20 Best Face Sunscreens 2022

Whether we like it or not, wearing a face SPF sunscreen should be a daily essential for all skin types – even if you’re indoors, and during the winter months!

A good quality SPF will protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays – which can cause a reduction in collagen, elasticity, pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles – not to mention an increased risk of skin cancer too.

The good news? Face sunscreens are no longer thick, sticky and greasy! There are now plenty of great formulas that won’t clog pores or leave you looking like a ghost either.

It’s really important to check that your sunscreen is suitable for your skin type and offers a minimum of SPF 30.

Nowadays you can find SPF in all different forms – from complexion-boosting tinted CC creams, hydrating moisturisers with SPF, and antioxidant-rich lotions for extra wrinkle-proofing powers!

Should you get caught out by the sun and need some tips for dealing with sunburn? We’ve got you covered – check out these tricks and treatments to relieve blisters, redness and peeling.

We’ve also rounded up the 10 best aftersun lotions and creams for soothing and hydrating sunburnt skin.

How to choose a sunscreen for your face

Elemis Daily Defence Shield SPF 30

This lightweight SPF 30 formula protects the skin against UVA and UVB rays, environmental pollution and high energy visible light, especially now that the sun has come out to play.

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Best face sunscreens for 2022

We’ve rounded up the top sunscreens for your face below, including formulas for every skin type.

1. Elemis Daily Defence Shield SPF 30

Best for dehydrated skin

Although it’s ideal to wear SPF all year round, this lightweight SPF 30 formula protects the skin against UVA and UVB rays, environmental pollution and high energy visible light, especially now that the sun has come out to play.

The creamy, non-greasy formula contains Elemis Enviro-Age Complex, a triple defense system that helps combat the visible effects of environmental ageing, that’s also perfect when used as a base for makeup.

The clinically proven sunscreen is infused with coconut and jojoba oils to deliver a boost of hydration and leave the skin feeling nourished, soft and supple.

Buy now from Elemis (£46.00).

2. Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor SPF 30 Sunscreen Moisturizer

Best for darker skin tones

This 2-in-1 sunscreen and moisturiser is lightweight, oil free, and truly invisible on all skin tones, making the perfect sunscreen for melanated skin tones.

It won’t clog your pores and is known to clap back at dehydration, discoloration, dark spots, and it’s also makeup-friendly too. Best of all the container is refillable.

3. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine SPF50+ Sun Cream Gel

Best for acne-prone skin

La Roche-Posay are well known for offering gentle, nourishing formulas that are perfect for those who are prone to blemishes. The Anthelios Anti-Shine Sun Cream Gel is a non-comedogenic, light-as-air gel cream that offers SPF 50 protection and leaves a matte finish.

The water-resistant formula is suitable for all skin types but is specially designed for sensitive, intolerant and combination to oily skin.

4. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer With Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Best for uneven skin

This best-selling moisturiser boasts an oil-free formula, is noncomedogenic (won’t clog pores) and is non-greasy – making it a great choice for all skin types.

With natural light diffusers, it’s designed to leave you with a more even skin tone and improved texture for a radiant glow.

5. REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF30 Mattifying Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen 50ml

Best for sensitive skin

This silicone-free sunscreen is designed to protect the skin against all forms of light, plus it’s non-comedogenic formula won’t leave you looking pale as a sheet.

Easily absorbed, the lightweight product is created with clean ingredients that make it suitable for even the most sensitive complexions.

It contains yellow passionfruit seed extract and soothing rice extract to diminish red skin and leaves you with a shine-free finish.

6. Supergoop! GlowScreen SPF 30

Best to wear under makeup

Supergoop’s Glowscreen gives your skin an enviably dewy and luminous glow, not to mention the protection of SPF 30. It also sits well under makeup without making your skin look shiny or greasy.

The formula is packed with hyaluronic acid and cocoa peptides to hydrate to the skin, while niacinamide helps to reduce excess sebum. Count us in!

7. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid SPF50+

Best for combination skin

Keep your complexion nourished and protected with La Roche-Posay’s best-selling sun cream.

The lightweight fluid applies effortlessly to the skin without leaving the look and feel of greasy, heavy product residue.

It creates a powerful barrier against the harsh rays of the sun, reducing the risk of burning and irritation.

8. Bare Minerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Moisturiser SPF 30

Best hydrating face sunscreen

This vegan facial sunscreen offers a great boost of hydration, while green coffee bean and peony extract help to brighten up dull complexions.

A mineral-based SPF 30 gives protection against UVA and UVB rays to prevent future signs of ageing.

9. Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF 50

Best for oily skin

This Kiehl’s product gives you both a High factor SPF and a non-greasy formula that oily skin types will appreciate.

Not only is it light enough for daily use, but will also help to reduce visible signs of ageing. We’re sold!

10. Clinique Mineral Sunscreen Fluid for Face SPF50

Best for all skin types

This oil-free mineral sunscreen is designed with all skin types in mind.

It contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for protection against UV rays, plus the invisible finish makes it great for every skin tone.

11. Malin + Goetz SPF30 Sunscreen High Protection

Best for combination skin

This new launch from Malin+Gotez is one you’ll want to get your hands on ASAP!

With its quick-absorbing, non-greasy formula, this SPF 30 creates a shield against UV damage, while also hydrating skin – and even acts as an impressive primer for makeup too.

The star of this gel-cream formula is Malin+Goetz’s innovative, cold processed ‘MicroSperse Technology’ – which helps the SPF to glide on easily, spreading across your skin without pilling up or leaving an unwanted residue.

The nourishing formula is also brimming with brightening, oil-balancing niacinamide, antioxidant-packed, conditioning vitamin E and other skin-loving ingredients!

12. Carbon Theory Day-Lite SPF 50+

Best for sensitive skin

With a unique super-lightweight formula, and a broad-spectrum UVA and UVB sun protection plus built-in hydration – Carbon Theory’s Day-Lite is a new generation of sunscreen.

Vegan and Cruelty-Free, Day-Lite SPF 50+ is designed for all skin types, from sensitive to oily and also has our breakout-busting ingredients to ensure that your skin is happy, healthy and protected from the sun.

SymSave H is an antioxidant ingredient with soothing characteristics to calm sensitive skin.

13. Naked Sundays SPF 50+ Hydrating Glow Mist

Best for over makeup

Keep your skin happy and healthy with Naked Sundays SPF50+ Hydrating Glow Mist.

Designed with a lighter spray and innovative nozzle, this mist provides a gentle cooling, skin-loving finish with high performance SPF50+ to keep your skin protected when you top up your SPF throughout the day.

This unique formula is completely invisible and packed with native Australian botanical extracts, hydrating hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-rich watermelon extract and vitamin C rich Kakadu plum, perfect for not only setting your makeup, but also adding a luminous glow to your skin!

14. Dr Levy Pollution Shield

Best to prevent ageing skin

Designed to prevent premature ageing by protecting your skin from pollution, Dr. LEVY Switzerland’s innovative Pollution Shield 5PF defends against the five types of pollution in four ways: anti-adherence, anti-penetration, anti-oxidation and anti-ageing.

Within minutes, the invisible formula effectively repels physical pollution while visibly softening the skin texture under a silky-soft veil.

The skin, under its protective screen, is bathed in protective probiotics, antioxidants and moisture-capturing oils to support your skin’s natural barrier.

It’s also supercharged with co-enzyme Q10 and vitamins C and E to help fortify depleted skin from within, promoting a more youthful finish!

15. Arbonne FunSun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Best for all over protection

This vegan and cruelty free formula goes on super lightweight and easily absorbs into skin, without the embarrasing chalky look afterwards.

TheZinc Oxide broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen delivers a more sheer, translucent appearance and to fight against UVA (skin ageing rays) and UVB (burning rays).

