As a beauty editor, I'm often asked by my female relatives if they should bother wearing an SPF for mature skin. My mum, who is now in her sixties, worshipped the sun during her twenties, thirties and forties, often while wearing a generous layer of baby oil—sometimes even cooking oil_ to maximise her tan in the summer. *Shudders*.
Thankfully, we are now much more informed about the dangers of sun damage and skin cancer than back then, and wearing daily SPF is more commonplace now. Alongside the known dangers of the sun, UVA and UVB rays also play a huge part in skin changes such as pigmentation, fine lines, melasma and wrinkles. It's estimated that around 80-90% of skin ageing is attributed to sun exposure—yet another reason we should be applying SPF daily, even during winter and on cloudy days, and not just in the summer and on holiday.
Just recently, my grandma spotted the early signs of skin cancer on her nose—which was thankfully treatable and safely removed—and it became a wake-up call for all of the family to be a lot more careful in the sun. In short, it's never too late to start protecting your skin by wearing a good SPF. Which is why it's so important to find a great SPF for mature skin that you want to wear every single day.
So, what are the best SPFs for mature skin? I enlisted the help of Dr Hiva Fassihi from OneWelbeck Skin Health
Allergy, London, to share how to find the best SPF for your skin, as well as some dermatologist-approved recommendations.
Does mature skin need SPF?
In short, yes. Everyone can benefit from wearing SPF, regardless of your age. "Mature skin needs sunscreen for the same reasons that skin at all ages need sunscreen
to protect from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)," says Dr Fassihi.
"With increasing age, skin often becomes dry and sensitive secondary to chronic sun exposure. There is also more photodamage with redness, pigmentation and wrinkles secondary to loss of collagen and elastin. Additionally, studies have shown that women lose about 30% of collagen in their skin during the first five years of menopause," she adds. "The use of daily sunscreen can help reduce and improve these signs of skin photoaging and also prevent the skin from becoming even more red and sensitive over the years."
When should I wear SPF?
"I encourage my patients to wear their sunscreen every day, regardless of how bright and sunny it appears outside. It is important to remember that UVA, the main cause of skin aging, is present all year round, even on dull days," says Dr Fassihi.
"Sunscreen should be applied generously after cleansing in the mornings. Care should be taken to cover all exposed parts of the face and neck, including the delicate skin under the eyes. After waiting 15 minutes for the preparation to fully absorb into the skin, then makeup can be applied on top," she says.
Thankfully, there are plenty of formulas, textures and application alternatives to help you top up your SPF protection throughout the day. "The newer spray-on mists such as La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Anti-Shine Face Mist SPF 50 (£18), which can be applied over makeup, allow convenient topping-up during the day without disturbing your makeup," says Dr Fassihi. SPF sprays are a great way to top-up throughout the day if you're wearing foundation.
What to look for when choosing an SPF for mature skin
"When choosing a sunscreen at any age, it is important to look for a high SPF value, such as 30 or 50+, and good UVA protection," says Dr Fassihi. "This means that the product will give the best possible protection again sunburn and will also protect against UVA which causes skin aging. The amount of protection a sunscreen provides is related to how thickly it is applied onto the skin, so be generous with your sunscreen application," she adds. Many experts suggest a dessert spoon sized amount, or around two fingers worth of product to effectively protect your skin.
Next, you want to consider the type of SPF for your skin type. "If the skin is dry and sensitive, then I would suggest choosing an SPF 50 with no fragrance and minimal ingredients. Those with a higher contents of mineral (physical) sunscreen filters (often found in children’s sunscreens) are tolerated better by people with sensitive skin," says Dr Fassihi. "Anthelios UVMune 400 Hydrating Cream SPF50++ (£22) offers very high broad-spectrum facial sun protection for dry sensitive skin in a moisturising perfume-free formula. The netlock technology delivers a non-migrating and very resistant sunscreen with reduced eye stinging," she says.
For those with normal skin to combination skin, she recommends the Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ (£20), which offers an invisible non-greasy formulation—making it ideal as an SPF underneath makeup—whereas those with sun damage will benefit from Anthelios Age Correct SPF50 (£33), which protects the skin and also addresses dark spots and pigmentation.
"There is now a broad selection of sunscreen for all skin types on the market," says Dr Fassihi." There are a variety of textures, with or without a tint, allowing you to pick the perfect product for your skin type." Scroll ahead for some of our favourite SPFs for mature skin.
The Best SPFs For Mature Skin
1. Best Everyday SPF: Templespa Life Defence SPF 50 (£44)
2. Best SPF For Dark Spots: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF 50+ (£33)
3. Best Lightweight SPF: Dr Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF 50 (£125)
4. Best Tinted SPF: Beauty Pie Luminous Mineral Skin Tint Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 Sunscreen (£17)
5. Best Hydrating SPF: Lumene Fresh Hydration Moisturiser SPF 50 (£29)
6. Best Fragrance-Free SPF: SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial UV Defense SPF 50+ (£49)
7. Best SPF Under Makeup: Elemis Pro-Collagen Skin Protection Fluid SPF 50 (£55)
8. Best Affordable SPF: Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Age Super UV Face Protection SPF50 Cream (£13)
9. Best SPF For Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Uvmune 400 Hydrating Suncream SPF 50 (£22)
10. Best Mineral SPF: Avène Very High Protection Mineral Fluid SPF 50+ (£24)
11. Best Chemical SPF: Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 + Primer (£15)
12. Best SPF For Oily/Acne Prone Skin: Heliocare 360 Gel Oil-Free SPF 50 (£31)
13. Best Invisible SPF: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 30 PA+++ (£32)
1. Templespa Life Defence SPF 50
If you want a no-fuss SPF that you can easily apply for everyday wear, make it this one. The moisturising formula contains SPF 50 and glides onto the skin with a non-greasy finish that doesn't clog pores and looks great worn alone or underneath makeup. It leaves skin with a dewy finish and is also packed with antioxidants to help shield your skin from environmental aggressors throughout the day too.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Non-greasy
- No white cast
Cons
- Might not be for you if you want a mattifying finish
2. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF50+
Pros: Helps to brighten pigmentation and dark spots
Cons: Might be too heavy for acne-prone skin
La Roche-Posay has several great SPF options, but this one is particularly good if you want to address fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots while protecting your skin from UVA/UVB rays. The nourishing cream is also great for sensitive skin.
