14 Holy-Grail Sunscreens That Won't Break You Out

Ultra Violette are a new SPF discovery for me, having just landed on UK shores from Australia earlier this year, but I am so impressed with this range and have been raving about it to everyone. Suitable for all skin types, this sunscreen—or skinscreen as Ultra Violette say—is suitable for all skin types, layers beautifully under makeup and contains vitamin C for an extra boost of brightness.
 
rating Facial Skinscreen SPF 50+, a moisturising facial lotion with high-factor sun protection.
Suitable for all skin types, this lightweight formula is infused with kakadu plum, a vitamin C-rich, antioxidant fruit extract that helps to protect the skin from damaging free radicals and environmental stressors. The addition of peptide dragosine plus helps to shield skin from the full spectrum of the sun’s rays as well as damaging blue light from screens, as well as promoting plump, hydrated skin.

This SPF-infused moisturiser is my favourite sunscreen of all time. I recommend it to basically everyone, but it's especially great for spot-prone complexions, as it's been formulated to keep skin balanced and calm. The texture is incredibly lightweight and leaves skin feeling smooth and soft. Plus, it doubles up as a pretty good makeup primer.

A first of its kind SPF-skincare hybrid from French pharmacy brand La Roche-Posay, this sunscreen not only prevents sun damage from occurring by protecting skin from UVA and UVB rays with SPF 50, but it also corrects the effects of existing sun damage by reducing dark spots and fine lines. So clever.

On the rare occasions that I've been lucky enough to travel stateside, I would always stock up on this cult sunscreen, so I'm delighted that it's now readily available in the UK. As the name suggests, this formula leaves no hint of residue on the skin's surface, and I particularly like the slightly mattified finish that it leaves behind—perfect for oilier complexions.

This is a fairly new sunscreen discovery for me, but I've been totally blown away by it—mainly for the innovative application. You give this can a good shake and then mist it over your face to diffuse the sun protection across your skin, mattifying and blurring pores as it goes. Even better? You can apply this over makeup as the final step in your routine, and it actually helps to set your hard work in place. Honestly, I'm a little bit obsessed.

Another of my most-used sunscreens for my face is this little gem. Yes, it's another one from La Roche-Posay—this brand certainly knows its sun protection—and it's seriously good. Great for sensitive skin, it provides sun protection in a non-greasy, fluid formulation. Oh, and I love the sleek, portable packaging, too.

This is probably the sunscreen that has been recommended to me most frequently by dermatologists, and it really is lovely. It absorbs easily into the skin to leave it feeling hydrated, while the broad-spectrum SPF 50 keeps skin protected from the sun.

Rituals is one of my favourite bodycare brands, but its skincare offering is seriously underrated. This facial sunscreen contains vitamin E, organic white tea and healing ginkgo biloba—an ingredient traditionally used in Chinese medicine—for a rich, hydrating face cream. This is probably the most pampering SPF of the bunch.

This is the most expensive sunscreen that I've ever applied to my face, but it really is a pleasure to use. While all of my other sunscreen recommendations do the job of protecting skin from the sun, this one is probably the nicest to apply thanks to its serum-like texture. It feels so luxurious—as you'd expect from the price tag—and leaves skin looking so glowy and healthy.

Free from silicones and comprised of natural ingredients, this is a brilliant sunscreen for anyone seeking clean sun protection. It contains soothing rice extract to calm redness and yellow passionfruit-seed extract for an antioxidant boost, and I love how it absorbs excess oil for a fresh, non-greasy complexion. 

This is a unique water-gel formulation that's totally transparent, so there is absolutely no risk of it leaving any lingering residue on the surface of your skin. It's totally non-greasy, and it absorbs almost instantly, so it's brilliant if you're looking for a sunscreen to layer under makeup.

We've covered how damaging sun exposure can be for your skin, but there's another risk that's best avoided: pollution. If you're a city dweller like me, then you'll be glad to know Dermalogica's innovative moisturiser protects against both—perfect when you're spending a long day outdoors and really want to make sure that your skin is being looked after.
 

If you ask any beauty editor what their favourite SPF is, it likely will be this one. It's a real cult product and is one of Shiseido's best sellers—and for good reason. This provides solid water-resistant sun protection and actually becomes stronger and more effective once your skin is exposed to water, sweat and heat. I was worried that it would be too heavy for my oily skin, but I was wrong. It's now a staple in my summer SPF stash.

Brimming with vitamins C and E alongside a whole host of potent antioxidants, this hard-working sunscreen actually reduces the appearance of dark spots and evens skin tone while it defends your skin. My skin loves this stuff, and I can attest to how much more even my complexion looks once it's applied.
Up next, I swapped my expensive skincare routine for an under-£98 one—here's what happened.