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After the best sunscreen for sport? 11 that passed my meticulous sweat tests
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Tested by The Runner’s World Editors
As runners, we’re often well-tuned with doing what we can to protect our muscles, joints and feet — but what about our skin?
Wearing sunscreen — especially on the face — is arguably the single most important thing we can do for our skin, yet many of us head out to pound the pavements without slapping on any form of protection from the sun’s UVA rays. Spoiler: a pair of the From Runners World for On or a running cap Its perhaps the ultimate extreme-running sunscreen. A!
But before you go reaching for that tube of thick white cream at the back of the cupboard, know that your skin has different requirements on a long run The Runners World Editors.
That's where I come in. As a run editor and ten-time marathoner with acne prone skin, I spend plenty of time on the roads and trails and have tested the best facial and body sunscreens and SPFs designed specifically for sports. The products below are designed to feel lightweight and non-greasy, while being able to withstand the sweatiest training sessions at Cult Beauty.
Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50
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What to look for in a sunscreen for running
Lightweight
Possibly the most important factor in a facial SPF is a lightweight consistency that's absorbed rapidly, while allowing the skin to breathe and sweat effectively, says Tom Austen, founder of Pelotan, sun performance protection for athletes. ‘Look for a formula that doesn’t block pores, meaning your body can effectively regulate temperature and you can fully commit to your workout,’ he says.
Sweat-resistance
‘You also want something highly water and sweat-resistant, meaning it won’t slide off or drip into your eyes during your workout,’ says Austen.
Factor
For running, look for products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more and with broad spectrum protection, says Austen. ‘Even with a high SPF, if a sunscreen isn't broad spectrum, you won't be protected from all UVA rays'.
UVA rays might not cause you to burn, but they do penetrate more deeply into the skin and play a greater role in premature skin ageing.
Application
It’s important to think about how long you intend to be running and the practicalities of reapplying during your run. A longer-lasting product can be a lot less faff, but if you've got the means to carry your SPF with you, you may want the reassurance of applying something more often.
Formula
SPFs can come in lotion, spray and stick formulas. Again, there's no clear winner here – just find what works best for you.
How we test
All of the face SPFs below have been hand-picked and personally tested by the Runner's World editors, who regularly clock up over 60km each per week and have completed all kinds of running challenges, from ultramarathons to gentle parkruns. Using our expert knowledge of performance running products, and advice from skincare experts, we've put these SPFs through their paces on training runs and races, to bring you our final list below.
Best sport sunscreens, sweat-tested by RW editors
Supergroup! was created off the back of founder Holly Thaggard’s hatred of greasy textures, chalky finishes and dubious ingredients when it comes to sunscreen, so you know this is a quality product. In fact, it's one of our e-commerce editors favourite products overall (she's been using it for over a year): the lotion is completely invisible, water and sweat-resistant, lightweight, fast-absorbing and smells delicious too. We've also found it sits well under make-up. Plus, it’s coral reef safe, making this a great option for surfers or sea swimmers. It’s factor 50, but you will need to reapply it if you're out for several hours.
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Face |
This one is definitely on the premium end of the sunscreen spectrum, but it doubles up as a lightweight daily moisturiser with avocado oil, neroli oil and Nordic pine bark to boost skin cell regeneration and leave you feeling fresh. The formula is pretty thick, but a little goes a long way: we find you only need a tiny pump, and it delivers a luxurious, 'barely-there' feel. A great option if you want something hydrating that will sit well under make-up.
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Face |
With a water-gel consistency, this SPF from Glossier doesn’t feel sticky or greasy, instead it glides on and is super easy to apply. Better yet, it’s completely undetectable thanks to it’s transparent forumal, which absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving white cast and sits beautifully under make-up. Offering SPF 35 protection against UVA and UVB rays, this suncream isn’t advertised as a sports-specific suncream, but we really rate it as a everyday option that’s easy to use and doesn’t clog your pores when you get a sweat on. It also contains antioxidants, including vitamin E, broccoli, and aloe leaf to help protect against free radicals – and it smells fresh, too.
| SPF | 30 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Face |
A good option for those heading out for several hours (or who hate the faff of reapplying), Ultrasun claims its sports spray only needs to be applied once and offers complete protection due to its UVA and UVB filters. We wouldn’t say the formula is 100% non-greasy like the brand says, but it’s definitely on the low-grease side, feels light, and can be spritzed on without needing to rub it in. It’s clear too, so you don’t need to worry about a white cast on the skin.
