Moisturisers Are A Summer Essential, So Here Are 11 Of Our Favourites With SPF

Eleven multitasking heroes to double up on in the sun

spf-hero

by Renee Washington |
Updated on

It's essential to wear SPF all year round, but with the sun emitting its strongest rays in the summer months, now is the time to start piling up on the sunscreen, and if you speak to any expert they'll advise the same. Why you ask? Firstly, the sun is responsible for premature skin ageing (which I learnt the hard way). And secondly, overexposure to UV rays can increase your risk of cancer.

To put it plainly, if you want to maintain youthful and radiant skin, SPF is your best friend in bottle form. And don't worry if you've always struggled with the thick, tacky and chalky finish of traditional sunscreens, the new-gen formulas are anything but that and offer everything from SPF face mists to serums and milks which cater to all skin types and all skin tones.

Grazia's Best Moisturisers With SPF At A Glance:

Best moisturiser with SPF for make-up: Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Mineral SPF 30 Moisturiser, £26.25 on Boots.

Best anti-aging SPF moisturiser: Paula's Choice Resist Anti-Aging Skin Restoring Moisturiser SPF 50, £39 on Cult Beauty.

Best affordable moisturiser with SPF: CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 50, £16.50 on LookFantastic.

To streamline your skincare, we have curated a list of the ten best moisturisers with SPF, that will not only help you to skip a step in your morning routine but will also hydrate your skin while shielding it from the sun's damaging effects. Read on to discover these multitasking heroes that offer both hydration and sun protection.

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Shop: The 11 Best Moisturisers With SPF

Best moisturiser with SPF for make-up

Fenty Hydra Visor
Price: $26.25 (was £35)

www.boots.com

Grazia tried and tested: We found that Fenty Skin's Hydra Vizor is the perfect canvas for your make-up application to keep your skin both hydrated and protected. Packed with niacinamide and Kalahari melon, this lightweight formula targets any fine lines and dark spots whilst working to strengthen your moisture barrier. Looking for plumper skin? We'd recommend this SPF moisturiser.

Pros

  • Great base for make-up
  • Zero flashback on the skin

Cons

  • Slightly scented

Best anti-aging SPF moisturiser

If you have dry skin throw this one into the shopping cart. This rich cream from Paula's Choice offers broad spectrum SPF50 to care for your skin in the sun. It contains ingredients like niacinamide and liquorice for a more hydrated and even-toned skin. Reviewers say that you can wear it under makeup or on its own and that it gives a nice glow and that skin feels nourished.

Pros

  • High protection from the sun
  • Leaves a radiant finish on the skin

Cons

  • More suitable for mature skin

Best affordable moisturiser with SPF

CeraVe gets it right when it comes to sensitive skincare. The AM Facial Moisturising lotion delivers hydration alongside UV and SPF50 protection, this cream is a crowd-pleaser that seeks to simplify your skincare routine. Fans of the product say it's ideal for sensitive skin and doesn't result in breakouts.

Pros

  • Doesn't irritate sensitive skin
  • Protects the natural skin barrier

Cons

  • More suitable for dry skin

Best priming SPF moisturiser

Beauty Pie, Super Healthy Skin SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer
Price: $50 (£15 with a membership)

www.beautypie.com

Beauty Pie brings you luxury beauty at affordable membership prices. The 2-in-1 featherlight sunscreen and primer. Apply this holy grail on before your foundation routine for the perfect sun-protected make-up base. One customer commented that it creates a lightweight base, absorbs quickly and doesn't make the skin feel oily.

Pros

  • Super lightweight formula
  • Priming ingredients helps make-up last

Cons

  • Slightly scented

Best SPF moisturiser for all skin types

Suitable for all skin types, this cult favourite moisturiser from Kiehl's boasts broad-spectrum defence against harmful UVA and UVB rays, while glacial glycoprotein and fountain plant extract help to lock in 24 hours of moisture. Mostly all of the reviewers said this moisturiser left the skin feeling highly hydrated.

Pros

  • Great for all skin types
  • Fast-absorbing cream

Cons

  • Some may find the formula too rich

Best mineral SPF moisturiser

Neal's Yard Remedies gets it right when it comes to skincare ingredients. The Wild Rose Cream is filled with organic wild rosehip seed oil, shea butter, and baobab oil, this delightful cream will help your skin to stay soft and beautifully hydrated all day. One delighted customer said, 'it has a nice smell, smooth consistency, and a little goes a long way'.

Pros

  • High UVA and UVB protection
  • Softens the skin immediately

Cons

  • Scented

Best lightweight SPF moisturiser

This high-protective yet lightweight formula from Caudalie contains antioxidant-rich spruce extract and French grape seed extracts, and delivers comfortable, invisible shielding. The sunscreen protects all skin types, including sensitive skin, from pollutants and environmental aggressors. One fan of the product even claimed that it makes your skin look even better, like a primer.

Pros

  • Protects from pollutants and environmental aggressors
  • Strong sun protection

Cons

  • Scented

Best vitamin C SPF moisturiser

Facetheory Glow-C Daily Moisturiser SPF 30Facetheory

A whipped moisturiser that smoothes and brightens your skin while protecting it against UV damage. Free of parabens, silicones, PEGs, SLS, SLES, and mineral oils, it's perfect for those who prefer a stripped-back formula. Reviewers agree, revealing that they're 'happy knowing the ingredients are nasty free'.

Pros

  • Available in an unscented and Mandarin formula
  • Vitamin C gets to work to brighten

Cons

  • Harder to get hold of

Best broad spectrum SPF moisturiser

Image Skincare PREVENTION+ Daily Ultimate Protection Moisturiser SPF 50
Price: $47.20 (was £59)

www.facethefuture.co.uk

Defy digital ageing and shield your skin from blue light and environmental stressors with this advanced formula. Experience the lightweight goodness that protects you whether you’re indoors, outdoors, or under the sun. Carefully crafted without octinoxate, oxybenzone, parabens, or artificial fragrances. We love that IMAGE's daily moisturiser is a skin-savvy solution that’s modernized for your ultimate protection.

Pros

  • Helps prevent blue light damage
  • Strong sun protection

Cons

  • Scented

Best hydrating SPF moisturiser

After a plump, nourished complexion? e.l.f's offering contains hyaluronic acid and peptides to keep skin in check. This face cream contains broad spectrum SPF 30 for sun protection while offering ultimate hydration. One commenter revealed, 'This is a nice, clean SPF moisturizer, and at this price point, I'm not afraid to use it daily on my decollete, arms, and legs'.

Pros

  • Great for dry skin
  • Works well as a base for make-up

Cons

  • Might be too rich for oily skin types

Bets plumping SPF moisturiser

Looking for glow? We think you'll love this moisturiser from Naked Sundays. A mineral lotion infused with vegan collagen that helps to smooth the appearance of fine lines and reel in the moisture. This formula is also infused with hyaluronic acid for that extra added hydration, which delighted customers say leaves a radiant glow.

Pros

  • Fragrance free
  • Added collagen leaves skin looking plump

Cons

  • Some reviews say the texture is quite thick

How Does SPF Work?

According to, Dr Mary Sommerlad, 'sunscreen works by reducing the impact of rays from the sun, the higher the SPF the more protection you have from burning; the higher the UVA the more protection you have from premature ageing and pigmentation issues.'

Renee Washington, Grazia's Digital Fashion and Beauty Assistant, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie.

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