Best SPF Products For Face and Body 2020

Spending more time indoors has become the de facto activity of quarantine for most of us. Still, it bears remembering that SPF is an all year round necessity, whatever the weather conditions. It’s the real backbone of any skincare routine. With the range of formulas currently on the market there are hardly any excuses not to find a product that’s enjoyable to use, so you can wear it daily.

As much we all might love the sun, the damage it causes is simply not worth it. Using exfoliating products containing AHAs like glycolic acid and serums with retinol (check our previous article about serums here) also sensitise skin to the damaging effects of UVA rays - another reason why SPF is non-negotiable. When it comes to premature skin ageing, dermatologists agree that UVA rays are the number one cause behind fine lines and pigmentation, which cost much more to treat than prevent. Finally, and if you need one more reason to start applying SPF religiously, excessive sun exposure causes skin cancer. Enough said.

To help you find the right formula that you can finally fall in love with, we’ve created the edit below. At the bottom of the page you’ll also find five (golden!) sun safety rules.

Tinted moisturiser

Tinted moisturisers have come a long way from offering three shades and a maximum of SPF10. Now, they go as high as SPF50 in a range of shades to suit almost everyone. It’s not advisable to rely solely on a cosmetic product for sun protection when you’re say sunbathing (you’ll never apply enough to get the protection specified on the bottle!), but for city life a tinted moisturiser with SPF is a great option as it works really well as a base to even out skin tone with the added shield against the sun. I have a soft spot for It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better SPF50 CC Cream as it has really great coverage (medium to full) and doesn’t sting my eyes. For something lighter, Laura Mercier is always a safe bet.

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SPF for sensitive skin

It was once rare that you’d find ‘sensitive skin’ and ‘SPF’ in the same sentence and many of us with sensitive and reactive skin still struggle to find suitable products, but I’ve generally found that sticking to mineral-based SPFs tends to work best. The ingredients (‘minerals’) to look out for are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, both are suitable for sensitive skin and are used in sunscreen for babies. Even sun creams that are labelled ‘for sensitive skin’ can sometimes cause stinging and burning, so seek out 100% mineral formulas instead. All the suggestions below are fragrance free and have added beneficial ingredients to soothe and calm. In my opinion, these are some of the best sensitive skin SPF products on the market today.

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Very high SPF

While few of us will be jetting off on holiday or to the beach any time soon, le sigh… a high SPF is an essential product for long hot days in the garden and even in front of a window. The high SPF number doesn’t mean that the formula has to be heavy or greasy - we’re thankfully past that - as textures are now lighter and more sophisticated than ever.

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Everyday SPF

A regular day (remember those?) typically doesn’t involve too much direct sunlight. There’s some exposure in the morning and during lunch and maybe you’re meeting friends for alfresco drinks afterwards (socially-distanced of course). Days like this could easily be covered with SPF20 and 30, especially if you have a darker skin tone or like to layer tinted moisturiser over your SPF. CeraVe’s moisturiser with SPF is a firm favourite for its lovely texture and finish (suitable for combination, normal, and dry skin types), which makes adding makeup over the top a breeze.

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Body SPF

When it comes to body SPF, the best one will be the one you can commit to actually using. There are so many textures to choose from including mousse, aerosol, milk, gel and oil. Always look out for broad spectrum formulas (they protect against UVB and UVA rays) and don’t forget to reapply often, especially when swimming or getting sweaty. No SPF can completely block the sun’s rays and it’s advisable to stay out of direct sunlight between the hours of 11am and 4pm - prime reading hours in my opinion anyway.

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Safer Tanning

While safe tanning is misnomer (dermatologists don’t think such a thing exists), safer tanning is a possibility. The principle behind safer tanning is that it’s all about prepping your skin, so that it’s not as sensitive to the sun, by activating melanin production before exposure. This is thought to strengthen your skin’s natural defence against the sun. When I know I’ll be away, I use a tan prep product for at least two weeks prior to departure and about two weeks after I return. A tan prep product never replaces proper SPF, so I still apply a high factor SPF every time I go into the sun and follow the five sun safety tips below.

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Five Sun Safety Tips

There’s more to sun protection than good sunscreen and if you’re lucky enough to be spending time on the beach, pool-side or simply at the park, follow the advice below to protect your skin short and long term.

Apply broad spectrum SPF (at least factor 30) half an hour before heading outside
Stay out of direct sunlight between the hours of 11am and 4pm
Wear sunglasses with a UV filter
Don’t forget your hat and a cover up (a men’s linen shirt is a simple solution) to further protect your skin
Don’t forget to reapply regularly and especially after a swimming and getting sweaty