PROTECTING yourself in the sunshine is essential, but if you’ve got sensitive skin finding a sun cream that doesn’t cause irritation can be challenging.
I asked dermatologist Dr Anna Protasova for her advice in finding products that will be kind to sensitive skin.
She said: “When selecting sun creams for sensitive skin, it’s essential to look for specific ingredients that are gentle yet effective in providing sun protection.
“Avoidance of common irritants like fragrances, alcohol, and harsh chemicals is crucial.
“Opt for sunscreens containing physical blockers like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide [known as mineral sun creams], which sit on the skin’s surface and deflect UV rays without causing irritation.
“Consider products labelled “hypoallergenic” or “designed for sensitive skin” to minimise the risk of adverse reactions.”
Luckily there are plenty of products specially devised for sensitive skin and we’ve tested some of the best on the market.
Green People Scent Free Mineral Sun Cream SPF 30, £30 from Green People
Pros: Mineral formula, soothes and moisturises skin
Cons: None
Score: 5/5
Green People’s sun cream has an entirely mineral formula that forms a protective barrier on the skin deflecting the sun’s harmful rays.
It is SPF 30, protecting against UVA and UVB rays, alcohol free and contains aloe vera, chamomile and sequoia leaf cell extract to soothe skin and help it retain moisture.
Mineral sun creams can be thicker than chemical sun creams, but this product from Green People feels lightweight and absorbed quickly into my skin.
It left my skin feeling moisturised throughout a day in the sun and has become a staple in my backpack.
It’s also certified organic and vegan.
Type of sun cream: Mineral; SPF Factor: 30; Size: 50ml
Supergoop! Mineral Matte Screen, £27.20 from Beauty Bay
Pros: Mineral formula, soothes and moisturises skin
Cons: None
Score: 5/5
Supergoop’s Mineral Matte Screen is a 100% mineral sun cream that offers SPF 30.
It also contains wild butterfly ginger extract to protect from the impact of blue light and bamboo extract to protect from radical damage.
It’s a thick cream, but absorbs really quickly and is very moisturising leaving the skin feeling nourished and radiant.
I really liked this product, it felt delicate and luxurious while giving my skin a really smooth complexion.
It also sat really nicely under make up and didn’t feel greasy.
Type of sun cream: Mineral; SPF Factor: 30; Size: 45ml
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Skin Relief Sun Cream, £17.60 from Face the Future
Pros: Hydrating
Cons: Chemical protection
Score: 4.5/5
This sun cream from Thank You Farmer is lightweight and really hydrating.
It absorbs into the skin almost instantaneously, leaving no white cast and is so light I didn’t feel like I was wearing sun cream at all.
It’s very hydrating and left my skin feeling soothed and smooth, while providing SPF 50+ and PA++++.
It’s genuinely fragrance free and Thank You Farmer says clinically proven to reduce sebum production and the appearance of acne.
While this cream felt very gentle and skin kind it does provide chemical protection, rather than a mineral block, so if your skin is prone to irritation make sure you carefully check the ingredient list.
Overall it’s a lovely product that sits really well beneath or on top of make up.
Type of sun cream: Chemical; SPF Factor: 50+; Size: 50ml
Organii SPF 30 Sun Lotion, £19.95 from Organii
Pros: Absorbs easily, moisturising
Cons: Slightly greasy
Score: 4/5
Organii’s SPF 30 sun lotion is great for those with delicate or sensitive skin.
The lotion absorbs very quickly, has a lovely, fresh fragrance and is very gentle.
It will protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays, with the non-nano zinc oxide and non-nano titanium dioxide formula sitting on top of the skin, reflecting the sun’s rays.
Organii’s formula is enriched with organic aloe vera, green tea leaf extract and coconut oil, which left my skin feeling really moisturised even after a day in the sunshine. However, if you have oily skin this might not be the most suitable choice.
The organic brand says it is water resistant, but reapplication is recommended after swimming.
This is a really nice product that feels great for adults and kids alike.
