As someone whose fair skin only has three tones: milk, milky tea, and tomato, I am always on the lookout for the best sunscreen for my skin.
I’ve spent hundreds of pounds and many hours of research trying to find the perfect formula, something that’s not sticky or heavy, doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin, but still allows me to enjoy time outside walking my dog, gardening and reading a book in the sunshine without having to reapply every few hours.
We all know that daily use of an SPF is the most effective step you can take to preserve your skin’s health and prevent the appearance of ageing. Yet the “perfect” sunscreen remains elusive for many of us.
Lately, every time I’ve opened TikTok, I’ve been bombarded by people talking about how great Altruist sunscreen is, and I was curious enough to give it a go.
A dermatologist-formulated sunscreen that doesn’t irritate sensitive skin, provides a defence against the harshest of the sun’s rays and doesn’t cost the earth? Sign me up! I decided to test out the claims that Altruist is one of the best sunscreens around, along with some other popular brands, all around £20 or less.
Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF50, £11
I used to believe that the more expensive the sunscreen , the better it was, particularly after being burned (literally) by a supermarket brand. Price is one of the reasons I originally discounted Altruist, because surely a formula that good can’t cost so little? I am happy to have been proven wrong.
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The brand, co-founded by NHS consultant dermatologist Andrew Birnie, has a simple mission: to make sunscreen affordable, and reduce skin cancers throughout Europe. Altruist makes high-quality, water-resistant SPF50, which costs just £11 for 2x 100ml bottles .
The brand saves money by offering a no-frills approach. There’s no fancy packaging, celebrity endorsements or splurging on marketing, it’s just science-backed skincare.
At first appearance, the thick, opaque formula looks like it will leave a white cast behind, but after rubbing into the skin, it leaves no residue whatsoever. The formula is fragrance-free, meaning it’s great for sensitive skin, and the protection packs a punch. Despite sitting outside on a warm day, I don’t feel that my skin is getting hot. Initially it felt quite tacky to the touch but this soon wore off. I love the subtle sheen it leaves, too – giving my skin a healthy glow. I’ll definitely be adding this to my daily sunscreen routine.
Heliocare 360° Invisible Spray SPF50 , £21.74
Heliocare comes highly recommended by leading dermatologists, as it contains Fernblock®, a unique extract containing powerful anti-oxidants that can improve your skin’s defences against four damaging types of radiation from the sun: UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared-A.
The spray absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave an oily or white residue on skin. The water-resistant formula is even effective when applied to wet skin, meaning you can spray it on after you’ve been in the pool or the sea.
The 200ml invisible spray can be used at any angle, making this one of the easiest SPF application experiences I’ve ever had. It’s such a fine spray that goes on completely transparent, is fragrance-free and sits so comfortably on the skin that you won’t know it’s there.
The spray left a light sheen on my skin, and my skin wasn’t smothered; it was just hydrated. I love how quick this was to apply, there was no downtime for rubbing cream in or waiting for it to absorb. It was comfortable enough to sit in the sun for half an hour without feeling the burn .
Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Body Sunscreen Lotion, £7.32
Bondi Sands is an Australian brand, and if there’s one thing the Aussies can do well, is quality sunscreen. As a country with one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, the Australian government has the strictest requirements for sunscreen.
The Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Sunscreen Lotion (150ml) provides UVA & UVB protection, and the fragrance-free formula is fast-absorbing and gentle on the skin. Developed to be water resistant for up to four hours, it has a creamy lotion consistency and is white in colour. Once you work it in, it absorbs easily and doesn’t require much rubbing to blend in well.
It feels more like a moisturiser than a sunscreen; it’s nice to apply, thanks to its soft texture. It’s fragrance-free, it’s suitable for all skin types (including sensitive), and I loved how my skin glowed in the sun after application. I found the formula too heavy to use on my face, but loved the way it hydrated my arms and leg skin while sitting in the afternoon sun.
NIVEA Sun Protect & Moisture Invisible Finish SPF 50+ 150ml £8.70
This new Nivea formula (150ml) claims to work beyond UV filters, by helping the skin by forming a second line of protection and effectively reduces skin’s oxidative stress on cellular level. The dry-touch formula absorbs in seconds and the company claims that the water-resistant formula protects immediately.
The formula respects the ocean by being free of UV filters Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Octocrylene, which have been found to cause coral reef toxicity and are free of microplastics.
The cream is easy to apply, absorbs easily and skin is dry to the touch right away. The cream is a pale yellow and leaves no trace on the skin, but I noticed that after brushing my hand against my other arm around 10 minutes after applying there was a slight bobbling and shedding of the product.
After reading reviews I discovered that a light layer is best to avoid the cream from rubbing off, so I washed the product off, reapplied with a thinner layer and this worked better. The cream was not at all sticky and was comfortable to wear on an early evening dog walk.
Riemann P20 SPF50+ Sensitive Sun Cream, £17.44
Originally developed to protect triathletes from sunburn, P20 has been tested to withstand daylong exposure to salt-water and intense (sweat-inducing) heat, as well as abrasion from sand and tight-fitting garments. The sun cream is especially good for the forgetful, or those who can’t stand faffing around with constant reapplication of sunscreen. The Riemann P20 SPF50+ Sensitive Sun Cream (100ml) boasts up to 10 hours of sun protection, but the company advise that reapplication is needed after towelling off.
This sun cream has been developed specifically for sensitive skin, is fast absorbing, has moisturising benefits, and contains vitamins C and E. I’ve always been wary of once-a-day application, and prefer to top up my sun cream throughout the day but was willing to give P20 a try. Upon first application, the consistency of the lotion is extremely light and a little oily, and it comes out of the pump as a yellowish colour.
I applied and waited 15 minutes as instructed before venturing outside. The lotion left no stickiness behind, although there was a slight stain where I’d managed to get some on my top. I didn’t feel like I was wearing sunscreen as I did some gardening. When I ventured back indoors, my skin looked like I hadn’t spent any time outside, and the sensitive skin formulation didn’t contain anything that would bother my delicate skin.
Hawaiian Tropic Hydrating Protection Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 UVA + UVB Protection, £8.99
Another sunscreen spray (220ml) , but this one is a little more budget-friendly, and comes with an unmistakable summer scent with its coconut, floral, and beachy notes. With a fast-absorbing formula to ensure quick application, it doesn’t leave a greasy residue and instead, skin feels nourished and supple, with ingredients such as mango, plumeria and guava. Its water-resistant properties mean you get long-lasting defence against the sun’s harmful rays.
The spray is clear, so you don’t have to worry about it having a white cast on the skin. It feels like water as you spray it onto the skin and blend. The continuous spray dispenser means it couldn’t be any quicker or easier to apply. Something I wasn’t expecting from this product was for it to be so light, yet so hydrating on the skin.
I sprayed this on my legs, where I usually have some dry skin and found this to be very nourishing and hydrating as I sat in the garden after work. A handy spray that can be easily topped up throughout the day and costs less than a tenner? What’s not to like!
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