Every 27 May, World Sunscreen Day pops up on the calendar like that friend who always brings the receipts, gently reminding us that SPF isn’t just a holiday fling, it’s a lifelong commitment. And in 2025, with skincare getting smarter, greener, and more inclusive, sun protection has officially levelled up.

Gone are the days of ghostly white casts and beach-only bottles. Today’s sunscreens are serving serious multitasking energy—formulated for melanin-rich skin, made reef-safe, climate-adaptive, and designed to disappear into every skin tone like a dream. SPF is no longer an afterthought; it’s front and centre.

Especially in places like Southeast Asia, where the sun doesn’t play, brands are stepping up with mineral-based blends, and finishes so invisible they could moonlight as Houdini. And with hybrid skincare booming, you’ve got everything from foundation that fends off blue light to mists that top up your UV shield without messing up your face.

So whether you’re a skincare minimalist or the kind of person who treats their routine like a full-time job, consider this your annual PSA: wear the damn sunscreen. Your future self (with glowy, age-defying skin) will be eternally grateful. And because we don’t gatekeep around here, here’s a list of sunscreens you need in your life.

Augustinus Bader

Broad-spectrum protection: Yes

SPF: 50, PA++++

Texture: Cream

Skin Type: For all skin types

This isn’t just sunscreen, it’s skincare with a secret identity. Powered by Augustinus Bader’s game-changing TFC8, this lightweight SPF 50 does it all: blocks UVA and UVB rays, boosts skin renewal, and keeps fine lines in check. It melts in like a dream, soothes redness, and leaves you with that effortless, lit-from within glow. Packed with antioxidant-rich oils and clever botanicals, it’s not just protection, it’s your daily glow-up in a bottle.

The Augustinus Bader Sunscreen SPF 50 is available online, at Takashimaya and Sephora.

Bobbi Brown

Think of this as your skin’s daily dose of protection with a side of glow. This featherlight, milky UV serum doesn’t just shield against UVA/UVB, blue light and pollution, it doubles as a glow-boosting treatment. FlexShield Technology keeps your skin safe, while cordyceps and ginseng bring the energy in order to revive dullness, tackle sallowness, and leave you with that lit-from-within look. Fine lines? Softer. Firmness? Enhanced. Radiance? Absolutely. It’s SPF, serum and skin revival all in one silky swipe.

The Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum UV Fluid is available at Tangs, Takashimaya and Sephora.

SEKKISEI

Skincare and sun protection, now just a spritz away. From Sekkisei’s much loved UV protection series comes a game changer. The Skincare UV Defense Essence Mist is an airy, serum-rich mist you can spray directly onto your face—no mess, no fuss. Designed for on-the-go reapplication, this featherlight formula offers SPF with none of the stickiness. Infused with 85 per cent skincare serum, it hydrates while shielding your skin from UV rays, leaving you with a fresh, dewy glow. Think of it as your summer skin’s secret weapon.

The Sekkisei's Skincare UV Defense Essence Mist is available at Welcia, Don Don Donki, select Guardian stores, Lazada, and Shopee.

Kiehl's

Meet your skin’s new bodyguard. This featherlight, non-comedogenic sunscreen doesn’t just protect, it perfects. Packed with advanced UVA/UVB tech and pollution defence, it shields while smoothing fine lines and fading sun spots. The matte finish is impeccable and the texture is practically weightless. It’s skincare with brains, brawn, and beauty—all in one daily essential.

The Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense is available at Kiehl stores, online and Sephora.

Clé De Peau

Clé de Peau redefines skin defence with a formula that fuses innovation and indulgence. Packed with Adaptable Innershield Tech and Moroccan Thyme extract (yes, it’s as fancy as it sounds), it helps your skin fight off photo-ageing like a pro. With over 50 per cent skincare ingredients, including the iconic Rich Vitality Botanical and its Skin-Empowering Illuminator. It’s not just protection, it’s a full-on radiance revival. Basically, your skin’s new ride-or-die.

The Clé De Peau UV Protective Cream is available at Takashimaya and Sephora.

Dior Beauty

Dior Prestige Le Protecteur UV Jeunesse et Lumière offers more than protection, it’s a luxurious shield against photo-ageing. With SPF 50+ and a powerhouse blend of Rose de Granville extracts, white rose, and stabilised vitamin C. It doesn’t just protect, it brightens, hydrates for 24 hours, and smooths skin. Think of it as your skin’s daily glow filter, blurring imperfections and fighting photo-ageing in one elegant step. Available in three radiant finishes—including two tinted shades and a glow option—it's protection perfected, with a touch of Parisian flair.

The Dior Prestige Le Protecteur UV Jeunesse et Lumière is available at Dior stores, online and Sephora.

Lancôme

Xtreem Shield is more than a sunscreen, it’s a skincare powerhouse. Armed with the world’s first self-recovering UV tech, it stays put through sweat, water, and life’s daily chaos—six times better than your basic sunscreen. But it doesn’t stop at protection, this formula’s loaded with brightening actives that work like a serum, fading dark spots by 23 per cent and slowing hyperpigmentation by 50 per cent in just six months. Lightweight, hardworking, and backed by serious science, Xtreem Shield is protection with purpose, and a whole lot of personality.

The Lancôme UV Expert Xtreem Shield is available online and at Sephora.

Dr.Jart+

Broad-spectrum protection: Yes

SPF: 40 ,PA ++++

Texture: Cream

Skin Type: For all skin types

Effortlessly invisible yet impressively effective, this weightless sunscreen stick is your new handbag essential. Infused with hyaluronic acid, it glides on seamlessly to hydrate, blur pores and mattify—without ever leaving a white cast or greasy residue. Clinically proven to provide all-day hydration and visibly improve skin texture, it’s ideal for on-the-go touchups, even over other products. No fuss, no stickiness. Just smooth, radiant protection that elevates your SPF game with every swipe.

The Dr.Jart+ Every Sun Day Ultra-Sheer Priming Sunscreen Stick is available at Sephora.

Innisfree

A breath of fresh air for your skin, the Green Tea Hyaluronic Moist Sun Serum combines the hydration of a serum with the protection of a daily SPF. Lightweight and cushiony, it melts into the skin without a trace—no white cast, no heaviness, just a soft, dewy glow. Infused with Beauty Green Tea and encapsulated hyaluronic acid, it delivers a surge of moisture while shielding against UV damage. The vegan, low-irritant formula has passed sensitivity, non-comedogenic and dermatological tests, making it an easy essential even for the most delicate skin. It’s sunscreen, but reimagined for a hydrating, gentle, and glow-inducing finish.

The Innisfree's Green Tea Hyaluronic Moist Sun Serum is available at Innisfree stores and Sephora.

Paula's Choice

This sheer, multitasking SPF 50 formulation is where skincare meets serious sun defence. Supercharged with five per cent vitamin C, it brightens dullness, evens tone, and delivers an all-day glow, while doubling up as a daily dose of antioxidant-rich moisture. Its broad-spectrum, tinted formula blends seamlessly into all skin tones, leaving behind no cast, just a radiant, protected finish. Lightweight yet potent, it’s a one-step wonder for those who want their SPF to do more than just sit pretty.

The Paula's Choice 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer is available online and at Sephora.