This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
As temperatures rise in the UK, our shopping team is narrowing down the best SPFs on the market. Beyond preventing sun damage, the NHS highlights SPF as a skincare essential for maintaining long-term skin health and warding off premature ageing.
As beauty journalists, we get our hands on a lot of products regularly. This means we’ve had the chance to try multiple sunscreens, cycling through them until we find one that works for our skin.
That said, each of us has our own skincare concerns, so we’re all looking for different things. Whether we’re trying to find a good makeup base, actively avoiding a white cast, or looking for a glow without needing lots of products, these are the SPF products we recommend for the warm weather.
READ MORE:
- ‘Fabulous’ garden table furniture set ‘too good to be true’ at £60 off
- I swear by this £26 hair and body mist as the ‘ultimate holiday scent’
View 13 ImagesJada sees why Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ is a classic(Image: Jada Jones)
When it comes to K-Beauty skincare, this is one of the first brands I’ve heard a lot of buzz around. The Beauty of Joseon sun cream was on everyone’s minds, and for good reason. It’s hydrating and does a great job of protecting skin.
I recently took this on holiday to Agadir, Morocco, where the days were scorching hot, and while Soltan might have left my shoulders feeling a little tender, this worked perfectly. I actually ended up using this on my body as well – when I was in the pool, it showed up slightly white in the areas where I’d used it, although it hadn’t been noticeable when I wasn’t submerged in water.
Korean skincare is a current obsession of mine; they really know what they’re doing. This is one of the more affordable sun creams I’ve tried, and I think it is a great choice for those who want something hydrating that protects skin even on the hottest of days.
View 13 ImagesThank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream SPF50+ is Jada’s favourite(Image: Jada Jones)
Thank You Farmer’s Sun Project Water Sun Cream is the one sun cream I recommend to absolutely everyone. Even though I have been lucky enough to have multiple sun creams in my collection this is the one I consider a must have in my skincare collection. It provides so much sun protection to my skin while performing a lot like a typical moisturser.
It’s hydrating and rubs in easily but most importantly to me it doesn’t leave any white cast – something that has been a huge issue for me in the past. This soaks into my skin so quickly and once it’s on I barely notice it’s even there.
At £18 I think it’s quite reasonably priced. It took me a solid nine months to get through my first tube I have used other products during this time but this is the one I reach for most often. This is a great everyday option that is easy to incorporate to any routine, it can be worn by itself or followed with makeup.
View 13 ImagesThis is Jada’s favourite tinted sunscreen
I tan really easily, even when wearing factor 50. This is something my friends often praise me for although it can be tricky when I’m looking at five bottles of foundation and nothing works on me anymore because everything is either too light or too dark. Kosas DreamBeam Sunscreen has been an absolute game changer when it comes to this. The applicator reminds me a lot of Urban Decay’s Face Bond Foundation.
When I tried Sunlit for the first time I was impressed by the glow it gave me, there is a tint too it but I find it does just blend in like any glow drops would. It almost reminds me of Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops Tinted Serum (£32) but better. I think it would work on most complexions as it blends out so well. I have also tried the original DreamBeam which works nicely as a base but lacks the signature glow of Sunlit.
This is the sunscreen I would recommend for someone looking to replace their base makeup to even out their skin tone while adding a glow. I’ve had compliments every time I’ve worn this and it was the first tinted sunscreen I’ve ever finished. I was trying to squeeze the last drops out of this one. Since it’s SPF 30 it does need topping up more than a factor 50 which is worth keeping in mind.
View 13 ImagesJada says Allies of Skin THE ONE SPF 50 Invisible Sunscreen Gel gives ‘glass skin’ (Image: Jada Jones)
This is texturally the most unique sunscreen I’ve tried. It’s a clear gel that soaks in almost immediately, leaving my skin feeling utterly quenched. It absorbs within seconds and feels almost like a hydrating makeup primer. This would be an excellent choice to put on before makeup. It lasts 80 minutes in water as well, which is such a game-changer if you’re going on holiday. I know I’m not the only one who has been caught out with a slightly red nose for not topping up quickly enough in the pool.
The One reminds me of Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen (£32) except it’s slightly thicker. It describes itself as weightless, but I find that when I wear this, my skin practically shines in the glass skin way people are smothering themselves in collagen to achieve.
When I wore this for the first time, my taxi driver immediately told me that my skin looked ‘lovely’ and that I was ‘glowing’. I knew exactly what he meant. This is the SPF I would recommend for any complexion, especially for those trying to achieve glass skin.
