Because SPF is a must, seven days a week, 365 days a year
Ah, summer… It’s all sunshine and rosé until someone gets burnt. Nothing is as harsh on the skin as the sun. And yet the type of protection we should be wearing on the beach, every day and during the colder months still lies shrouded in mystery. So let’s set the record straight from the start. When it comes to the best SPF moisturisers, there are a couple of things to bear in mind.
Is SPF moisturiser enough or do I also need to wear sun cream?
In summer you definitely need to wear a separate sun cream on top of your SPF moisturiser if you are sunbathing or outside for prolonged periods of time.
‘Many people believe that having an SPF in their moisturiser will suffice,’ says consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Kluk. ‘But according to the British Association of Dermatologists, moisturiser with an SPF will only help protect you against small amounts of UV exposure – for example, when you walk to the car.’
But what it won’t do, is provide the same degree of sun protection as the best facial sunscreens. Especially for longer, more deliberate UV exposure.
It’s true, SPF in a moisturiser is tested the same way as SPF in sunscreen. So technically speaking, an SPF30 moisturiser should provide an SPF of 30.
‘But to achieve the SPF on the label, you would have to apply at least half a teaspoon to the face, which people rarely do,’ says Kluk. ‘What’s more, SPF moisturisers are less likely to be rub-resistant and water-resistant. For these reasons they won’t offer the same level of protection as the best sun creams.’
It’s also worth noting that moisturisers containing an SPF don’t always contain protection against UVA rays, either. ‘As a result, they will not protect against UV ageing in the same way as a broadspectrum sunscreen would,’ adds Kluk.
So why does my face cream contain an SPF?
Worn on its own, moisturiser with SPF grants a very basic level of every day defence against sun-related damage: think dryness, skin pigmentation and wrinkles.
SPF moisturisers will also allow you to double up on your sun protection. When applied underneath facial sunscreens, they pump skin full of moisture while adding another layer of protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Then in the winter months, you can switch to just using SPF moisturiser instead of two separate products.
Best SPF Moisturiser for oily skin
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Light SPF20, from £25, Cult Beauty
It still includes everything we love about the original Magic Cream, which was like a blanket for dry skin. But with a host of welcome extras. This all-new lightweight formula is not only the answer to hydrating oily skin but is supercharged with wrinkle-smoothing peptides, SPF20 and pollution defense technology.
Best SPF30 Moisturiser
Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF30, £65, lookfantastic.com
This cool gel wins points for sweaty skin in a heat wave, while peptides from mushrooms tackle fine lines and enlarged pores, leaving behind a smooth, not suffocating, canvas.
Best SPF moisturiser for men
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF30, £26, Space NK
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Squalaene restores natural moisture while the lack of scent appeals to both sexes. The addition of a strong SPF makes it a hat trick.
Should I wear an SPF moisturiser even if it’s cloudy?
Yes, you should wear an SPF every day as UVA rays can still permeate cloudy skies and windows. So good luck coming up with excuses as to why you’re skipping it.
Once that’s decided, check out more of the best SPF moisturisers below:
Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF30, £58, Lookfantastic
This is one clever moisturiser. Its ingredients are light activated, so you get a hit of hydration the longer you wear it with the added benefit of SPF protection.
Clinique Superdefense SPF40 Fatigue + 1st Signs of Age Multi-Correcting Gel, £42, Lookfantastic
Its antioxidants are a bonus and its energising ingredients (including carnitine) like an espresso shot for weary skin. But it’s the not-insignificant promise of being sweat and humidity resistant that grabbed our attention. In short, it ensures the sunscreen actives stand a better chance of actually getting to work.
Origins A Perfect World SPF40 Age-Defense Moisturiser with White Tea, £35, Lookfantastic
Ideal for those prone to a midday oil slick on the t-zone, this oil-free face cream contains a high SPF40 with antioxidant white tea to nix pollution.
Lumene Nordic Hydra Day Fluid SPF30, £24.90, Lookfantastic
More of a hydrating lotion than a dense cream, it feels as light on the skin as the Nordic spring water it is formulated with. Plant extracts and minerals help boost oxygen supply to the skin, too.
CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF25, £13, Lookfantastic
The stronger your skin’s barrier, the less sun damage you’re likely to accrue. So this moisturiser is a must-have on account of its ceramides, hyaluronic acid, SPF and purse-friendly price point.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30, £87, Lookfantastic
Antioxidant-rich ginkgo biloba and algae are still the prized firming ingredients in this matte-textured cream. But it’s the addition of an SPF30 to the formula that is making our skin sing.
Olay Total Effects Whip SPF30, £34.99, Lookfantatsic
Who said moisturiser had to be thick and gloopy? Here the whipped texture transforms from a cream to liquid as soon as it hits your skin, ensuring the anti-ageing ingredients instantly absorb while the SPF doesn’t leave behind any telltale chalkiness.
