10 Game Changing Sun Creams

No matter how much you love a natural tan, baking yourselves in the sun is one YK2 trend, you don’t want to follow.

With temperature reaching record breaking levels, year on year, it’s time to wise up about the dangers of tanning. More sun may seem like more fun but our carefree attitude to the sun’s rays, can result in sunburn, accelerated aging, hyperpigmentation and skin cancer.

Even countries usually known for their milder climates such as the UK and Netherlands, are seeing a dramatic rise in skin cancers due to global warming, proving that we need to take as much care at home as we do abroad.

Not one to miss a beat, our European neighbours have placed free sun cream dispensers in public spaces across the Netherlands this summer, ensuring sun cream is accessible to all, not only those that can afford it. While they may stand alone in their forward thinking approach, it goes to show just how much of a problem our love for the sun is and how important it is that we take action to protect ourselves against it.

At Editor’s Beauty, we have long been vocal about our love for sun protection. The holy grail of skincare, not only does sunscreen protect you from burning and future skin cancers, it is also your number one protector against accelerated aging! So loved is sunscreen amongst on the beauty desk, that it would almost be sacrilege for beauty editor, not to have SPF as their one and only ‘desert island’ product of choice.

Luckily for our readers, because our love for SPF burns so bright, we have tested almost every sun protection product worth trying, making us the perfect candidates to help you find the best sunscreen to suit your needs.

Sharing only our top game changing SPF’s, from coral friendly lotions and creams that don’t leave a white cast, to top-up sun sprays and dermatologist approved SPF’s, gentle enough to protect the youngest of skin, there is bound to be a formula you love.

And because we know that its not so easy to give up that holiday glow, we have also shared our favourite self tanners to help you achieve the natural looking tan you lust after the safe way, alongside a lip plumping SPF lip balm and UV protection hair cream.

Best FACE SUNSCREEN

AVENE Anti-Aging Suncare Very High Protection SPF50+ £22.74

With its light weight, non-comedogenic formula that absorbs quickly and easily into the skin, and broadspectrum formula, Avene’s Anti-Aging Suncare is the perfect example of why French Pharmacy brands are a favourite beauty editors. Formulated with Avene’s exclusive anti-ageing active, Ascofilline and SunSitivie protection, the SPF works to smooth fine lines and wrinkles while keeping your skin protected from harmful UV rays.

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 £22.00

Korean skincare brand COSRX is fast becoming one of our must buy brands and their Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is top of the list. Harnessing the powers of Aloe, this ultra-hydrating sunscreen absorbs quickly into skin to defend against sun damage and environmental aggressors, whilst delivering long-lasting moisture and hydration to leave skin smooth, comfortable and replenished. What’s more this non greasy formula absorbs in to the skin with out leaving any kind of white mask, even on the darkest of skin tones.

Best Body Sunscreen

LANCASTER Sun Beauty Fast Tan Optimizer Satin Dry Oil SPF30 £28

Synonymous with premium sun care, Lancaster is one brand that knows what it’s doing when creating the ultimate desirable sun protection. The Fast Tan Optimizer Satin Dry Oil SPF 30 is no exception. Offering all the skin-loving benefits of a body oil with the protection of a broad spectrum SPF, it features a unique ‘Sun Repair System’ to heal your skin post-exposure and strengthens your skin with pho-ageing resistance. If that’s not enough to entice you, their bespoke ‘Tan Activator Complex’ helps to stimulate the tanning process and melanin diffusion in the skin you can enjoy that golden tan safely.

BEST SUNsCREEN FOR KIDS

HELIOCARE Pediatrics Atopic Lotion Spray SPF 50 PA++++ £32.99

When it comes to keeping your kids safe in the sun you don’t want to mess about. A favourite amoungst dermatologists, Heliocare focus purely on sun protection products with high-level broad spectrum protection against UVA, UVB, visible light and infra-redA light, making their Pediatrics Atopic Lotion Spray summer time essential.

Designed for use on babies and children from 6 months old, this high protection formula, contains both arginine and glycerine, to sooth both sensitive and atopic skin, and features an easy to apply trigger applicator.

BEST ECO SUNSCREEN

SEVENTYONE Invisible Eco Sun Spray SPF50+ £21.50

Want Invisible water-resistant sun protection that’s reef friendly? Eco Sun Spray SPF50+ is an ocean-safe, mineral based suncare which maintains protection while you swim or sweat. Defend against UVA and UVB the added addition of Jojoba Oil strengthens the skin's hydrolipid film and nourishes the skin What’s more, unlike the majority of mineral based SPF’s this one doesn’t leave a white a cast.