During the summer months, I really don’t like wearing a full face of makeup. When it’s humid and sticky, it makes me feel claustrophobic and claggy, and I want to wash it all off.
This is why I typically reach for a tinted skincare product for my face coverage as the temps soar, and one product I’ve had in my summer beauty arsenal is the e.l.f. Cosmetics Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30.
Not only does it have a slightly tinted shimmer that is truly glow by name, glow by nature, but it also has skin-nourishing ingredients like soothing aloe, hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and Squalane – ie, my skin loves it. Plus, most importantly, it gives my face ample protection from the sun’s powerful rays – despite its £15 price tag.
For a stronger SPF formula, I tend to lean on Merit Beauty’s The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF50, £34, or, for underneath makeup (when the occasion permits), La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid Non-Perfumed Suncream SPF50+, now £15.75 at Lookfantastic. The latter formula is watery, blends easily into the skin, and doesn’t pill or leave a white cast. I’ve also never burnt when wearing it.
I do love a good multi-tasking product. Despite being a skincare buff and a beauty writer, the simpler my skincare routine is, the better. I recently got this Face Glow Advanced Hydrating SPF & Tan Cream by SKIN & TAN, which combines a moisturiser, SPF cream, and a gradual tanner.
While I will say its scent isn’t to my particular liking (it’s quite earthy, I presume from the Mushroom Complex), I can look past it, as it leaves my skin moisturised and quenched while providing broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection.
Living up to its name, since using it a few times a week (swapping out my regular moisturiser), I’ve noticed a healthy glow appear in my usually pale cheeks and forehead, which is great for those like me who feel a little more confident when they have a slight tan – especially ahead of summer.
View 13 ImagesSupergoop! Glow Screen (Image: Supergoop! )
Supergoop’s Glowscreen has developed near-cult status for good reason, and has fast become the SPF I reach for when I want my skin to look radiant – like I’ve just got back from a holiday. It works somewhere between sunscreen, illuminating primer and glowy skin tint, giving skin that “lit from within” finish.
Costing £36.50 for 50ml, the formula contains niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, so it feels more like skincare than traditional SPF, and it wears beautifully under makeup. I personally love the glossy, healthy-looking glow it delivers, all while streamlining beauty routines which makes it a great option to pack for a holiday.
The result is similar to that of Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter, which is £40 for 30ml. Much like Supergoop!, it’s infused with skin care ingredients like glycerin and squalane, to leave the skin feeling nourished and hydrated.
Supergoop!’s formula is more affordable than Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter, and has the added benefit of UV protection, too. That said, Glowscreen definitely won’t be for everyone. If you’re oily-skinned or prefer a matte base, the sheen can border on too glowy – particularly in hot weather.
View 13 ImagesBethan wears the shade 28 in The Uniform from Merit
Tinted SPFs can be notoriously hit or miss, but Merit’s The Uniform Tinted SPF 50 is a product I’ve been wearing on repeat ever since its launch last May. It performs exactly like a traditional makeup-first skin tint with a lightweight, breathable feel but with the benefits and protection of a skincare-first SPF.
Day to day, I’ve been using this in place of my usual foundation as I love how natural it looks. It gives just enough coverage to even things out without masking your complexion entirely, all while offering a dewy finish. It also has a higher SPF 50 protection, which I always appreciate in a complexion product because it gives me peace of mind that my skin is protected, and like the Supergoop! formula, allows me to skip another step in my makeup routine.
The downside is that, unlike some of the other picks in this round up, which are pretty universal, shade matching can be slightly tricky if you’re between tones as there are only 20 shades to choose from, whereas many foundations now come in up to 40 shades.
View 13 ImagesLaneige Hydro UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 – £26(Image: Laneige)
K-beauty has been booming over the last 12 months, and for good reason, as the Koreans have really been ahead of the curve when it comes to skincare, which is why their SPF formulas are among some of the best. The Laneige Hydro UV formula has that ultra-light, watery K-beauty texture that disappears into skin almost instantly, making it ideal for layering during warmer months.
It feels cooling, hydrating and weightless, making it feel more like a moisturiser than an SPF. I love this one particularly under makeup because it never pills and doesn’t leave behind the sticky film some fluid SPFs can have. It gives skin a healthy freshness without crossing over into greasy territory, so it works well across combination skin types too.
