Whether you’re heading on a city break, beach holiday, or just navigating day-to-day life, sun protection is a non-negotiable, and the right products make it easier to protect and glow with skincare that works with your routine, not against it.
Research from Olay shows that one in 10 Brits admit to never wearing SPF on their face, so we tried and tested some of summer’s hottest new products for face and lips, to see which ones would make it into our holiday make-up bag. Here’s our verdict.
Mavala Switzerland Tinted lip balm (cherry)
I’m a sucker for a tinted lip balm and Mavala’s cherry tint is the perfect combination of colour and SPF protection.
As someone who has suffered with dry lips for several years, I was at first sceptical on how well this lip balm would match up to my trusty Vaseline.
However, I was pleasantly surprised how effortlessly it glides on, leaving my lips hydrated, soft and not mega greasy.
The SPF15 protection is a welcome bonus too, as the balm is infused with shea butter and aloe vera, along with apricot extract, provitamin A and vitamin E.
The subtle tint of cherry red was the perfect colour for lips and was reminiscent of Maybelline’s popular Baby Lips formula from around a decade ago.
Mavala’s cherry lip balm will be a staple in my beauty bag for the summer months and beyond.
Score – 5/5
Review by Clare Butler
Ocean Freedom Mineral Sunscreen and Ocean Clay
Price: £8 and £13, from Bling20
Surf Clay (Image: Surf Clay) This brilliant pairing of a mineral sunscreen SPF50+ lotion sunscreen and its sister Surf Clay SPF50+ are great for active days out or trips with kids.
The clay stays on through hot days and plenty of water (we tried it out on a family holiday, in and out of the pool, and it didn’t budge).
The kids loved that they were fragrance-free (no weird smell!), and best of all they come in an array of fun colours including pink, blue and white, as well as light tan and a clear format – as we discovered they can even be mixed together to create gorgeous new shades of lilac.
I liked it because as a mineral sunscreen, it sits on the skin’s surface and is less pore-clogging, making it more suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Rating: 5/5
Reviewed by Jade Wright
Dermalogica biolumin-c heat aging protector spf50 travel size
Bottle size: 15ml, from Amazon
This moisturiser with SPF comes in a nice 15ml bottle, ideal for travel whether you’re cramming everything into a weekend bag or worried about your suitcase weight.
I found this to be quite a thick formula but it soaked into my skin well and very quickly with little effort.
Dermalogica (Image: Newsquest) The smell is quite summery and I think SPF50 is high for what I’ve seen in other products so that’s a bonus.
The only downside to this moisturiser is that I had to use a bit more than I would of my usual product so that’s something to bear in mind.
Review: Katie Collier
Elemental Herbology SPF 50 Moisturiser
(Image: Newsquest) Price – £45, from Elemental
It’s a cliché for a reason but sometimes you really do get what you pay for. As a recent skincare convert, I’m increasingly critical of the products I buy. I want them to do more for less ( like us all!). I love that Element Herbology have given us an effective SPF as well as a moisturiser packed with Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E.
It feels very light on the skin, rubs in very quickly and doesn’t leave any white residue. With long term wear, I have actually found myself using less face make up. I was content with how hydrated and glowing my skin’s felt on it’s own.
I can’t fault the formula itself but the price tag is steep when you only get 50ml. After a recommend 2-3 pumps to cover my face, neck and hands in the morning as well as a top ups throughout the day, I would have to remortgage a house I don’t have to keep up with my obsession.
Kalme Day Defence SPF 40
Rebecca Carey (Image: Newsquest)
I would argue that Kalme’s Day Defence is a slightly more budget friendly alternative for daily use. It’s by no means cheap but it is a lightweight moisturiser that rubs in well and avoids that dreaded greasy feeling.
It’s not quite as luxurious to apply as the Elemental Herbology but it’s equally long lasting and is in a convenient travel size so you can top on the go.
There is a slight but subtle smell to the formula. It isn’t unpleasant or off putting but there’s something a little chemical too it that means it doesn’t feel or go unnoticed.
However, if you have sensitive skin, I think you could absolutely get behind this brand. It has a patented anti-redness extract that has been proven to reduce redness by up to 70% in clinical trials.
Overall, it’s very good value for money with its 24 hour moisture formula, I can see myself adding it to my cart again.
Review by Rebecca Carey
Score – 3.5/5
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Olay SPF 50 Brighten & Glow 3-in-1 Vitamin C Moisturising Fluid
(Image: Olay)Price: £26, or £13 when I got it at Boots.com
This 3-in-1 SPF superhero is a great all-rounder, with high-performance sun protection, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, and Pro-Vitamin B5.
I found it lightweight and fast-absorbing, with no white cast. It didn’t pill under makeup and worn alone it gave a fresh, glowy finish.
I did need to use a fair amount, so the bottle didn’t last long, but it was half price, so next time I’ll buy two.
Rating 3.5/5
Reviewed by Jade Wright
Mavala Tinted Lip Balm, Vanilla
Price – £7.95
Mavala (Image: Newsquest)
The Mavala Tinted Lip Balm promises to hydrate and soothe dry lips by forming a “protective barrier against external elements like cold, pollution, air conditioning, and dry climates.”
Coming in your classic lip balm packaging, the product is a good amount at 4.5g, making it the perfect size to pop in your handbag when you’re on the go.
Applying the lip balm, it glides on and doesn’t feel slimy or greasy once on the lips, and just like it promises, it seems to instantly leave you feeling hydrated.
The vanilla scent is a nice sweet treat that makes the Mavala product stand out against your typical lip balm.
Despite feeling hydrating and having a nice scent, I did find that the lip balm left a slight white cast on the lips, similar to how some suncream can leave you with a white shimmer.
The Mavala Tinted Lip Balm does what it says, but, the white cast is stopping me from using the product daily.
Review: Emilia Kettle
Rating: 3/5
EVOLVE Climate Defence Facial Cream SPF30
Evolve (Image: Newsquest) Price: £29 (single purchase) or £26.10 (subscription price), from Evolve Beauty
This product was very thick and took a lot more rubbing in – use a bit too much and you’ll look like you’ve painted your face white (not a good look, trust me).
The smell of this moisturiser was less appealing and after rubbing it into my face, I felt the product kind of just sitting there as it slowly soaked in which was a bit strange.
I know it’s not advised that you touch your face (sorry, skincare Gods) but when I did, the moisturiser rolled off my face in the form of tiny white bits which made this product a bit frustrating for me.
Having said that, it comes in a decent-sized tube for a smaller product and I think it could fit into most toiletry bags with plenty of product to use if you’re going away.
I’m just not sure it’s the moisturiser for me.
Review: Katie Collier
Score: 2/5
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