Top 5 Best SPF 50+ Moisturisers in 2024
Top 5 Best
SPF 50+ Moisturisers in 2024
Daily protection? SPF 50 moisturisers are the answer. After countless requests from you, we took a deep dive into sun protection. Our team went hands-on, testing more than 30 daily moisturisers, all to find the best ones for your skin.
Why SPF 50? It's simple. The sun's rays can age our skin, and without proper protection, we're risking damage every day. The best SPF 50 moisturisers do more than just protect. They hydrate, nourish, and feel great on the skin. But with so many out there, how do you pick? Especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin? It's all about finding a product that provides solid sun defence while meshing well with your skincare routine.
We know how vital it is to have an SPF moisturiser that's both effective and feels good, especially under make up. Our team of skincare specialists has carefully analysed products with potent active ingredients to identify those that provide optimal benefits without adverse effects on the skin. Based on our findings, we present our top 5 best 50+ daily moisturisers below.
Daily protection? SPF 50 moisturisers are the answer. After countless requests from you, we took a deep dive into sun protection. Our team went hands-on, testing more than 30 daily moisturisers, all to find the best ones for your skin. Why SPF 50? It's simple. The sun's rays can age our skin, and without proper protection, we're risking damage every day. The best SPF 50 moisturisers do more than just protect. They hydrate, nourish, and feel great on the skin. But with so many out there, how do you pick? Especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin? It's all about finding a product that provides solid sun defence while meshing well with your skincare routine. We know how vital it is to have an SPF moisturiser that's both effective and feels good, especially under make up. Our team of skincare specialists has carefully analysed products with potent active ingredients to identify those that provide optimal benefits without adverse effects on the skin. Based on our findings, we present our top 5 best 50+ daily moisturisers below.
What to Look for in an SPF Moisturiser?
Avobenzone
This organic compound provides UVA protection and is often used in combination with other sunscreen ingredients. It’s particularly effective in protecting against long-wave UVA rays, which can cause significant damage to the skin.
Zinc Oxide
This mineral-based ingredient provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. It’s also gentle on the skin, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Titanium Dioxide
Another mineral-based ingredient that provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. It’s also non-irritating and suitable for sensitive skin.
Best SPF moisturiser: At a glance
- Best Overall Moisturiser: Habitual Skin SPF 50+ Daily Moisturiser 50ml
- Best Acne Prone: Paula’s Choice Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50
- Best Splurge: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 100
Choosing the Right Skincare
Choosing the right skincare products can be difficult. Many of us are tempted to choose the cheapest option available, despite knowing that this may come at the expense of effectiveness. Yet, the reason some products are more expensive than others is they are significantly higher in quality. Although they require you to spend a bit more, you are likely to see better results and receive more of the expected benefits of the products you are using.
Choosing from an overwhelming amount of brands and products out there can feel difficult at times – which is why we have researched what each has on offer, tested and narrowed down our choices for this ultimate list of five highly rated products.
The Good - What to Look For
With so many options available on the market, finding the right skin care can be tricky. After researching extensively to figure out what criteria you should look for when buying a new product, these are the three things we found:
- Active Ingredients – It's no surprise that choosing between beauty products can feel overwhelming sometimes due to marketing tricks that may lead people astray from what their actual needs might be. Active ingredients have been scientifically proven to actually do what they claim and are made with active compounds which work towards improving the overall skin condition of whatever problem it targets (i.e ageing). When looking at labels next time, check if there are any 'active' ingredients in them as this will assure you're getting something useful instead of something useless.
- High Potency – Everything in a skincare product formula should contribute to its overall purpose. A good quality skincare product will have an optimal ingredient amount - strong enough to combat the target skin concern, yet gentle enough that it does not irritate sensitive skin types (e.g., dry patches)
- Purity - not all products are made the same way. Most of the time, active ingredients can be naturally sourced and well-researched formulas exist; but if they were created in a synthetic process or hazardous method, these same ingredients may cause harm to someone's health and put people at risk.
The Bad - What to Avoid
Here are some useful things to avoid when purchasing an SPF moisturiser to ensure maximum results:
- Low Potency – Those who religiously read labels know there may be anywhere from one or two hard-to-pronounce ingredients in skin care products. Every additional ingredient dilutes the potency and effectiveness of the key ingredients which generally makes all the difference to the skin's health. Products with high potency start off strong so that they have a greater chance of doing what it was originally designed to do - taking good care of your skin.
