Equal parts skin tint and sun shield, MERIT’s The Uniform SPF 50 is a new mineral formula delivers a filter-like glow without masking your natural tone. The mineral zinc base offers full-spectrum protection, while silky emollients and fine powders help blur imperfections with a light, creamy finish. There’s no stickiness and no caking – just an elegant layer of breathable coverage that makes skin look quietly flawless. Expect the kind of “your skin but better” finish you’ll want to wear daily. Bad news for your regular foundation, good news for your skin.

Australian-made and designed for serious sun exposure, ALPHA-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+ is a hard-working 2-in-1 acts as both moisturiser and high-protection SPF. Texture wise, it’s like a creamy serum and thanks to being rich in Vitamin E and Hydrosella (a moisture-binding botanical active) it floods dry or dehydrated skin with hydration that lasts all day. But it’s the finish we love most: that elusive radiant-but-not-greasy glow that layers like an absolute dream under makeup. Bonus: it’s water-resistant for up to four hours, making it ideal for beach days and urban commutes alike.

Mineral SPF has had a makeover – forget the white cast, chalky residue that put you off in the past. Ultra Violette’s Future Fluid SPF 50+ is powered by Japanese zinc for broad-spectrum protection, and its weightless formula enables it to melt into skin, leaveing a soft satin finish. As if that wasn’t enough sorcery, it comes in one universal beige tint that somehow manages to blend into every skin tone. The skin-caring extras – squalane, Pentavitin and vitamin E – only seal its place as our go-to for low-fuss, high-performance coverage.

With its featherlight texture and powerful antioxidant cocktail, this is SPF as luxury skincare. Inside the sleek cobalt tube: pomegranate flower, perilla leaf and Kakadu plum to neutralise free radicals; cotton seed extract and raspberry oil to support collagen and reduce photodamage; and the brand’s signature TFC8® complex to boost cellular renewal. It feels more like a high-end day cream than a sunscreen — and works hard to justify its price tag.

When we heard that one of our favourite brands was launching a part SPF, part self-tanner, part skincare serum, we feared it wouldn’t live up to the hype. But having tested Allies of Skin Sunless Tan SPF 50, we can confirm that this innovative new hybrid is indeed the fast-track way to sun-safe radiance. Lightweight and genuinely non-greasy, it glides on like a hydrating primer, contains SP5 50, and gradually develops into a believable, even glow over a few hours. Vitamin C and goji berry extract support collagen production and help combat oxidative stress, while DHA (a sugar-derived tanning agent) delivers subtle bronzing without streaks or scent. If you hate fake tan but love looking healthier, this is the one.