF in makeup such as foundation, for example, as you’d need to apply a lot of it to get enough SPF protection. So, it’s always best to use a dedicated SPF before make-up.

Now, for the most important question—do we need to wear SPF every day in the UK? “I’d say if it’s a rainy day, you could skip it,” Colbert cautiously advised. “However, we’re exposed to UV rays even on a cloudy day.” If you’re cautious about ageing, Colbert advises wearing an SFP 30 daily. “If you introduce SPF as part of your daily routine, you’ll escape the ageing rays of the sun and your skin will age at a slower rate.”

SPFs get a bad rap for being heavy and greasy—but not this one. If you have oily skin or are prone to breakouts during warm weather, then you’ll be reaching for this mattifying SPF all summer. It’s lightweight and leaves skin with a soft-matte finish that’s perfect on its own or under makeup too.

This innovative tinted SPF from Milk Makeup delivers sun protection and glowy skin in one handy rollerball tube. I like how completely fuss-free this is to use: just scribble it on, blend it in with fingertips and rest easy knowing that your skin is not only protected but looks good too.

Australian SPFs have to live up to some pretty strict regulations and standards—so they really are the best of the best. This one from Aussie brand Ultra Violette does double duty as a makeup primer and skin tint.

Giving my other favourite SPFs a run for their money is this glow-boosting daily sunscreen from Supergoop. I’m a huge fan of anything that has the ability to brighten my skin when it looks dull, and this offers major radiance with the added bonus of sun protection.

Way more than just a moisturiser, this pigmented formula from Nars provides coverage, hydration and broad-spectrum sun protection in one handy tube. It’s oil-free, so it won’t cause congestion for spot-prone skin types but still brings plenty of glow to dehydrated complexions.

A clear water-gel formula with no residue or white cast, this lightweight daily sunscreen not only protects against UVA and UVB rays but also pollution and external aggressors.

SPF historically has a bad rep for being thick, heavy, and chalky, but Bondi Sands really impress with their lightweight, skincare-first formulas. This serum-like SPF sinks instantly into the skin, looking and feeling totally invisible, and delivering a boost of hydration—all while protecting your skin with SPF 50+.

I went through a phase of forgoing foundation entirely in favour of this tinted moisturiser. Described as a lightly tinted day cream, I feel like it provides pretty decent coverage and the kind of dewy finish that you’d normally only achieve after a facial. The fact that it also boasts an SPF of 20 is just an added bonus.

If you aren’t a hat person, protecting your scalp and hair from the sun is no mean feat. Thankfully, this protective primer from Bumble and Bumble offers up protection against UV rays and heat styling. Just spray it onto damp or dry hair and you’re good to go.

If like me, you’ve ever experienced sunburnt lips, then you’ll be all too familiar with the importance of protecting your pout. This natural balm from Bali Body contains nourishing oils to care for dry lips while shielding them from damaging rays. I also swear by the brand’s new Face Tan Water for achieving a safe golden glow without having to step one foot outside in the sun.

After recently running out of my go-to SPF, I decided to give this stuff a go. I’m a big fan of Drunk Elephant anyway and was really pleased with how well this SPF layered under makeup.

A trusted brand for SPF, this not-so-average suncare product comes in a handy powder form that you can brush on to top up your SPF protection throughout the day. 

Free from breakout-triggering nasties, this lightweight and non-comedogenic sunscreen is a great option for sensitive and acne-prone skin types who are looking for sun protection that won’t cause irritation.

An impressively high SPF for a foundation, this lightweight base product combines all the hydrating benefits of a serum with the coverage of a tinted moisturiser. Plus, your skin will be protected from the sun’s rays at the same time.

This prep step not only smooths pores and evens skin tone, but it also protects your skin from the sun and the damaging effects of city living.

Oily complexions will delight in this mattifying formula from REN. It feels incredibly soothing when applied, keeps excess oil at bay and blocks UVA and UVB rays.

Regarded as just about one of the best SPFs out there, this affordable, lightweight formula really veils the skin for a natural-looking finish.

Up Next: Yes, You Should Be Wearing SPF Every Day—These Are the Products I Really Rate

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