Gale-force winds and random rain showers have finally given way to sun – and the late May bank holiday weekend is even treating us to a heatwave. With temperatures reaching nearly 30 degrees across the UK, it’s time to swap out umbrellas and parkas for sunglasses and SPF.
While sun protection is necessary all year, it becomes even more important during the summer months. With everything from SPF moisturisers and sticks to gel or matte formulas available, it’s tricky to find the right product for your routine and skin type.
When it comes to daily protection, I always rely on tinted formulas. Giving you glowy and pigmented coverage, these lightweight products are designed to double up as makeup and SPF. Eliminating extra steps in your morning routine, these hybrid buys have shaken up the sunscreen scene.
While I’ve tried – and loved – formulas from premium names like Ultra Violette or Supergoop!, there’s one budget buy that seriously impressed me: Elf’s suntouchable whoa glow. Easily rivalling more luxurious formulas, the £15 drugstore product delivers on coverage and UV protection. Hailing from the beloved brand’s suntouchable SPF range (which also includes an excellent stick, invisible sunscreen and a handy spray for topping up coverage).
Beauty buffs on TikTok have even hailed the SPF30 formula as a budget alternative to Supergoop!’s cult glowscreen sunscreen. Here’s my tried and tested review – plus how to stock up ahead of the heatwave.
Elf suntouchable whoa glow
Boasting a relatively thick formula, it doesn’t go on as smoothly as other formulas when using just your fingers, so you’ll need to go in strong with a brush to avoid the product piling. The colour and coverage, on the other hand, are impressive.
The formula is available in three shimmery shades and it delivers a natural, radiant glow and a soft, non-greasy finish. I found it evened out my skin tone, and appreciated that the formula is infused with aloe, hyaluronic acid and squalane for added skincare benefits. Plus, it doubles up as a primer with concealer, blush and foundation formulas sitting comfortably on top.
It’s not as long-lasting as other formulas, and it boasts a more traditional sunscreen scent that may put some people off, but if you’re after an affordable dual-action SPF to throw in your bag when you need a little coverage, it’s worth trying.
Read more: Best face sunscreens
