Sunscreen is one of the most elusive yet essential beauty treatments. We all know we need to wear it, preventing ageing, and protecting us from the sun, but too many of us forget to wear it on a daily basis. Living in the Middle East, sunscreen SPF 50, or other daily protections, are imperative, protecting from strong and harmful rays and slowing down ageing. Sunscreen SPF50 when travelling is also of utmost importance, from powerful rays blasting through aeroplane windows to sun basking and bathing itself. In the quest to find the perfect sunscreen SPF 50 and SPFs for the face and body and handily added into makeup, Near+Far has tried and tested some of the most popular on the market, all available in the UAE and GCC, from moisturisers and serums to makeup. Here are the very best to purchase now.

The best sunscreen spf 50 to buy now

Sunscreen SPF 50 facial cream

Guerlain Abeille Royale UV SKIN DEFENSE

Buy now: AED385 for 50ml; guerlain.com
Best for: Combining the power of an elite moisturiser and facial serum with powerful SPF protection
Keep in mind: It’s pretty pricy, coming in at over $100 a tube

After weeks of trying and testing Sunscreen SPF 50, we’re proud to announce this was our holy grail – the SPF50 facial product we would wear every day and buy every time. Wary of many SPFs for the face, thanks to their tendency to leave skin greasy and often cause breakouts. This did everything but. For starts, the protection itself is incredibly high, with high PA+++ protection, including long UVA rays (responsible for collagen deterioration) and ‘flex UV technology’ to create a second-skin mesh. However, this is far beyond an SPF and can also double as your everyday moisturiser, so there is no need to remember to apply two creams every morning, thanks to its additions of exclusive black bee honey from Brittany, France, which tighten and firm, and claim to reside wrinkles and loss of firmness. It also helps with dark spots.

Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF50

Buy now: AED300 for 50ml; ae.apothecabeauty.com
Best for: All skin types
Keep in mind: This is slightly scented for those who fragrance free

Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF50 is a sunscreen for everyone – regardless of age, skin type or tone – especially for those with sensitive skin. This powerhouse liquid goes above and beyond, and beyond the regular SPF, with hyaluronic acid, silk extract and amino acids to help hydrate and niacinamide to help build back and protect the skin barrier – which can be affected from too much UV exposure. We love the purple bottle, stands out in your cabinet and makes it impossible to forget (when it comes to applying or packing in your suitcase), and it glides on completely sheer with no white residue. We loved the creamy texture, light and refreshing scent, the subtle finish (not shiny, not matte- just totally natural), and especially how it didn’t make our combination skin feel oily and heavy. As an added benefit, it’s good to the planet and reef safe.

Skin Story Bare Multistick

Buy now: AED160; skin story.me
Best for: Reapplying throughout the day, targeted care, airbrushed look
Keep in mind: nothing – we love everything about this sunscreen

Skin Story’s Bare Multistock is one of the handiest SPFS around – allowing you to reapply during the day, without getting your fingers greasy -or imparting germs from your hands onto your face – and ensure maximum protection. Perfect for travel, as it’s a solid clock rather than a liquid – this lightweight formula feels like chapstick and can be applied on the face, lips or even on the targeted spots on the body (feel your ears are exposed? Or your neck? just give it a quick slick of this). The formula itself is a powerful SPF50 for maximum protection and soothes and nourishes – adding a dose of hydration but also priming for makeup. It also gives you a slightly airbrushed appearance – we love it.

Clarins Sun Care Face Cream SPF50

Buy now: AED150 for 50ml; ounass
Best for: Everyday SPF protection, oily and break-out-prone skin
Keep in mind: nothing – we love everything about sunscreen

This is a sunscreen SPF 50 that’s always in our handbag, whether we’re at home in the city or travelling. Its smooth, fast-absorbing texture ensures the skin feels protected, smooth, and comfortable and offers robust protection against UVA and UVB rays . It glides on, leaving no white residue, and has quick absorption, meaning you can apply a makeover over the top or avoid the classic screen shine if hitting the beach. The cream itself is nourishing and leaves our skin feeling noticeably softer – something we notice when not wearing this, thanks to added ingredients like cocoa, argan oil and aloe vera. It genuinely suits all skin types and packs a high level of protection. It doesn’t leave your eyes stinging if you get a little sweaty or are in the water.

