Our round-up of the best sunscreens to wear year-round
IMAGE VIA @ULTRAVIOLETTEAU/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY KATE STREADER AND FASHION JOURNAL
They’ll make you want to slip, slop, slap.
Not all sunscreens are created equally. You’ve got your face sunscreens, tinted sunscreens, organic sunscreens and moisturising sunscreens, not to mention greasy formulas, white casts, unpleasant scents and, most importantly, different SPF levels.
You should be wearing sunscreen year-round, even if you aren’t planning on spending much time outside, but it’s especially important to slather on that SPF during spring and summer. Remember to reapply it every two hours – especially if you’re swimming or sweating.
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The harsh Australian sun can cause a lot of damage to your skin and trigger premature ageing, so make sure you slip, slop and slap it up. To get you on the right track, we’ve put together a list of some of the best sunscreens for all types of skin. Read on and find your perfect match.
Face sunscreens
Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF50+
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Ultra Violette is somewhat of a cult hero in the SPF game. While the appeal is partly thanks to the brand’s chic packaging, the products themselves certainly live up to the hype. A serum-sunscreen hybrid, Ultra Violette’s Queen Screen works great as a primer and leaves a natural, glowy finish.
Mecca Max Screen Saver SPF30 Broad Spectrum Facial Sunscreen
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This SPF is fit for those who are SPF-hesitant – Mecca Max’s skincare-like formula is enjoyable to wear. As our Editor Cait Emma Burke says, it’s “created with daily use in mind; it feels more like skincare than sunblock and is designed to sit seamlessly under makeup, providing a primer-like base”.
Naked Sundays SPF50+ Collagen Glow 100% Mineral Perfecting Priming Lotion
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The combination of sunscreen and skincare, Australian brand Naked Sundays sells SPF products that cater to a variety of demands. With chemical and mineral SPF primers, creams, serums, lip oils and illuminators, Naked Sundays has options for all skin types. A crowd favourite is the SPF50+ Collagen Glow 100% Mineral Perfecting Priming Lotion, which helps to protect while leaving a smooth finish.
We Are Feel Good Inc. Signature Sunscreen SPF50+
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Created by doctors and surfers, this non-greasy and water-resistant sunscreen is ideal for summer days down by the beach. Nourishing vitamin E and aloe vera keep your skin hydrated, while broad-spectrum protection helps prevent sun damage.
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen
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Mecca Cosmetica’s To Save Face Superscreen is non-greasy, lightweight, alcohol and sulphate-free and it doesn’t leave a white cast. Designed to be worn underneath makeup, it won’t leave your foundation pilling or splitting.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+
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La Roche-Posay’s invisible, barely-there, fragrance-free Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen is great for those who can’t stand the smell or feel of sunblock. The lightweight, matte formula is perfect for oily skin types and serves as a great base for makeup.
Glossier Invisible Shield
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Comprising a water-gel formula that feels like a serum rather than sunblock, Glossier’s Invisible Shield is great for sensitive skin and everyday wear. Leaving a light, citrusy scent and Glossier’s trademark natural glow, Invisible Shield is sun protection that feels a little luxe.
Standard Procedure SPF50+ Sunscreen
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40 years in the making, Standard Procedure sunscreen mixes modern approaches with long-held expertise to provide a moisturising, all-rounder sunscreen. Formulated with Australian fruits, this antioxidant and vitamin-rich cream will reduce skin irritation while providing the highest-grade protection.
Moisturising Sunscreens
Go-To Nifty Fifty Hydrating Sunscreen
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Composed of quality ingredients like Kakadu Plum, CoQ10 and aloe vera, Go-To’s Nifty Fifty Hydrating Sunscreen will hydrate and soothe your skill while helping to protect it from UVA and UVB rays. It features a non-greasy, non-comedogenic and lightweight formula that will sit well under makeup.
