The most important part of your morning skincare ritual
As we hit the summer months, we thought it worthwhile to remind those people who only think about sun protection on vacation by the pool that you really should be using it every day. And yes, that includes being at home, during mid-winter and even on cloudy days. The number one cause of skin looking older is UV rays, so let vanity take over and help with cancer prevention, too. And just because some of us were brought up thinking that factor 6 was sufficient, even on Costa Brava beaches, you really should be using at least SPF30.
Lecture over. Many of us use moisturisers that include sun protection, but a good standalone face sunscreen is a great thing to have anyway, as you can stick it in your bag for daytime top-ups on sunny days. Also, a few people use moisturiser on the top of their head and the back of the neck, so those areas can be left exposed. But you also don’t want an SPF that is heavy or smells of suntan lotion (there is something just wrong about smelling of coconuts whilst still sat at your desk in the office). Here then is our choice of high SPFs that are light, effective and appropriate for daily urban life.
Biotherm Aquascreen Daily UV Fluid SPF50
You can rely on Biotherm to do a great, well-priced sun-care product, and this one does not disappoint. It is amazingly light and easy to apply and leaves the skin with a dry, soft touch rather than being greasy. There is a slight fragrance, but it leans towards bathroom clean rather than sun lounger.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF50
Another good-priced option is this one from French skincare brand La Roche-Posay. It’s still light and easy to apply – more like a moisturiser texture than a fluid – and does not leave white streaks or an oily feel. It is totally non-perfumed and also water resistant, should you go for a swim before work.
ZO Gel Sunscreen SPF30
At first squeeze, this sunscreen from ZO feels like it is going to be heavy as it comes out in a thick gel consistency, but miraculously, as soon as you rub it, it relaxes into a super easy formula that glides across your face. It has no scent at all and leaves your skin feeling very smooth and clean, and promises triple protection from UVA, UVB and HEV blue light rays.
Augustinus Bader The Sunscreen SPF50
The Rolls-Royce of sunscreen, this is the one to use if your daytime is spent shopping at Chanel and taking long lunches at the Hotel Costes. It is very lightweight, very long-lasting and includes all the skincare properties of the brand’s top-level moisturisers. The price is mind-blowing, but we have to admit it feels like a million dollars, and summer is a time to treat yourself right?
Darling Cloud Drop 50
Italian brand Darling specialise in sunscreens that behave like skincare, and their Cloud Drop SPF50 feels – and acts – like a very fluid moisturiser on application. Presented in a very usable bottle that resembles an AirPod case – perfect for slipping in a pocket – this is also fragrance-free and hydrating, as well as protecting.
