10 best SPF moisturisers for men 2025 UK, tried and tested

The Sun

2 days ago

PEOPLE happily spend hundreds of pounds trying to wind back the clock on the signs of ageing.
However, the inconvenient truth is that prevention is the best cure — and an SPF moisturiser is the easiest method.
1
Unfortunately, most men aren't in a rush to apply sunscreen, with American CDC figures suggesting that only 12.3% of men in the U.S. always use sunscreen when outside on a sunny day for more than an hour.
We spoke to Dr Derrick Phillips, a Consultant Dermatologist and official spokesperson for The British Skin Foundation, who says: "Lower rates of SPF use are something I frequently see amongst my male patients.
"We need to shift the perception that sunscreen is only for summer or beach holidays; it should be a daily staple, just like brushing your teeth.
"Consistent protection is key to reducing long-term risks of sun damage and skin cancer."
An SPF moisturiser is an easy, hassle-free way to ensure you're protected (although it's important to remember to bolster it with a high-factor sunscreen when it's really beating down).
The best SPF moisturisers have none of the sticky or greasy qualities associated with cheap sunscreen, and deliver a host of nourishing benefits as well as sun protection.
We've tested out a range of the best products below, at a range of price points.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream SPF30
Ultra Facial Cream SPF30 (50ml), £37 from Kiehl's
Pros: Quick absorption, heavenly texture, inclusion of ingredients like squalene and Antarcticine
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 10/10
This isn't just our favourite SPF moisturiser — it's one of the best skincare products we've ever used.
It's a variation of Kiehl's best-selling Ultra Facial Cream, which the brand claims sells once every 30 seconds in the US.
This version contains all of the things that have made the original a cult favourite — its unctuous texture, quick absorption and the inclusion of ingredients like squalene, which has hydrating and softening qualities, and Antarcticine, a protein found in bacteria in Antarctica that increases the cream's effectiveness in cold conditions.
The quick absorption is especially crucial in warm weather, preventing you from showing up at work a sweaty mess. Add SPF30 into the mix, and you're onto a summer must-have.
A little goes a long way, too, making its admittedly off-putting price tag a little easier to handle.
CeraVe Creme Hydratante Visage SPF50
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion (52ml), £16.50 £11.75 from Amazon
BUY HERE
Pros: Hydrating, non-greasy, feels more like a moisturiser than a suncream, affordable, often on sale
Cons: Nothing big — it doesn't feel massively luxurious
Rating: 9/10
Experts recommend using SPF moisturiser year-round, applying it liberally and reapplying it often, meaning that regular restocks are necessary.
Spending £20 or £30 per purchase (or even £100, in the case of Elemis, below), isn't realistic for many people.
If affordability is at the top of your criteria, CeraVe's Creme Hydrante Visage is the one to go for.
It usually retails for £16.50 for a 52ml tube, but you can often get it discounted at retailers like Amazon, where it's currently available for a very reasonable £11.75.
Crucially, it feels a lot more like a moisturiser than an SPF, with a non-sticky, non-greasy texture that feels mega-hydrating; it'd be the perfect option for people who suffer from dry skin.
Amazon reviewers agree, with one writing: 'The product is excellent — light, high SPF, and absorbs quickly. As a man in my 40s who dislikes heavy creams, it's ideal. One quick squirt, dab, and smear — done.'
COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50
COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 (50ml), £13.15 £11.77 from Amazon
BUY HERE
Don't you love it when premium products have affordable price tags?
In testing, we loved CORSX''s Aloe Soothing Sun Cream for doing everything we hoped it would.
The Korean skincare company is most famous for its suspicious-sounding Snail Serum, which contains anti-ageing " snail mucin".
Thankfully, there's nothing so suspect here; the most unusual ingredient you'll find is aloe vera, which will help soothe your skin if you've already picked up a bit of sunburn.
It provides SPF50 to prevent skin damage, absorbs easily into your skin, and smells great in the process.
What more could you ask for?
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF30
ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF30 (50ml), £98 £90.25 from Amazon
Pros: Feels luxurious and hydrating, anti-ageing properties, superstar ingredients, visible brightening and plumping effect on skin
Cons: Heinously expensive
Rating: 9/10
Elemis describes its Pro Collagen Marine Cream as the product 'that started it all' — launched in 2003, it's the holy grail that helped the brand make a name for itself.
It stands out for two key reasons.
The first is its texture; while it doesn't have the fatty, unctuous texture of the Kiehl's (which we admittedly prefer), it has a lighter, wetter, gel-like texture that you can immediately tell will be super-hydrating.
It's a far cry from the sticky texture you might expect from something containing SPF.
The second standout feature is that it's extremely, extremely hydrating, which is a welcome relief — this is the product we found ourselves turning to in summer, when we experienced dryer skin as a result of sleeping in front of a fan.
That's largely down to its star ingredient, Padina Pavonica, which is a macroalgae found on the Mediterranean coast.
It has a high concentration of molecules called polysaccharides, which are prized for their ability to attract water — they essentially increase the skin's ability to find and retain moisture.
Independent — but small-scale — clinical trials have also found that the cream can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in as little as two weeks, meaning that this cream isn't just preventing further signs of ageing, but actively reversing existing ones, too.
