AD/PR Product (This post contains products which have been sent to me for consideration as a PR sample only, all thoughts are my own).
Over the past few months, I have been testing out a number of different SPF’s from different brands. Having tried and tested, I am here to share with you my overall thoughts on five of them. Most people think that a facial SPF is probably only needed in the warmer months, but really, you should be wearing this every single day. The sun never stops shining, those powerful rays are always there no matter how cold it may feel outside, so, you have to protect your skin.
It is so important to remember this particular step within your morning skincare routine as we all know the dangers of the sun, we are warned about it each year and as children, we all experienced our mums, dads and grandparents slathering us in the white stuff. I think the message becomes lost as we get older, most people love a tan (not me personally) and will do anything to get one. However, the damage being done by the sun can be invisible until it is too late. UV light from the sun causes burning and sun damage to our skin and this can lead to a number of issues over time. UV light in itself can be split into two types, UVA which leads to skin ageing and UVB which causes burning of the skin. It is vital that you ensure that your skin is well protected.
Often you will see moisturisers and foundations that contain SPF, however it is highly unlikely that you apply enough of either of these to ensure that adequate protection is provided. If I were you, I would try and make sure that you have a dedicated SPF for your morning routine, it is just so important. What is equally important is to make sure that you cleanse it off properly come the evening, you don’t want to be sleeping in your SPF.
Luckily, the SPF market is huge and there are so many different varieties out there now compared to say five years ago.
As I say, I have tried out five and here are my thoughts on them.
First up is the Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF30* which just so happens to be the SPF that I have been testing out for the longest period of time. I like this SPF a lot, I have enjoyed using it and haven’t experienced any issues at all with it. It works well under makeup, doesn’t pill and generally just ticks all of the boxes. Out of all of them I have tried I would say that it has one of the thickest textures, although that is not a bad thing for me personally, it is just an observation. I do not find this to be too greasy on my skin, and it is definitely not irritating. I take it under my eye area and it works well, I have no bad word to say about it. Whilst I like the name and agree that on my skin tone it is invisible once rubbed in, I can’t imagine that those with darker skin tones would have the same result, I may be wrong. I believe that this SPF would create a white cast on those with darker skin tones having used it myself and seen how it works. Having said that, if you have a darker skin tone and use this and do not experience a white cast then please do let me know so I can update the post accordingly. I can of course only speak from my personal impression of the product. This SPF contains green tea which is an antioxidant to help fight free radicals and zinc oxide which helps to protect the skin against UVA and UVB rays along with blue light. Given my thoughts on SPF, I would prefer that this was an SPF50, just to add that extra level of protection, however, any SPF is better than no SPF surely. I would buy this in the future for myself as it has been a pleasant product to use. This SPF retails at £49 for 50ml and it has lasted me a good few months with daily use.
The next SPF I have been testing out is the Green People Scent Free Facial Sun Cream SPF30* which I was recently sent to road test. It has been ages since I tried any products from Green People so this was a welcome addition to the lineup. As the name clearly states, this is scent-free so it is particularly beneficial for those with sensitive skin. This has the thickest texture of all five, and again, I have no issues with this particular factor. Like the above SPF, it does not irritate my skin, nor my eyes and again I have no issues with it. It is a great SPF actually, I like it. The only thing I would say is what I have referred to above, a higher rating of SPF50 would be more my cup of tea. It may also leave a white cast on darker skin tones, but as I am fair in skin tone I can’t say that I have experienced any evidence of this. It contains 78% organic ingredients and has broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. This SPF retails at £19.00 for 50ml making it one of the more affordable featured here today. The packaging also gets a thumbs up, this is the best form of packaging for me as it is airless. I would make a purchase of this for myself in the future as I am enjoying using it.
Perhaps my favourite SPF so far is the SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial UV Defense Sunscreen SPF50* which I have to say, I love. For me it has the ideal texture, it is light and runny, hydrating and it is easy to apply, it also sinks into my skin quite quickly. Makeup works well on top and like all of the above, I have experienced no issues in terms of irritation or pilling. At SPF50 this is the highest of the bunch along with that of the Polarr SPF featured below, this for me is perfect as it offers me that extra bit of reassurance. In terms of a white cast, I think this potentially might be a good one to go for if you have a darker skin tone, it is really light and It just seems to absorb really well; I would recommend getting a sample if you can. At £41 for 30ml it is the most expensive featured here today, that being said, if I’m not on a budget in the future and can afford to spend my money on this then I will do, it’s a gorgeous SPF and I would highly recommend it.
A second favourite with a similar texture to the SPF above is the ARK Skincare Skin Essential Skin Protector SPF30 Primer* which for me isn’t as runny as the SkinCeuticals offering but when applied it acts very similar. It is lightweight, absorbs well and doesn’t cause any irritation. There is definitely a scent with this SPF which I personally enjoy, in fact, it reminds me of their Age Defend Moisturiser* which incidentally, was another great product. I only point the element of fragrance out as I know it is important to some people and of course, our skin can be irritated by fragrance as we all have different skin types and resistance. The name of this product for me perhaps could be better, I wouldn’t necessarily reach for a primer with SPF due to wanting a dedicated SPF for the same reasons as I mentioned above. Therefore, I treat this as a dedicated SPF and apply the same amount as I would any other SPF, and not the amount I would as a primer. Key ingredients are Vitamin E for antioxidant protection and Shea Butter for hydration. As a broad-spectrum SPF, it protects against both UVA and UVB rays and once again, a little nod to the packaging is warranted as I prefer this packaging style over any other. This SPF retails at £36 for 30ml; I would consider a purchase of this in the future.
Moving onto the Polaar Very High Protection Sunscreen Lotion SPF50. I picked this up in the LookFantastic Beauty Box back in June and have been using it on and off since. This is my first experience of using any products from Polaar and I am impressed. In terms of texture, this is probably the closest to that of the Dermalogica SPF, although it is lighter and blends slightly easier. Not that the Dermalogica SPF is hard to blend as it most certainly isn’t, this just sinks in quicker. I can’t imagine any white cast with this, I feel like it is almost on the verge of gel-like. I really like the product actually and I would most certainly make a repurchase of it. My only negative is that I have experienced slight pilling, but nothing to put me off substantially and it is worth noting that this only seems to happen when I use a certain moisturiser within my routine. This SPF is also broad-spectrum, covering UVA and UVB as to be expected, it is also scent-free so it is one for sensitive skins to bear in mind. This SPF retails for £23 for 50ml.
Finally, I’m ending with the Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF30. I had high hopes for this having read so many good reviews but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. I found that this made my face feel greasy and it didn’t sink into my skin very well, it also pilled really bad on me. To the point where I would just find flakes on my face and neck throughout the day, not a good look. I am also not keen on the texture, it almost feels like a silicone primer I once used back in the day which broke my skin out. Like the other SPF’s featured today, this is broad-spectrum and covers UVA/UVB rays, it is just a shame that this formula did not work for me. The plus side to this is that there is no white cast at all, it is completely invisible so it would work well for anybody conscious of a white cast or ashy tone. This SPF retails at £30 for 30ml but I personally wouldn’t repurchase.
So there we have it, an SPF low down as it were featuring five that I have tried out over recent months.
Do you have a favourite SPF? I am looking for a few more to try so hit me up with your recommendations.
*This post contains PR samples, for more please read my disclaimer.
