The best SPF moisturisers to keep skin bouncy as it ages

Score: 83/100

This UV ray-fighting formulation scored almost full marks for skin hydration in our lab, with every panellist who tried it corroborating its moisture-locking abilities, saying their faces felt hydrated all day after adding this step to their morning routines.

“It provided moisture that lasted until I cleansed my makeup off every night – other moisturisers with added SPF I’ve tried have made my skin dry,” one person told us, while another added: “Using this has meant my skin is genuinely in the best condition it’s ever been, hydration-wise.”

Many noted less redness after time spent in the sun than they would usually experience, even without reapplying (although this is not advised). They loved the light, non-greasy feel and found it didn’t look shiny once it sank into skin. One person thought their makeup had a little less staying power when they wore this under it, but that’s what the best setting sprays are for, right?

Score: 78/100

Medik8 is one of our beauty team’s favourite skincare brands, but it’s not just the retinols and potent actives that pack a punch. For days when you haven’t got time to layer up multiple skincare products, or you just want a grab-and-go cream to throw in your bag for all occasions, reach for this vitamin C SPF 30 moisturiser.

Our panellists said it improved the look and feel of their skin, with one telling us it made them look “more radiant and glow-y” in an instant. Testers also raved about the fresh, citrus scent and said it melted into their skin quickly and didn’t have a greasy residue, instead leaving their complexion soft and supple.

Score: 76/100

With a reputation for great value formulations that truly make a difference to skin, we weren’t surprised to see CeraVe on our top-rated list. Purposefully and thoughtfully designed to work for both dry and oily skin types, this formula can help you transition you from periods of excess oil to more dull and dry days as your skin matures, without the need to swap it out as your skin changes.

It's packed with ceramides to strengthen that all-important skin barrier and ensure all that hydration gets locked in. Testers said they would continue using it after the trial period, telling us it sunk in easily, didn’t pill under makeup and left no white cast. Plus, it’s kind on purses.

Score: 74/100

Elizabeth Arden is home to some of the most iconic beauty products on the market (hello, Eight Hour Cream). Claiming to protect against pollution as well as UV – it’s literally named ‘city smart’ – this SPF 50 moisturiser is great for urban dwellers desperate to protect their faces against external aggressors and slow down the skin ageing process.

Our panellists said it was lightweight and fast absorbing, “with a lovely creamy (but not overly greasy) texture,” according to one. “It gave skin a slight natural tint, without leaving any streaks,” another person told us. Although it scored well for hydration in our lab tests, some of our panellists with dry patches said they’d expected their skin to feel more moisturised and had to use another cream on top – perhaps not one for those with really dry skin then.

Score: 72/100

More than just its adorable lilac packaging, Trinny London’s See The Light claims to reverse the signs of visible ageing. Developed in Korea – like many of the most efficacious formulations – it acts like a primer, allowing makeup to sit on top comfortably, without budging. One panellist told us, “I felt like my makeup had a lovely base and it went on more smoothly than normal.”

Some grumbled about the fragrance. “I didn’t like the smell personally, but I think some people would like it,” said one panellist. But almost everyone told us their skin felt smoother and softer to the touch after using the product, and many said they noticed the potency of the sun protection factor – “I would normally get a red nose from being in the sun, but with just one application of this in the morning I managed to avoid any immediate signs of damage,” said one pleased tester.

Although we do advise you opt for SPF 50 on your face every day, the newer SPF moisturisers to the market have really upped their efforts in the development stage to offer both reliable protection from the sun, as well as all the healthy hydration you want from a day cream. Unsurprisingly ­– from the brand that put personalised skincare on the map – Skin + Me is one of the first to do just that.

The brand’s team of savvy scientists have worked out the average human face size and made sure exactly the right amount of product – and most importantly SPF coverage – is dispensed for that surface area. In other words, you don’t need to second guess whether your application is generous enough.

The Australians know what’s up when it comes to SPF, and Aussie brand Ultra Violette is particularly hot on protecting against UV rays – the clue’s in the name.

This one claims to be a primer, an SPF and a moisturiser, all in one. The GHI's beauty tester, Juliet Heaton, is a big fan. She says she can’t leave the house without one of these in her bag – she’s never found an SPF moisturiser that agrees with her skin until this one.