I tried top-rated Amazon sunscreen that protects skin from UV damage and ageing

11 July 2023 , 16:00

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The twin pack of Altruist sunscreen costs £10.50 on Amazon

I’m the kind of person who is so pale and sensitive to the sun that I’ll burn through a window on an overcast day. Not only that, but skin cancer runs in my family, so sun protection - while essential for everyone - is a particularly important part of my daily routine, rather than something I use on sunny days from June to August.

Sunburn increases an individual's risk of skin cancer, while prolonged UV exposure contributes to ageing the skin. Picking a sunscreen that works for you is a very personal choice, but Ideally the first things to look for are UVA protection, which is indicated by a star-rating - the higher the better, so five stars is superior.

I also like to look for an SPF with broad spectrum protection which will cover a range of UV filters, as well as products that are coral friendly and suitable for sensitive skin.

Having tried a number of different brands over the years, from Boots’ own Soltan to Piz Buin, I’ve found an Amazon shopper-approved sun protection, and users say they ‘won’t use another brand’ again.

Created by Dr Andrew Birnie, sunscreens have a broad range of photos table UV filters, and aims to reduce the incidence of skin cancer. On Amazon, shoppers can pick up , making them £5.35 each.

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The formula is designed for people with sensitive skin, and I’ve found that it’s quite gentle on the skin, with no stinging around the eyes as I’ve found with other brands in the past. I love that it’s fragrance free, because as lovely as it is to ‘smell like holiday’, scented sun creams often attract insects, which I would rather avoid. It’s also said to have a ‘low risk of allergy’, so if you find yourself reacting to many sunscreen products, it could be worth giving Altruist a go based on these claims.

The sunscreen has a 5-star UVA rating, which is the most effective for sun protection

The which blocks 98.3 per cent of UVB rays, with a five-star UVA rating. This measures how well a sunscreen protects against the sun's UVA rays, with five being the most effective, which is very important when it comes to reducing the risk of long-term sun damage.

Applying the cream, it’s thick in consistency so I find using small amounts in concentrated areas works the best to ensure an even coverage. Though thick, it spreads well and absorbs quite quickly, without leaving any stickiness or greasy residue behind. Some people with darker skin tones have said that it leaves a bit of a white cast if not thoroughly rubbed in, with one commenting: “This is a good sun screen once it's massaged into the skin, but it took ages for the white fades to disappear from my skin (I'm Asian with brown skin), so I can't recommend this for darker skin tones.”

Although my skin is white, I did find similar results, but eventually it does fully absorb, it just takes a little longer than some brands, though I appreciate some people would prefer a cream that’s quicker to apply.

I found the sunscreen to be long lasting, however I did continue to reapply every two-three hours as recommended, and managed to survive the day sunburn free - not even a hint of pink.

A little bit of product goes a long way with Altruist

Another thing I love is that vegan and coral friendly. Coral-friendly sunscreen contains fewer harmful chemicals that would otherwise bleach reefs and harm marine life, so as a result, Altruist have formulated their sunscreen without oxybenzone and octinoxate - two of the biggest perpetrators. In addition, in 2021 49 per cent of all packaging was made from recycled plastic, making it better for the environment, too.

Altruist by name and by nature, 10p from every Altruist product sold is donated to charities supporting people with albinism. In 2019 Altruist donated £65,000 worth of sunscreen to people with albinism in Africa, who are particularly vulnerable to skin cancer.

The sunscreen has amassed a making it one of the retailer’s best-selling products ahead of Amazon Prime Day.

One shopper said: “I was recommended Altruist by a friend last year, after asking if anyone could recommend a good high factor sunscreen that wasn’t sticky and I could use like a body lotion. I looked it up and was impressed by its credentials and that it donated money to children with albinism in Africa, but what also impressed me was the low price point for such a high quality SPF.

“We’ve now been using it for a year and I wouldn’t buy another brand - I honestly do not see why you would when this is SO good and ticks all the necessary boxes. It is fragrance free which I actually prefer now I’m in my 40s (doesn’t attract any insects!) but understand some people might like their SPF to smell of ‘holidays’.”

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Another added: “I use this after moisturiser and before foundation. It does exactly what I want it to do. Protects my skin, is non greasy and doesn't sting my eyes. Getting the two bottles is an excellent idea and certainly good value for money.”

While a third added: “I'm very grateful that the product is not scented, the texture is good and won't leave any sticky feeling. Using this product for a year now to protect my skin and it works perfectly so far.”

While the is gentle around the eyes, I think I would prefer to use their on my face after having seen it on TikTok, keeping the SPF 50 for the rest of my body. The facial formula seems a bit thinner, and as though makeup would sit well over it, too - plus I can be confident in knowing that the two products will work in harmony with each other to protect my skin.

What’s more is that they’re both on the affordable side, too. The tubes are around the £5 mark, while the Face Fluid is £10.95 for 50ml, but will last a lot longer because it’s used in a more concentrated area. Altruist have said on their website that they want to keep the cost so low, to ‘encourage people to use more and be safer’, which as a consumer, I find allows me to put my trust in the product, too.

I’ve really enjoyed using as part of my daily routine, making sure to protect my skin from the sun, and oft-forgotten situations like having a manicure under UV light. It suits my sensitive skin well and feels lightweight after absorption, while being fragrance free and non-greasy. The has since been placed in my Amazon basket in the hopes it could be reduced over the Prime Day event, because I don't think I'll find myself using a store-bought brand again.

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Bethan Shufflebotham