Top Sunscreens 2024, Part 2: European Sunscreens

Part 2 of my 2024 top sunscreen recommendations update! This part covers the new European sunscreens on my list.

• Part 1: Japanese sunscreens
• Part 2 (this one): European sunscreens
• Part 3: Korean sunscreens
• Part 4: Australian sunscreens

The video is here – keep scrolling for the text version. 

See Part 1 for the full background information – here’s a very summarised version:

• This list contains daily face sunscreens, for light wear
• It’s best to layer multiple forms of protection (hats, clothing, sunglasses, shade)
• This list is subjective
• My skin is oily to normal, easily dehydrated, prone to clogged pores, hyperpigmentation
• I generally like lightweight sunscreens that sit nicely under makeup, and don’t sting my eyes
• This list doesn’t include my 2022 recommendations, which I still recommend

The sunscreens listed here aren’t approved for sale in Australia.

Eucerin Oil Control Dry Touch Gel-Cream

• SPF 50+
• Broad Spectrum (EU)
• 40 min WR (EU)
• Filters: Avobenzone, Octyl Triazone, Bemotrizinol (BEMT), DHHB, Ensulizole

Eucerin Oil Control Dry Touch Gel-Cream is a European sunscreen. The formula is different from the US version with the same name. I picked this up when I was in Italy a while back, and it’s the sunscreen I wore the most on my trip.

I really like that this formula isn’t too glidey when I’m applying it. It’s fragrance-free with very minimal smell. It contains alcohol, but to me it isn’t obvious in terms of scent or sting. 

0.8 grams (the amount for my face + 1 finger) after application to my face:

The finish is satiny after it dries down. It isn’t as matte as I expected for an “oil control” product, but it stays the same level of satiny for a time, which I found really impressive given how hot it was in Italy.

The texture felt heavier than the Asian sunscreens on this list, but it was still lightweight compared to most other European sunscreens. I found it very comfortable to wear, especially for a water-resistant sunscreen. It felt like it stayed in place pretty well, despite all my oil and sweat and heat. 

I accidentally bought the SPF 30 version at first, which looks almost identical except for the number on the front – it felt pretty much the same to me.

Ingredients: Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Alcohol Denat, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Silica, Tapioca Starch, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Carnitine, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol.

Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Dark Spots & Anti-Pollution Super UV

• SPF 50+
• Broad Spectrum (EU), 3 Boots Stars
• No WR
• Filters: Bemotrizinol (BEMT), Avobenzone, DTS, Ecamsule (TDSA), Octyl Triazone (EHT), Octisalate

I bought Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Dark Spots Super UV at Boots in Heathrow Airport. It’s similar to the old La Roche-Posay Invisible Fluid, which I posted about before – it’s still available in some places but not the UK. 

Related Post: Top Sunscreen Recommendations 2022

It has an almost identical ingredient list to the old Invisible Fluid, so it seems that it’s definitely meant to be a dupe. However, the LRP Fluid is manufactured in France while the Garnier is manufactured in Germany – I would guess that they probably use some different ingredient suppliers, so they won’t be completely identical. But if you miss the old Invisible Fluid, this is the next closest thing. 

Related Post: La Roche-Posay UVMune 400: Science and Review

This is fragrance-free, lightweight, and non-greasy. It’s lovely and smooth to apply. The packaging says it’s “anti-eye stinging”, which was true in my experience. I found this a bit more matte and less oily than I expected, which was a really pleasant surprise.

The downsides (which honestly aren’t super important to me): there’s a slightly sunscreen smell, and it’s a pretty runny fluid. But the is pretty manageable, and is pretty safe for clumsy people like me (unlike some other sunscreens I’ve tried recently).

The nozzle of this is pretty impressive. Unlike the LRP fluid sunscreens, the tip of this nozzle and the screw threads stay pretty clean. The packaging is approved by my husband Omar, for anyone keeping track (unlikely to explode in a backpack subjected to violence).

Ingredients: Aqua/​Water, Alcohol Denat, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Silica, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/​Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Propanediol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Perlite, Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Acrylates/​C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Sorbate.

Evy Technology Kids Sunscreen Mousse and Daily Defence Face Mousse

• SPF 50
• Broad Spectrum (EU)
• PA++++, 5 Boots Stars
• Kids: 80 min WR (EU); Face Mousse: No WR
• Filters: Bemotrizinol (BEMT), DHHB, Avobenzone, Octyl Triazone, Octocrylene

Evy Technology Kids Sunscreen Mousse and Evy Technology Daily Defence Face Mousse were sent to me by Evy. They’re a Swedish brand, and the shipping was a massive pain because of the aerosol format (it was confiscated by customs several times).

The SPF 30 version of the Daily Defence Face Mousse was in my honourable mentions last time, but it’s moved up because 

1. It’s SPF 50 now, and
2. Even though they are a bit heavier and stickier for my skin and climate than I generally like for everyday wear (though it’s not really noticeable under makeup), I started doing very sweaty exercise outside in the sun (I know, who even am I).

It turns out that the mousse format is fantastic for reapplying quickly and easily. The product is essentially already spread out by the gas, so you can slap it on really quickly, and it doesn’t need much rubbing in. It’s easy to apply lots of these sunscreens in one go – you don’t need to apply in two layers and wait in between. 

The biggest downside to mousses: the dispensed ball can fly away in the wind if you’re not careful.

Evy recommend applying a golf ball-sized amount to your face, and I found that to be pretty close to 1.25 grams (1/4 teaspoon) by weight.

Evy do lots of extra testing on their sun products which I find really impressive (more on that here). 

Related Post: Do They Work? Evy 6-Hour Sunscreen, Dermablend Drops in SPF

The face version isn’t water resistant, but the body ones are. I’ve been using the Kids body one (it was at hand and there’s a cute face on it). The biggest difference is that the water resistant ones are a lot sticker than the face ones, but I haven’t noticed a huge difference after I’ve applied them to my skin and I’m not touching them. The face version also contains a bunch of skincare ingredients.

Kids Mousse Ingredients: Aqua, Butane, Propylene Glycol, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid,  Isobutane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, PVP, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Propane, Dimethicone.

Daily Defence Face Mousse Ingredients: Aqua, Octocrylene, Butane, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Isobutane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dipropylene Glycol, PVP, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Propane, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine, Bis(Cyano Butylacetate) Anthracenediylidene, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Silica, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate.

La Roche-Posay UV Mune sunscreens

These have been separately reviewed here, along with a rundown of the science behind the new MCE filter.

The Evy sunscreens were provided as samples for editorial consideration, which did not affect my opinion. This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and support Lab Muffin financially (at no extra cost to you), thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.