Barbara Sturm SPF 50

Buy now: AED618 for 50ml; ae.apothecabeauty.com
Best for: Antiageing and seriously tacking skin damage
Keep in mind: This is one of the priciest on the market, but one bottle lasts for months and doubles as a potent anti-ageing serum

Few people take sun protection and antiageing more seriously than Barbara Sturm, aesthetics doctor-turned-skincare mogul known for her highly effective – and highly desirable – eponymous range. Her SPF 50 is a true luxury – and like the rest of her powerhouse serums, it is designed to be layered to achieve maximum glow and delay the signs of ageing. The formula itself is a lovely pale yellow colour, coming in her classic glass bottle with a dropper for easy application every time, and is incredibly light in its texture – feeling like water when it glides over your moisturiser (use as the final step in your skincare routine, daily). It is double protective from both UVA and UVB rays, and being Barbara Sturm, not only protects but also heals and enhances with its active complex of Cassia Extract, Vitamin E and Beta-Glucan. This is an anti-ageing powerhouse, protecting this reviewer’s skin from sunspots like very few others here did – it’s also non-greasy and quick to absorb.

Melting Cream High Protection For Face SPF 50 Nuxe Sun

Buy now: AED138 for 50ml; sephora.ae
Best for: Antiageing and seriously tacking skin damage
Keep in mind: This is one of the priciest on the market, but one bottle lasts for months and doubles as a potent anti-ageing serum

Nuxe’s Melting Cream High Protection For Face is another fantastic everyday sunscreen SPF 50 suited to all skin types, offering a superior level of protection and formula but still managing to be affordable. This is the perfect cream for all ages and skin types, offering a non-greasy, non-irritating formula that absorbs quickly, lasts for hours and doesn’t cause breakouts – even with repeated use. We’ve used this cream for a week, and our usually breakout-prone skin was blemish-free, even when applied four times a day during the summer holidays. The formula will probably suit younger skin more. It is designed for gentle tanning and has a nice light consistency. This is the ideal sunscreen for sunbathing and swimming.

Lower than SPF 50

Aesop Protective Facial Lotion SPF25

Buy now: AED225 for 50ml; aesop.com
What we love: the delicate floral smell and absorption like a regular moisturisers
Keep in mind: this is a lower SPF suited to indoor or low UV ray use – so swap to factor 50 when heading outdoors

Aesop’s products are revered across the world and are loved for their stylish packaging, light and delicate fragrances, and gentle but effective formulas. Its Protective Facial Lotion SPF25 is a wondrous sunscreen, a medium protection product perfect for days spent indoors or perhaps travelling during winter when the sun’s rays are a little lower. While not SPF50, this fantastic liquid made us feel like we weren’t wearing sunscreen. It has a slightly floral perfumed fragrance reminiscent of green tea or a Japanese pa and absorbs incredibly quickly – leaving no shine or greasy layer. Our skin felt particularly supple and soft all day when wearing it. This is ideal for those who spend time indoors, near a window, and often forget about SPF 50 – offering a mix between a moisturiser and daily protection. 

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30

Buy now: AED145 for 50ml; kiehls.ae
What we love: that this is a daily moisturiser, primer and SPF all in one
Keep in mind: this is a lower SPF suited to indoor or low UV ray use – so swap to factor 50 when heading outdoors

A moisturiser with SPF, rather than an SPF that moisturisers, Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30 is the perfect buy for those who prepare a stripped-back and easy skincare routine, and are prone to forgetting to apply daily SPF on top of their day cream. As the apothecary-inspired brand’s top-selling product, with six sold every minute, this is the perfect all-rounder. It provides 24-hour protection, so it doesn’t need to be reapplied (unless you’re swimming or sunbathing, and leaves skin soft and moisturised – especially in hard conditions. We love how this doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a sunscreen SPF at all – there’s no sunscreen smell, no sunscreen constancy – just all the delights of a daily moisturiser, plus a decent amount of protection for every day, largely indoor use.

