The Golden Glow SPF50+ Dreamscreen, created by skin cancer survivor Frances van der Velden, is a three-in-one daily sunscreen, glow booster and makeup primer
Shoppers have hailed the SPF primer as a ‘game changer’(Image: Airyday)
We all know we should be wearing SPF every day, but actually sticking to it is another story. While dermatologists swear by it for protecting against premature ageing and skin cancer, many formulas can feel thick, greasy and heavy, settle into fine lines, and leave behind an unmistakable chemical scent.
That’s where Aussie brand Airyday comes in. Its skincare-infused SPFs are designed to be the kind of formulas skincare fans genuinely want to wear every day. The brand was founded by Frances van der Velden, who was diagnosed with skin cancer at just 36 after discovering a spot on her temple following years of limited protection in the sun.
Reflecting on her motivation to launch the brand, she said: “I rarely wore sunscreen as much as I thought and claimed I had. Wearing it only at the beach, pool or a day out ‘enjoying’ the sun, cliché sunny moments where we are encouraged to apply sun protection, I realised I hate sunscreen. I couldn’t stand the smell, the stickiness, the thickness and felt it did more harm to my skin than good.
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“Awareness dawned. Protection was non-negotiable. So, nine stitches later, an all-clear from the Dermatologist and a desire to create something I wanted to wear daily, Airyday was born.”
Frances’ approach is to build an SPF wardrobe, with different formulas to suit changing skin needs. The idea is simple: just as skincare can be switched up depending on how skin looks and feels, SPF can change, too. Airyday’s award-winning SPF Wardrobe® brings together SPF50+ sunscreen-primers in different textures, finishes and skincare-led formulas, with an option for every skin type, tone and season, reports the Express.
The range includes products whose formula can boost glow, brightness and hydration, or blur, mattify and calm the skin. Starting at £39, its most coveted item is likely the Golden Glow SPF50+ Dreamscreen.
Boasting a diverse fanbase ranging from those in their 20s to their 70s, one glowing review noted: “As someone with mature skin, finding an SPF that doesn’t settle into fine lines or make me look flat and chalky is tough. Golden Glow gives a warm, youthful sheen without looking greasy”.
The Golden Glow SPF50+ Dreamscreen is a three-in-one daily SPF, glow booster and makeup primer that delivers a sun-kissed radiance for those ‘wanting the holiday skin, minus the sun’.
Airyday’s Golden Glow Dreamscreen SPF is the ultimate UV protection-primer hybrid(Image: Airyday)
The formula is packed with skincare essentials such as Niacinamide, Vegan Collagen (to boost skin elasticity), and Vitamins C, E, and F, working together to promote brighter, smoother-looking skin while providing ample hydration. It also harnesses Blue Oléoactif, a 100% vegetal anti-pollution and anti-blue-light active that protects against urban pollution, reduces hyperpigmentation, and stimulates cellular repair.
Furthermore, its tinted sheer finish delivers a golden hue that gives customers the confidence to forgo ‘heavy foundation during the day’. Numerous users have noted that this sheer tint provides a ‘youthful glow’ with a soft-focus effect, minimising the appearance of fine lines without settling into them.
Alongside Golden Glow, which gives the skin a ‘warm, luminous finish’, Dreamscreen is available in two further shades: Pearl Glow, whose pearlescent wash offers a fresh, brightening finish; and Bronze Glow, which gives the skin a warm, bronzed finish.
Naturally, Airyday isn’t the only SPF that provides lightweight, grease-free protection against high UVA and UVB rays while simultaneously nourishing the skin. One competitor is Tatcha, with its The Milky Sunscreen SPF50, £49.
The milky formula absorbs effortlessly into the skin and combines vitamin E with ectoin to help deliver moisture and support to the skin’s natural barrier. Okinawa aloe also works to soothe areas of dryness and irritation. It’s also lightly tinted to offer a subtle hint of coverage.
Elsewhere, Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen SPF50, now £29.20 from £36.50 for a 50ml bottle at Lookfantastic, is an invisible, weightless, and scentless broad-spectrum SPF that also works as a makeup primer. It’s formulated with skin-grip polymers to create a smooth base for makeup and blur pores. Meanwhile, meadowfoam seed oil hydrates the skin, while red algae helps shield against blue light and pollution.
It’s safe to say that the Airyday Dreamscreen formula developed by Frances has proven a genuine hit amongst skincare enthusiasts, thanks to its ‘lightweight, non-greasy’ texture, which shoppers actually want to wear.
The Airyday SPF range has a variety of products to suit all skintypes(Image: Airyday)
One SPF testimonial remarked: “LOVE this stuff! Leaves my skin glowy and even, and I feel quite smug knowing I’m also protected by the sun without having to layer another product on.”
A further shopper noted: “A truly nice surprise at how wonderful this Golden Glow SPF50+ Dreamscreen is! So easy to apply and not thick or gluggy… It’s actually light and easy to forget you have it on!”
Fans of the brand also commend its formula for being suited to mature skin, with one woman in her 60s commenting: “As someone with mature skin, finding an SPF that doesn’t settle into fine lines or make me look flat and chalky is tough. Golden Glow gives a warm, youthful sheen without looking greasy.”
Another agreed: “Lovely texture for mature skin. Provides just enough sheer tint to blur imperfections so I don’t feel the need to wear heavy foundation during the day.”
The sole concern raised by certain users was its peony and champagne scent, which proved ‘overpowering’ for one customer, who wrote in a less favourable review: “I like the glow this gives, but I found the scent overpowering and it stings my eyes, unfortunately.”
Nevertheless, the fragrance has been a welcome detail for the vast majority of users, with one review stating: “Incredible product. I wear this every day; it provides a beautiful glow on its own or under makeup. It is lightweight and has a beautiful, fresh fragrance. Best SPF I have used for my face.”
Shop the Golden Glow SPF50+ Dreamscreen SPF here.
