Alarmingly, by 2040 cases of melanoma skin cancer are expected to increase by 62% on 2018 figures, with the charity Melanoma UK stating incidences have now reached 'epidemic proportions'. Yet despite the constant badgering from us beauty editors, research shows that still only a small number of Brits apply a product containing SPF to their faces every day; between 18-26% of the UK population, depending on which survey you read.
So rather than trying to hammer home (again) the dangers of sun exposure and just how important it really is to wear a high factor sunscreen on your face and other areas of exposed skin every day – yes, even when it’s rainy or cloudy – I’m taking a new approach – slipping SPF into your skincare routine without you noticing.
These latest face formulas all deliver incredible skin benefits – whether it’s adding radiance, calming redness or filling out fine lines – and, oh look, they all also happen to contain an SPF of 30 or above (shh, don’t tell anyone).
You want… A glow-boosting primer
Pai British Summer Time SPF 30
Pai knows that we can’t rely on the actual British summer weather to get your skin glowing, so the natural skincare brand has bottled up the sunshine for rainy days. Formulated with super-fine reflective pigments, this gives a pearlescent, champagne-coloured glow to the skin and gives make-up a great base to grip on to.
Also try: Garnier Vitamin C Daily UV Brightening Fluid Glow SPF 50+, £12.99
You want… An everyday tinted moisturiser
Heliocare 360° Water Gel Color SPF 50+
Heliocare makes some of the very best sun protection formulas around. This new tinted formula has a cushiony, non-greasy texture that subtly blurs imperfections. The downside with tinted SPFs is that they usually come in a handful of shades at best (this has two), but they are very sheer and flexible.
Also try: Avène Eau Thermale Ultra Fluid Perfector SPF 50+, £21
You want… A product for pigmentation
Ultrasun Anti-Pigmentation Face Fluid SPF 50+
Sun exposure is the number one enemy for dark spots, melasma and other types of pigmentation flare-ups. But you can help to minimise the look of it while also stopping it from developing further with this lightweight fluid containing rainbow algae, which evens out pigmentation and reduces the chance of more. Ultrasun sunscreens also get extra points for their longer-than-average shelf life of two years.
Also try:La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Anti-Dark Spots moisturiser SPF 30, £32
You want… An anti-ageing face cream
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler + Hyaluronic Acid SPF 50 Day Cream
L’Oréal Revitalift range has always scored highly with our beauty testers and with shoppers, and this face cream gives results both instantly and with continued use of time: L’Oréal tests show that skin looks 14% firmer after four hours, with wrinkles reduced by 16% after four weeks.
Also try: No7 Future Renew Defence Shield SPF 50, £24.95
You want… A nourishing moisturiser
Naked Sundays CabanaCréme Hydrating Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50
To be honest, all of Naked Sundays’ sunscreen formulas are super smart and a joy to apply, but I’ve been really impressed by just how much this feels like a luxury face cream. It’s softening, smoothing and gives a natural glow, with zero greasiness, white cast or piling under make-up. Swap your favourite hydrating moisturiser to this and I promise you won’t notice a difference.
Also try: E45 Face Daily Protect SPF 30, £13.99
You want… A calmer for sensitive skin
Paula’s Choice Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
If you struggle with skin sensitivity or rosacea, you might be reluctant to use SPF for fear of irritating the skin further. The key is to look for mineral SPFs over chemical ones, which form a barrier over the surface of the skin rather than being absorbed by it. This is perfect, as it contains allantoin and centella asiatica and is clinically proven to reduce sensitivity.
Also try: Innisfree Daily UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, £24