According to a Dermatologist, These Are the Best SPFs for Mature Skin

Finding a good SPF for mature skin can be tricky, but these recommendations come backed by a derm.

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As a beauty editor, I'm often asked by my female relatives if they should bother wearing an SPF for mature skin. My mum, who is now in her sixties, worshipped the sun during her twenties, thirties and forties, often while wearing a generous layer of baby oil (sometimes even cooking oil) to maximise her tan in the summer. *Shudders*.

Thankfully, we are now much more informed about the dangers of sun damage and skin cancer than back then, and wearing the best SPF products on a daily basis is more commonplace now. Alongside the known dangers of the sun, UVA and UVB rays also play a huge part in skin changes such as pigmentation, fine lines, melasma and wrinkles. It's estimated that around 80-90% of skin ageing is attributed to sun exposure—yet another reason we should be applying SPF daily, even during winter and on cloudy days, and not just in the summer and on holiday.

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Just recently, my grandma spotted the early signs of skin cancer on her nose—which was thankfully treatable and safely removed—and it became a wake-up call for all of the family to be a lot more careful in the sun. In short, it's never too late to start protecting your skin by wearing a good SPF. Which is why it's so important to find a great SPF for mature skin that you want to wear every single day.

So, what are the best SPFs for mature skin? I enlisted the help of Dr Hiva Fassihi from OneWelbeck Skin Health & Allergy, London, to share how to find the best SPF for your skin, as well as some dermatologist-approved recommendations.

Elemis SPF bottle on a marble table

(Image credit: @gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK)

We got our hands on some of the best SPFs for mature skin.

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Does mature skin need SPF?

In short, yes. Everyone can benefit from wearing SPF, regardless of your age. "Mature skin needs sunscreen for the same reasons that skin at all ages needs sunscreen – to protect from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)," says Dr Fassihi.

"With increasing age, skin often becomes dry and sensitive secondary to chronic sun exposure. There is also more photodamage with redness, pigmentation and wrinkles secondary to loss of collagen and elastin. Additionally, studies have shown that women lose about 30% of collagen in their skin during the first five years of menopause," she adds. "The use of daily sunscreen can help reduce and improve these signs of skin photoaging and also prevent the skin from becoming even more red and sensitive over the years."

When should I wear SPF?

"I encourage my patients to wear their sunscreen every day, regardless of how bright and sunny it appears outside. It is important to remember that UVA, the main cause of skin aging, is present all year round, even on dull days," says Dr Fassihi.

"Sunscreen should be applied generously after cleansing in the mornings. Care should be taken to cover all exposed parts of the face and neck, including the delicate skin under the eyes. After waiting 15 minutes for the preparation to fully absorb into the skin, then makeup can be applied on top," she says.

Thankfully, there are plenty of formulas, textures and application alternatives to help you top up your SPF protection throughout the day. "The newer spray-on mists such as La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Anti-Shine Face Mist SPF 50 (£19), which can be applied over makeup, allow convenient topping-up during the day without disturbing your makeup," says Dr Fassihi. SPF sprays are a great way to top up throughout the day if you're wearing foundation.

What to look for when choosing an SPF for mature skin

"When choosing a sunscreen at any age, it is important to look for a high SPF value, such as 30 or 50+, and good UVA protection," says Dr Fassihi. "This means that the product will give the best possible protection against sunburn and will also protect against UVA, which causes skin aging. The amount of protection a sunscreen provides is related to how thickly it is applied onto the skin, so be generous with your sunscreen application," she adds. Many experts suggest a dessert spoon-sized amount, or around two fingers' worth of product, to effectively protect your skin.

Next, you want to consider the type of SPF for your skin type. "If the skin is dry and sensitive, then I would suggest choosing an SPF 50 with no fragrance and minimal ingredients. Those with a higher content of mineral (physical) sunscreen filters (often found in children’s sunscreens) are tolerated better by people with sensitive skin," says Dr Fassihi. "Anthelios UVMune 400 Hydrating Cream SPF50++ (£22) offers very high broad-spectrum facial sun protection for dry sensitive skin in a moisturising perfume-free formula. The netlock technology delivers a non-migrating and very resistant sunscreen with reduced eye stinging," she says.

For those with normal skin to combination skin, she recommends the Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ (£20), which offers an invisible non-greasy formulation—making it ideal as an SPF underneath makeup—whereas those with sun damage will benefit from Anthelios Age Correct SPF50 (£33), which protects the skin and also addresses dark spots and pigmentation.

"There is now a broad selection of sunscreen for all skin types on the market," says Dr Fassihi." There are a variety of textures, with or without a tint, allowing you to pick the perfect product for your skin type." Scroll ahead for some of our favourite SPFs for mature skin.

The Best SPFs For Mature Skin

Summer Fridays skincare products on vanity table

(Image credit: @ironnsalt)

1. Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate Protect Spf50+

2. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF50+ 

3. Trinny See The Light SPF50 Moisturiser

4. SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defense SPF50

5. Elemis Pro-Collagen Skin Protection Fluid SPF 50

6. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Uvmune 400 Hydrating Suncream SPF 50

7. Avène Very High Protection Mineral Fluid SPF 50+ Sun Cream

8. Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin™ Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer

9. Heliocare 360 Gel Oil-Free SPF 50

This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Eleanor Vousden
Eleanor Vousden
Beauty Editor, Who What Wear UK

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections.

With a degree in fashion journalism from the London College of Fashion, she has 10 years of industry experience and has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.

Eleanor’s journalistic focus is providing readers with honest and helpful beauty content. She has interviewed celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson.