Ten IMAGE staffers chime in on their favourite daily SPFs because, with warmer days and UV rays on the horizon, now’s the time to find the ones that suits your skin best.
Sophie Power, Marketing & Memberships Director
I absolutely love Skinceuticals Ultra Facial Defence SPF50. I use it every morning, come rain or shine, as my moisturiser at the end of my skincare routine. It glides on effortlessly and is quickly absorbed so you don’t have a sticky shiny sheen. As a freckled person I love that it protects my skin from signs of ageing as well as adding much-needed hydration. A must have!
Sarah Gill, Staff Writer
I recently started using the Skingredients Skin Shield SPF50 and I genuinely love it so much. It’s moisturising and sits perfectly under makeup, but it also has a peachy tint and dewy finish that leaves your skin looking glowy and even. Obviously, it protects your skin from UV rays, but it also provides a barrier against blue light from your laptop or phone, which I didn’t even realise I needed!
Though I usually opt to stay out of the sunshine like the pale little vampire I am, I’ll usually pop some Piz Buin Protect and Intensify SPF30 on my legs and arms if I’m out and about. I genuinely believe it smells better than most perfumes — if only Piz Buin did candles and reed diffusers!
I’m in the market for mist that I can use to reapply over makeup while on holidays and at festivals, and the IMAGE Skincare SPF40 is being marketed as a clear, dry oil that promises to protect and refresh.
Simone Kennedy, Events Manager
As someone who has blonde hair extensions, I’ve always struggled to stay sun-protected without compromising my hair colour—until I discovered P20! For three years, every time I travelled abroad, I found myself in a battle between my SPF and my hair extensions. Unfortunately, the SPF always won, leaving me with unwanted orange or pink highlights! After testing many SPFs, I finally found my salvation with P20. I now use the P20 Sensitive Face SPF 50+ in my daily skincare routine and the P20 Original Spray SPF 30 whenever I’m abroad.
Sarah Finnan, Deputy Digital Editor
I’m religious about wearing SPF 50 on my face every. single. day. As an almost translucent, freckled Irish person, I simply need to hear the word ‘sun’ and I burn… many lessons have been learned the hard way over the years. I’ve tried many different brands and versions in my quest to find The One but I do have a few favourites. Firstly, the Ultraceuticals mattifying SPF. I’ve been using this for the past few months and highly recommend it. Aussie brands really know what’s up when it comes to sun protection and this one is super moisturising, smells lovely and most importantly, doesn’t pill under make-up. It’s a little more expensive but lasts forever so it’s definitely worth it, in my opinion.
If you want something that doubles as a foundation, the Heliocare Tinted Gel-Cream gives great coverage. For the body, the Bondi Sands aerosol mist spray is another favourite. It’s not greasy or sticky and goes on so easily which is key. I also love the Hawaiian tropic silk hydration lotion (mostly because it smells so good!). I could go on and on (and on) but I’ll stop before you all lose interest, just please, wear suncream!
Shayna Sappington, Branded Content Editor
I’ve tried a few SPFs, but I always find myself coming back to La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ Sun Cream. I have really sensitive skin that tends to be on the oily side, so this ticks two important boxes – it has a lightweight, non-greasy formula and it’s hypoallergenic, which means my skin doesn’t break out despite daily use. With high UVA/UVB protection and dermatologically tested results, I know I’m covered whether it’s a day out and about or just enjoying a sunny walk on my lunch. Plus, it suits beautifully underneath make-up, which is always a rarity for SPFs!
Megan Burns, Editor, IMAGE Interiors
I have been using Skinmade Protect and Care Sun Oil for a few years and have never found anything to beat it – I love that it lasts all day, so there’s no need to reapply (unless you go swimming). The fact that it’s an oil might put some people off, but it absorbs really nicely into your skin, and also contains antioxidants, so it’s good for your skin in more ways than one.
In the summer I also keep La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sun Protection Face Mist in my bag, as it’s handy to spray on over make-up, or just to give myself a top-up anywhere I need it.
Dominique McMullan, Editorial Director
If I’m wearing something on my skin every day it has to work hard, and Pestle & Mortar’s Rise and Shine with Daily Shield SPF 50 does that in spades. Founder Sonia Deasy has been working on the formulation for this product for ten years and it shows.
The formulation has satin finish which works perfectly under make up, but also brightens the skin enough so that you don’t even need makeup over it on good skin days. It’s not sticky or oily, it doesn’t leave a white cast, it has broad spectrum coverage and also protects against blue light.
If all that wasn’t enough, it also contains a host of natural healing extracts and vitamins, meaning it nourishes your skin as well as protecting it. I leave one in my car and one in my bathroom, so I remember to reapply if I am heading anywhere. Will be repurchasing!
Emily O’Neill, Branded Partnerships, Marketing Account Executive
For the past few months I have been using KH Factor 50 Sun Cream from Kerry Hanaphy and I am really loving it! It is a really lightweight formula which absorbs into the skin in no time. It contains a combination of quality filters to protect against the harmful effects of UV rays. My favourite part about it is that it has a very subtle tint so I can pop it on and not have to worry about applying makeup over it. My skin is left looking hydrated, radiant and glowy but I still have the peace of mind that I am protected from the sun.
Hannah Stapleton, Marketing Intern
As someone with super sensitive skin, I am very picky with my SPF and tend to stick to La Roche Posay. As they say, don’t fix what’s not broken! I also love the Sculpted by Aimee Sun Mist. This SPF 50 mist is perfect for under and over makeup, as a well as a quick top up during the day.
Lizzie Gore-Grimes, Editor-in-Chief
As a daily SPF I personally can’t recommend the Skingredients Skin Shield Moisturising + Priming SPF 50 PA+++ any higher – it’s a mineral-based one so extra protective for fair skin, but is not at all chalky. It has a lovely fluid texture that rubs in easily and doubles up as a glowy primer before you apply make up. Genius!I also find the Heliocare Gel oil-free SPF 50 excellent as a daily SPF that glides on under make-up.
On holidays, it has to be Nuxe Melting Cream SPF 50 – it feels like silk on your skin with very little greasy residue and the smell, I just love it! That’s when I know I’m on holidays!
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