A Beauty Editor’s Guide to the Best 2026 Sunscreens ☀️
Trading London drizzle for Florida sunshine means my standards for SPF are higher than ever. Here's my current summer lineup...
Twenty-eight years worth of testing suncare in the UK drizzle doesn’t quite hit the same way as testing it in the Florida sunshine pretty much all year round 🪭. And while moving from London to St Pete Beach - as seen on the first 4 episodes of Channel 4’s Escape to Florida - has been an absolute dream, it has also meant that I’m dealing with a UV index that would make any other Beauty Editor nervously scream.
But I believe I’ve found my ultimate SPF lineup for 2026, which includes No7 Future Renew UV Defence Shield SPF 50 - a gorgeous everyday, lightweight makeup primer; Ultra Violette Sequin Supreme Screen SPF 50 - a lovely face cream that adds a really lovely natural glow and Naked Sundays Premium Collagen Peptide SPF 50 Skin Tint - the perfect makeup base for holiday! There are also affordable American drugstore options including Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist SPF 70 and Target SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Spray.
📺 Prefer to watch this review? Catch the full unfiltered garden tour (there’s footage of woodpeckers and everything lol) and the product rundowns over on my YouTube channel.
Budget-Friendly Family Sunscreens & Lightweight Body Mists
Target SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Spray & Lip Balm: Best $5 Budget Family SPF
This can is absolutely massive and reasonably priced at around $5. It’s brilliant for the kids and a brilliant family staple for beach days.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist SPF 70: Weightless Broad-Spectrum Spray
Another fantastic Target find. It goes on sheer, feels weightless on the skin, and offers really high broad-spectrum protection.
Pool Bar London I Scream For Sunscreen SPF50: Scented Sheer Body Mist
A recent discovery that I’m absolutely loving. It goes on completely sheer, a little goes a long way, and it smells gorgeous - like vanilla and coconut ice cream 🍦
Best Everyday Face SPFs & Lightweight Makeup Primers
No7 Future Renew UV Defence Shield SPF 50: Best Lightweight Makeup Primer
This is my go-to everyday SPF. It has a gorgeous, lightweight texture that sinks in instantly, making it a perfect primer for makeup.
Vacation SPF 45 Classic Face Lotion: Hydrating Formula For Dry Skin
A huge fan! I love the retro branding and the formula is gorge too. It has a slightly thicker texture, so if your skin runs a bit dry, you’ll love it. Note: It is scented, so keep that in mind if your skin is sensitive.
Glow-Boosting Sunscreens & High SPF Tinted Coverage
Ultra Violette Sequin Supreme Screen SPF 50: Hydrating Luminous SPF
A beautiful hydrating texture that leaves a stunning, luminous sheen on the skin.
Naked Sundays Collagen Peptide SPF 50 Skin Tint (Shade 3): High-Protection Skin Tint
If you want a bit more coverage with your sun protection, this is fantastic. It’s quite liquid-y, but it evens out the skin tone beautifully.
Naked Sundays SPF50 Golden Glow Glitter Sunscreen Spray: Best Lightweight Shimmer Mist
A lightweight shimmer mist that adds a beautiful, subtle catch in the light to skin.
Naked Sundays PoutScreen Lip Treatment SPF 50 (In the shade ‘Love Letter’): Beautiful Protective High-Shine Gloss
A beautiful protective gloss. It is a tiny bit sticky - as you’d expect from a high-shine gloss - but it keeps lips protected and tinted.
Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50: Best Portable Dewy Touch-Up Stick
An invisible, dry oil stick that’s perfect for throwing in your bag and swiping over the top of makeup throughout the day for extra protection and instant dewiness.
What’s your absolute holy grail sunscreen for keeping your skin protected when the weather warms up? Let me know in the comments below!