2024’s best sunscreens

There once was a time when applying sunscreen was a chore: too sticky, too toxic, too thick. Now SPFs often feel like moisturisers. They might even be from one and the same brand.  

Increasingly, sunscreens are being launched by skincare names. This year’s include those from anti-blemish experts 47 Skin, clinically backed Allies Of Skin, and doctor-led 111Skin. The latter’s just-launched Repair Sunscreen arrives after five years of testing, and features the same restorative complex – NAC Y² – as its bestselling Repair Serum. The formula is light, fast absorbing, and feels unlike traditional sunscreen.

Formulas with both UVA and UVB filters, and with high (PA+++) to extremely high (PA++++) protection are best at preventing sun damage. As for any extra perks, I’ll take those too. MZ Skin’s new Expert UV Protector – its first true SPF since launching eight years ago – combines broad-spectrum sun filters with active ingredients to help hydrate and support the skin barrier. On a recent holiday to Greece, two to three applications a day were enough to prevent sunburn and keep my skin hydrated. (Drier skin types might want a layer of moisturiser underneath.)

Allies Of Skin The One SPF 50 Invisible Sunscreen Gel, £43 for 50ml

111SKIN Repair Sunscreen SPF50+ 50ml, £95 for 50ml

“Photodamage is the number one cause of skin ageing,” says Céline Talabaza, CEO of Noble Panacea, of the impetus behind the brand’s latest launch: a broad-spectrum, 100 per cent mineral sunscreen. Mineral composition – made without chemicals – means this is a fairly heavy-duty sunscreen; rubbing it in took around three minutes. But as the formula settled, so did the chalkiness. Drawing from the brand’s Nobel Prize-winning science, it uses UV energy to activate collagen-boosting tripeptides, inflammation-reducing antioxidants and soothing mullein flower – an SPF first. “Noble Panacea loyalists have been asking for an SPF,” adds Talabaza. “We have listened.”

Noble Panacea Multi-Defence Cream SPF 50, £312 for 60 applications

Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50, £65 for 50ml

Sunscreens have long dovetailed with anti-ageing concerns. But more than that, skincare brand SPFs allow fans to follow a philosophy across their routine. Cult brand Tatcha entered the SPF market in March with its “Silk Sunscreen” and a trio of lip tints with SPF 25. The goal, says Lorne Lucree, SVP of global innovation, was to take the brand’s Japanese-inspired aesthetics and formulas and create a protective “canvas for make-up application”. Much like a serum, it’s light and nourishing, and offers easy-apply protection. Sometimes I wear it when I don’t plan on going outside. 

Looking for more options? Here’s what the experts recommend…

Katharine Mackenzie Paterson aesthetician
I really struggle with SPF as I am sensitive to a lot of them. Secondly, I hate the feel of anything heavy on my face. A favourite is Beauty Pie’s Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen+Primer – it’s super-light and comfortable to wear, and doesn’t irritate my skin.

Bart Kaczanowicz beauty blogger
For me, finding a sunscreen I look forward to using every day is key. Le Prunier Plumscreen SPF 31 is just that. It combines moisturiser and sunscreen in one, delivering excellent antioxidant benefits from the brand’s signature Plum Superfruit Complex, along with broad-spectrum UV protection. The delightful marzipan scent is an added bonus.

Sarah Chapman London Skin Insurance SPF 30 Tinted, £69 for 30ml

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50, £30 for 55ml

Wendy Rowe make-up artist and beauty expert
Sarah Chapman’s Skin Insurance Tinted SPF is my go-to. I love how lightweight it is – it doesn’t cause me to break out like a lot of sun creams. I also love how it doubles up to even out skin tone, so little make-up is required. I use SPF 30 day-to-day and SPF 50 for the beach.

Sharon Belmo dermatologist
I rotate a few, but Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 in Bronze is one of my favourites. I prefer mineral to chemical sunscreens as they provide protection against visible light (indoor light) in addition to UVA and UVB light (sunlight). Visible light has been shown to worsen hyperpigmentation, particularly in darker skin tones. Mineral sunscreens are also better for sensitive skin. The bronze tint in this sunscreen is great for my skin tone. Gives great coverage too. I rarely wear make-up with it.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVmune Invisible Fluid for Kids SPF50+, £20 for 50ml

Sensai Protective Suncare Cream for Face SPF 50, £98 for 50ml

Emma Craythorne dermatologist
I look after some very vulnerable patients at high risk of skin cancers, and they need to know how to use sun creams that work reliably. The SPF I use is La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVmune Invisible Fluid for Kids SPF50+. It’s so moisturising, has no smell, doesn’t sting the eyes and, importantly, covers the entire UVA and UVB spectrum. It complements my prescription retinoid at night really well, so I know I am doing my best to keep my skin in as good condition as possible.

Adeela Crown facialist and HTSI columnist
Japanese sunscreens go the extra mile by infusing skincare goodness into their formulas. I’m a fan of Sensai’s Silky Bronze Protective Suncare Cream for Face. Its broad-spectrum SPF 50+ is formulated with the signature Koishimaru silk extract, which promotes hyaluronic acid synthesis and nourishes the skin. It’s sheer enough to feel more like a moisturiser than a classic SPF. Wearing sunscreens in Asia is a normal day-to-day activity, so consumers there are looking for sunscreens that are light and comfortable. Western sunscreens, on the other hand, tend to be thicker and heavy duty. That’s because western consumers aren’t generally wearing sunscreen on a daily basis, 365 days a year – although that is slowly changing.

SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defense SPF 50, £50 for 40ml

Mesoestetic Mesoprotech Water Veil, £47.95 for 50ml

Hadda Akrim facialist
I have combination, acne-prone skin, so I like fewer layers in my morning skincare routine. When it comes to SPF, I look for not only UVA and UVB protection but also a formula that keeps my skin hydrated. My favourite is SkinCeuticals’ Advanced Brightening UV Defence. This formula has added ingredients such as tranexamic acid and niacinamide, which help to improve skin clarity and brightness.

Dr Raj Arora NHS GP and skin specialist
I have oily skin, so I like my sunscreen to leave behind minimal residue and not have a chalky appearance. I love Mesoestetic Mesoprotech Water Veil because it’s super-lightweight. Not only does it protect the skin from UV rays; it also protects from HEV (light that damages collagen and can cause hyperpigmentation) and infrared. The product is infused with collagen, giving your skin an instant pick-me-up, and can also help with skin elasticity and firmness.