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Body |
Easy to apply (and reapply if needed), quick-drying and non-greasy high-grade protection whereyou need it most. Our tester was particularly impressed by the scalp protection – a great option when the sun is in full effect but you don’t want to wear a cap.
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Face |
A great option for ultra-endurance athletes, cyclists, or anyone planning to play sports outside in the summer. Pelotan has been developed to offer eight hours of sun protection, so you only need to apply it once. You might assume this would make the formula thick and greasy, but it's quite the opposite, ticking all our requirements for an awesome sport sunscreen: clear, lightweight, non-greasy and breathable. We tested this at a fitness retreat in Crete (which involved boxing and strength classes in the midday sun), and we *impressively* didn't burn once. It sprays on easily, isn't sticky and it actually smells nice, too. Big, big fans.
| SPF | 30 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Body |
Lightweight, sweat-resistant and non-greasy, this SPF 50+ liquid suncream is suitable for normal, combination and sensitive skin and provides triple protection against UVA, UVB and blue light. It also contains powerful antioxidants which means it can help shield the skin from pollution and other environmental aggressors. We found it sat perfectly on top of our normal, everyday moisturiser – and didn’t flake underneath makeup – and thanks to its liquid consistency it absorbs super quickly and doesn't leave any annoying white cast. The small 40ml bottle is particularly useful for chucking in your backpack or hydration vest for on-the-go use (and complies with travel-size toiletry requirements). Plus, the bottle and cap are made from 50% recycled plastic.
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Face |
If you prefer creams to oils, Premax’s sport formula has all the benefits of a standard sunscreen – an easy, squeezy tube for rapid liberal coverage – but crucially it dries faster than standard creams, without leaving greasy residue. It’s sweat- and water-resistant to boot.
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Body |
Water-resistant (for up to 80 minutes), this is a solid option for any budding triathletes or open-water swimmers. It's one of the most lightweight formulas we've tried, too: there's absolutely zero grease, and it blends smoothly into the skin without leaving that 'sunscreen film'. It's a pricer option, but it's a high-quality product that won't disappoint — trust us, one RW at Cult Beauty.
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Body |
It’s perhaps the ultimate extreme-running sunscreen. A RW tester used this to fend offthe Saharan sun in the Marathon des Sables. The spray bottle makes application mess-free, while a liberal coating protects from everything our local star can throw at you for 10 hours. It’s completely water- and sweat-resistant, too.
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Body |
Another quick-dry oil, this spray is easy to apply and soaks in fast. The water- and sweat-resistant barrier lasts all day and offers full protection for your body, face and scalp. Our tester used it while running in the 30°C Dubai desert heat and it performed perfectly.
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Body |
When should you apply facial sunscreen?
Its perhaps the ultimate extreme-running sunscreen. A Met Office, even when the weather is overcast, UV radiation can still be 80% of its normal levels. Not to mention, the temperature can be deceiving – especially if there’s a breeze making it feel a lot cooler than it is. So even if it's cloudy it's important to protect yourself.
'My advice would be to find a sunscreen that you enjoy wearing, that doesn’t interfere with your joy of running, and build it into your ritual the same way you do with fuelling and stretching,' says Austen.
‘Bear in mind that running at altitude means you’ll be more exposed to UV rays – up to 10% more for every 300 metres above sea level,’ he adds. ‘Nobody ever regretted wearing sunscreen, but we have all regretted skipping it… Skin damage is long-lasting, difficult (if not impossible) to reverse and yet massively avoidable.’
How often should you apply facial sunscreen?
How often you need to reapply sunscreen is entirely dependent on the product, its formulation and the circumstances in which you're using it. Some products offer day-long protection, while others will need to be reapplied a couple of times throughout the day. Consider what works for you when you're selecting a product.
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