The five best SPFs for your face this summer

SPF is the most important thing you can put on your face if you’re concerned about the signs of aging (and if you’re not, genuine, heartfelt congratulations on resisting a youth-obsessed culture). No matter where you identify on the gender spectrum, the sun is the biggest contributor to all those lovely things which tell other people you’ve been on the earth for a significant amount of time. In fact, studies show that UV exposure is responsible for around 80pc of visible aging signs. Basically, you can use all the high-end skincare you like, but if you’re not wearing SPF, you might as well be flushing your money down the toilet.

Isn’t it great, though, to know that one simple step in your routine can be so powerful? OK, I hear your lacklustre responses, and accept that it’s not easy to get excited about SPF. Having said that though, the brands are doing their best to up the sexy stakes when it comes to this all-important step.

Supergoop is a brand which has become absolutely enormous in the US and in other countries where the sun has a greater presence than it has here. Founded in Texas by Holly Thaggard, the company started in order to get SPF pumps into schools so that children were better protected from the sun. With an enduring passion for ensuring people stay protected, these days the brand seeks to create formulas people really love so that they enjoy applying them and it becomes a daily habit.

We don’t have access to all the Supergoop formulas in Ireland, but Cult Beauty and Beauty Bay stock some of them, and I have become almost dependant on Glow Screen (from €16.90 via cultbeauty.com), a hydrating SPF 30 which leaves the skin dewy and luminous. It’s gorgeous on its own and under makeup, and I never want to be without it.

Ultra Violette is another cool-girl SPF brand, founded in Australia, where they take sunscreen very, very seriously. These products feel like skincare but offer serious protection, and come in multiple formulas (from €43 via beautybay.com) so there’s one for every skin type. Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen is ideal for oily skin, Supreme Screen is super hydrating and ideal for dry skin, while Queen Screen is a luminising SPF serum, making it super lightweight.

Clarins’ Invisible Sun Care Stick (€25 via clarins.ie) offers factor 50+ protection, and comes in stick form. As it’s clear, there is no need to worry about a white cast, and its size and shape mean it’s handy to carry with you (ideally sun protection would be reapplied every couple of hours throughout the day). Aside from that, it leaves the skin absolutely glowing, but doesn’t feel heavy or sticky.

Other perennial SPF faves of mine include the wonderful, and Irish, Skingredients Skin Shield SPF 50 (€52-57 via meagherspharmacy.ie), which works brilliantly with other skincare products and sits beautifully under makeup.

La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios range is absolutely solid and now comes in an Age Protect formula (€26 via mccabespharmacy.com) which contains active ingredients to improve the skin’s elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sun spots. Whichever you choose, use it every day, and follow the instructions on how much to use!

Something old...

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream (€46 via brownthomas.com) has changed name in the last couple of years but it has not decreased in popularity. This bronzing cream comes in a large pot, making it easy to swirl a brush in it, and blends into the skin beautifully. The finish is smooth and velvety without being overly tacky or wet, and gives a natural sun-kissed glow. This product comes in three shades, but I find even the palest shade is a little orange for my fair skin and the deepest shade is too fair for darker skin tones – this is my only criticism.

... Something new

Charlotte Tilbury is back with a new product and it’s going to give Chanel a run for its money. Beautiful Skin Sun-kissed Glow Bronzer (€52 via charlottetilbury.com) is a cream bronzer which comes in a large compact with a mirror, and promises to blur and hydrate as well as bronze. Hydration comes via hyaluronic acid. It comes in four shades – Fair, Medium, Tan and Deep. Tilbury’s products for fair skin usually deliver as she is so fair herself, and this is no different. The fair shade is a beautiful cool tone, not orange at all, and the Deep shade is properly deep. These will be a big hit!

Prime candidate

Eyeshadow primer is a mainstay of some makeup lovers’ routines, but many people aren’t even aware they exist. Their purpose is to even the skin tone on the lid, as well as improving the skin’s texture so that shadow applies more smoothly and lasts longer. Concealer can be used for this purpose, as long as it’s a light formula which dries down. Eyeshadow primer is most effective for people with oily lids, who find their shadow creases and moves as the day goes on.