Good basic everyday facial sunscreen

[thewomaninwhitefluffybunnyears]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good everyday sunscreen? My skin is a pain and likes Astral moisturiser only. Good as it is cheap but not helpful as it does not include an spf. I used to use Dermalogica solar defence in the days pre children but that is too pricey now. Is there anything cheaper that people use? Thanks.

PS - I am rubbish with make up etc so apologies if a stupid question.

I bought Maybelline BB cream yesterday and wore today on its own to test it out. It's SPF30 (there are 3 different types but I went for the one with highest SPF) My skin loves it! It actually looks my skin but better, which is exactly what I was after for the summer months as I'll be postnatal and unlikely to have energy for a full face of makeup but like to always wear a high SPF. It also lasted well, in fact better than my usual foundation in terms of coverage. I also made a point of reapplying it after a few hours to see if it went all cloggy and it didn't. Only £7.99. Well chuffed with it.

I have reasonably ok skin, which is dehydrated and sensitive - I wear Nivea blue pot daily which my skin drinks up, and usually wear Bourjois Healthy Mix on top.

To clarify - I wore it on top of my usual Nivea, not alone, my skin def needs a proper moisturiser as well.

I love the Maybelline bb, better than any of the more expensive ones I have tried

I'm think that the amount of sunscreen you actually get from a facial moisturiser is really minimal as you don't use enough of it. Don't have an answer though so interested to see your replies

Thanks Ballroom and Milkthistle187. I am off to check that one out now. Sounds good!

I agree JemFinch (loving the name!) re the amount of spf.

And yes, I would need to wear it on top of moisturiser. My skin drinks everything!

I wore the Maybelline BB cream factor 30 by the pool in Tenerife and it worked a treat. It's good stuff.

I love the Once spf50 by Boots. I've tried them all, high and low end, and this one is the nicest.

Paula Begoun doesn't really rate the Maybelline that highly, but here's a list of the BB's she does think are very good:

www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/best-makeup-products/Makeup/Tinted-Moisturizers/BB-Creams

as I have said before, the British Association of Dermatologists also think facial sunscreens are a waste of money. Buy a real one.

Of course facial sunscreens are 'real'. It's illegal for them to make claims they can't substantiate.

Special I do not think the dermatologists are against facial sunscreens, iirc they just commented on that old fad of using SPF containing moisturizers and people applying much less than necessary. I have used a lot of facial sunscreens and most of them also contain some physical block - they seem very effective, I don't tan or get hyperpigmentation while using them. The SPF 15 moisturizers were a totally different thing.

Many sunscreens meant for the body are a bit problematic used on face - I get cystic acne from them and they also make my face really sticky and slippery (I wear glasses so this is not trivial). Combining makeup with them is not easy, lots of pilling and sliding around.

I was a lax sunscreen user before I found good facial suncreens. Now I apply them religiously, a 50p size blob every morning (reapplying if I go out later in the day) and stay much better protected.

I'm interested in the Bioderma sunscreen, has anyone tried it?

I like the anthelios range from la Roche posay. Non greasy, doesn't block my pores, leave a thick white cast on my skin or feel clammy and thick, also comes in loads of SPF levels.

The thing you need to be careful with when it comes to BB creams etc is the type of SPF. Most are not broad spectrum, they don't block both UVA and UVB. Most only block UVB. UVA are the rays that cause premature ageing. UVB cause sunburn. It is only UK law for things showing an SPF to protect from UVB (that is what the SPF refers to). Items marked 'broad spectrum' or which have a circled UVA symbol protect against UVA rays. I think Boots Soltan also use a star system for UVA on their products alongside SPF (the USA uses PA +/ ++/+++ to denote UVA protection).

The kiehl's SPF50 (or is it 60?) PA+++ is fab. Good texture and a high SPF so that if you under apply (as most of us do) you are still going to get reasonable protection (unlike when you under apply SPF15).

I get the worst white cast with Anthelios! What am I doing wrong? I'm super pale t start, so can't use the tinted one.

I'm still looking for the holy grail of facial sunscreen.

Eucrein do some lovely SPF creams for face and neck and chest. I have oily acne prone skin and eucerin works wonders as it also has lactic acid.

I use one which has a physical barrier @ 30, so looks a bit white, and one which doesn't @ 15. In summer I stay out of the sun and use a silver SPF parasol if I have to stand in the sun for long periods. I don't like wearing gloppy cremes.

My make up has 15 and I use it all year.
I also use the eucerin SPF creme on my hands.

Anthelios turned me into Casper too. I'm currently using this one and I love it. The Asian market is so much better when it comes to facial sunscreens.

I don't know re the white cast! All I know is that it was good for me.

I'm using Zelens at the mo and it is fab but it's anything other than basic. SPF plus antioxidants.

While it may not be suitable for everyone, Olay Total Effects has a broad-range SPF of 30.

Squoosh what is the difference between the purple and green one? Can't work it out.

Zebra i'm super pale too an Anthelios makes me look either like a ghost or a Halloween pumpkin. I think many suncreens have a high zinc / other physical barrier content and that makes them ghostly. And the tint is usually total overkill.

I went to Hawaii couple of weeks ago and to my surprise Dr Jart BB cream performed better in the humid heat than my Chanel sunscreen. Zebra I found this handy swatch post by a super pale person who has had melanoma - she really rates Asian BBs. Yes I wear hats too and in sunny places always stay out of midday sun. Dr Jart Premium is a bit too dark on me so I'll try Missha #13 next. The red Dr Jart is not easily available here - would love to try it.

Claudia I can't work out any discernible difference to be honest, not sure what the green/purple reference is!

Update - I wore my Maybelline BB all day today and have a slightly burnt nose! Well it's red I didn't reapply though which is probably why. I was outside playing with DC most of day. I did apply a good amount, so will persevere as I do like the idea of one product for the summer and in comparison with foundations, it's excellent coverage and it's easy to reapply halfway through the day feeling annoyed I didn't bother today

Previously I have tried Clinique City Block SPF40 which works fine although I didn't like it as a primer and it doesn't give me enough coverage. Didn't give me spots though and had a nice finish.

La Roche Posay tinted Anthelios is far too orange for me (very pale skin) and also clogged my skin badly and gave me spots.

The best I've found is Boots Baby Soltan Sensitive SPF50 - works perfectly as a sunscreen, isn't too greasy and works well as a primer, didn't clog my skin up at all. I've been wearing it daily under my foundation and my skin has obviously lost any hardiness for the sun, I can't believe I got burned today!