The Best Sun Creams Reviewed... Stay safe in the sun with Blue Stream Academy’s pick of the best long-lasting, water-resistant and noncomedogenic sun creams!
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f there’s one thing that doctors, dermatologists, beauty experts and Baz Luhrmann all agree on, it’s the importance of sun protection for your skin. Whatever cream you choose, the most important thing to get to grips with is the level of protection the product offers. What’s the difference between UVB and UVA rays? The sun emits two types of ultraviolet radiation. UVB is responsible for sunburn and can increase the risk of skin cancers, while UVA affects the skin’s elastin. The British Association of Dermatologists suggests that an SPF of 30 and a star rating of four out of five is “generally considered as a good standard of sun protection” (as long it’s paired with protective clothing and periods spent in the shade). The SPF 50+ formulation is designed for sensitive skin.
Piz Buin Mountain Sun Cream
SunSense Kids Roll On with SPF 50
Avène Very High Protection Cream with SPF 50
Price: £7.50 (50ml) | Boots
Price: £10 (50ml) | Ocado
Price: £20 (200ml) | Boots
Best for skiers and snowboarders
High altitude skiing calls for a high SPF cream. The sun is stronger at mountain level than sea-level, even if it doesn’t feel like it when you’re surrounded by snow. Areas like your nose, chin and ears are particularly vulnerable so it’s a good idea to look for a cream that offers protection from severe cold and wind as well as UVA/UVB rays. Piz Buin’s Moutain Sun Cream offers SPF 50+ protection and is enriched with Edelweiss to provide anti-oxident properties as well as a Cold Shield Complex to guard against extreme weather conditions. It’s sweat and water-resistant too and the 50ml bottle is small enough to stuff into your ski jacket pocket.
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Best for kids
Gloopy lotions don’t mix well with sand, so if you’re travelling with children, we’d recommend using a spray or a roll on to slather on the SPF. This deodorant-style applicator from Aussie brand SunSense is simple to use with one hand, and the small 50ml bottle is handy to slip into your changing bag or carry-on suitcase. Offering both UVB and UVA protection, it has an SPF of 50 with a three-star UVA rating. It’s unscented, water-resistant for up to four hours and specially formulated for delicate skins, so it can be used on babies from six months.
Best for sensitive skin
If you’re susceptible to redness, allergies or prickly heat – or have very fair skin – it’s best to keep things simple on the sun protection front. This high-coverage cream from French skincare brand Avène is free from fragrance, parabens and chemical filters, and is also non-comedogenic. It may be thick, but this broad-spectrum SPF 50+ product feels light and soothing on the skin and is easy to apply via a spray pump dispenser.
