Even if you're not heading away on holiday this year, damaging UV rays are always around meaning everyone should be wearing sun protection from head to toe [1]. Luckily, the days of slathering on thick, greasy white creams are over. Modern spray formulas, be they pump-action or aerosol, offer quick and fuss-free protection from the sun's damaging rays, without any white cast or residue. Whether you're a tan addict or a shade seeker, there is a product for you. We tested out some of the best, from luxury buys that smell like cocktails to reliable buys for sensitive skin, to help you find your perfect match. Check out our recommendations now, shop for your favourite, then find the facial sunscreen to match [2].
Best For Glowing Beach Babes
Not everyone loves that oiled-up look, but if you do, you can't go wrong with Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Dry Oil Mist [3] (£7). It leaves skin covered in a light oily film that that protects your skin without feeling slippery or greasy.
Best For Cocktail Addicts
If you love a sweet scent, you'll adore Coola, whose luxury sunscreen sprays are scented like cocktails. I loved the rich orange scent of Coola SPF 30 Mimosa Sunscreen Spray [4] (£25). The aerosol spray is also one of the easiest I've ever used, and it protected my skin well on a day trip in Greece where I was out in the midday sun. Just make sure you step outside before you apply, as it's very concentrated and the scent can quickly fill a small room! There's an unscented version too, if cocktails aren't your thing.
Best For Beauty Buffs
Like so many things in this world [5], when it comes to sun care, the French do it better. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light SPF30 Sun Protection Spray [6] (£20) is adored by editors and beauty bloggers alike, and it's easy to see why. The product has a gentle scent and rubs in like a dream, and while you can feel it on your skin, it's not sticky or greasy. It's also gentle enough for most people to use on their faces.
Best For Sporty Types
Reach for Lancaster Sun Sport Cooling Invisible Body Mist SPF30 [7] (£32) if you're looking for protection when you're going to be active. It can be applied onto wet (or sweaty) skin and doesn't need to be rubbed in. The mist is superfine, and it'll last easily through a game of tennis or beach volleyball. On testing, at first it was difficult to believe it would provide any protection, but it stood up to high temperatures and humidity without any problems.
Best When Space Is at a Premium
Travelling with only hand luggage? Pop a couple of 75ml bottles of Soltan Once 8 Hour Sun Protection Moisturising Suncare Spray SPF30 [8] (£10) in your bag. Though none of these "once a day" formulas truly give you protection for a whole day (especially if you're going to be swimming or sweating), you can apply slightly less frequently, allowing you to eke out a small bottle for as long as possible. I tested this out in the Caribbean and got through a whole day sunburn-free with only a couple of top-ups to my fair skin.
Best For The Boys
The advent of dry mists and sprays that require no rubbing in are beneficial for all of us, but they're particularly brilliant for men who have an above-average amount of body hair. The Garnier Ambre Solaire Ambre Solaire Dry Mist Sun Cream Spray SPF50 [9] (£14) waves goodbye to white casts on the legs and chest. Just spritz and go . . . it also works for bald patches!
Best For Those Willing to Try Something Completely New
Institut Esthederm is turning the sun protection market on its head with a range of products that don't carry an SPF rating. Instead, the Institut Esthederm Adaptasun Body Spray [10] (£32) is designed to help the skin adapt to being in the sun, activating the natural melanin process for a long-lasting tan. It still claims to offer UVA and UVB protection, but there's no official rating. This product is designed for skin that rarely burns, but there's also a specially designed spray for more sun-sensitive skin [11].
Best For Sensitive Types
A lot of cheaper sun protection products are loaded with mineral oils, and if you have oily or sensitive skin, you may find them too harsh. Reach for Eucerin Sun Transparent Spray SPF 30 [12] (£17.50) instead: it's designed specifically for sensitive skin, but still has all the quick-and-easy benefits of other transparent sprays.
Best For Those Who Need to Cool Down
Getting SPF 50 into such a light, refreshing spray couldn't have been easy, so you have to applaud Nivea for its Protect & Refresh Sun Spray SPF50 [13] (£9). Store it in the hotel minibar (or at least in the shade under your sun lounger) to keep it as cool as possible in between applications.