Why you need to wear sunscreen even in winter, and 15 of the best facial sunscreens to buy
BAZAAR rounds up sunscreens to suit every skin type and tone.
By Dani Maher
SKINCARE ROUTINES aren’t for everybody. When I say that, I mean the full-on, K-beauty-inspired, seven-step routines that require a serious time commitment and a great deal of your personal funds. There’s no problem with them, but for some people they’re simply not achievable, and that’s ok too.
But there’s one skincare-related hill I’m willing to die on: That sunscreen needs to be an unmissable step in whatever your daily routine may be. Ella Baché National Training Manager Gina Cook backs me up, telling BAZAAR Australia/New Zealand that “sunscreen is required daily”.
“Whilst we are good at applying SPF for intentional outdoor use it is the incidental sun exposure that can cause the damage,” she continues. “Think of those day-to-day errands when our skin is unknowingly exposed to harsh rays. So, layer up daily, and if you are outdoors swimming and exercising then re-apply for ultimate protection.”
And while many of us may have grown up watching ads that promote the wear of SPF, but only in a beach-related, sun-drenched setting, it’s also vital to remember that wearing sunscreen is a 365-days-per-year commitment. Even during winter, most of Australia averages UV levels of 3 and above, which is precisely the threshold at which the Cancer Council recommends wearing SPF. And yet in a recent survey conducted by leading Australian beauty e-tailer Adore Beauty, one in three respondents admitted they still don’t wear SPF daily. For that very reason, Adore Beauty will be partnering with Skin Smart Australia to offer free skin cancer checks as we head into winter. SPF365 On The Road will travel from Bondi beach to Terrigal Beach, Newcastle Beach and Coffs Harbour from May 29 to June 1, with complimentary 10 minute skin checks at each location — more on that here.
“We know that just because summer ends doesn’t mean the need for sun protection does too,” says Adore Beauty co-founder and AB LAB developer Kate Morris. “There can be a tendency to skip this crucial step in our daily routine when the weather starts to cool. But we live in a part of the world where applying sunscreen is a non-negotiable no matter the weather, or the season.”
And as skincare mogul Zoë Foster-Blake wrote in a blog post, “broad spectrum sunscreen is the most effective tool against photoaging (wrinkling, sagging, brown spots) and skin cancer you can use”. So if you’re someone still needing a little nudge, read on for all the reasons you need to ensure that applying a facial sunscreen forms part (or the entirety) of your skincare routine, as well as the best ones to add to your shelf that you’ll be more than happy to use each and every day of the year.
Related: How to create your ideal skincare routine
Should I wear facial sunscreen?
For those of us who grew up with a less-than-savoury relationship with sunscreen, applying it daily can feel like a slog, but it’s highly important.
“All sunscreen is important,” Ella Baché National Training Manager Gina Cook emphasises, “but we tend to focus on the face as it contains more melanocytes, responsible for increasing melanin which is stimulated by the sun, leading to pigmentation and freckles.”
The good news is that there’s no longer a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to sunscreen — there are now plenty of options targeted for facial use rather than the all-over-body ones of your youth. Cook adds that ‘skinscreens’ — those that blend skin-loving ingredients like antioxidants with SPF sun protection — are a great choice to nourish and nurture your skin, and personally recommends the Ella Baché Active Face Great SPF50+ Lotion.
“With our complexions copping the brunt of daily environmental aggressors it is important to invest in a good quality facial SPF that combines the best of suncare and skincare,” she continues.
Related: Everything to know about face cleansing
Best facial sunscreen to buy in 2023
1
ULTRA VIOLETTE Queen Screen Luminising Sun Serum SPF 50+ 50ml
1
GLOWY SUNSCREEN FOR NORMAL TO DRY SKIN
ULTRA VIOLETTE Queen Screen Luminising Sun Serum SPF 50+ 50ml
$47
A luminous lightweight serum-sunscreen hybrid, Queen Screen offers broad-spectrum SPF50+ protection. The formula contains Kakadu plum to brighten the skin, and squalene to hydrate. A chemical sunscreen that doesn’t include oxybenzone or parabens, it’s designed to work well under makeup for a glowy finish.