Alpha H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF50 with Vitamin E
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Hydrating your skin and protecting it from the sun, Alpha H’s Daily Essential Moisturiser is great bang for your buck. An emollient face cream and broad-spectrum sunscreen in one, it works to help combat skin damage.
TBH Skincare Skin Shady SPF50+
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For a sunscreen that sits well under makeup, TBH Skincare’s Skin Shady 50+ is one to reach for. Working as a moisturiser, primer and SPF, you can eliminate multiple steps in your beauty routine while still feeling nourished and protected. Lightweight, non-greasy and breakout friendly, this SPF is also free from white cast.
Liberty Belle Superstar Facial SPF50 Daily Sunscreen
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Comprised of all naturally-derived or natural ingredients, Liberty Belle’s sunscreen range is hydrating and nourishing while simultaneously helping prevent signs of aging. Containing ingredients including coconut oil and Vitamin E, Liberty Belle’s formula is formulated for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Everyday Humans Resting Beach Face SPF30 Sunscreen Serum
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Full of antioxidants, BHAs, and salicylic acid, Everyday Humans’ Resting Beach Face SPF30 Sunscreen Serum is a two-in-one sunscreen and moisturiser. It’s lightweight and suitable for all skin types, plus there’s no yucky sunscreen smell.
Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50
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Helping to fight premature ageing from both ends, Dermalogica’s Dynamic Skin Recovery is packed with antioxidants, tripeptide to help protect and boost collagen, and hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate the skin.
SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial Defence SPF50
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A broad-spectrum sunscreen helping to protect against both UVA and UVB, SkinCeuticals’ Ultra Facial Defence SPF50 is hydrating and non-greasy. Bonus points for its satin finish and nourishing texture.
Tinted Sunscreens
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream
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BareMinerals’ SPF30+ skin tint provides sun protection and medium coverage, plus it contains squalane to keep your skin hydrated. The oil-free formula will leave you looking dewy and luminous without so much as a hint of greasiness.
Ultra Violette Dream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil
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Available in 11 shades, Ultra Violette’s Dream Screen tinted sunscreen leaves you with a glowy finish and just the right amount of coverage for a natural look. It’s oil-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free and full of AHAs, too.
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF40
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Combining niacinamide, squalane and hyaluronic acid, this vegan, mineral SPF skin tint works to plump, hydrate and balance your skin. The dreamy tinted formula will leave your complexion looking even with a subtle, radiant finish.
Bioderma Sensibio AR BB Cream SPF30
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Made for sensitive skin, Bioderma’s Sensibio AR BB Cream works to neutralise and conceal redness with its blend of calming, moisturising and protective agents. If you suffer from rosacea or any other reactive skin condition, this is the tinted sunscreen for you.
Natural Sunscreens
The Kind Sunscreen
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The Kind Sunscreen is all about treating your skin with love and kindness, which is why its product is vegan-friendly and made with only nine ingredients. Its zinc formula helps to reflect the sun’s harmful rays and prevent skin cancer and sun damage.
Mother SPF Organic Mineral Sunscreen SPF30
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Comprising just nine sustainably sourced, certified organic ingredients, Mother SPF’s Organic Mineral Sunscreen is made from botanicals, high-strength antioxidants and zinc oxide to keep you protected from the sun’s rays and free radical damage. Plus, the packaging is made from post-consumer plastics that would otherwise end up in landfill.
Paula’s Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defence SPF30
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A pure mineral, zinc oxide sunscreen, this all-rounder product is light, silky and gentle and will leave your skin looking firmer and smoother with its concoction of antioxidants. Plus, you can cut down on your skincare routine by using it in place of your usual moisturiser.
Grown Alchemist Natural Hydrating Sunscreen
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Utilising an all-natural, zinc oxide formula, Grown Alchemist’s Natural Hydrating Sunscreen is vegan and full of ingredients that will leave your skin feeling oh-so soft. It’s sheer, broad-spectrum and blends beautifully into the skin, too.
For more on the importance of sun protection, head here.
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