Every Summer without fail I share some kind of SPF or sun protection blog post. But I really want to reiterate how essential it is to apply SPF all year round, whatever the weather. Whilst it's equally important to cleanse, tone and moisturise your skin, the one product that is vital in your routine is SPF. Premature aging, as a result of sun and UV exposure, is something that I'm keen to avoid. And as a freckly, fair skinned redhead, I really can't go without some kind of sun protection. So I've been searching for the best SPF for face for quite some time. And I've found some great ones.
Finding the perfect facial SPF can be tricky. Some immediately break me out in a hundred and one spots and blemishes, others are far too thick and leave a noticeable white cast.
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Having put over fifteen facial SPFs to the test this Summer, here are some of my top tried and tested picks for all year round;
For on the go: Sol de Janeiro My Sol Stick SPF 50 (£24)
Now this is pretty much my dream facial SPF! It's SPF 50, smells incredible (it has Sol de Janeiro's trademark scent) and is A ROLL ON! I mean, what a game changer! It's also 80 minutes water-resistant, making it ideal for trips away. And it isn't oily or greasy either.
The roller ball applicator makes it super easy to apply to particularly sun sensitive areas like your lips, ears and tattoos. You can also top up your sun protection throughout the day with just a few swipes. This is now always in my handbag as it's just so handy to have with you.
For city skin: The Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50 (£17-21)
For everyday no matter the weather SPF, I reach for this one from The Body Shop. I don't associate this with Summer or holidays away, instead knowing that this is my daily go to, which makes me much more likely to apply it, for some reason. It's super lightweight, not greasy or oily and somehow still leaves my skin feeling hydrated. It was also one of the first not to break me out immediately after wearing it, which is why it's one that I will now repurchase over and over again.
There's a reason why this is so often sold out online but I would always recommend checking out your local store as that's where I tend to buy mine from.
For those with oilier or combination skin: Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel SPF 50 (£28-36)
Designed for combination or oilier skin types, I (someone with dry/dehydrated skin) actually love the gel consistency of this SPF. If you hate that white cast look that so many sun creams can often leave you with, this is the SPF for you! And because it's designed for oilier skin, it doesn't add extra greasiness or oil to the face either.
And if you live, work or commute in a city or are planning a city break, this product protects against pollution. It's also fragrance free, making it unisex. And a little also goes a long way, like I find most Kiehl's products do.
For wearing under makeup: Clinique Mineral Sunscreen Fluid For Face SPF 30* (£22)
Also available in SPF 50, this is my go-to when I'm wearing any kind of makeup. If your typical or traditional sun protection causes your makeup to bunch up or go patchy, give this one a go. It's one of the most unnoticeable consistencies on the skin for me, so much so that I often forget that I'm even wearing it.
It's also a little dinky sized bottle making it perfect for taking with you on the go.
For sensitive skin: Institut Esthederm Adaptasun Sensitive Protective Face Cream* (£40.50)
Now I was a little bit weary when I first received this specific cream, only because it doesn't explicitly specify what SPF it is. But it does say to reapply every two hours, so you would just need to treat it as you would your normal SPF.
This would definitely be my top pick for those of us with sensitive skin, as it doesn't cause any irritation on the skin or around my eyes, which other SPFs often do. Definitely a bit of a splurge or investment but one that I have a feeling you will thank yourself for making, particularly if you tend to have a bad reaction to sunscreen.
As I said earlier, I have put so many different facial SPFs to the test and the majority of them either really irritated my skin (hello so many spots popping up from nowhere!) or made me look even more like Casper the Friendly Ghost, than I already do, because of the white cast. These five products were the real standouts for me. I must say, I do also like and enjoy using Dermalogica's Prisma Protect (as reviewed here).
Do you wear SPF regularly? If so, which one do you reach for? And which SPF from today's blog post sounds like one that you'd like to try?
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