Best TINTED SPF Makeup

LA ROCHE POSAY Anthelios UVMUNE 400 Tinted Fluid SPF50+ £19.90 @ thefrenchpharmacy.co

For those days when you just need a little extra coverage but don’t want to wear a full face of makeup to the beach, look no further than La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Tinted Fluid Sunscreen 50 ML SPF 50+ . Created with sensitive skin in mind, including those with intolerant skin and/or prone to allergies to the sun, this ultra-light tinted face sunscreen absorbs both UVA rays (responsible for the aging of the skin) and UVB rays which causes burns and redness of the skin.

Best On-The-Go Sunscreen

ZO SKIN HEALTH Sunscreen + Powder Broad Spectrum SPF 30 £59.99

Perfectly sized to fit in your makeup bag when on the go, ZO Skin Health’s multi-tasking powder SPF protects against UVA and UVB rays, blue light (HEV light) and free radical damage. Available in three different shade, it doubles up as makeup and SPF top up throughout the day, thanks to colour-enhancing pigments and light-reflecting minerals which deliver buildable coverage for a luminous and glowing complexion.

ULTRA VIOLETTE Preen Screen SPF50 Reapplication Mist £32

If you prefer to mist and go, then UltraViolette Preen Screen SPF50 Reapplication Mist, is your new best friend. An easy-to-use sunscreen ideal for protecting the skin when on-the-go, it can be used under and even over makeup, with no worry of ruining your application. Essential for long days in the sun and travel, this summer must have is infused with skincare ingredients including bisabolol and aloe vera to help soothe irritation, redness and inflammation, niacinamide to boost to the skin’s texture and antioxidants, vitamins C and E, to help protect against free radical damage.

Best SPF Lip Balm

IMAGE MD Restoring Lip Enhancer SPF 15 £36

Formulated by a plastic surgeon, this moisturising lip treatment from Image MD offers SPF 15 sun protection, marine collagen filling spheres to boost the appearance of dry, thin lips and peptides to helps promote the look of plumpness.

Best SELF TANNER FOR fACE

SCIENTIA Sunshine & Sea HA + VIT D Aqua Tanning Serum £21

Marrying everyones favourite skincare ingredients with gradual tanner, Scientia Sunshine & Sea HA + VIT D Aqua Tannin Serum tackles tired, dull and stressed-out complexions in one go . Pumped with hydrating hyaluronic acid and antioxidant-rich vitamin D, it protect skin against the ageing effects of free radicals, whilst a blend of naturally derived graddual tanning actives help you build up a beautiful golden glow.

AMANDA HARRINGTON Face Mist £28

This cult tanning product by Amanda Harrington's is a featherweight 'Face Mist' that promises a natural-looking tan, while nourishing skin with with Collagen, CQ10, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamins A and E. We love to use this with their specially designed ‘face lifter’ brush to add a semi permanent contour to the face.

BEST SELF TANNER FOR BODY

ST TROPEZ Self Tan Luxe Body Serum £35

Infused with a cocktail of niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 synergise, St Tropez’s vegan self tanning serum simultaneously bronzes the skin, as its Collagen-Enhancing Complex lends a plumping and firming effect so that skin appears supple and revitalised.

BONDI SANDS Technocolour 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam £19.99

Bondi Sands are on a mission to make the ultimate tan accessible to everyone, no matter what your skin tone. Using innovative jewel-inspired undertones — from emerald to sapphire — Technocolour 1 Hour Express Self Tanning Foam works in harmony with your skin tone to counteract tell-tale orange hues and create deep, even, natural-looking colour. And if you are worried about streaky applications don’t me. To ensure your tan goes on evenly, this hi-tech formula also includes electrolyte hydration and a silky, easy to spread foam texture.

Best Sun-Protective Hair Product

PHILIP KINGSLEY Swimcap £20

Deeply conditioning your hair while shielding it from the damaging effects of chlorine, salt water and UV rays, Swimcap was originally designed by Philip Kingsley to tackle the hair issues of Olympic swimmers. Featuring a protective, water-resistant formula, helps to reduce breakage, colour-fade and dryness, while improving elasticity, bounce and shine.

BEST FOR SUN PREP

OENOBIOL Sun Normal Intensive Normal Skin £22 @ thefrenchpharmacy.co

If you suffer from sun sesitivies you might want to think about prepping your skin for any sun exposure a good few weeks in advance. Oenobiol’s Intensive Sun Normal Skin, has been developed to be taken before during and after the sun exposure. Featuring a blend of Actilycopene, an extract of Tagète (lutein) selenium, and vitamin E, it helps to activate and prolong a golden tan, improve the tolerance of the skin and protect it from the harmful effects of the sun by fighting against photoviellissement .

GATINEAU Tan Accelerating Lotion £49

Encouraging the skin's natural self-protection through advanced-performance melanin production activators, this tan accelerating lotion has a unique triple action that helps to prepare, boost and prolong tanning. Use at least two week prior to sun exposure, during and after to prolong results.