3. Dr Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF 50
Dr Barbara Sturm's SPF drops are loved among beauty editors for its lightweight texture that immediately sinks into the skin with an undetectable finish. They're great on all skin types, but particularly so for sensitive skin. They might be more expensive than most but trust us, you won't regret trying them (they also come in a 10ml size if you want to try them before committing to a larger 30ml bottle).
Pros
- Lightweight
- Ideal for sensitive skin
Cons
- More expensive than others
4. Beauty Pie Luminous Mineral Skin Tint Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 Sunscreen
Price shown is member's cost.
This is one of the best skin tints I've tried of late, and the addition of SPF is a huge plus. We tend to apply SPF makeup products more sparingly, so you'll want to apply a dedicated SPF underneath this to ensure you're getting enough sun protection. The sheer formula melts into the skin to deliver a dewy finish that gives a light veil of coverage without feeling heavy or greasy on the skin.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Dewy finish
- Sheer coverage
Cons
- You'll need to make sure you're applying a dedicated SPF underneath too
5. Lumene Fresh Hydration Moisturiser SPF 50
You can count on Nordic brand Lumene to deliver a brilliant skincare product, and its SPF moisturiser is no different. This SPF-moisturiser hybrid streamlines your routine as it can easily replace your current moisturising product with the addition of SPF too. It gives skin a glowy, glassy finish while hydrating with hyaluronic acid, Arctic spring water and nourishing Nordic algae and organic birch sap.
Pros
- Glowy, hydrating and dewy finish
Cons
- May be too dewy for oily complexions
6. SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial UV Defense SPF 50+
I always trust SkinCeuticals products, and I always come back to this SPF, which is ideal for sensitive skin. It's free of fragrance (which can sometimes upset sensitive skin) and doesn't sting eyes either. The lightweight cream formula melts into the skin well and primes skin nicely for makeup too.
Pros
- Fragrance-free formula ideal for sensitive skin, doesn't sting eyes
Cons
- More expensive than most
7. Elemis Pro-Collagen Skin Protection Fluid SPF 50
If you love the highly-acclaimed Pro-Collagen moisturiser you'll love Elemis' new SPF in the same range. This has been a hit with our beauty team for its lightweight texture that sinks in quickly for makeup application with zero white cast, all while nourishing the skin with the brand's signature marine algae for hydrated, smooth and plumped skin.
Pros
- Wears well underneath makeup
- Hydrating
Cons
- On the pricy side
8. Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Age Super UV Face Protection SPF 50 Cream
When I was originally sent this SPF, I ended up giving it to my partner and immediately asked for it back—his skin looked amazing after a week of using it. It looks so glowy on the skin and comes in at a very affordable price point. It also has a non-greasy finish, but can have a slightly white cast on those with dark skin, which may require more blending.
Pros
- Affordable
- Glowing finish
Cons
- Can leave a slight white cast on darker skin tones
9. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Uvmune 400 Hydrating Suncream SPF 50
Finding a good SPF can be tricky when you have sensitive skin, but this one doesn't burn or sting even the most delicate of complexions. The cream formula is also really nourishing and soothing to apply.
Pros
- Great for sensitive skin
Cons
- Might be too nourishing for oily skin types
10. Avène Very High Protection Mineral Fluid SPF 50+ Sun Cream
This one is formulated with mineral filters, making it great for sensitised complexions, and it also has a soft-matte finish that leaves skin velvety soft. As it is a mineral-based SPF, it is more prone to leaving a white cast on dark skin tones, so you may prefer a chemical SPF for a more invisible finish.
Pros
- Mineral formula
- Ideal for sensitive skin
Cons
- May leave a white cast on deep complexions
11. Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin™ Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer
This is a brilliant does-it-all SPF that offers a high SPF protection and truly lives up to its featherlight name—it's weightless on the skin. It sinks in to a non-greasy finish, making it great for makeup prep or for wearing on its own. I do have sensitive eyes and find that it can irritate them if my eyes water (which they sometimes do during hay fever season) so I like to alternate this with the mineral based Traceless Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen + Primer.
Pros
- Chemical formula
- Lightweight
- No white cast
Cons
- Can sting sensitive eyes
12. Heliocare 360 Gel Oil-Free SPF 50
I recommend this SPF to everyone I know with oily, acne-prone or combination skin. It's very lightweight and has an oil-free formula that doesn't clog pores like some SPFs can, and it provides a smooth, matte finish that helps to balance oilier skin types.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Oil-free formula
Cons
- Might be too drying for dry skin types
13. Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 30 PA+++
This totally clear SPF has a velvety texture that glides onto the skin with zero white cast—it's totally invisible. It feels more like a primer than an SPF, making it great for makeup prep or if you prefer a more mattifying finish from your SPF.
Pros
- Totally invisible formula
- Doesn't leave a white cast
- A great primer for makeup
Cons
- May be too heavy for those with acne-prone skin
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