- Unnecessary Ingredients – whether these are called fillers, carriers or bulking agents, these will decrease the overall potency of key ingredients and reduce the overall efficacy.
- Tested on animals – animal cruelty should never be tolerated because they matter too.
- Fragranced – while scents can make a lovely addition to an experience with a particular product, fragrance refers to a dark hole of possibly toxic ingredients that there is little regulation over.
- Excessively expensive – though it is natural to assume on appearance alone that more expensive products include an increased concentration of high-quality ingredients that are safe for use by all skin types, it is always imperative to look past the sticker price and see if this claim rings true or if there may be factors like marketing, packaging, or proprietary ingredients which can contribute to the excessive cost.
The System - Our 10-Step, Research-Backed Ranking Method
There is so much more to choosing an SPF moisturiser than just taking marketing and labels at face value. That simply isn’t enough. Instead, we choose to test and compare each SPF 50+ moisturiser against our 10-point ranking system:
- 1 The purity and quality of ingredients and sourcing.
- 2 The presence or lack of artificial fillers, preservatives and additives.
- 3 Regulated manufacturing facilities and high-quality processes.
- 4 The information behind the product - science, research and development.
- 5 Level of Active Ingredients, availability, digestibility and absorption.
- 6 Manufacturer governing bodies registrations and certifications.
- 7 Third-party testing to determine validity and accuracy of label information.
- 8 Filtering customer reviews to remove paid/fake reviews to highlight truthful customer experience.
- 9 Price and value for money.
- 10 Return and money-back guarantee policies.
Save on our favourite SPF moisturiser
Right now at Habitual Skin, you can save up to 10% on best sellers and up to 35% off bundles. This includes the SPF 50+ Daily Moisturiser from our roundup—a comprehensive solution that offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, boosts your skin’s hydration, and enhances vitality. Use code JUNE24 at checkout to bring the price down to just £40.50.
Habitual Skin | Was £45.00 | Now £40.50
The Guide - How We Evaluated the Top 5
- 20 hours of research went into this list.
- 5 experts analysed and evaluated each product.
- 60 Customer Experience Interviews.
The skin care products you’ll find below are carefully selected after painstaking work from our team, who reviewed them extensively in terms of quality, efficacy, user feedback, and value.
All products featured on Honest Reviews are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
TOP 5 SPF 50+ MOISTURISERS
#1 Habitual Skin
Habitual Skin SPF 50+ Daily Moisturiser 50ml
- Quality Rating: 10/10
- Expert Rating: 9.9/10
- Users Rating: 9.8/10
Habitual Skin’s SPF 50+ Daily Moisturiser is the perfect solution for anyone looking for a light, easily absorbed formula that hydrates, protects, and improves overall skin health. With broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, Provitamin B5, and Vitamin E, this fragrance-free and silicone-free moisturiser provides all the essential nutrients that the skin needs.
The powerful combination of Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E helps to nourish the skin, improve skin elasticity, and promote a youthful appearance. Provitamin B5 works to attract and retain moisture, while Vitamin E provides antioxidant protection against free radical damage caused by environmental stressors.
As we have grown to know with Habitual Skin’s product range, they place importance on being free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances; therefore, keeping irritants away from the skin. The lightweight consistency of the moisturiser allows for easy absorption, making it an excellent choice for daily use, even under makeup. The hydrating properties of the moisturiser work wonders, leaving the skin feeling remarkably soft and supple from the very first application.
In addition, Habitual Skin provides free shipping to the U.K. on orders over £40 and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, allowing customers to try it for 90 days to see its full potential.
The Desirables
- Provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, making this an excellent choice for everyday use.
- Contains Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E to nourish and improve skin elasticity.
- Cruelty-Free and Gluten-Free formula that has been clinically tested and developed by skincare experts.
- Lightweight formula quickly absorbed by the skin and used under make-up.
- Hydrates the skin and leaves it feeling soft and supple from the very first application
- Paraben-Free formula made without fragrances, that smooths fine lines and improves the look of dry skin.
- Made in the U.K.
- Great value for an affordable price, with special offers available on the company’s website.
The Undesirables
- Currently, it is only available for purchase on the official company website. Stock problems may occur due to the high demand for the product.