2
GO-TO Nifty Fifty 50ml
2
HYDRATING DAILY SPF FOR ALL SKIN TYPES
GO-TO Nifty Fifty 50ml
$45
Nifty Fifty is dermatologically tested to be non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types. The formula features Kakadu plum, which can help to protect skin against premature ageing; CoQ10 for antioxidant benefits; and aloe vera to hydrate and nourish. It offers SPF50+ protection and is designed to be non-greasy, lightweight, and smooth under makeup for daily use.
3
PAULA’S CHOICE Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 60ml
3
SHEER TINTED SPF
PAULA’S CHOICE Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 60ml
$49
A sheer-tinted, mineral-based sunscreen, this option from Paula’s Choice is designed to be used as the last step in your morning skin routine. It’s a pure mineral zinc oxide sunscreen boosted with a blend of antioxidants designed to boost the skin’s environmental defences. The formula is intended to feel silky and have a slightly mattifying effect on the skin, so that it works well under makeup.
4
AB LAB Barely There SPF50+ Facial Sun Cream 75ml
4
LIGHTWEIGHT DAILY SPF
AB LAB Barely There SPF50+ Facial Sun Cream 75ml
$39.95
The newest release from Adore Beauty’s first private label, Barely There is the perfect choice for a daily SPF that offers skin-improving cosmeceutical ingredients alongside a lightweight, “barely there” finish. Enhanced with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to boost skin hydration, it’s an SPF that you’ll be happy to slather on daily (as a non-negotiable!).
5
LA ROCHE-POSAY Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+ 50ml
5
SUNSCREEN FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
LA ROCHE-POSAY Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+ 50ml
$35.95
Dermatologically tested for sensitive skin, this fragrance-free, lightweight sunscreen is also eco-tested to ensure it is marine safe. The formula is designed to be non-greasy and non-comedogenic, and non-stinging on the eyes.
6
MECCA COSMETICA To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen 75g
6
GRASSY, EARTHY AND FRESH
MECCA COSMETICA To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen 75g
$42
Designed to avoid leaving a white cast on the skin, this lightweight facial sunscreen offers broad spectrum SPF50+ UVA and UVB protection. The formula was designed with makeup-wearers in mind, and features strengthening vitamin E, antioxidant-rich pycnogenol, and hydrating sodium PCA.
7
ULTRA VIOLETTE Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial Skinscreen SPF 50+ 75ml
7
SUNSCREEN FOR NORMAL TO DRY SKIN
ULTRA VIOLETTE Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial Skinscreen SPF 50+ 75ml
$49
Designed with normal to dry skin types in mind, Supreme Screen is intended to act as a moisturiser, primer and SPF in one. Offering a satin finish on the skin, the lightweight cream features vitamin C-rich Kakadu plum, and hydrating pentavitin plant extract.
8
NAKED SUNDAYS SPF50+ Hydrating Glow Mist Top Up 100ml
8
SPRAY-ON FACIAL SUNSCREEN
NAKED SUNDAYS SPF50+ Hydrating Glow Mist Top Up 100ml
$39.95
Naked Sunday’s Hydrating Glow Mist was created with the important mantra of sunscreen re-application in mind. The misting formula applies transparently onto skin, so you can top up your SPF throughout the day even if you’re wearing makeup. The formula features hydrating hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-rich watermelon extract, and brightening Kakadu plum.
9
AESOP Protective Facial Lotion SPF25 50ml
9
LIGHTWEIGHT SUNSCREEN MOISTURISER
AESOP Protective Facial Lotion SPF25 50ml
$65
Designed to be lightweight and quick-absorbing, this moisturiser-sunscreen from Aesop offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Suitable for most skin types, it has a matte finish and features hydrating panthenol, anti-inflammatory green tea, and antioxidant-rich tocopherol.
10
ELLA BACHÉ Superfluid Great SPF50+ 30ml
10
TINTED SUNSCREEN
ELLA BACHÉ Superfluid Great SPF50+ 30ml
$56
Ella Baché’s Superfluid Great is a light-coverage tinted sunscreen that comes in four shades. It offers SPF50+ protection, a satin finish, and has a formula packed with antioxidant-rich green tea and brightening Kakadu plum. It is designed for use as a primer, a makeup base, or just as a daily SPF.
11
MECCA MAX SCREEN SAVER SPF30 Broad Spectrum Facial Sunscreen 75ml
11
AFFORDABLE MATTE FACIAL SUNSCREEN
MECCA MAX SCREEN SAVER SPF30 Broad Spectrum Facial Sunscreen 75ml
$25
One of the more affordable facial sunscreen options, MECCA MAX’s Screen Saver offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection with an invisible matte finish. Designed to suit all skin types, it is 100 per cent vegan, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free. The formula is infused with aloe vera, goji berry extract, vitamin E and chamomile.
12
EMMA LEWISHAM Skin Shield SPF30 50ml
12
MOISTURISING DAILY SUNSCREEN
EMMA LEWISHAM Skin Shield SPF30 50ml
$94
From natural New Zealand skincare line, Emma Lewisham, comes Skinshield: A luxe face crème that aims to combine sun and antioxidant skin protection. Broad spectrum SPF30 protection combines with saccharide isomerate and hyaluronic acid for hydration, while pink algae is intended to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of pigmentation.
13
AB LAB Barrier Boost SPF50 Mineral Sun Cream 75ml
13
SKIN-BARRIER BOOSTING SUNSCREEN
AB LAB Barrier Boost SPF50 Mineral Sun Cream 75ml
$39.95
The first release from Adore Beauty’s first private label, AB LAB, Barrier Boost is designed for skin types from normal to oily and sensitive. A gel-cream formulation, it combines SPF50 broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection with niacinamide, which brightens the skin, and ceramides to maintain the moisture barrier. It aims to defend against free radicals, and has a demi-matte finish. AB LAB also offers a Facial Sun Milk for normal to dry skin types, if that’s more your deal.
14
ALPHA-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+ 50ml
14
DAILY SPF MOISTURISER
ALPHA-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+ 50ml
$60
Designed to function as a three-in-one — moisturiser, primer and SPF — Alpha-H’s Daily Essential Moisturiser is rich in antioxidants with five UVA/UVB filters. Formulated for a dewy finish offering deep hydration, it also features pro vitamin B5, silica and vitamin E.
15
AIRYDAY Clear as Day SPF50+ Dreamscreen 75ml
15
CLEAR, WEIGHTLESS SUNSCREEN GEL
AIRYDAY Clear as Day SPF50+ Dreamscreen 75ml
$46.95
This innovative sunscreen features a weightless, invisible gel finish that glides on to skin. It offers a dewy and hydrating look, making it ideal for normal, dry and dehydrated skin, and can be used alone or as a primer. With its hypoallergenic fresh watermelon scent, too, it bucks the sunscreen traits you aren’t such a fan of and trades them in for fun, new alternatives.
How much sunscreen should I apply on my face?
You might have seen on social media, the ‘two finger rule’ being touted as the ideal amount of sunscreen to apply to your face, ears and neck — and that’s true! But if you’re looking for a more concrete amount, Cook says a teaspoon should do it.
“As a general rule of thumb, a teaspoon is the perfect amount for facial application, applied over your daily moisturiser in sweeping motions or with a make-up brush, it will ensure even and full protection coverage,” she explains.
Also be sure to re-apply frequently — every two hours or after swimming, sweating or towelling.
Related: Lightweight moisturisers to nourish your skin every day
What is the best sunscreen for the face?
We’re now spoiled for choice when it comes to the options available to us in the world of facial sunscreen. So if you’re looking to narrow down your shortlist, Cook advises to focus on all the benefits they offer.
“When looking for the perfect sunscreen, we want to ensure the product focuses on the benefits of SPF protection and skincare nourishment,” she says.
“Look for an SPF that is 30+ or 50+, and is antioxidant rich and able to offer the skin another level of protection, whilst ingredients such as pentavitan and cocoa butter hydrate and nourish.”
Related: Best vitamin C serums for a brighter complexion
When using sunscreen, always read the label, follow the directions for use, and reapply frequently. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when you’re in the sun.
