TikTok, in the last two years, has been more than just an entertainment creator’s platform to now an educational forum as well, with creators from the field of finance, marketing, and advertising, giving us necessary insights into various professions. A fifteen-minute scroll through the app, and you happen to stumble upon a quick and easy recipe that you can’t wait to try your hands at for dinner. Opportunities to learn on the application are endless. For beauty enthusiasts, the app has been a go-to for skincare advice from licensed dermatologists and other beauty influencers. Significant and very established learning has come through: No matter how many serums, expensive moisturizers, or gel masks you use, skincare won’t work magic unless you use a decent enough sunscreen. Choosing the right sunscreen for you can be pretty intimidating. There are so many factors to consider to then choose from for what will work best for you, whether a physical sunscreen or mineral sunscreen, Spf 30,50 or higher, what if it leaves the skin looking ashy, how easily or not is it blendable, what if it makes your eyes burn and the list goes on. To make this daunting process a bit easier, here’s a list of a few SPFs that work well for many of the above-addressed queries available to purchase in the UAE.
Best overall – La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid Fragrance-Free SPF50+
If you’re an absolute beginner using sunscreen, this is the one sunscreen you can blindly trust. Formulated specifically for protection against premature aging caused by sun damage, this mineral SPF has a lightweight, non-greasy formula protecting from UVA and UVB rays that, on application, melts into the skin to create a soft matte-like finish, giving the skin the illusion of a “glow from within.” A great option if you have extremely sensitive skin, rosacea, prone to blemishes and acne, as it contains zinc oxide that does not irritate the skin but rather soothes it. Recently, this cult favorite has also come out with a tinted variant that acts as an excellent primer under makeup for hot and humid days, given its water-resistant nature.
Best for zero White-Cast- Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
If sporting Hailey Bieber’s “glazed doughnut” skin is something you’ve been meaning to try this summer without looking like an oil well, this is the product you want to add to your shopping cart. As the name suggests, the formula of this sunscreen is almost transparent. It has a gel-like consistency which is a win-win for people of color as this sunscreen won’t leave a white cast, won’t clog pores, and
additionally gives the skin a satiny-smooth appearance.
Best hydration – Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 50+
Cetaphil has been a dermatologist-favored brand when it comes to treating dry skin. With its SPF, the promise is hydration and sun protection together, downsizing to only one product that acts as a lotion to moisturize the skin as well as an SPF. For an extra boost of hydration that is also considerably affordable, it’s perfect for days you’re at home for protection against sun rays penetrating through windows as well as from blue light radiated from electronic devices.
Best for reapplication- Supergoop (Re)setting 100% mineral powder
A non-arguable known fact with SPF requires reapplication every 2-3 hours. For makeup fanatics, this could be such a nuisance without trying not to mess up makeup that’s taken great precision and patience to do in the first place. Enter-Powdered sunscreen. The application of this is like any other setting powder, except this one not only keeps makeup from melting away but also provides sun protection without making skin look caked up. However, the product works well for reapplication purposes. Applying a layer of regular physical or chemical sunscreen underneath makeup beforehand is highly recommended.
Best for a beach day- Avène Sun Very High Protection Spray Sensitive Skin SPF50+
If you’re going to be spending an entire summer afternoon swimming in salty water, you need an SPF formulation that is water-resistant and not too tacky on the skin. Easy application is a plus too. With a lightweight and airy formula, the spray is great for full-body SPF reapplications.
It contains a powerful antioxidant, Pre-tocopheryl (Provitamin E), that protects against free radicals.
