I must admit that I'm a huge suncare obsessive, more than anything else in skincare. Personally, suncare has never been just for summer and winter activities to me, but for daily purpose whether it's cloudy outside or not. As some of you who have been reading my posts, I'm very good at sticking to the ones that actually work. However, sunscreens have been something that I would never stop searching and experimenting with as that's how much weight I put on it in my skincare routine. As much as I've been addressing the importance of hydrating skin on my blog past years, proper suncare is also as essential specially nowadays, especially with the rising concerns in regards to pollution and global warming. We all want to age gracefully, without skin cancer, right? :) And the key to that begins with using a good sunscreen daily.
A Wheatfield On A Summer's Afternoon by Marc Chagall (1942)
Anyway, this year has been extra interesting to me as major big companies including the ones that I love have released their new/upgraded sunscreens. Looking back this year, it was pretty crazy spending so much money on those, but I think it was well worth it since I like to analyse and compare. Most importantly, I'm very curious and they all goes onto my skin after all :D.
If you are contemplating other high-end skincare brands, then my previous posts on them may be helpful as well.
- Luxury Skincare Guide (La Mer VS La Prairie VS Swiss Perfection VS Sisley VS Guerlain
- World's Most Expensive Skincare/ My 10+Years with Best Luxury Beauty (La Mer VS > La Prairie VS Sisley VS Chanel VS Guerlain)
- High-end Hydrating Serums (La Mer VS La Prairie VS Sisley VS Chanel VS Guerlain)
- High-end Hydrating Moisturisers (Guerlain vs La Mer vs La Prairie vs Sisley)
- La Prairie Skin Care Comprehensive Overview
- La Mer Treatment Masks (The Lifting and Firming/ The Brilliance Brightening/ The Hydrating Facial/ The Intensive Revitalizing Mask)
Just for a quick reference, I have normal dehydrated skin most of the time. However, my skin can get normal to dehydrated combination over summer and dehydrated normal to dry in autumn and winter. My skin can also become a bit allergic to some of the natural skincare products containing certain ingredients and oils. As I've mention before, the nature of the post is very personal, so how I feel about the products may be different from how the companies have advertised. Regardless, those sunscreens that are mentioned here have been tested throughout all the seasons and I hope this post will help your decision making so you can find the one that meets your needs and taste :).
Below USD 100 (excl. tax)
| Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Primer | Chanel UV Essentiel Soin Quotidien Multi-Protection Daily Defender UV-Pollution SPF 50+ | Dior ONE ESSENTIAL City Defense SPF 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key benefits | • Collagen protection • Increasing skin’s natural defense • DNA protection from oxidation |
• Strengthening skin’s own defense • Protection from pollution, internal & external stressors and UV damage |
• Protection against UV damage, pollution and toxins |
| Personal preferred usage | Suncare & moisturiser & primer | Primer | Suncare & primer |
| Amount | 40mL | 30mL | 30mL |
| Major sun filter type | Chemical | Physical | Physical |
| UVB Rating | SPF 45 | SPF 50+ | SPF 50 |
| UVA Rating | PA+++ | N/A | PA++++ |
| Texture | Fluid emulsion | Lightweight emulsion | Gel emulsion |
| Finish | • No white cast • Glow • Can get slightly sticky or greasy depending on the amount you put on |
• Visible whitecast • Semi-matte finish • Cooling |
Almost no visible whitecast • Glow • Subtle skintone evening & brightening |
| Hydration power | • Long lasting • Flight safe |
• Not much hydration • Best used with other skincare/makeup products |
• Not much hydration • Short flight safe |
| Preferred weather | All except humid | All except cold & dry | All except very dry |
| Preferred skin type | All except oily | Best for normal to oily with no fragrance sensitivity | All except those with fragrance sensitivity |
| Reapplication | East | Easy, but white cast amplifies | Easy |
| Layerability with other skincare & makeup | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Price range (excl. tax) | $$ | $ | $ |
| Review | Review | Review |
USD 100 and above (excl. tax)
| Blanc de La Mer The SPF 50 UV Protecting Fluid | La Prairie Cellular Swiss UV Protection Veil Sunscreen SPF 50 | La Prairie Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Transforming Cream Sunscreen SPF 30 | Sisley Super Soin Solaire Youth Protector SPF 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key benefits | • Pigmentation control | • Pigmentation control • Moisture balance |
• Supporting skin’s natural defense system • Colour correcting • Hydrating • Oil free |
• Protection from UV induced photo-aging & environmental damage • Cell protection |
| Personal preferred usage | Suncare & primer | Moisturiser & suncare | Tinted moisturiser & suncare & primer | Moisturiser & suncare |
| Amount | 50mL | 50mL | 30mL | 40mL |
| Major sun filter type | Chemical | Physical | Physical | Chemical |
| UVB Rating | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 30 | SPF 50+ |
| UVA Rating | PA+++ | PA++++ | PA+++ | PA++++ |
| Texture | Bouncy gel emulsion | Dense cream | Velvety cream | Creamy emulsion |
| Finish | • No white cast • Glow • Can get slightly sticky or greasy depending on the amount you put on |
• No white cast • Glow • Can get slightly sticky or greasy depending on the amount you put on |
• Semi-matte finish with a subtle glow • Light to medium coverage with natural look |
• No white cast • Glow • Can get slightly sticky or greasy depending on the amount you put on |
| Hydration power | • Subtle hydration • Short flight safe |
• Long lasting deep hydration • Flight safe |
• Long lasting subtle hydration • Flight safe |
• Long lasting deep hydration • Flight safe |
| Preferred weather | All | All except humid | All | All except humid |
| Preferred skin type | All | All except problem prone/easily perspiring skin types, best for dry/dehydrated | All except fragrance sensitivity | All except oily/easily perspiring skin types, best for dry/dehydrated |
| Reapplication | Easy | Tricky | Easy | Easy |
| Layerability with other skincare & makeup | Easy | Tricky | Tricky | Easy |
| Price range (excl. tax) | $$ | $$$ | $$$ | $$ |
| Review | Review | Review | Review |
Where to Buy
- Nordstrom (Free shipping & samples)
- Saks Fifth Avenue (Free shipping & samples)
Recommendations
- Kahina Giving Beauty Prickly Pear Seed Oil (Dry/ Sensitive/ Eczema Skin)
- Chanel LES BEIGES Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint SPF 30
- La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion
- La Mer The Brilliance Brightening Mask (Blanc de La Mer)
- Sisley Sunleÿa Age Minimizing After-sun Care
- Sisley Ecological Compound (Emulsion Ecologique)
- La Mer The Treatment Lotion & The Concentrate
- Chantecaille Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask
