5 of our favourite mineral powder sunscreens in 2023: from La Mer’s foundation to Derma E’s skin-smoothing formula crafted in partnership with Instagram-famous make-up artist Ash Deleon, and more

Sep 12 , 2023

Say goodbye to sticky sunscreen and hello to its mineral powder sibling. Photo: Sephora

Say bye to milky streaks and hello to glowing skin! Powder sunscreens are the new beach bag essential that combine cosmetics with sun defence – and it’s easy to reapply on the go

Luxury beauty brand La Mer has incorporated SPF into its make-up range while Jane Iredale includes an ultra-soft vegan kabuki brush – and Physicians Formula offers a budget-friendly option

Say goodbye to sticky lotions! Powder sunscreens are having their moment in the sun right now – literally – thanks to their easy application, matt finishes and sun defence.

When it comes to skincare, sunscreen is non-negotiable. It serves as our frontline defence against the sun’s damaging UV rays and even protects against wrinkle-inducing blue light emitted by everyday gadgets like computers and smartphones.

Always pack sunscreen in your bag before you go on a beach holiday. Photo: Shutterstock

But our usual lotions and sprays often come with downsides: they can leave a greasy film on the face and are less than convenient for on-the-go reapplication. We’ve all had those awkward moments when someone points out an unsightly streak around our hairline or nose hours after we thought we’d cleanly reapplied – what a disaster!

Luckily, some pioneering genius has invented powder sunscreens. Long heralded as the convenient, mess-free alternative in sun protection, these finely milled formulations are becoming the “It” product in everyone’s summer skincare arsenal.

Mineral powder sunscreen is becoming more popular. Photo: Lane Crawford

The best way to use powder sunscreen is as a top-up throughout the day. Apply your favourite sunscreen at home in the mirror to get maximum coverage, then reapply powder sunscreen throughout the day for added SPF and beautifying properties.

Here are five of our favourite brands that we love to dust on in the high heat of a summer’s day.

1. Supergoop! (Re) setting 100% mineral powder broad spectrum sunscreen, SPF 35 PA+++

Supergoop! has a brush that comes with its mineral sunscreen. Photo: Sephora