The Final Word
Of every SPF 50+ Moisturiser we put up against our 10-point ranking system. Habitual Skin’s SPF50 Daily Moisturiser was by far the highest quality product that delivered the most optimal results.
Compared to other brands, Habitual Skin’s formula stands out with the use of Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E, which not only protect the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays but also improve skin elasticity and hydration.
Habitual Skin offers free shipping on all orders over £40 which allows customers to spend more money on the actual products. They also offer a 90-day money-back guarantee which gives customers significantly longer than other brands to trial products and determine if they achieve real results. This demonstrates that they believe in their product and its ability to produce true, high-quality skin benefits.
Why Habitual Skin Is Our #1 Pick
After evaluating ingredients, reputability, customer service and experience across numerous brands of SPF 50+ Moisturisers, it is clear that Habitual Skin’s SPF 50+ Daily Moisturiser is the superior product on the market.
Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E work synergistically to provide exceptional benefits to the skin. They not only hydrate and protect but also improve elasticity and prevent premature ageing. By incorporating these ingredients into their SPF 50+ Daily Moisturiser, Habitual Skin has created a product that nourishes and enhances its overall health and appearance.
Alongside these core reasons why Habitual Skin’s SPF 50+ Daily Moisturiser stood out from the rest of the brands, they frequently provide their customers with special offers that allow their buyers to capitalise on what they spend.
#2 Paula’s Choice
Paula’s Choice Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50
- Quality Rating: 9.1/10
- Expert Rating: 9.0/10
- Users Rating: 8.9/10
Paula’s Choice is a popular brand that offers a diverse selection of products to meet various skin types and concerns. One of their standout products is the Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, which offers a blend of UVA/UVB protection and hydration for a more youthful-looking complexion.
The formula is water-light and contains potent antioxidants and broad-spectrum sun protection to prevent premature ageing of the skin and combat visible signs of ageing. The satin-matte finish of this hydrating fluid makes the skin feel smooth and supple.
However, the downside is that the matte finish can cause pilling which a few of our testers have experienced, making it less suitable for daily use, especially when wearing make-up. Despite this, the ingredients of the product are the real stars as they work to soothe sensitivity, and calm redness, especially in the morning.
The Desirables
- Provides effective UVA and UVB protection for the skin.
- Contains a selection of antioxidants to help fight visible signs of ageing and prevent premature ageing of the skin.
- Hydrates the skin, leaving it feeling smooth and supple.
- Contains ingredients that can soothe sensitivity and calm redness, making it great for morning use.
- The satin-matte finish gives the skin a smooth appearance.
The Undesirables
- Due to the matte finish, it may cause flakiness on some skin types, making it unsuitable for everyday use.
- The texture may not work for all skin types, particularly those with very dry or oily skin.
The Final Word
Paula’s Choice is a well-known brand with a wide range of products that cater to all skin types and concerns, including their Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50. While this product provides effective UVA/UVB protection and hydration for a healthier, younger-looking complexion, it also has some downsides, such as a potential for flakiness due to its matte finish. Despite this, the hero ingredients of the product can help soothe sensitivity and calm redness and works best in the morning.
#3 La Roche-Posay
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 100
- Quality Rating: 8.7/10
- Expert Rating: 8.6/10
- Users Rating: 8.5/10
La Roche Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 100 is a must-try for those who are sun-sensitive and require high protection. With the exclusive Cell-Ox Shield Technology, this sunscreen provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with antioxidants to fight against the damaging free radicals that accelerate skin ageing. It is oxybenzone-free and is suitable for those with sensitive skin.
This sunscreen is also recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and is dermatologist tested, making it a trustworthy option.
However, a downside our testers experienced is that leaves yellow stains on clothes that are difficult to remove, and it can be quite greasy and leave white streaks on the skin. So, it is best to be cautious when applying and avoid contact with clothes until it has fully absorbed.
The Desirables
- High SPF 100 protection for face and body, suitable for those with sensitive skin.
- Oxybenzone-free and fragrance-free formula.
- Advanced Cell-Ox Shield® Technology provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with antioxidants.
- Recommended by Skin Cancer Foundation.
- Absorbs quickly, soothed skin, and left skin feeling moisturised.
