Spending £120 on SPF might sound ridiculous – until you've tried this luxury brand

★★★★☆What we love: Smooths and softens skin for long-lasting hydration, effortless to apply, lightweight and breathable on skin, leaves a radiant finish, and protects against sun damage. Take note: Reapplying every two hours sees the 175ml bottle deplete quickly, so it might not last an entire holiday – especially if sharing – and it’s very expensive. With liquid allowances now scrapped at most major airports, the Augustinus Bader solar shield 175ml SPF packs nicely in hand luggage. On first impressions, it’s closer to a body cream than a sunscreen. The creamy, white formula is on the thick side – I warmed it up in my hands before applying to my skin, and was surprised how much a little went a long way. There’s no white cast or greasy residue. Instead, skin looks radiant and glowy, à la your favourite body oil or moisturiser. The SPF has a barely-there feel with a fragrance-free scent that’s suited to sensitive skin. The softening and smoothing benefits last beyond a dip in the pool – sinking into skin and delivering lasting hydration. I have some rosacea on the back of my arms, which the sunscreen helped to even out. Across its range, the brand’s TFC8® complex has been praised for its anti-ageing properties – but I can’t comment on this myself for the solar shield. As for its SPF credentials, my pale – albeit fake-tanned – skin complexion didn’t burn once during my four-day trip. I got a slight bikini tan but no redness or soreness, like I’m often prone to on a holiday. While I can’t challenge the promised skincare benefits and the sun protection prowess, I can debate the price. At £120, the solar shield is exceedingly expensive for an SPF that a dermatologist – and the brand itself – recommends reapplying every two hours. Over four days of use – sharing the SPF between myself and my partner – the tube was much depleted. If I were on a week- or two-week-long holiday, the SPF would have undoubtedly run out.