And we have to admit, we did see a visible difference in the plumpness of our skin, especially after repeated use.
However, you'll have to pay for the privilege; the 50ml tub that we tested costs a mammoth £98 when full-price, and even the tiny 15ml version will run you £38.
However, you can sometimes find some discounts around Black Friday, so it's worth keeping an eye out.
Malin + Goetz SPF30 High Protection Sunscreen
Malin + Goetz SPF30 High Protection Sunscreen (50ml), £35 from Space NK
BUY HERE
Cons: It is quite thick
Rating: 8.5/10
This sunscreen from Malin + Goetz isn't a moisturiser, but rather a sunscreen with enough moisturising properties to be classed as a 2-in-1 product.
It's a mineral sunscreen, which can often be better suited for people with sensitive skin who find that chemical sunscreens cause irritation, as it uses titanium dioxide for a physical sun barrier rather than a chemical component.
When you squeeze it out, it is a slightly spooky shade of yellow, but it absorbs extremely quickly without leaving any white residue.
It's also water-resistant, and we found it offered great protection even on days when we were out in the sun all day.
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel
Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel (30ml), £34 from Kiehl's
BUY HERE
Pros: Absorbs quickly, non-greasy, good for oily skin
Cons: Texture is slightly more sunscreen-like than we'd want, pricey
Rating: 7.5/10
There are two products in Kiehl's not-very-succinctly-named Ultra Light Daily UV Defense range: an Aqua Gel and a Sunscreen.
We tried both, put preferred the Aqua Gel because of its slightly silkier texture and easy absorption.
However, both products offer ample protection from UVA and UVB rays, with PA++++ and SPF50 ratings.
Most men don't wear makeup, but if you happen to be sharing this with a partner, it might also be useful to know that reviewers really rate the Aqua Gel as a base layer for applying makeup.
Truthfully, we don't think either product holds a candle to the Ultra Facial Cream SPF30 — both feel slightly too close to sunscreen, texture-wise — but if you're on the lookout for extra sun protection from a trusted brand, this could be the one for you.
Rock Face SPF20
BUY HERE
Cons: Low SPF
Rating: 7.5/10
It's nice to find a product that works like a premium product at a fraction of the price, and this Rock Face moisturiser fits the bill.
It smells great and absorbs easily, without leaving your skin feeling sticky or pasty white afterwards.
It's exactly the sort of thing you'd be happy to slap on in the morning and leave you feeling fresh going into the day.
Plus, you get 100ml, so it'll keep you going for a while.
However, its SPF rating is a bit low for us to feel okay using it every day.
Bulldog Anytime Daily UV Moisturiser SPF 50
Bulldog Anytime Daily UV Moisturiser SPF 50 (75ml), £17.99 £11.98 from Superdrug
BUY HERE
Pros: SPF50 rating, PA++++ rating helps to combat signs of ageing, affordable and often on sale
Cons: Sticky, suncream-like texture, slow absorption
Rating: 6.5/10
In the nearly two decades since it first launched, Bulldog has made itself synonymous with affordable men's skincare in the UK.
Priced at £18 but often on sale for closer to £12, this sticks to the brand's tried-and-tested blueprint: no-nonsense branding, effective formula and affordable price tag.
It's rated PA++++, the highest possible rating of defence against UVA rays, which are responsible for unfortunate things like premature ageing, wrinkles and collagen breakdown.
And with an SPF50 rating, it's also well-equipped to protect against the sinister effects of UVB rays, which include sunburn and skin cancer.
It also contains bonus ingredients like vitamin E, which helps hydrate the skin.
However, in practice, we weren't fully sold on it — it has the tackiness that we associate with cheap suncream, and it took a while to fully absorb, meaning it was easy to get sweaty if the product was applied in a hurry.
It's undoubtedly effective, though, so if you're after a moisturiser that does the job without burning a hole in your pocket, you can do worse than this.
Harry's Daily Face Lotion
Harry's Men's Face Lotion SPF15 (50ml), £6 from Boots
BUY HERE
Pros: Very affordable, non-greasy, fresh minty scent
Cons: SPF15 rating would be classed as insufficient by most experts
Rating: 6/10
After the success of its collection of shaving products, it's only natural that grooming brand Harry's would move on to skincare products.
At just £6, this is one of the most affordable products we tested, and in many ways it's good value for money; it's made with soothing shea butter, for example, and it's got a refreshing mint scent that is nice and invigorating to use first thing in the morning.
It's also quite pleasant to use, feeling more like a moisturiser than a suncream, and it absorbs pretty quickly.
However, the NHS recommends using products with an SPF30 rating or higher — most dermatologists would tell you to use SPF50 — so as far as sun protection is concerned, this isn't doing enough.
For its price, texture and scent, it'd be a nice daily moisturiser, but we wouldn't rely on this during the sunniest parts of the year.
Clinique For Men Super Energizer SPF40 Anti-Fatigue
Clinique For Men Super Energizer SPF40 Anti-Fatigue Hydrating Concentrate, £37.95 £34.25 from Amazon
BUY HERE
Pros: High SPF protection, gives a healthy glow, absorbs easily
Cons: Not water-resistant, not vegan
Rating: 7/10
Want to keep your skin protected and look less tired in the summer months? We think Super Energizer from Clinique fits the bill.
Our reviewer doesn't suffer from a particularly tired-looking face, so it was tricky to test its anti-fatigue properties, but we did like the healthy glow it gave afterwards.
It absorbs very easily and leaves only a light sheen on the skin, which could be responsible for the anti-fatigue effect.
It's sweat-proof, too, so you can wear it on the run and in our testing it absorbed incredibly well and smelled great.