The Undesirables
- The sunscreen is super greasy and leaves a lot of white streaks
- It can leave yellow stains on clothes which are difficult to wash off
The Final Word
#4 SkinCeuticals
SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50
- Quality Rating: 8.7/10
- Expert Rating: 8.6/10
- Users Rating: 8.5/10
SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 is a mineral-based sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA/UVB rays while promoting a more even skin tone. The inclusion of artemia salina, a plankton extract, helps to enhance the skin’s resistance to UV and heat-induced stress. This non-comedogenic sunscreen is paraben and fragrance-free, making it ideal for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
However, our testers mentioned that the formula is tinted, which may not work for all skin tones, and it settled into creases. Additionally, the product was too heavy for some testers’ liking. We also received expired samples, which is disappointing, especially considering the price point. We recommend checking the expiration date before purchasing or using this product.
The Desirables
- Provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with 100% mineral filters
- Water-resistant for up to 40 minutes
- Boosts radiance for a more even, luminous complexion
- Helps boost the skin's natural defences against environmental stress
- Paraben-free and fragrance-free
- Non-comedogenic and ideal for all skin types, including sensitive skin
The Undesirables
- The formula may be too heavy and settle into creases, causing an uneven finish
- The tinted formula may not be suitable for those with very fair or very dark skin tones
- Some customers have reported receiving expired samples or receiving samples that have gone bad.
The Final Word
The Skinceuticals Sheer Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 is a good option for those looking for a tinted mineral sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and promotes a more even skin tone. However, our tester’s experience highlighted that the formula can be too heavy and settle into creases, and the heavily tinted formula may not be suitable for all skin tones. Additionally, the issue of receiving expired samples is a concern. Despite these downsides, the sunscreen is water-resistant, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic, making it a good option for most skin types.
#5 Isdin
Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Daily Mineral SPF 50+
- Quality Rating: 7.6/10
- Expert Rating: 7.5/10
- Users Rating: 7.7/10
Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Daily Mineral SPF 50+ is a facial sunscreen designed to repair and protect skin from actinic damage, making it ideal for year-round sun protection. The fast-absorbing, ultralight emulsion is enriched with patented DNA Repairsomes®, clinically proven to repair existing sun damage. It also contains zinc oxide, a 100% mineral sunscreen that effectively blocks the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays, and Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps to boost the skin’s natural defences.
Despite its impressive benefits that became noticeable after 4-5 weeks of use, our testers experienced that it leaves a white cast on darker skin tones, making it unsuitable for some users. Another thing to note is that it is extremely greasy and not as lightweight as described, leaving a shiny finish on the skin. Lastly, the product contains fragrances which may not be suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The Desirables
- Contains DNA Repairsomes® which are clinically proven to repair existing sun damage
- Contains zinc oxide which provides 100% mineral broad-spectrum sun protection
- Includes Vitamin E which acts as an antioxidant to protect against environmental damage and signs of ageing
- Designed for actinic damage, making it ideal for those with sun-damaged skin
- Dermatologist-tested
The Undesirables
- Leaves a white cast on darker skin tones
- The formula is extremely greasy and not as lightweight as described
- Contains fragrance which may be irritating for some individuals.
The Final Word
Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Daily Mineral SPF 50+ is a highly effective sunscreen that is specifically designed for people with actinic damage. Its unique formula with patented DNA Repairsomes® and mineral sun filters provides broad-spectrum sun protection while repairing existing sun damage. However, its heavy white cast on darker skin tones and greasy formula may not work for everyone. Additionally, the presence of fragrance may be a concern for those with sensitive skin.
Honourable Mentions
There is a clear winner amongst our top 5 and we recommend your interest centre on them; however, to round off our top 10, here are the next 5 best products from the multitude we researched, trialled and tested.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 55
Supergoop! Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion SPF 50
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+
Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Cerave AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50
Final Thoughts
Protecting your skin from the sun is essential year-round, and choosing the right sunscreen is crucial to maintaining healthy skin and safeguarding your skin from harmful UV radiation, which can lead to skin cancer and premature ageing. The sun is responsible for the majority of visible changes associated with ageing, such as fine lines, wrinkles, discolouration, and uneven texture.
After putting a multitude of brands up against our 10-point ranking system that takes into account the science, packaging, marketing and consumer experience, it is clear that Habitual Skin’s SPF50 Daily Moisturiser is the best on the market.
Citations
Skin Cancer Foundation, “90% of visible changes commonly attributed to skin ageing are caused by the sun”
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/sunscreen-faqs/