Five New Skin-Loving Sunscreens to Have On Your Radar
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
Choosing sunscreen is a very personal decision. Much like any other beauty product.
Beyond preferences, factors like your skin type, tone and sensitivity all play a part in finding the right formula.
That’s why your best mate could be obsessing over a new SPF, yet the same product could completely miss the mark for you.
Ultimately though, as cosmetic chemist and beauty science educator Dr Michelle Wong puts it, the most effective sunscreen is the one you’ll actually wear.
Fortunately, Australian SPFs are considered globally as the gold standard in sun protection.
We're spoilt for choice, with over 80 products on Adore alone, ranging from chemical sunscreens to physical (often called “mineral”) ones, and those enriched with skin-loving ingredients.
This variety, albeit helpful, serves as an important reminder that Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.
Hence, it should go without saying: sunscreen isn't a choice—it's a necessity, 365 days a year.
On that note, I’ve assembled five new SPFs worthy of your attention.
So go ahead, and slip, slop, slather that goodness all over you. After all, safety is sexy.
Important note: Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection so wear protective clothing and seek shade. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, towelling and perspiring in accordance with directions.
Alpha-H Dawn To Dusk SPF 50+ Serum with Niacinamide.
Fast facts:
- High SPF50+ protection.
- Serum-lotion hybrid with a silky, lightweight texture.
- Suitable for all skin tones and to wear under makeup.
- Fragrance-free, cruelty-free, vegan and made in Australia.
- Infused with niacinamide, vitamin E and aloe vera to soothe skin.
The latest addition to Alpha-H's product lineup, Dawn to Dusk combines skincare with sun care for protection in more ways than one.
The inclusion of aloe vera, vitamin E and other skin-loving ingredients in its formula feels silky on the skin, leaving it soft and hydrated.
It has a lightweight texture that dries pretty quickly and doesn't leave a white cast or greasy residue behind.
And application is easy thanks to its dropper lid which avoids getting product everywhere – ideal for travel and top-ups throughout the day. Or for anyone who detests the feeling of sunscreen on their hands like yours truly.
Ultra Violette Fave Fluid SPF50+ Ultralight SKINSCREEN.
Fast facts:
- Broad-spectrum SPF50+ protection.
- Ultra-light consistency with a soft, natural finish.
- Enhanced with active skincare ingredients and next-gen UV filters.
- Inclusion of vitamin C derivative to boost skin’s radiance and improve texture.
I’m about to run out of my bottle of Fave Fluid if that’s anything to go by.
It has one of the thinnest consistencies I’ve seen in an SPF, which feels weightless feel when applied and sits nicely under makeup with a subtle glow that's free from stickiness.
Its inclusion of active ingredients including vitamin E and ascorbyl glucoside help care for the skin while working to reduce pigmentation, brighten the complexion and support a natural-looking glow.
BOOST LAB Goody Goody Sun Drops SPF50+ Serum.
Fast facts:
- High SPF50+ protection.
- Free from parabens, octinoxate and oxybenzone.
- Lightweight serum-like texture with dropper applicator.
- Protects while hydrating the skin with vitamin E and jojoba oil.
- Activates the natural production of vitamin D in the skin with patented tech.
Another SPF made with the skin in mind.
BOOST LAB’s Goody Goody Sun Drops are enriched with moisturising ingredients and antioxidants like vitamin E and jojoba oil which help hydrate the skin and relieve dryness.
It has a slightly thicker texture than the sunscreen-serum hybrid by Alpha-H, making it ideal for those with particularly dry and/or dehydrated skin.
But the biggest point of difference is its vitamin D technology, which combines key actives to support the natural production of vitamin D in the skin whilst offering broad-spectrum SPF protection.
Beauti-fltr Feather Light SPF 50+ Sunscreen.
Fast facts:
- 3-in-1 SPF, moisturiser and primer.
- Broad-spectrum SPF50+ protection.
- Lightweight, oil-free formula with an invisible finish.
- Cruelty-free, vegan and free from oxybenzone and octinoxate.
- Suitable for all skin types, including oily and blemish-prone skin.
- Formulated with iron oxide - an ingredient known to block blue light.
- Infused with hydrating antioxidants including Kakadu plum and vitamin E.
An overachieving product! (Even better when it’s affordable!).
I was particularly keen to try this SPF after members of our Beauty IQ Uncensored Facebook group shared their love for it at the time of launch.
If it got our community talking, you know it’s the goods.
Beautifully lightweight yet creamy, the sunscreen is enriched with glycerin, bisabolol and allantoin which help soften and soothe the skin, leaving it feeling comfortable.
Its inclusion of Kakadu plum (naturally rich in vitamin C) is a welcomed bonus, helping to enhance the skin’s radiance and shift pigmentation while protecting the skin from environmental aggressors.
And all this for $25 - don’t sleep on this underrated sunscreen!
P.S. There’s also a slightly thicker mineral SPF available too, if that’s more your thing.
Dermalogica Porescreen SPF40.
Fast facts:
- Lightweight texture that helps boost radiance.
- Supports a blurred, primer-like effect on the skin.
- Multitasking face cream with added mineral SPF40.
- Encapsulated light-reflective tint enhances skin tone with a sheer finish.
- Infused with skin-loving ingredients including niacinamide and antioxidants.
Here’s what one Dermalogica customer thought of Porescreen:
“As someone with oily skin and large pores, I'm always looking for products that can help control oil and give me a smoother, more even complexion. This product does all of that and more.
During application, the product feels silky and lightweight. It blends in easily and doesn't leave any white cast or greasy residue.
The hint of tint is perfect for me, and it really helps to even out my skin tone.
After using it, my skin feels smooth and radiant, and my pores are noticeably smaller.”
