We should all know by now that we need daily protection from the sun, even when it isn’t shining. Its UVA rays (the ageing ones) and UVB rays (the burning ones) are constantly assaulting our skin, causing signs of ageing from lines to pigmentation.

And if you’re still depending on your everyday moisture or foundation labelled, say SPF30, to give you adequate protection from the sun, think again. Many of us have been lulled into a false sense of sun care security by relying on these two daily staples when they simply don’t offer equivalent protection.

“Moisturiser has a thinner consistency than sunscreen,” explains EV Expert Balsam Alabassi, Founder of the Dermrefine Skin Clinic. “This means you’re more likely to miss sensitive areas when you apply, such as the earlobes, neck, hairline and around the eyes. Also, you would need to use a thick layer on the face and we just don’t apply that much moisturiser. Similarly for foundation, you’d need 13 pumps to get effective protection, where we generally apply about one or a half pump, so you’d be completely caked in it.”

Consistency aside, the other reason why moisturiser and foundation aren’t enough is that we don’t reapply them, which we need to do at least every two hours. As EV Expert Julie Scott, Nurse Prescriber at Facial Aesthetics, notes, “even an SPF50 will lose its protective powers after 90 minutes.”

So, while it can seem like another arduous step to add into our skincare routines, it’s well worth the effort if you want to reduce the impact of sun exposure to the skin. And thankfully there are now a whole host of new SPF formulas that are packed with high performance skincare benefits that take into consideration elements such as skin type and concerns, leaving your complexion protected and more.

Skin-friendlier sunscreens to try and buy

The multi-tasker: Skingredients Skin Shield Moisturising and Priming SPF50, includes niacinamide to enhance tone and texture, free radical-fighting vitamin E, plus smoothing and moisturising allantoin.

The youth-booster: Grown Alchemist Natural Hydrating Sunscreen SPF30, is packed with firming rosehip, a plumping and nourishing hyaluronic acid complex, as well as parsley seed extract to fight free radical damage.

The city shield: Shiseido Urban Environment Age Defense SPF30, has a special anti-sebum complex to combat shine, and it protects against pollution, dust and other environmental aggressors, whilst providing a hit of hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid.

The glow getter: Murad Correct & Protect Serum SPF45 uses a blend of jojoba, sqaulane, tomato and beetroot extracts to help tackle pigmentation, protect the skin barrier and hydrate, all to boost luminosity.

The helpful hand: Brush On Block Translucent Mineral Sunscreen SPF30, has a clever self-dispensing brush to make reapplication every two hours easy. It delivers a sheer powder without any mess, can be brushed over make-up and leaves skin with a shine-free, luminous finish.