We all know by now that face SPF is a staple in every make-up routine - all year round - but with so many great brands available, how do you pick the perfect product for you? It goes without saying that you don't need to break the bank in order to find a highly-rated face SPF that perfectly suits your skin.
Much like your usual skincare routine, finding the right SPF for your skin type is important. There are plenty of face SPFs to choose from that treat your skin drama as well as offer long-lasting protection.
heat's best face SPFS at a glance:
Best face SPF primer: Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer, £15 on Beauty Pie
Best vitamin C face SPF: Garnier Vitamin C Daily UV Fluid SPF50+ Glow, £12.90 on LookFantastic
Best face SPF for dark spots: L'Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot UV Fluid SPF 50+ Niacinamide, £19.99 on LookFantastic
With summer around the corner, there's never been a better time to shop for a new face SPF to protect your skin from any dreaded sun damage. With so many face SPFs to choose from, we've rounded up our favourites in our buyers guide below to make shopping for your skin type super easy. From L'Oréal to La Roche Posay, keep scrolling to find a range of the best face SPFs:
SHOP: The best face SPFs for all-year protection
Best face SPF primer
Beauty Piewww.beautypie.com
Beauty Pie gets it right when it comes to a beauty subscription that brings you affordable yet luxury beauty. The Featherlight SPF 50 Sunscreen and Primer is the ultimate base that ensures your make-up lasts all day and you skin has high SPF protection against the sun.
Customer review: "I've often had a problem with sunscreen for my face - that horrible claggy feel. This product is perfect - just like putting on a light moisturiser. Added to this, its SPF 50. What a find."
Pros
- Works as a primer
- Lightweight formula
Cons
- Slightly scented
Best vitamin C face SPF
Garnier www.lookfantastic.com
Garnier's viral UV Fluid combines hardworking vitamin C with high protection SPF50 in a glowing, tinted formula. This hero product instantly adds radiance, brightens and tones as it protects.
Customer review: "This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! SPF50 with vitamin C included. It’s very light weight and leaves my skin feeling hydrated. I find I’m wearing a lot less foundation as the natural glow it has is enough. My only comment is I wish it had more glow shades. I would probably choose a slightly lighter shade."
Pros
- Vitamin C works to brighten and tone
- Available in two formulas: Glow and Invisible
Cons
- None!
Best face SPF for dark spots
L'Oréal Pariswww.lookfantastic.com
One of L'Oréal's newest additions - the Bright Reveal range targets any unwanted pigmentation with hardworking niacinamide to treat and tone. The non-oily, lightweight fluid sits comfortably on the skin throughout the day without disturbing your usual skincare and make-up.
Customer review: "Perfect coverage without a white cast left behind. Just as good as their previous version."
Pros
- Multipurpose product made with niacinamide
- Brightening finish
Cons
- Works well with matching primer
Best lightweight face SPF
La Roche-Posaywww.boots.com
La Roche-Posay's Invisible Fluid is ideal for those who have sensitive skin. The lightweight fluid is absorbed instantly into the skin for all-day protection against the sun without causing irritation.
Customer review: "I use this everyday under my make up to protect my skin and I've been using it for years. I've tried a few factor 50 face creams and this one is the best for me. It's light, doesn't leave a white film as some creams can do. You don't even know you are wearing it. Most importantly, I trust it's protecting my skin."
Pros
- Ideal for sensitive skin
- Resistant to sand and water
Cons
- Some reviews say consistency is quite runny
Best daily moisturiser face SPF
Cetaphil www.lookfantastic.com
Cetaphil know a thing or two about caring for sensitive skin and the Daily Defence Moisturiser is great to add into your daily morning routine. Complete with high protection, this nourishing moisturiser is enriched with Vitamin E and glycerin to flood the skin with moisture and soothe.
Customer review: "Great product for daughters sensitive skin. Applies really nicely, soaks in well and isn't greasy."
Pros
- Can be used as a moisturiser and SPF in one
- Made with hydrating vitamin E and glycerin
Cons
- Some reviews say there's a slight white cast
Best face SPF for dry skin
Byomawww.sephora.co.uk
Byoma gets it right with must-have skincare and the Moisturising Gel-Cream will be your best friend all year round. Made with hyaluronic acid beta glucan, this super nourishing formula protects and soothes the skin, flooding it with tonnes of moisture whilst SPF30 gets to work to protect from the sun.
Customer review: "Love the texture, isn’t heavy on the skin, doesn’t clog your pores, love it."
Pros
- Perfect for dry skin
- Protects the skin barrier
Cons
- Lighter protection against the sun
We spoke to Consultant dermatologist for Stratum Dermatology Clinics, Dr Adam Friedmann, about choosing the right SPF.
How do you choose the right SPF for you?
"SPF is the most important product in any skincare regime. The absolute minimum factor for white skin should be SPF30. Darker skin tones can sometimes get away with lower SPF levels which might vary depending on how dark the skin is," he tells heat. "If in doubt, opt for a SPF50 so that your sunscreen is still giving a good level of protection as it fades."
But it's not just the factor to look out for. Dr Adam says we should use products with a higher number of stars of "UVA" protection, to give better levels of defence.
He explains, "While UVA rays have less energy and don’t burn the skin, they do cause the skin to age and contribute to the development of melanoma and other skin cancers."
How much SPF should you use?
Dr Adam says we should apply over half a teaspoon of SPF sunscreen to the face, neck and backs of ears, even on top of SPF moisturiser.
He explains, "SPF moisturisers are useful for short bursts of sun exposure but not suitable for longer stints outside as they may not give sufficient protection. This is because they are applied in a much thinner layer meaning that the SPF level may not be what is promoted on the bottle."
Do you need to reapply SPF?
He adds, "If you're wearing make-up and generally keeping out of the sun, then it might not always be practical to top up your SPF - that’s where an 8-hour SPF may be a preferred option.
"However, a once-a-day SPF will not survive a day of swimming, towel drying and sweating in the heat, so if you’re heading to the beach or out for the day, then reapplying an SPF to the face every two hours is essential."
Georgia Scott is a beauty and fashion product writer writing across brands such as heat, Closer, Grazia and Yours specialising in all things lifestyle and trending. Before starting at Bauer, Georgia completed her degree in Journalism at University and worked as a retail beauty advisor and make-up artist.