Searching for the facial sunscreen holy grail: long-lasting, hydrating, doesn’t cause break outs

[OhRosalind]

I’ve been searching for the perfect sun cream for my face for years and feel I’m still no closer to finding it. I find it so impractical to reapply every 2 hours when I’m out, even more so on days when I’m wearing make up. I would love to find a good all-day / long-lasting protection one.
My skin is dehydrated so I don’t like stuff with alcohol at the top of the ingredient list as it makes me look haggard. Nothing that is likely to cause a breakout. I’d rather not spend a fortune for a teeny tiny bottle that would only last a week if you put on enough to actually be effective.
Currently using an Avene one but don’t think I like it enough to repurchase... any recommendations?

I have oily spot prone skin and I just use ultrasun sensitive factor 30 on my face and it’s fine, not oily

I find Heliocare SPF50 gel brilliiant. Everything else I’ve tried over the years has caused a breakout but not this - I use it every day. Texture is somewhere between a gel and a cream.

Eucerin used to do a fab one. A cream that came in a pump top bottle rather than a liquid. Sank right in and didn't cause breakouts. Boots don't stock it anymore but it's still online I think.

Thanks for the suggestions! Haven’t got on well with ultra sun in the past but the sensitive one might be worth a shot. Never heard of heliocare, off to google! Hadn’t thought about eucerin for suncare but I do like their moisturisers.

I also use the ultra sun one and get on well with it

Biore watery essence (Amazon) is by far the best IMO. Good under make up, hydrating, non greasy and no white cast. Less than a tenner.

I bought Bioderma Photoderm Aquafluide SPF50+ and love it. Light and easily absorbed with out any white cast. No breakouts either

I also have oily acne prone skin and the only thing I’ve found that doesn’t cause me a break out is Clinique city block factor 40. I’ve tried pretty much everything sunscreen wise and this comes out top for me. Not greasy or heavy at all.

Ooh the Biore one sounds intriguing, never heard of a sunscreen with hyaluronic acid.

I’ve been using City Block for years as it’s the best I’ve tried, EllaAlright, but I’m not quite satisfied with it and am always tempted to look for something better. The issue is I’m always aware of it on my skin, maybe it’s the mineral sunscreen ingredients.

Bioderma is a good idea, I like their stuff.

Another vote for heliocare factor 50

Another recommendation for Heliocare spf 50. It's lightweight, non greasy and slightly tinted, I wouldn't use anything else now.

Biore has alcohol. A fair amount. It is good tho but if you’re in the sun all day you would definitely need to reapply.

The Heliocare Gel SPF 50 oil-free one sticks like glue and I think it’s great. You really have to wash it off at the end of the day.

I recently bought EltaMD spf 45 (I think) and I love it but it’s a little pale for me. Just a little. It’s really good but diffficult to find. I think it would be my favourite if it were the tiniest bit darker. Really like it.

Last one - Frezyderm. Gorgeous to use. Gorgeous. I use the untinted one under make-up but unfortunately I do shine through a little. Otherwise it is fab to use. It’s like a primer. They also do a tinted one and I use that on weekend days. It’s also really nice, has a blurring effect and gives a touch of coverage. I use powder over it, to mattify.

Like you OP I tried the Avene and wasn’t that keen. I have repurchased the above.

Soz, last thing. LRP do this. It’s handy Cos you can spray it on over your makeup. I haven’t figured out how much you need to spray but I think it’s a great invention.

Apols the essay. I need to stop.

Helio are gel is great. But Alumier is even better. Alumier is a physical sunscreen rather than chemicals.

Does Alumier leave a cast, Confused? That’s been my problem with physical sunscreens in the past (that or they’re tinted too dark/orange for me).

I love the essay, Catherinethenotaogreat, much appreciated! That LRP spray looks amazing! Yes I was wondering about the alcohol in the biore and if the hylauronic acid outweighs it. Will look into EltaMd and frezyderm.

Lots of votes for hélio!

Another vote for City Block here! I’ve been wearing it for the past 15 years and it’s brilliant. Never breaks me out and gives a lovely sheer finish to my skin. I’ve never ever been burnt while wearing it, even in very hot climates and it also makes a great base for foundation. It’s the only beauty product I can’t do without!

La Roche Posey has a fab factor 50 one

Biore watery essence is also very good

Yes, I used this in Factor 30 last summer and into this year: www.boots.com/la-roche-posay-anthelios-shaka-ultra-light-facial-sun-cream-spf50-50ml-10259635

I have very sensitive skin and find sun creams easily make me break out, or run into my eyes and sting when I sweat but this has been great. It's not cheap but it does last for ages.

I've switched from Ultrasun to La Roche Posay, have had 2 or 3 different variants since from factor 30 to 50 and been happy with them all. Cheaper and makeup goes on nicely, no white cast. Very sensitive skinned and can't tolerate lots of products usually. The Childs Farm sunscreen the kids use was decent the odd time I went away overnight and forgot my usual!

I have really sensitive skin and recently bought Simple Radiance Booster on a bit of a whim, which is a sort of serum/oil rather than a moisturiser but SPF 30. Total game changer, my skin has never looked better. I didn't get on with heliocare

Lancaster is the one that doesn’t cause me to have a break out. I wouldn’t use any other sun cream on my face now. My body can make do with Nivea

Dr Sams. I am usually super spotty. It feels very rich and initially I thought it would be too greasy but it is great.