24 Editor-Approved Sunscreens for Face to Protect Your Skin This Summer

Murad Multi-Vitamin Clear Coat Cream SPF 50 (£33.60)

"If the thought of a white sunscreen cast feels you with fear then this is for you. This clear gel formula is packed full of skin loving ingredients too, like vitamins C, D, E and F, bio-fermented clary sage, and omega-rich chia seed which not only make you skin look and feel hydrated all day long but also help protect it from environmental factors. It feels completely different to nearly every othert sunscreen I have tried and I really recommend it for a big occasion, like a wedding, where you will be having lots of photos and don't want to dreaded flashback on your face." – Lauren Ezekiel, Associate Editor

Pai British Summertime Glow SPF30 (£34)

"As summer finally arrives in the UK, the Pai British Summer Time Glow SPF30 has been an excellent choice for sun protection and a dewy makeup base. This SPF provides a subtle shimmer underneath my makeup, perfect for golden hour. I also get to skip my usual priming step during my makeup routine, so less time at my vanity and more time in the sun." – Lauren Gordon, Editorial Coordinator

"This is everything I want from an everyday facial SPF – high protection, lightweight, non-sticking and moisturising. I don't need an additional hydrating product when I'm using this so it replaces my daily moisturiser and it still leaves my skin feeling nourished and looking plumped." – LE

Institut Estherderm Bronz Repair Face Care Strong Sun (£66)

"I know tanning is bad for your skin, but there's still a part of me that loves a bit of a natural glow. If you can get over the lack of SPF numbers, which I know does confuse a lot of people, and like to get a hint of a glow then I urge you to try this. You can buy according to the sun strength, which means I tend to go for moderate sun through the spring and then strong sun in the summer months. It is quite thick, but then absorbs into the skin to leave a very subtle shine, and I find it gives me the hint of colour I long for to give a healthy glow." - LE

Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF50 Bronzing Super Glow Drops (£33)

"If there's one place that knows how to make a good SPF, it's Australia. All the way from down under, Ultra Violette is my favourite SPF brand, thanks to its innovative approach to sun protection and skincare combined. During the summer, I tend to go makeup-free but unfortunately, tanned skin is never on the cards for me (damn redhead genes) which is why I love the Ultra Violette QUEEN SCREEN Super Glow Bronzing Drops. They give my skin such a natural, sun-kissed glow. I tend to mix it with the Fave Fluid Ultralight SKINSCREEN for the ultimate natural and protected base." Chloe Dunn, Senior Social Content Producer.

The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF30 (£15)

"Building on the success of its best-selling Polyglutamic acid (also known as PGA) serum is this hero hydrator set to give hyaluronic acid a run for its money, with the potential to draw even more water into the top levels of the skin. The Inkey List decided to create a skin-priming sunscreen designed to convince even the most SPF-adverse to add it to their routine. The result is a silky, dewy formula that perks up dry, dull, and dehydrated skin at the same time as delivering UVA and UVB protection. It's so hydrating, you can get away without wearing a moisturiser underneath — especially when the weather is warmer." Jess Beech, Contributing Editor.

Simple Glow Radiance SPF30 (£4)

"My dry skin's ride or die. Although only 50ml, Simple's Radiance Booster SPF30 is a small but mighty multi-purpose product that I've been using for years. It adds a radiant glow to my skin while protecting from UV rays, is incredibly lightweight and practically invisible on the skin, bar the luscious glow!" LG

L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Clinical Anti-UV Fluid SPF50+ (£20)

"This SPF has been formulated specifically with hyperpigmentation in mind, using vitamin C to both fade existing marks and prevent ones from forming. It's lovely and light in texture, so will slot nicely into your morning routine if this is an area of concern for you. Especially as hyperpigmentation happens when the melanocytes (the cells in our skin that give it its colour) go into overdrive and produce way more pigment than you actually need. This results in deeper patches of skin, which can either be large (melasma) or small (sun spots or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). It's caused mainly by sun damage, which is why, if you're prone to it, you're more likely to find that it crops up or darkens during the summer months." JB

Skin Proud Serious Shade SPF50 (£17)

"The packaging for Skin Proud's Serious Shade SPF50 won me over. It's sleek, slim and under 100ml, making it ideal for carry-on travel, especially when you're struggling to fit everything into that criminally small plastic bag, but I digress. The formula itself is hydrating and smoothing, however I'm not a fan of the scent." LG

Rituals Karma Sun Protection Face Cream SPF 30 (£14)

"I always know summer has finally arrived when I swap out my winter-favourite Ritual of Hammam products for the summer collection, Ritual of Karma. I love everything about this SPF, especially the gorgeous white tea and lotus flower scent. It's such a gentle fragrance and it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin at all. I tend to reach for this suncream on makeup free days as I want all of the hydra-boost complex (aloe vera, squalane and algae) to soak into my skin and keep it protected and moisturised all day long." CD

La Roche Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Oil Control Invisible Fluid SPF50+ (£20)

"The scientists at La Roche Posay recently discovered that most sunscreens don't protect from a type of ray called ultra-long UVA, which sits on the light spectrum next to blue light. That's why they created the innovative UVmune 400 filter, to make sure our skin is properly protected. I'm so pleased to see it has now expanded the range, with an oil-control version, especially for combination, oily, and spot-prone skin. It's been formulated so that it won't clog pores and also has a dry-touch, matte finish that won't contribute towards that dreaded 3pm forehead shine. It's not at all tacky either, so your skin doesn't feel sticky to the touch." JB

Jurlique UV Defence Daily Lotion SPF50 (£32.50)

"Jurlique's SPF50 was a bit of an underdog I will admit, but don't let the simple packaging fool you. One full pump of this smooth lotion is enough for your face and neck, and despite the the consistency, it quickly and seamlessly blends to give a lightweight, dewy finish with no white cast. I genuinely look forward to reapplying because of how good it makes my skin feel." LG

Hello Sunday the Shimmer Glow Stick SPF45 (£22)

"This was my go-to on holiday recently, not only does it provide excellent protection against UVA and UVB rays it gives skin a gorgeous glow – ideal for non-makeup warmer days. I also love the fact that it's a stick applicator as it means you can apply on the go. It is also great for beach days as you you don't need to worry about sandy hands as you can apply directly to the skin completely mess-free." Lauren Ezekiel, Associate Editor

Glossier Invisible Shield SPF (£32)

"This is quickly becoming a favourite in my skin care routine. It's invisible, with zero white cast and a matt finish— a huge plus for me as it can be sandwiched between my moisturiser and primer with no pilling. Glossier's SPF is a clear, gel-like formula that doesn't feel or look greasy." LG

Skin + Me Daily Defence Oil-Free SPF50 Sunscreen (£20)

"If you're using prescription-strength ingredients like tretinoin and hydroquinone it's even more important to be protecting your skin from UV rays, as both can increase sun sensitivity. This sunscreen was formulated for this reason, with an SPF50 formula that you won't begrudge wearing every day. It's oil-free and contains niacinamide, which makes it a good choice for anyone with congested or acne-prone complexions, and it absorbs into the skin beautifully. The only downside is that it's quite easy to get a bit too much out of the tube at once, so don't squeeze too hard." JB

Ultra Sun UV Face and Scapl Mist SPF50 (£18)

"This is in all my handbags throughout the summer months, ideal if you're caught out and about and need to top up your SPF. I also use this on my children if I feel they need additional SPF protection throughout the day. It is a lightweight texture, which gives skin a nice glow without looking like you're wearing anything too heavy. It's great for hard to reach, and often forgotten areas, like the back of your neck, top of the ears and along your parting."