Makeup

Asteri NOORISH Tinted Serum SPF30

Buy now: $45 (about AED165) for 30ml; asteribeauty.com
What we love: the wide range of shades, inspired by Arab skintones
Keep in mind: the serum is buildable, so don’t be afraid to add more for more coverage – it won’t cake

Showcasing the pioneering spirit of growth of Saudi’s beauty industries, homegrown KSA brand Asteri offers some fantastic SPF products – specially designed for the strong rays and often harsh weather conditions of the GCC. Its NOORISH Tined Serum SPF30 is a hero product, coming in a wide range of shades inspired by Arab skintones, and offers lightweight, buildable coverage that offers a near flawless finish. The formula is ‘desert proof’ and hydrates and protects, with 67% skincare ingredients like pomegranate extract and hyaluronic acid for a dose of hydration. It also protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Add a two to four drops for light coverage, building ip to four to six for a foundation-type appearance. We will be packing this in our suitcase for our upcoming travels.

Summer Fridays ShadeDrops SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen

Buy now: AED172 for 50ml; ae.apothecabeauty.com
What we love: the delicate floral smell and absorption like a regular moisturiser
Keep in mind: this is a lower SPF suited to indoor or low UV ray-use – so swap to factor 50 when heading outdoors

Part tinted moisturiser, part powerful SPF, Summer Fridays ShadeDrops SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen is one of our absolute favourites for everyday use. Ideal for days where you want to go makeup free, while still wanting a smooth complexion (and, of course, that all-important sun protection), this lightweight mineral serum slides over the skin, delivering SPF 30 protection but also a host of skincare benefits: vitamins, antioxidants, and soothing chamomile. The sunscreen blended wonderfully into our skin, not leaving any grease or residue behind, and effortlessly adapting our skin tone to reduce redness or dark spots. As far as powerhouse SPFs go, this is one of the best – perfect for travel, too, thanks to its capabilities and versatility. What’s more, it’s vegan-friendly and reef-safe.

Nudescreen Blush Tint SPF 30

Buy now: AED120 for 15ml; sephora.ae
What we love: this is the ultimate travel essential – adding colour to lips, cheeks and with SPF 30
Keep in mind: depending on skin tone, this may need multiple applications to build the desired pigment – just keep blending and building.

We know a lot about sun damage and UV exposure now, and they’re linked to ageing, so it makes sense that SPF is infused not only into our skincare routines but also into our makeup routines. When we stumbled across Nudescreen Blush Tint SPF 30, we were absolutely delighted, as not only is this tube small, pocket and travel-friendly, but it doubles as a lip, cheek and eyelid tint – and with added SPF 30. Available in five lovely pinky shades, the Nudescreen Blush Tint SPF 30 comes in a liquid form, so it’s easy to add just a tiny dap and build for added colour. Cover-wise, it’s formulated with 100% mineral non-nano zinc oxide, protects against broad-spectrum UVA/UVB, reduces the visible signs of ageing and is recommended for daily use by the Skin Cancer Foundation. We love slipping this into our hand luggage for an added glow when we arrive at our destination or on the beach.

Tatcha The Kissu Lip Tint SPF25

Buy now: AED159; ae.apothecabeauty.com
What we love: this is the ultimate travel essential – adding colour to lips, cheeks and with SPF 30
Keep in mind: nothing

This is our favourite lip tin with SPF 25 – acting as a soothing lip balm, giving a dose of colour and protecting your lips all in one. From the cult favourite brand Tatcha, this creamy lip tint offers buildable colour, so you can have anything from a sheer pinky gloss right through to a more pigmented hue – making it incredibly versatile and travel freely. There are three lovely pink shades, likely to suit all skin tones, and the balm locks in moisture; our perenially dry lips felt nourished all day long, and we only reached to reapply when we needed more colour – not because our lips were dry again.

The best SPF for body

Barbara Sturm Sun Cream Body SPF30

Buy now: AED507 for 150ml; ae.apothecabeauty.com
What we love: that this offers the same care, attention and ingredients given to facial SPFs – not viewing the body as an afterthought.

Dr Barbara Sturm is one of the few skincare brands dedicated to the body just as much as the face, with products for the skin, hair, you name it – all focusing on antiageing and anti-inflammation. Her Sun Cream Body SPF30 is, perhaps, the most superior of all body sunscreens – not only protecting the skin against UVA / UVB but delighting potent anti-ageing ingredient science to ensure the skin is protected against drying and ageing while in the sun. The cream glides on, is non-greasy and without the typical sunscreen scene, and neutralises free radicals to prevent oxidative stress. We felt incredibly protected wearing this for a day by the pool – with no red blotches, dark spots or dryness at the end of the day. Combine with Barbara Srturm SPF50 for the face for ultimate protection.

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