Only 1 in 6 Brits Wear SPF

Shocking Stats From the 2026 OnePoll Survey (2,000 UK Adults)

Only 1 in 6 Brits (16%) wear SPF every day
77% still treat SPF as seasonal – applied mainly in summer
1 in 5 rarely wear SPF, and 7% never protect their skin at all
33% rely on makeup or moisturiser with SPF instead of proper suncream
Nearly half (47%) have been sunburnt due to inconsistent SPF use
60% of Brits think SPF should be VAT-free, highlighting cost as a barrier

Kimberley Medd, Clinic Lead at Face the Future, warns, "UVA rays don’t care if it’s cloudy, winter, or if you’re sitting by a window. Every day without proper SPF is cumulative damage - it accelerates ageing and raises your skin cancer risk. Millions of Brits are leaving themselves completely unprotected."

The Dangerous Myths Driving UK SPF Behaviour

37% believe UK weather negates SPF – a myth putting skin at risk year-round
Nearly 1 in 2 under-protect on cloudy days, using SPF 25 or lower
1 in 3 only put SPF on their face, leaving neck, chest, hands and arms exposed
Ingredient fears and ‘clean beauty’ myths stop 1 in 8 Brits from wearing SPF at all

Julia Barcoe Thompson, Face The Future Co-Owner & Director, says: "Our 2026 survey shows awareness isn’t enough. People know SPF matters, yet most still skip it or rely on makeup. We’re here to fix that — and removing VAT is a simple, powerful way to make protection a no-brainer every single day."

It’s time to stop treating SPF like a seasonal luxury. Daily protection is non-negotiable.

If you want to read more, the experts at Consulting Room really know what they're talking about and have put together SPF FAQs just for you.

If you have more questions, you can use the SPF questions feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts.

If you're keen to get started with any of these treatments right away then you're in luck - those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited SPF clinics in your area.