How to choose a sunscreen you can trust in South Africa

Every serum on this site works better on skin that isn’t being damaged by the sun every day. Use SPF 30 or higher every morning, whatever the weather.

01 Why SPF comes first

UV is a major cause of the dark marks and uneven tone that bring many people to Korean skincare. It also weakens the skin barrier, so dryness and sensitivity get worse. Wear SPF 30 or higher every morning, even when it’s cloudy.

02 What the label must say

  • SPF 30 or 50+. SPF only measures protection from UVB, the rays that burn.
  • “Broad spectrum” or “UVA & UVB”. UVA ages skin and deepens pigmentation.
  • A tested range. South African sunscreens should meet SANS 1557, and the CANSA Seal of Recognition shows a range has been checked against it.
  • On Korean sunscreens, look for PA+++ or higher.

03 How much, and how often

Use two finger lengths of sunscreen for your face and neck, 15 minutes before you go out. Reapply every two hours outdoors, and after swimming or sweating. Protection fades through the day: a dermatologist told EWN in 2025 that an SPF 50 may work more like SPF 25 to 30 after an hour or two.

Remember: Two finger lengths, every morning, and again every two hours outside.

04 Dark marks and uneven tone

The best sunscreen is the one you’ll wear every day, so choose a texture with no white cast on your skin tone. Tinted sunscreens with iron oxides also block visible light, which can deepen pigmentation. In a 2025 study of 41 women with melasma, dark patches became less visible with a tinted sunscreen than with an untinted one.

05 Our shortlist from South African shelves

Every one of these is sold at Clicks, Dis-Chem or Woolworths.

  1. Everyday wear, normal to combination skin (Clicks) · La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50+
  2. Oily and breakout-prone skin (Dis-Chem) · La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Oil Control Fluid SPF50+
  3. Oily skin, under makeup (Dis-Chem) · Eucerin Sun Gel-Cream Oil Control Dry Touch SPF50+
  4. Dark marks and uneven tone (Clicks) · Eucerin Even Pigment Perfector Sun Fluid SPF50+
  5. Tinted, visible-light protection (Clicks) · Bioderma Photoderm Xdefense Ultra-Fluid SPF50+, tinted
  6. A tinted cream for dry skin (Dis-Chem) · Eucerin Sun Tinted Crème SPF50, medium
  7. A light gel for dehydrated skin (Dis-Chem) · Heliocare 360 Water Gel SPF50
  8. Sensitive skin (Clicks) · Cetaphil Sun Face Fluid SPF50+ Tinted
  9. Budget, fragrance-free daily SPF (Woolworths) · Skin functional Chemical Sunscreen SPF50
  10. Budget body protection, CANSA seal (Clicks) · Clicks SUNprotect SPF50 range

06 Red flags to skip

  • No UVA claim. A high SPF without “broad spectrum” leaves pigmentation unprotected.
  • Marketplace and grey imports with no South African seller, batch code or ingredient list.
  • Numbers that sound too good. “SPF 100” is marketing; labels are moving to “50+” as the top claim.
  • SPF in makeup or moisturiser as your only protection. You rarely apply enough of it.
  • DIY or “natural oil” sunscreens. Oils like coconut oil have no tested SPF.

Labels can be wrong: in 2025, Australian consumer group CHOICE tested 20 sunscreens and 16 didn’t meet their SPF claim. One labelled SPF 50+ tested at SPF 4. Those were Australian products, not South African formulas, but they show why a well-known, tested brand matters.

07 Where SPF fits in your JIHWA routine

SPF is always the last step of the morning, after your moisturiser. Give your cream a minute to settle, then apply two finger lengths.

The short version

SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum, every morning. Two finger lengths, reapplied every two hours outdoors.

Not sure where to start? Ask JIHWA on WhatsApp or take the skin quiz.

This article is general education, not medical advice.

Sources: CANSA on sunscreen standards (SANS 1557) · CANSA on the Clicks SUNprotect range · EWN, 9 October 2025 · CHOICE sunscreen test, 2025 · Polena et al., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025 · UCLA Health, How to apply sunscreen correctly

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