The peeps in the skincare know squabble over all kinds of issues, but there’s one point that they can all come to some agreement on – the importance of SPF; the biggest culprit of ageing and a factor we’re exposed to every bloomin’ day. For the full sun protection lecture I’ll leave it to the professionals (Caroline Hirons, of course, has a great post on the topic), but the long and short of it is slap it on daily, be overzealous in application and stick to ones that offer broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection; heads up: all my picks do. After my recent pact to slather on the good stuff each morning I’ve been on a mission to find formulas that didn’t bring back memories of my Mum greasing me up on seaside resort holidays with thick, white sunscreens that transformed me into a sand magnet and in my debut round of testing I’ve found four which pass the tacky-texture-free test:
This Works In Transit Skin Defence SPF 30* – £29 – from Space NK. Now although this was featured on VDM as part of a collaboration with This Works recently, the guys at TW have no idea it’s appearing here too – I just lurve this stuff. It does break Caroline’s rule of being a moisturiser/hybrid, but its protection is broad-spectrum and it bucks all the usual SPF cliches; lightweight, easily absorbed and makes a good year-rounder choice.
Bioderma Photoderm AKN Mat SPF 30 – £13.70 – from Escentual. Oily skinned gals and guys listen up. An SPF without a hint of grease in sight – and it’s the cheapest out of the bunch; apply, busy yourself for a minute or two and you’re ready for your daily dose of makeup. The sheen-free finish means that I’ve been thrusting this in my boyfriend’s face each morning for him to use in his (very limited) skincare lineup and for once he’s been obliging.
Clinique City Block Sheer SPF 25 – £16 – from Boots. You noticing a trend here? Un-SPF like SPFs. Yep, well this fits that bill too. It’s a tad heavier than the previously mentioned, still oil-free but perhaps more suited to the drier-skin among us. It’s tinted too with a slightly peachy hint, but this blends out post-application giving more glow that it does colour.
Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defence SPF 50* – £31 – from Kiehl’s. SPF 50. SPF 50! But this stuff doesn’t conform to your high factor nightmares, oh no. In fact blind-tested against the other three I don’t think I’d be able to detect a difference. It’s a little richer perhaps, but still skins in, does the job and foundation acts like its usual self on top of it. When the serious rays come out to play this is what I’ll be reaching for.
…and all without a white-cast or sulk-inducing sticky formula in sight. Load. Me. Up. Sun – I’m ready for ya -Â whenever you’re ready to finally make an appearance.
*PR Sample
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