Best: Overall

Rating: 9/10

If in doubt, you can always rely on La Roche-Posay to keep you safe in the sun. The newest addition to its extensive range of sunscreens, Anthelios UVMune 400 might sound like some sort of robot, but it’s actually an incredibly advanced product. The brand has created a new filter (called Mexoryl 400, which has been 10 years in the making and has 25 patents) that is specially designed to protect skin from the most harmful long UVA rays – which, as research shows, have the ability to penetrate deep into the dermis, damaging collagen and causing pigmentation. The runny, water-like formula disappears into skin almost instantly, and leaves a slightly dewy sheen (which we quite liked), but we would suggest leaving a good few minutes before applying anything on top of it, as it did feel slightly tacky for a short amount of time. But for such incredible protection, that’s a small price to pay.

Best: For an even skintone

Rating: 9/10

Hydrating but never greasy, this lightweight milky formula blends in perfectly without leaving a trace. It doesn’t leave skin looking or feeling oily, and make-up can be applied almost immediately on top of it without pilling. The formula is enriched with a blend of hardworking active ingredients, including the brand’s “multi-patented netlock technology” which it says works to form an invisible layer on skin, to ensure it is as protective as it can be. It also contains vitamin E – an antioxidant designed to protect the skin barrier, as well as a peptide complex and niacinamide to target uneven skintone. Despite being thin in texture, it still feels nourishing.

Best: Over make-up

Rating: 9/10

Dermatologists will tell you that, ideally, we should be topping up our daily sunscreen every few hours in order to really maximise the protection it provides. While it’s not necessary every single day of the year, it’s a good habit to get into if you can, especially during the hotter summer months in the UK and abroad. But, short of removing any make-up you wear and then reapplying it again, it’s a pretty impossible ask – and that’s where these clever, traceless spray-on products come in. Specifically formulated to apply over make-up, they shouldn’t be used as the only form of sunscreen, but as a top-up throughout the day, and they are great. This one by Ultrasun is lightweight, non-greasy, quick-drying and truly transparent. It absorbs fast and is touch dry within a few seconds – and if you ask our tester, no handbag should be without it.

Best: Lightweight formula

Rating: 9.5/10

Thank You Farmer is a brand we were introduced to last year, but it turns out there is a cult following for its sunscreen formulas. Despite being spoken about less than its counterpart – sun project water sun cream – we would say that this one, light sun essence, is better. It’s incredibly lightweight, absorbs instantly into skin without any residue and there’s no need to wait at all before applying make-up. It’s a real underrated hero, and since the brand hails from Korea, you know it’s really going to deliver. The formula itself contains soy lipids to support the skin’s barrier, lotus water to calm and comfort skin and an ingredient called phyto-oligo which the brand says helps cool skin and lock in hydration.

Best: For affordability

Rating: 9.5/10

When you consider the price of this, you really can’t go far wrong. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid and it’s super hydrating, but also incredibly lightweight – the texture is near water-thin – and it absorbs and blends into skin like an absolute dream. It has the full approval of the multiple dermatologists we spoke to and it doesn’t interfere with make-up at all. It leaves skin with a slightly dewy finish, but doesn’t feel at all sticky or leave any trace of residue. In all honesty, it’s hard to believe that this sunscreen has such an affordable price point because it’s definitely on par with some of the more expensive formulas we have tried – and there’s a very good reason why we’ve used multiple bottles of this stuff. You really can’t go far wrong with it.

Best: For hydration

Rating: 9/10

This may fall on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but believe us when we say it’s worth every penny – and not just because this is the product that made our tester realise that wearing sunscreen everyday didn’t have to be a chore. It has the texture of a moisturiser with all the protection of an excellent, broad-spectrum sunscreen, combined with added skincare benefits. It’s truly invisible on the skin and acts as a great make-up primer, plus it claims to defend against both pollution and infrared damage. Medik8 is also a brand that crops up in our routine time and time again, and as a result, is one we trust implicitly.

Best: Mineral formula

Rating: 9/10

Mineral sunscreens gave sunscreen as a whole a bad reputation – they are the formulas that are traditionally thick, white and gloopy. But Murad has managed to create a truly exquisite formula that’s actually invisible on skin – absolutely no chalky residue – and isn’t at all heavy or pore-clogging. It gives a seriously healthy glow, doesn’t feel greasy and absorbs almost instantly while also making for the perfect base for make-up. It’s a truly revolutionary formula, and despite being fairly expensive, it’s definitely worth every single penny. It also claims to provide protection against blue light emitted from digital devices.

Best: Under make-up

Rating: 9/10

A recent discovery for our tester, if ever there was going to be a perfectly formulated sunscreen to apply underneath make-up, Mac was going to make it. Packed with antioxidants, it’s a really beautiful texture that absorbs into skin straight away and feels nourishing and comfortable without being heavy, greasy or oily. It claims to create a soft-focus effect when applied beneath make-up, and while we didn’t necessarily notice that, it did sit really well underneath foundation and acted as a great primer. The formula is non-comedogenic and it’s generally just a joy to use – we only wish that it came in a bigger sized tube, although this 30ml bottle is great for travelling.

Best: For brightening skin

Rating: 8.5/10

If you’re looking to target uneven skintone, sun spots or hyperpigmentation and would ideally like a double whammy of a product, consider this the sunscreen to invest in. Alongside SPF50, this feather-light, easily absorbed formula contains tranexamic acid, an incredible ingredient that helps brighten dark spots and improve the appearance of pigmentation by slowing down the production of melanin. It also has 2 per cent niacinamide, an underrated ingredient that helps diminish dullness and improves uneven skintone.

Best: Cruelty-free formula

Rating: 8.5/10

The Body Shop’s skincare offering is seriously underrated, and alongside its cult cleansing balm sits this sunscreen, a product that ticks all of our boxes. Lightweight, virtually invisible once applied to skin, and offering high protection in a non-greasy formula, it’s definitely a good choice of product. It promises two-hour moisturisation and is formulated with anti-pollution protection, too. Plus it has red algae extract which helps improve overall hydration, and vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that has additional brightening properties. Plus, staying true to The Body Shop’s ethos, this formula is cruelty-free and uses Community Fair Trade aloe vera sourced from Mexico.

Best: For invisibility

Rating: 8/10

Relatively new to the UK, Supergoop! is a brand worth knowing about. It specialises in sunscreen, creating formulas that make people want to wear it every day, and this one does exactly that. Truly invisible, it isn’t greasy and is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores. It’s the perfect base for make-up and has a soft, velvety feel – however, it’s worth noting that this won’t be suitable for everybody, as it’s quite heavy on the silicones. However, it is also free from alcohol, parabens and artificial fragrances.