Vichy Capital Soleil UV Age Daily SPF50+ Facial Sunscreen (£22)

"If you hate the feeling of sunscreen on your skin, naturally run hot, or find that thick, blanket-like SPFs make you feel suffocated, then this is the one for you. It's so fluid that it's almost watery in texture, and soaks in immediately without leaving a film. This makes it a good choice for blemish-prone skin too, as it's not going to sit and make itself at home in your pores. The bottle is teeny tiny, but a little does go a long way, so don't feel short-changed when you see the size of it. It's enriched with skincare ingredients like moisturising vitamin E, skin-plumping peptides, and balancing niacinamide too for extra brownie points." JB

Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF50 (£65)

"I tend to stay away from mineral sunscreens, but Tatcha's Weightless Mineral Silk Sunscreen SPF50 is lightweight and silky, providing a seamless, smooth base for makeup and, of course, UV protection. I also love the applicator nozzle for this, which makes it easy to apply and mess-free. Indulging on sun care never goes amiss, but there are most likely some other, affordable options out there." LG

Malin + Goetz SPF30 Sunscreen-High Protection (£33)

"Mineral sunscreens have gained a bit of an unfair reputation for being super thick (think that white slick cricket players apply across their noses) but this one completely debunks that. It is ever-so-slightly heavier than some of the chemical SPFs on this list, but still has the texture of a lightweight gel moisturiser and sinks into the skin really nicely. There are added antioxidants in the formula for an extra layer of defence against UV rays, and it feels moisturising without being greasy. Our only gripe is that it leaves a faint white cast on deeper skin tones." JB

Supergoop! Mineral Matte Screen SPF30 (£34)

"Hate the sheen that sunscreen leaves on your skin? This one is the answer. It's completely matte, with an almost paste-like texture – think Benefit Porefessional but slightly thicker. Skin looks instantly smoother and less shiny, with the most noticeable blurring around the t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). It's brilliant as a primer, creating a soft-focus base beneath your makeup as well as providing that all-important protection. It uses mineral UV filters, which means it's blocking those UV rays, although does leave a slight white cast on deeper skin tones. To work around this, you'd need to follow with foundation or tinted moisturiser." JB

Paula's Choice Advanced Sun Protection Daily Moisturiser SPF50 (£39)

"Paula's Choice Advance Sun Protection Daily Moisturiser SPF 50 got me through two sunny holidays in 2023, where the UV was (reportedly) dangerously high. I used this as an SPF over my moisturiser, because I felt it wasn't hydrating enough for my dry skin, but I highly rate how well this product shielded my skin." LG

Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF50 Sunscreen+ Primer (£50 for non-members)

"Beauty Pie has packed a lot into this clever little tube. There are peptides and sugar molecules to help reduce the impact of stress on the skin, antioxidants to protect and prevent premature ageing, and a mix of smart UV filters to shield the skin. The name isn't an over-sell, and it really is impressively featherlight for an SPF50, sinking into the skin in a matter of seconds. It doesn't leave any oily residue, just a low-key dewy glow that's just enough to make skin look healthy rather than sweaty. If you can pick it up at the non-member's price, it's £14 so a real bargain." JB

Ilia C Beyond Triple Serum SPF30 (£68)

"The ultimate team effort, Ilia's C Beyond Triple Serum SPF40 is part serum, part tinted base, and part sunscreen. Unlike the others on this list, this one comes in different shades, catering from extra light to extra deep skin tones. I normally eye-roll at a brand only producing three shade options, but the tint is barely-there and super-stretchy, so really does cater for everyone. Vitamin C is a nice addition, as this potent antioxidant will help to support the work of your SPF by providing extra protection from UV. Think of it like wearing a hat as well as sunglasses on the beach. The formula feels quite oily to begin with, but does dry down over a few minutes." JB

Cerave Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50 (£16.50)

"If you're looking for a one-step moisturiser/SPF then this is the product for you. This formual doesn't sacrifice hydration or protection and its ideal if you have sensitive skin and prefer to minimaise the amout of products you apply to your skin. I highly recommend this all year round but especially as the sun comes out and you are going about your day-to-day and not thinking about wearing sunscreen." LE

Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years' experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.

Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at PS UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specializes in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.

Chloe Dunn is a social content producer at PS UK. With more than six years of experience in social media marketing, she is always on the lookout for the latest viral buzz. Working across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest, Chloe specialises in bringing people together virtually and building global online communities. She has previously worked in the music industry, including at a major record label and for the UK's biggest group of music venues.