If you’re like me, you spend the majority of the winter months looking out of the window thinking “will I ever know the warmth of sun on my skin again?”. Obviously, as Brits, as soon as summer gets here, we can’t think of anything better than snowy winter days, but that’s a paradox for another time.
One day it’s buckets of rain, the next it’s 25-degree picnic weather, and you go to open your bottle of body SPF that you haven’t touched since last year only to realise it’s probably a bit out of date.
While I try to be militant when it comes to using facial SPFs (as we all should) and replace mine multiple times a year, my limbs are normally covered head to toe between October-March because, well, it’s bloody freezing, meaning the body sunscreen is resigned to the cupboard until the warmer months.
Unopened, a bottle of sun cream can last up to three years from when it was made, but when it’s opened, you’re looking at about six-12 months, so chances are you’ll need to replace it again each year for it to be most effective.
Any SPF is better than no SPF, but some versions can leave you with an unwanted white cast or stain your clothing with fluorescent yellow (look out for the ingredient avobenzene, which can cause this).
The best body SPFs
I’ve compiled an edit of the six best body sunscreens to shop, including the best for all skin tones and the ideal option for topping up when you’re out and about.
Best body SPF for deep/dark skin tones: Bondi Sands Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ Body Lotion, £10.99
At just over £10, Bondi Sands does one of the best universal SPFs for all skin tones. This lightweight body sunscreen is great for oily and combination skin types thanks to its non-comedogenic formula, and it dries completely invisible, leaving your skin protected, glowing, and without a white cast.
Best hydrating formula: Ultra Violette Extreme Screen SPF50+ Hydrating Body & Hand Skinscreen, £27
I never thought I’d be at the point in my life where I’m getting excited over an SPF, but Ultra Violette has somehow managed to nail the formula in making a cult suncare product. A whole range of them, in fact.
I love the smell of Ultra Violette’s SPFs, which are fragranced with an extremely subtle coconutty scent (I couldn’t put my finger on it at first so it’s in no way overpowering or tropical), and this one leaves your skin feeling comfortably hydrated rather than chalky or greasy.
Best water-resistant formula: COOLA Classic SPF50 Body Spray Guava Mango, £25
If you’ve got an active lifestyle or tend to be a water baby when you’re on your holiday, you want to ensure you’ve got an SPF that will keep up with you.
Coola’s SPFs don’t just smell like a tropical dream (including pinã colada and guava mango), but they’ve got some serious credentials when it comes to efficiency, giving you up to 80 minutes of water and sweat resistance.
This is also non-greasy and lightweight enough to use as your everyday SPF, for those days where you aren’t completing a triathlon.
Best body SPF for on-the-go: Hello Sunday The Take Out One Solid Body Sunscreen Stick SPF30, £15
We all know we should be topping up our sun cream every two hours by now, but carrying a huge bottle of it around with you when you’re out and about isn’t always an option. Enter Hello Sunday, with its portable body sunscreen in stick formula that’s small enough to even fit in your Jacquemeus Le Chiquito bag.
It’s invisible on application and also smells super refreshing. The lime, geranium and mint scent makes topping it up just that bit nicer.
Best body SPF for prolonging tan: Garnier Ambre Solaire Ideal Bronze Protective SPF30 Sun Cream Spray, £14
One spritz of Garnier’s sun cream takes me right back to my childhood, and the fact I still use it now means it must be doing something right. This one is a particular favourite of mine because it not only protects from sun damage but helps to prolong your tan; a bonus if you’ve only got a few days in the sun and want to maximise on your bronze.
Best body SPF for sensitive and pale skin types: Avène Very High Protection Spray SPF50+ Sun Cream for Sensitive Skin, £21.85
If you find yourself in the camp of ‘always burns and never tans’, this is the SPF you need. Formulated for very sensitive skin types and exposure to intense sun, this contains broad UVA/UVB sun protection, antioxidants, and Avene’s thermal spring water, to keep skin moisturised and soothed.
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