Applying SPF cream should be a part of your daily skincare routine, as despite some people believing they only need to wear it during the summer months, the sun can damage your skin all year round, even when it's cloudy.
There are many SPF creams on the market from a variety of brands that can protect your skin from UV radiation. Some solely offer protection from the sun, whereas others are also a moisturiser. We've put three SPF creams to the test - La Roche Posay Effacular Duo+ Cream SPF 30 from Boots, grüum SPF50 Face Sunscreen and Bondi Sands Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ Face, to see how they compared.
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La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ Cream SPF 30
I’ll admit I only started using SPF daily around five months ago following the advice of a beautician. A lot of products can cause my skin to break out, so she recommended the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ Cream SPF 30 which is also a moisturiser and spot treatment that helps achieve "clearer skin in four weeks".
It’s quite pricey compared to other brands, with the 40ml tube costing £18.50 from Boots. I think it’s worth every penny, though, considering the extra benefits and the fact I’ve found an SPF that doesn’t make me break out.
The La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ Cream SPF 30 offers broad spectrum protection against UVA, UVB and pollution. It isn’t too thick and absorbs into the skin quickly without your face feeling greasy afterwards. It also doesn’t have a strong smell like some SPFs can.
I found it was a great base before applying makeup, as it helped the products stay in place longer. Although the tube is quite small, a little goes a long way, so it has lasted me a long time.
After using the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ SPF 30 nearly every day for the last five months, I’m very impressed. I would be hesitant to use any other SPF.
Rating: 5/5
Price: £18.50
Where to buy: Boots
grüum SPF50 Face Sunscreen
As someone with a complexion that resembles Casper the Friendly Ghost, sun protection is a vital part of my skincare routine.
Actually, regardless of your skin tone, you should always use a decent SPF to protect your skin from the harsh effects of UVA and UVB light. SPF is my best friend and it should be yours, too.
I'm always on the hunt for decent SPF face creams that don't leave me looking like a greasy, shiny mess while managing to keep my makeup in place, too. After struggling to get my hands on my old favourite by Bondi Sands, which seemed to be sold out everywhere, I opted to try the grüum SPF50 Face Sunscreen.
It's a reasonably priced product, costing around £6 at full price on a variety of sites, and it's also vegan and cruelty free which is really important to me. The cream is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.
It's quite a gloopy consistency and it does leave my skin incredibly shiny but it settles down and allows makeup to go on with ease. I would advise giving yourself plenty of time to let it absorb into the skin before attempting to apply any makeup, because it's difficult to effectively blend products unless the cream is fully soaked in.
I think this is a really effective and protective product that leaves my skin feeling soft and looking smooth. The only issue is how long it takes to soak into the skin, so it's not something I can use if I'm in a rush. I will definitely keep using it and will likely repurchase, too.
Rating: 4/5
Price: £6
Where to buy: Look Fantastic, grüum's website
Bondi Sands Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ Face
I'm pretty minimalist when it comes to skincare, but SPF cream is definitely one of my must-use products. As I've gotten older, I've noticed a change in my skin tone and now need to use products that offer a lot more hydration.
I've previously used and been impressed with Clarin's Invisible Gel-to-Oil Facial Sun Care UVA/UVB 30, but at £20 for a 50ml tube it doesn't come cheap. To make some savings I decided to try the Bondi Sands Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+ Face, which is £6.99 for a 75ml tube at Feelunique.
The first thing I noticed about the white cream was that it didn't have a fragrance, unlike the Clarins SPF I'd used, which had that dreamy holiday suntan lotion type scent. I used a small blob, slightly bigger than a pea sized amount and that was enough to cover my whole face.
It felt really nice and hydrated as I smoothed it over my complexion and I could see my skin was already lapping it up. It gave me a dewy look, which I was pleased with. A word of warning though, it did leave an oily feel for a while, before it had fully sunk in, so when possible I'll need to leave a bit time before putting on my make up.
If you're skin is on the dry side, I think you'll enjoy using this SPF, but it might not be suited to people who have an oily complexion. Importantly, the SPF appears to do its most important job as I've used it during recent hot weather spells without any other sun cream, and it's offered really good protection.
Rating: 4/5
Price: £6.99 for 75ml
Where to buy: Feelunique
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