A golden glow might look good on IG, but too much sun is no joke. While the threshold varies from person to person, one thing’s clear: skipping SPF is a fast track to long-term skin damage.
As Singapore General Hospital’s Dermatology Department bluntly puts it, “Excessive exposure to sunlight is the main cause of skin cancer, the sixth most common cancer amongst men and women in Singapore.”
And even if you dodge the big C, the sun still leaves its mark—think sunburn, fine lines, wrinkles, rough patches, redness, and those oh-so-charming age spots. With Singapore’s UV Index regularly clocking in at a scorching 11.6 to 14.9, sunscreen isn’t optional—it’s armour.
Reach for formulations with SPF 50, which give you about 50 minutes of coverage under direct sun. Then reapply. Religiously.
Shiseido Perfect Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ PA++++
Asia’s top suncare brand dives into more than 100 years of suncare research for its latest innovation. A new SynchroShieldRepair Technology promises to repair unevenness in the skin surface and keep your complexion looking smooth and fresh. Also hydrates skin with five different kinds of algae, and glycerin. As all 52 women tested agreed: “It is comfortable on my skin”.
Buy here.
Bareness Bare Screen: Lightweight Gel Sunscreen SPF 50+++
From homegrown aesthetic physician Dr Shauna Tan’s skincare brand, “which took us years” to develop, this gives a natural glow and keeps the skin shine-free. Camellia japonica seed oil helps protect against dark spots, and arbutin and chrysanthemum indicum extracts help even skin tone and calm redness, respectively.
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MTM Labo Solar Shield Plus SPF 50+ PA+++
With this all-rounder, you can enjoy up to 16 hours of protection, thanks to bearberry extract, vitamin E, and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate. As for the last ingredient, it is an antioxidant derived from licorice root, which is revered for its antiinflammation and anti-irritation properties.
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Ultra Violette Future Fluid SPF 50+ Superlight Mineral Skinscreen
With Japanese zinc as its main ingredient, this sunscreen is so lightweight you’ll forget you’re wearing any. Besides squalene and vitamin E, it also has pentavitin, a plant-derived carbohydrate complex that boosts hydration for up to 72 hours.
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Takami Soothing UV Protection SPF 50/PA+++
With its delicate milk-in-essence consistency, this patented formula glides on smoothly. The product is formulated by Japanese dermatologist Dr Hiroshi Takami, whose Kakushitsu approach aims to regulate metabolism and rejuvenate the stratum corneum, or outermost layer of the skin.
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Augustinus Bader The Sunscreen SPF50
Developed by stem cell research expert Professor Augustinus Bader, the accoladed skincare brand is renowned for TFC8 (or Trigger Factor Complex). This ground-breaking technology is powered by high-grade vitamins, lipids, and proprietary peptides that deliver essential nutrients to the cells and fight signs of ageing and damage like wrinkles, fine lines, redness, and pigmentation.
Buy here.
