Would you spend £120 on a body SPF? Augustinus Bader thinks you should. The beauty brand – beloved by Victoria Beckham, Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie – has debuted the solar shield sunscreen, which promises luxury skincare and sun protection in one.
Like many others, I’ve always cared more about what I put on my face than my body. A supermarket shower gel and drugstore body cream sit alongside Augustinus Bader’s retinol serum and rich cream in my bathroom cabinet.
I rarely indulge in luxury body care, particularly sunscreen: a last-minute dash to a Boots in the airport is my usual routine.
A firming, toning and radiance-boosting skincare and sunscreen hybrid, Augustinus Bader’s solar shield SPF is formulated with the brand’s patented TFC8. Just like its cult roster of facial formulas, the SPF is designed to improve the skin’s elasticity, tone and texture over time.
Despite being much more than just sunscreen, it must be applied the same way. “Sunscreen should be applied 15-30 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every two hours, or more frequently after swimming, sweating or towel drying,” clinic lead at Face the Future, Kimbery Medd, explains. “Even the best sunscreen becomes less effective if it's not reapplied throughout the day."
Read more: This is the only face SPF I enjoy wearing daily – and it's just £12
How I tested
I took Augustinus Bader’s solar shield SPF away with me to Tuscany, where I spent hours each day lounging by the pool with a book. Reapplying it throughout the day in between dips, I considered ease of application, the look and feel of the SPF on my skin, how quickly the tube depleted, and whether it protected my skin from burning in the harsh Tuscan sun.
Augustinus Bader solar shield sunscreen
★★★★☆
What we love: Smooths and softens skin for long-lasting hydration, effortless to apply, lightweight and breathable on skin, leaves a radiant finish, and protects against sun damage.
Take note: Reapplying every two hours sees the 175ml bottle deplete quickly, so it might not last an entire holiday – especially if sharing – and it’s very expensive.
With liquid allowances now scrapped at most major airports, the Augustinus Bader solar shield 175ml SPF packs nicely in hand luggage. On first impressions, it’s closer to a body cream than a sunscreen.
The creamy, white formula is on the thick side – I warmed it up in my hands before applying to my skin, and was surprised how much a little went a long way. There’s no white cast or greasy residue. Instead, skin looks radiant and glowy, à la your favourite body oil or moisturiser. The SPF has a barely-there feel with a fragrance-free scent that’s suited to sensitive skin.
The softening and smoothing benefits last beyond a dip in the pool – sinking into skin and delivering lasting hydration. I have some rosacea on the back of my arms, which the sunscreen helped to even out. Across its range, the brand’s TFC8® complex has been praised for its anti-ageing properties – but I can’t comment on this myself for the solar shield.
As for its SPF credentials, my pale – albeit fake-tanned – skin complexion didn’t burn once during my four-day trip. I got a slight bikini tan but no redness or soreness, like I’m often prone to on a holiday.
While I can’t challenge the promised skincare benefits and the sun protection prowess, I can debate the price. At £120, the solar shield is exceedingly expensive for an SPF that a dermatologist – and the brand itself – recommends reapplying every two hours. Over four days of use – sharing the SPF between myself and my partner – the tube was much depleted.
If I were on a week- or two-week-long holiday, the SPF would have undoubtedly run out.
Buy now £120.00, Augustinusbader.com
Is Augustinus Bader’s solar shield worth it?
Augustinus Bader’s solar shield SPF occupies a space few sunscreens do. A luxury skincare product that delivers high-level sun protection, it’s a product that looks as good as it feels on the skin.
In Italy, my skin stayed hydrated, comfortable and protected throughout my trip – and the glow it left meant I rarely felt the need to layer on additional body products.
However, justifying £120 on an SPF that should be applied generously and frequently is steep for most – particularly when it might not even last your entire holiday. An indulgent purchase rather than an essential one, if money is no object, I can’t recommend it enough – if it is, then choose a more affordable pick.
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