When it comes to sun protection, Augustinus Bader’s the solar shield is about as far removed from your average bottle of holiday SPF as it gets. At £120 for 175ml, it’s certainly not one for the supermarket shop, but it does promise more than simply protecting your skin from the sun.

If you’re searching for the best body sunscreens, you’ll find plenty of affordable options that deliver reliable SPF50 protection. So, what exactly are you getting for the extra £100 or so? Augustinus Bader has brought its elusive TFC8 complex to body suncare, alongside ingredients designed to hydrate, smooth and improve the appearance of skin while protecting it from UVA and UVB rays.

I’m usually happy to invest in skincare, but £120 for a body sunscreen is a different proposition, particularly when SPF needs to be applied generously in the first instance and then reapplied regularly in the hours after. So, I’m putting the solar shield to the test to find out whether its skincare-meets-suncare formula really feels special enough to justify that eye-watering price tag.

Rating: 4/5

The elusive TFC8 complex remains just that: elusive. Augustinus Bader has never explicitly revealed what’s in the blend, but myself and a handful of other beauty experts have muddled together that it features ceramides, peptides, vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids – so it’s certainly equipped with ingredients that can help skin look and feel plump. In practice, though, I found the solar shield formula wasn’t particularly hydrating, which I was slightly disappointed by given the inclusion of TFC8 (specifically, the ceramides) and its £120. price tag Thankfully, it was neither greasy nor tacky, and left no white cast. For those not well versed in their SPFs, it’s rare for a formula to successfully avoid all three of these bug bears.

It did wear impressively through heat, sweat and sand, without turning my skin into a magnet for every grain. As a beauty writer, I’d allow at least four weeks of consistent use before expecting major changes to fine lines or hyperpigmentation, and there’s no way you’re getting four weeks of daily, full-body application from this bottle. Instead, I’d see the solar shield as an extension of your facial skincare routine, reserving it for areas such as the décolletage where you’re more likely to use a smaller amount. The décolletage is one of the areas where skin can show noticeable signs of ageing, yet – compared to the face – it’s often neglected, so I could see myself investing in a formula like this for that area alone.

Why we love it: Non greasy, Hawaiian reef bill complaint, fragrance free for sensitive skin

Take note: Not water resistant, expensive

Yes and no. No, I don’t think the solar shield is worth £120 as a poolside holiday SPF, particularly when it isn’t even water resistant. But there’s no denying the skincare appeal of the formula, so if you’re looking to extend your anti-ageing routine beyond your face and target specific areas of concern, then yes I think you can justify the spend. I’d save it for the décolletage, arms and other areas that are more exposed to the sun on a day-to-day basis (versus only on holiday), rather than slathering it from head to toe and sweating it off on a sun bed.

How we tested

I put Augustinus Bader’s the solar shield body sunscreen through its paces from top to toe over a long weekend UK staycation during the recent heatwave, applying and reapplying it throughout the day and, in all likelihood, sweating with it on. I also tested its sand-resistant claims during a trip to the beach, applying it before getting sandy and seeing how the formula behaved (if it pilled or disappeared entirely).

At 29-years-old, I’m probably not the best person to judge its elasticity-boosting and firming promises, but I did keep an eye on some dark spots on my arms. Four to five days isn’t long enough to assess whether these had improved, though and I’d normally want at least a month of consistent use before judging a formula on pigmentation.