Type of Sunscreen: Mineral SPF Factor: 30 Water-Resistant: Yes; Size: 100ml; Star ingredients: jojoba oil, karanja oil, olive fruit oil, sunflower seed oil
Ultrasun Family SPF30, £28 from Ultrasun
Pros: Kind to skin, PA+++ rating
Cons: Slightly sticky immediately after application
Score: 4/5
This family formula from Ultrasun is a good option if you’re looking for a sun cream that will suit everyone in your household.
It offers protection against UVA, UVB and Infared-A and has a PA+++ rating, indicating high UVA protection.
Ultrasun’s lotion has a hypoallergenic formulation recommended by dermatologists, making it a good choice for sensitive skin.
It has a mineral and chemical formula, which offers great protection against the sun but if your skin is prone to irritation it would be a good idea to check the ingredient list carefully.
I found that it was really easy to apply, although it did feel slightly sticky for the first five minutes until fully absorbed.
It felt moisturising, but not greasy, and stopped my skin from drying out in the sun.
While the bottle tested was SPF 30, Ultrasun also has SPF 50 products that are also suited to those with sensitive skin.
Type of Sunscreen: Mineral and chemical; SPF Factor: 30; Water-Resistant: Yes; Size: 150ml
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Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50+, £22 from Beauty Bay
Pros: Inexpensive for the quality, good for sensitive skin, barely-there coverage
Cons: Doesn’t feel overly nourishing
Rating: 4/5
Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is a hydrating cream that offers superior protection from the sun’s harmful rays.
It has a mineral formula that forms a SPF 50+, PA+++ barrier on the skin against UVA and UVB rays.
It feels thin like a daytime moisturiser and absorbs quickly into the skin, drying down semi-matte.
Once absorbed it provides barely their coverage and I found a little cream goes a long way.
It’s very hydrating and the aloe vera soothes red, dry and irritated skin, although it’s not as moisturising as others tested.
Type of sunscreen: Chemical; SPF Factor: SPF 50+ PA+++; Size: 50ml; Star ingredients: Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract, Glycerin; Vegan: Yes
P20 Sensitive SPF 50+ Sun Cream, £24 from Ocado
Pros: High level of sun protection
Cons: Chemical formula, left skin feeling slightly sticky
Score: 3/5
The SPF 50+ sun cream has been specially formulated for sensitive skin.
It has a 4-star UVA rating offering superior levels of protection and is free of fragrance, homosalate and octocrylene, all of which can cause irritation.
Impressively, the protection against harmful rays lasts for up to 10 hours or 80 minutes in the water.
I found that the cream took a little while to absorb into the skin and left it feeling slightly sticky.
This cream provides chemical protection, rather than a mineral block, so if you’re skin is very sensitive it might not be the best for you.
Type of sunscreen: Chemical; SPF Factor: 50+; Water-resistant: Yes; Size: 100ml
PIZ BUIN Allergy Sun Sensitive Skin Lotion SPF 50+, £8.99 from Superdrug
Pros: High level of sun protection
Cons: Chemical formula
Score: 3/5
Piz Buin’s Allergy range has been specially developed with dermatologists to protect sun sensitive skin.
It is SPF 50+ and protects against UVA and UVB rays. It also contains a specialist formula that Piz Buin says relieves the redness of skin, repairs cells damaged by UV rays and strengthens the skins resilience to the sun.
The cream took a little while to absorb into my skin and was initially sticky, but once fully absorbed it felt light and nourishing.
It is fragrance free and I found that a little cream went a long way.
Piz Buin’s Allergy range provides chemical protection, rather than a mineral block.
If you’re sensitivity is particular to sun damage then it would be a good fit, but if you’re skin is very sensitive to other irritants you will want to check the ingredient list.
Type of sunscreen: Chemical SPF Factor: 50+ Size: 200ml
All sun creams have been tested by a member of The Sun’s team. They were all worn for at least one day and the testers considered factors including the application of the cream or spray, the level of protection it offered, scent, feel and how often reapplication was required.
Sun creams are easy to find and you can find most products on the high street or online. Most major shops will have general sun creams available, but if you’re after specific sun creams for tanning or for sensitive skin, beauty shops will have more niche products that can tailor to your needs. In addition, most shops will stock travel-sized versions which is perfect if you need one for your cabin bag. Here’s a list of some of the best online shops.