If you’re someone who prefers a richer moisturising SPF, especially if you have very dry skin, you may find yourself wanting extra hydration underneath. And while the glow is pretty, it’s subtle, so don’t expect the radiance levels of something like Glowscreen.
View 13 ImagesThe Dr Jart stick SPF has recently been upgraded to factor 50 protection(Image: Bethan Shufflebotham)
All too often, SPF sticks are either too greasy or so dry they drag across the skin – but Dr Jart’s manages to avoid both. The original SPF30 version of this stick very quickly sold out when it first hit shelves, and last month, the Korean beauty brand upgraded the protection to SPF50 – and is set to be equally as popular.
This is the one I keep in my handbag because it makes top-ups quick and mess-free. The shape also makes it easy to apply around the nose and under the eyes without disrupting makeup too much. The finish is smooth and almost primer-like, but I probably wouldn’t rely on this alone as my only morning SPF layer, especially for long days in direct sun.
One great thing about it is that you can throw it in your handbag and not worry about it leaking, though.
View 13 ImagesFrom trending sun protection brand Ultra Violette(Image: Space NK)
For those who prefer a mist for SPF-top ups, there are few better than the Ultra Violette Preen Screen SPF50 Reapplication Mist. The formula has been made and tested under the ‘harshest conditions in the world’ – the Australian sun – which is reflected in its performance.
The ultrafine SPF mist is great for festivals and long workdays as it works to both sets and refresh makeup. It also gives skin a slightly fresher, revived look during the afternoon instead of making everything feel cakey.
The only caveat is that SPF mists shouldn’t be your only form of sun protection, meaning that rather than streamlining a routine, it’s an additional step, but one you’ll never mind repeating – not least because sun damage is the leading cause of premature ageing.
Alternatively, The Naked Sundays SPF50+ Hydrating Glow Mist Setting Spray Sunscreen 75ml is down to £24 at Cult Beauty, reduced from £30. Also an Australian brand, it contains antioxidant-rich watermelon extract, kakadu plum and hyaluronic acid, to both lock makeup in place and keep bare skin protected throughout the day.
View 13 ImagesLucy is a huge fan of the ESPA Daily Shield SPF50(Image: Lucy Addicott)
I’m pretty fussy with my daily SPF formula as over the years I’ve tried many that don’t sit nicely under makeup – either ending up feeling greasy or pilling on the surface of my skin. I’ve been using the ESPA Protect & Brighten SPF50 for almost a year now, pretty much everyday, and it’s my favourite by far.
It’s not the cheapest SPF moisturiser on the market at £53 for full price, however, there are often deals on this product to get it for a little less. A little also goes a long way and I haven’t had to replace my bottle yet, so for me, it’s definitely worth the investment.
The fast absorbing formula sinks into my skin within seconds, which means I can apply makeup straight away – crucial when strapped for time in the mornings. It’s a lightweight, milky cream, and I can’t even feel once it’s on my skin.
I’ve worn it several times in sunnier climes, such as Italy and Ghana, without burning my skin thanks to the high SPF rating. Another big bonus in my opinion is the SPF feels very luxurious when applying. It has a spa-like almost citrusy scent to it, making it a pleasant experience to apply every morning.
View 13 ImagesThe Organic Pharmacy’s new SPF is water-resistant and made with 49.6% natural ingredients(Image: Lauren Codling)
The Organic Pharmacy’s newly released SPF landed on my desk just in time for the upcoming heatwave, and needless to say, I’m confident it’ll offer exactly the kind of protection my skin needs.
It provides both UVA and UVB protection, making it ideal for preventing both sunburn and wrinkles. The formula is super moisturising, leaving my skin feeling hydrated and soft throughout the day, and I’ve recently started applying it before my usual Medik8 moisturiser for an extra boost.
My only note is that it’s quite a thick formula, so anyone who prefers a more lightweight SPF may want to look elsewhere. That said, a little goes a long way, and I can already tell this tube will last me well beyond summer.
View 13 ImagesPaula’s Choice Mineral Sunscreen protects against sun damage, but also helps calm sensitive skin(Image: Lauren Codling)
Paula’s Choice’s Calm Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen has been a regular in my routine this year, something you can probably tell from the state of the tube in the picture above. I’m almost at the end of mine already and desperate to restock.
It’s a fantastic option for anyone dealing with sensitive skin and redness (myself included), as it not only protects against sun damage but also helps calm the complexion. The formula is lightweight, non-greasy and incredibly comfortable to wear, making it a great way to start the day thanks to its hydrating texture.