It’s also resistant against water meaning you can dip in the pool with full protection too.

Buy now from Arbonne (£32.00).

16. Verso Day Cream SPF 30

Best for anti-aging skin

Named the ‘ultimate daily hydrator’, Verso’s Day Cream SPF 30 keeps skin looking fresh and luminous from morning ‘til night – by smoothing creases, boosting radiance, brightening imperfections and providing protection from sun damage. Best of all? It’s all done without the tell-tale film left behind by so many skincare and suncare hybrids.

Verso are swiftly redefining retinol, with their patented ‘Retinol 8 Complex’ – a unique vitamin A derivative (a more stable form of vitamin A, with eight times the potency of topical retinol in the same dosage), together with polyphenol extracts – that works to smooth the appearance of wrinkles, strengthen the skin barrier, reduce pigmentation and supply the skin with more much-needed energy and oxygen to refine and illuminate without irritating! Pretty cool, hey?

17. Perricone MD Hypoallergenic CBD Sensitive Skin Therapy Ultra-Lightweight Calming SPF 25 Veil

Best for calming skin

This lightweight veil delivers powerful broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection whilst leaving the skin feeling calmed and soothed with nourishing Cannabidiol and skin-softening Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil!

Formulated with 99% pure Cannabidiol (CBD), the gentle sunscreen gives the your skin the protection it deserves – an it’s suitable for the most sensitive skin too!

The result? Your kin is left feeling calmed and soothed with an invisible, non-greasy finish.

18. COSRX’s Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++

Best for soothing skin

Perfect for daily use, this Aloe Soothing Sun Cream works to protect the skin from UV and environmental aggressors while deeply hydrating.

Lightweight enough to feel like a moisturiser, the sunscreen is easily and quickly absorbed by the skin, without feeling greasy or leaving a white cast.

Formulated with Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract, the SPF leaves skin hydrated in the summer, without stripping the complexion!

19. Ultra Violette Lean Screen Mineral Mattifying Fragrance Free Skinscreen SPF50

Best for mattifying skin

Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen Mineral Mattifying Fragrance Free Skinscreen SPF50 is a mineral-only SPF that will have re-thinking everything you know about mineral SPFs.

For starters, it won’t feel heavy – so you won’t look like a cricketer after application and sensitive skin won’t throw a tantrum either!

Perfect for anyone with oily or reactive skin, or those who just prefer a physical sunscreen, this fragrance-free formula won’t feel sticky or heavy; quite the contrary, it’s designed to soothe sensitive skin and grant a subtle matte finish.

Its protective prowess stems from zinc oxide; nothing more, nothing less – that protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays while working as a soothing anti-inflammatory to reactive, angry skin.

Plant-derived pentavin then lends the blend a refreshing hit of hydration that reveals itself as a plump, juicy finish, plus antioxidant-rich kakadu plum guards your skin against free radicals and promotes a simply luminous finish!

20. Hello Sunday The Everyday One – Face Moisturiser

Best for added skin protection

With the finish of a hydrating cream and the protection of a sunscreen, Hello Sunday’s The Everyday One – Face Moisturiser SPF 50 works hard to shield your skin from environmental aggressors – be it UVA/UVB rays, polluting particles or blue light!

Bridging the gap between sun protection and skin care, this fragrance-free formula is crafted from hyaluronic acid (the beauty industry’s favourite hydrating ingredient), as well as a moisturising complex of panthenol, allantoin and aloe vera to thoroughly soothe, condition and quench your skin.

As if that wasn’t enough, it’s infused with free radical-thwarting carnosine and a blend of antioxidant-rich ingredients such as vitamin C, algae and bisabolol to soothe and protect your skin. When it comes to the finish, the lightweight cream absorbs easily and leaves skin feeling super soft!

Have you tried any of these SPF creams before? Or fancy giving one a go? Let us know which product you’re most excited about trying in the comments section below.