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The solar shield range includes both a body and facial SPF, which I’ve been testing at home and away this summer Daisy Lester/The StandardWould you spend more than £100 on SPF? Augustinus Bader thinks you should. The beauty brand – beloved by Victoria Beckham, Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie – has grown a loyal following for its solar shield sunscreen range, which promises luxury skincare and sun protection in one.
Like many others, I’ve always cared more about what I put on my face than my body. A supermarket shower gel and drugstore body cream sit alongside Augustinus Bader’s retinol serum and rich cream in my bathroom cabinet.
That same mindset usually extends to sunscreen, too. I’ll stretch to investing in a premium facial SPF, but I rarely indulge in luxury body care: a last-minute dash to a Boots in the airport is my usual routine.
So when Augustinus Bader launched not one but two luxury sunscreens over the last year – the solar shield SPF and facial SPF50 – I was curious whether either could justify their eye-watering price tags.
The sunscreen SPF 50 is a lightweight facial formula that promises broad-spectrum protection while delivering the same skincare benefits the brand has become known for.
A firming, toning and radiance-boosting product, the solar shield body SPF is also formulated with the brand’s patented TFC8. Alongside Augustinus Bader’s cult roster of everyday formulas, both SPF’s are designed to improve the skin’s elasticity and texture over time with anti-ageing benefits.
I packed this body SPF in my hand luggage to test while on holiday in TuscanyDaisy Lester/The Standard Despite offering much more than a traditional sunscreen, the formulas still need to be used correctly to deliver the protection promised. “Sunscreen should be applied 15-30 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every two hours, or more frequently after swimming, sweating or towel drying,” clinic lead at Face the Future, Kimbery Medd, explains. “Even the best sunscreen becomes less effective if it's not reapplied throughout the day."
Read more: This is the only face SPF I enjoy wearing daily – and it's just £12
How I tested
The sunscreen is more like a traditional body creamDaisy Lester/The Standard I took both the Augustinus Bader solar shield SPF and facial SPF away with me to Tuscany, where I spent hours each day lounging by the pool with a book. Reapplying it throughout the day in between dips, I considered ease of application, the look and feel of the SPF on my skin, how quickly the tube depleted, and whether it protected my skin from burning in the harsh Tuscan sun.
I’ve also been wearing the facial formula daily at home to see how seamlessly it fits into my daily skincare routine.
Augustinus Bader solar shield sunscreen
Augustinus Bader ★★★★☆
What we love: Smooths and softens skin for long-lasting hydration, effortless to apply, lightweight and breathable on skin, leaves a radiant finish, and protects against sun damage.
Take note: Reapplying every two hours sees the 175ml bottle deplete quickly, so it might not last an entire holiday – especially if sharing – and it’s very expensive.
With liquid allowances now scrapped at most major airports, the Augustinus Bader solar shield 175ml SPF packs nicely in hand luggage. On first impressions, it’s closer to a body cream than a sunscreen.
The creamy, white formula is on the thick side – I warmed it up in my hands before applying to my skin, and was surprised how much a little went a long way. There’s no white cast or greasy residue. Instead, skin looks radiant and glowy, à la your favourite body oil or moisturiser. The SPF has a barely-there feel with a fragrance-free scent that’s suited to sensitive skin.
The softening and smoothing benefits last beyond a dip in the pool – sinking into skin and delivering lasting hydration. I have some rosacea on the back of my arms, which the sunscreen helped to even out. Across its range, the brand’s TFC8® complex has been praised for its anti-ageing properties – but I can’t comment on this myself for the solar shield.
As for its SPF credentials, my pale – albeit fake-tanned – skin complexion didn’t burn once during my four-day trip. I got a slight bikini tan but no redness or soreness, like I’m often prone to on a holiday.
While I can’t challenge the promised skincare benefits and the sun protection prowess, I can debate the price. At £120, the solar shield is exceedingly expensive for an SPF that a dermatologist – and the brand itself – recommends reapplying every two hours. Over four days of use – sharing the SPF between myself and my partner – the tube was much depleted.
If I were on a week- or two-week-long holiday, the SPF would have undoubtedly run out.
Augustinus Bader the sunscreen SPF 50
Augustinus Bader ★★★★★
What we love: Hydrating and smoothing, with a radiant, glowy and non-greasy finish. Long-term skincare benefits and ample sun protection, with a weightless feel on skin
Take note: Expensive for a 30ml tube
I’m fussy with facial SPFs. They need to apply like my favourite lightweight day creams, sit nicely under make-up without piling, and look invisible on skin. Not being greasy or leaving a white cast goes without saying. Thankfully, Augustinus Bader’s sunscreen SPF50 delivers on all fronts – and you’d hope so considering the £110 price.
Formulated with the brand’s patented TFC8, it nearly packs in as many skincare benefits as the cult-rich cream. The two formulas share the same core anti-ageing technology, but the SPF is lighter on the skin. It’s also not as deeply nourishing as the rich cream, but has its own unique benefits thanks to antioxidant-rich ingredients and vitamins E, A, omega-3 3 and omega-6 for blue light protection (yes, you should still wear SPF when working from home).
It’s super hydrating, working to smooth and soften skin over time. The finish is subtly radiant and glowy, while a little goes a long way – but it’s a shame the luxurious tube is only 30ml, as competitors usually offer 50ml. Nevertheless, it’s no doubt my new favourite facial SPF and I’ll mourn it once it runs out.
Are Augustinus Bader’s SPF products worth it?
Augustinus Bader’s solar shield SPF and sunscreen SPF50 occupy a space few sunscreens do. Both are luxury skincare product that delivers high-level sun protection while looking as good as they feel on the skin.
In Italy and at home, my skin and face have stayed hydrated, comfortable and protected – and the glow of the body formula left meant I rarely felt the need to layer on additional products.
However, justifying more than £120 on an SPF that should be applied generously and frequently is steep for most – particularly when it might not even last your entire holiday. An indulgent purchase rather than an essential one, if money is no object, I can’t recommend the body SPF enough – if it is, then choose a more affordable pick.
When it comes to facial formulas, it’s worth investing in premium products that are packed with skincare benefits – Augustinus Bader’s SPF has become a cherished part of my morning routine. After all, if you find a product you love using, daily sun protection becomes easy.
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