My Top 5 Vegan + Cruelty Free Sunscreens
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For those of you who are simply too overwhelmed with choice, I’ve narrowed down some of my favourite vegan and cruelty-free sunscreens.
I regularly do polls on my Instagram stories (follow us here). Some are skincare based, some are…not. All of them contain important, need-to-know information. Last week, I did a poll asking if everyone wore sunscreen everyday. And if you didn’t, what was stopping you? 21% of you admitted you went rogue (I do not accept). With excuses ranging from: “too much choice! Easily overwhelmed!” to “cba” 😒
I’m sorry but if I, a 100% Jamaican can burn and peel in SOUTHPORT, then 21% of you are out here looking like leather sofas 👀 To help you with your decision, I’ve done a rundown of my favourite suncreams. I’ve kept the ones that gave decent protection, despite leaving me with a white cast. For some (@garnieruk) the low price point makes it more of an affordable option. However, it’s inclusivity is kinda scuppered by the fact that no one darker than a cup of tea could get away with wearing it comfortably.
For others (@ultrasunuk) swimmers, runners and hikers would struggle to find a better option. Basically if you’re a sweater (hello🙋🏾♀️) then this product is gold. It’s completely water resistant and doesn’t need to be reapplied, even after you’ve swam/ worked out/ seen someone you fancy. However if you have even the slightest hint of melanin, you will end up looking like an ashtray. I’m so sorry.
Without further ado, here are my top 5. Pin them on your board for your summer holiday checklist 💖
COSRX ALOE SOOTHING SUN CREAM SPF50 PA+++
£18, 50ml, Look Fantastic*
My personal fave, this chemical SPF leaves no white cast. It contains aloe vera (duh) and glycerine for deep hydration. Although this may be too much hydration for the oilier among us, it’s perfect for dry + dehydrated skins.
SUPERGOOP! UNSEEN SUNSCREEN SPF30
£15, 15ml, Cult Beauty
Unseen Sunscreen has cult status for good reason! It’s a chemical and physical SPF with absolutely zero white cast. This is a great product for combination + oily skins, as it has a very silicone-y makeup primer texture. I hated this texture, lots of other people love it 🤷🏾♀️.
THE BODY SHOP SKIN DEFENCE MULTI-PROTECTION LOTION SPF 50+ PA++++
£18, 40ml, The Body Shop UK
The Body Shop produce this SPF in both lotion and cream, so they’re catering for all skin types here. What they aren’t catering for is anyone darker than a cup of tea 😑. This SPF leaves the ghostliest of white casts, that doesn’t budge for the entire day. It contains vitamin C to help with hyperpigmentation
ULTRASUN ANTI-PIGMENTATION FACE LOTION SPF50+
£32, 50ml, Look Fantastic*
This SPF is unrivalled, it's truly god tier. Like The Body Shop’s Skin Defense, Ultrasun Anti-Pigmentation has vitamin C to help fight free radicals + hyperpigmentation. It also doesn’t need to be reapplied after being in water, so is perfect for swimmers and holidays. The inclusion of peptides also helps maintain skin barrier health. HOWEVER this is a physical sunscreen and the white cast is no joke 👻.
GARNIER AMBRE SOLAIRE SUPER UV FACE FLUID SPF50+
£7, 50ml, Look Fantastic
Now Garnier are officially cruelty-free (minus their parent brand L’Oreal), affordable drugstore vegan + CF sunscreens have become way more accessible. This one contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, both star ingredients for prolonged hydration. It’s also well-reviewed amongst the sensitive skinned online community, so a good option if you find sunscreen tends to break you out. Once again, HOWEVER this is another chemical SPF that was not made for darker skins. The cast is so white it’s violet. And no, it didn’t look good.
*Use Code LFTFLAURAJO for 20% off selected Look Fantastic purchases
