Summer's hottest facial SPF suncreams and products, ranked
Research from Olay shows that one in 10 Brits admit to never wearing SPF on their face, so we tried and tested some of summer's hottest new products for face and lips, to see which ones would make it into our holiday make-up bag. Here's our verdict.
Mavala Switzerland Tinted lip balm (cherry)
Price £7.99, from John Lewis
I'm a sucker for a tinted lip balm and Mavala's cherry tint is the perfect combination of colour and SPF protection.
As someone who has suffered with dry lips for several years, I was at first sceptical on how well this lip balm would match up to my trusty Vaseline.
However, I was pleasantly surprised how effortlessly it glides on, leaving my lips hydrated, soft and not mega greasy.
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The SPF15 protection is a welcome bonus too, as the balm is infused with shea butter and aloe vera, along with apricot extract, provitamin A and vitamin E.
The subtle tint of cherry red was the perfect colour for lips and was reminiscent of Maybelline's popular Baby Lips formula from around a decade ago.
Mavala's cherry lip balm will be a staple in my beauty bag for the summer months and beyond.
Score – 5/5
Review by Clare Butler Ocean Freedom Mineral Sunscreen and Ocean Clay
Price: £8 and £13, from Bling20
Surf Clay (Image: Surf Clay) This brilliant pairing of a mineral sunscreen SPF50+ lotion sunscreen and its sister Surf Clay SPF50+ are great for active days out or trips with kids.
The clay stays on through hot days and plenty of water (we tried it out on a family holiday, in and out of the pool, and it didn't budge).
The kids loved that they were fragrance-free (no weird smell!), and best of all they come in an array of fun colours including pink, blue and white, as well as light tan and a clear format - as we discovered they can even be mixed together to create gorgeous new shades of lilac.
I liked it because as a mineral sunscreen, it sits on the skin's surface and is less pore-clogging, making it more suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Rating: 5/5
Reviewed by Jade Wright
Dermalogica biolumin-c heat aging protector spf50 travel size
Price: £24
Bottle size: 15ml, from Amazon
This moisturiser with SPF comes in a nice 15ml bottle, ideal for travel whether you're cramming everything into a weekend bag or worried about your suitcase weight.
I found this to be quite a thick formula but it soaked into my skin well and very quickly with little effort.
Dermalogica (Image: Newsquest) The smell is quite summery and I think SPF50 is high for what I've seen in other products so that's a bonus.
The only downside to this moisturiser is that I had to use a bit more than I would of my usual product so that's something to bear in mind.
Review: Katie Collier
Score: 4/5
Elemental Herbology SPF 50 Moisturiser
(Image: Newsquest) Price - £45, from Elemental
It's a cliché for a reason but sometimes you really do get what you pay for. As a recent skincare convert, I'm increasingly critical of the products I buy. I want them to do more for less ( like us all!). I love that Element Herbology have given us an effective SPF as well as a moisturiser packed with Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E.
It feels very light on the skin, rubs in very quickly and doesn't leave any white residue. With long term wear, I have actually found myself using less face make up. I was content with how hydrated and glowing my skin's felt on it's own.
I can't fault the formula itself but the price tag is steep when you only get 50ml. After a recommend 2-3 pumps to cover my face, neck and hands in the morning as well as a top ups throughout the day, I would have to remortgage a house I don't have to keep up with my obsession.
Review: Rebecca Carey
Score – 4/5
Kalme Day Defence SPF 40
Rebecca Carey (Image: Newsquest)
Price - £26.65, from Amazon
I would argue that Kalme's Day Defence is a slightly more budget friendly alternative for daily use. It's by no means cheap but it is a lightweight moisturiser that rubs in well and avoids that dreaded greasy feeling.
It's not quite as luxurious to apply as the Elemental Herbology but it's equally long lasting and is in a convenient travel size so you can top on the go.
There is a slight but subtle smell to the formula. It isn't unpleasant or off putting but there's something a little chemical too it that means it doesn't feel or go unnoticed.
However, if you have sensitive skin, I think you could absolutely get behind this brand. It has a patented anti-redness extract that has been proven to reduce redness by up to 70% in clinical trials.
Overall, it's very good value for money with its 24 hour moisture formula, I can see myself adding it to my cart again.
Review by Rebecca Carey
Score - 3.5/5
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