The SPF Make-Up I Always Travel With
For years, I came back from holiday with dark spots on the apples of my cheeks, despite having been assiduous with my broad-spectrum SPF50. It took me a while to realise that I got the discolouration exactly where I rub on my liquid blush – whose formula clearly dissolved some of my sunscreen. The solution? Allowing sunscreen to settle on skin for a good ten minutes before applying make-up has helped, as has dabbing on colour cosmetics instead of rubbing them in.
But there is an easier way: make-up infused with sunscreen. Until quite recently, these products – mostly tinted moisturisers and foundations – were not to be relied upon when in need of serious sun protection: the SPF factors were too low, there were no UVA filters and no sweat-resistance. But with serious suncare brands wading into the make-up space over the past few years, not just your base, but your lip balm and even your blusher and eyeshadow have become summer vacay-proof.
It means you can slap on your make-up and trot off to the beach, safe in the knowledge that your skin is protected and you look pretty good. Of course, you’ll still have to re-apply every two hours or get out of the sun. And it’s important to reiterate that not all make-up boasting an SPF is good enough poolside or on your yacht (or dinghy): you want to concentrate on suncare-first brands to get the level of protection required.
Such as? Here are some of my top picks…
SKIN
Face Fluid Anti-Pigmentation Tinted SPF50+
£32 | Ultrasun
Ultrasun formulas are meticulously formulated with next-gen chemical and mineral UV filters to deliver protection that lasts significantly longer than most other sunscreens, all without irritating skin or causing any pilling. Their golden ‘honey’ tint works on dark skin tones and really lifts and unifies my light one – this non-greasy fluid is one of my favourite tinted moisturisers. All that and it helps fade brown spots too.
Available at JohnLewis.com
Daily Shield Lotion Tinted SPF50
£56.98 | Epionce
Not by a sunscreen brand, but its very high level of zinc oxide plus titanium dioxide gives solid broad-spectrum protection that’s hugely hardy (it’s water-resistant for 80 minutes): you definitely need to double-cleanse to get it off. The texture is thick but fluffy and cloud-like, and it blurs pores and lines, while the milky, semi-sheer hot choc-shade is very flattering on lighter skin tones. On dark skin, it probably has too much of a white undertone to really work.
Available at Amazon.co.uk
Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil
£38 | Ultra Violette
This feels like a rich tinted serum but is oil-free and, because it has no mineral filters (which are powder suspensions), you can build the colour and top up your protection without the risk of pilling. Comes in 15 shades across the spectrum.
Available at SpaceNK.com
The Invisible One Primer SPF50
£20 (was £25) | Hello Sunday
If you just want to wear your own foundation, make it beach-proof by anchoring it to this water and sweat-resistant broad-spectrum primer. A clear gel, it velvetises and mattifies skin so well that it’s hard to believe it’s silicone-free.
Available at CultBeauty.co.uk
UV Base Daily Care SPF50
£49 | By Terry
If you don’t like the super-slick feel of traditional primers, this is a light, hydrating cream-gel alternative that has just enough tack to keep your foundation in place. Apart from a broad-spectrum SPF50, it has niacinamide and vitamin E, so it triples as an antioxidant moisturiser.
Available at SpaceNK.com
Complexion Rescue Brightening Under Eye Concealer SPF25
£25 | BareMinerals
Based on mineral UV filter titanium dioxide, this offers good UVB protection but is only a limited UVA shield, so get extra help from your sunglasses or your regular sunscreen. Mousse-light and non-irritating to the delicate eye area, this brightens over time and instantly, thanks to its 15 illuminating shades.
Available at Sephora.co.uk
Super BB Concealer
£14 | Erborian
Another titanium dioxide-based SPF25 concealer – unfortunately it’s the one make-up item sunscreen-first brands don’t offer. This one comes in five shades and can be used to dab on blemishes and under-eye-circles
Available at SpaceNK.com
CHEEKS
CabanaGlow SPF50 Mineral Glow Serum Drops
£34 | Naked Sundays
From an Australian brand created specifically to offer make-up with solid broad-screen sun protection (there’s an SPF50 foundation in 15 shades as well), these super-glowy, glide-on drops come in blusher, bronzer and highlighter versions.
Available at Sephora.co.uk
Blush Tint Nudescreen SPF30
£26.50 | Nudestix
Broad-spectrum and in five juicy shades, this weightless cream blush has replaced the regular blush in my holiday washbag and done away with my post-hols cheek pigmentation.
Available at Sephora.co.uk
EYES
Color Balm SPF50
£29.60 (was £37) | Odacité
High-SPF eye make-up is hard to find, but this zinc oxide formula for eyes, lips and cheeks, in four neutral shades, is one. Velvety and nourishing, you can finger-paint them on.
Available at CultBeauty.co.uk
Shimmer Shade SPF30
£21 | Supergoop!
Three subtle, mousse-textured eye glimmers in shades of gold, are infused with mineral and chemical sunscreens.
Available at Revolve.com
LIPS
Sheen Screen Hydrating SPF50 Lip Balm
£17 | Ultra Violette
There are plenty of SPF lip balms but not that many tinted ones, and even fewer that also have proper broad-screen SPF50 protection. These thick, nourishing, glossy balms do, and they come in no less than eight sunny shades that have great colour payoff.
Available at SpaceNK.com
Lipshade 100% Mineral Lip Colour SPF30
£22 | Supergoop!
Semi-matte stick balms in three quite intense, neutral shades. The filters are all-mineral so are unlikely to irritate, but the scent might if you’re sensitive to fragrance.
Available at SpaceNK.com
For more inspiration follow Ingeborg @TheOGBeautyBoss on Instagram.
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