The Best Face Sunscreen Prevents Burns Now and Skin Damage Later
About the formula: The formula has a little bit of a melting texture that needs no encouragement to sink right into skin. Once applied, it wears slightly shiny for the first 30 minutes or so, but it settles down nicely after that. Coola’s SPFs are enhanced with plant actives and antioxidants—red raspberry seed oil, buriti oil, meadowfoam seed oil, and prickly pear extract—that help to guard against free radical damage on skin, so if you’re looking for a single product in addition to a moisturizer or daily serum, this could be an easy win.
The Best Luxury Face Sunscreen: Augustinus Bader The Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Our tester’s take: It’s hard to find an SPF that we’d recommend shelling out $140 for, but Augustinus Bader has us standing here preaching from the rooftops. The formula goes onto skin and, without too much maneuvering, blends seamlessly. It has a bit of a velvety texture that doesn’t leave too much shine on skin once its in place. Thanks to a whole who’s who of skin care ingredients, it’s also easy to pare back the number of products I’m using when this SPF is on my countertop (including the brand’s proprietary TCF8—more on that in a sec).
Who it’s best for: People looking for a mineral sunscreen that doesn’t feel chalky on skin or leave behind too much streakiness. It helps if they have a little change rolling around in their pockets, because this stuff definitely doesn’t come cheap.
About the formula: Zinc oxide heavy formulas can leave a white cast on skin, but this formula does a solid job at blending down nicely. Beyond the active SPF filters, this formula contains an ingredient that Professor Bader originally created as part of a burn cream. When he saw how effective it was at repairing compromised skin, he brought it to a wider audience in his moisturizers, creating the brand we know and love today. In its use at the heart of this SPF, the formula helps to support skin evenness, hydration, and reduce fine lines.
The Best Face Sunscreen for Redness: EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46
Our tester’s take: EltaMD is a fave of dermatologists because of its robust protection. This option combines mineral and chemical filters, allowing it to blend imperceptibly on darker skin tones without leaving a white cast. NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Asmi Sanghvi, MD gives this SPF two thumbs up: “This is my favorite facial sunscreen,” she says.
Who it’s best for: According to Dr. Sanghvi? Everyone. But our rosacea-prone tester particularly liked it (as well as the brand’s new Green Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50) for redness. “It is lightweight, non-comedogenic, and is suitable for all skin types, including acne-prone and sensitive skin, and provides excellent protection without leaving a white cast or greasy residue.”
The formula: We like this formula a lot because it gives you the best of both worlds around the clock. For starters, it comes in both tinted and non-tinted versions. The tinted version is a solid mineral option for darker skin tones to help prevent a white cast on skin. It also has multiple sun filters so that you can get the benefits of a mineral SPF in a more cosmetically elegant formula.
The Best Face and Body Sunscreen: Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50
Why it’s great: Hurly says he never travels without his giant refill of Supergoop’s Play sunscreen in tow because this SPF covers all his needs—whether hitting the beach or exploring a new city. Supergoop’s entire range of sunscreen products is one of the best options in the United States, and could compete with the many of the options overseas where there are more updated sun filters like Tinosorb and Uvinul. This product, in particular, is the brand’s most universal, given its full-body wear, lightweight application, and 80-minute water resistance.
Who it’s best for: Anyone looking for a head-to-toe SPF product that is layerable, easy to wear, and relatively inexpensive.
The formula: When you think: “classic sunscreen” this formula comes to mind. It goes onto skin, sinking in seamlessly and blending imperceptibly, thanks to its chemical formula. Because of a host of skin-supporting ingredients—sunflower, rosemary, and rice bran extracts—it fends off environmental aggressors and feels more like a moisturizer than most. Plus, its 80-minute water resistance makes it a great choice for folks who are active or hitting the beach.
The Best Chemical SPF Moisturizer: Cardon SPF 30 Moisturizer
Our tester’s take: Cardon’s core products are the perfect baseline regimen for most men (see: Hurley’s praise for them in these posts about gel moisturizer and clay face wash). This SPF moisturizer combines two imperative morning skin care steps into one with a pocket-size product that travels easily and lasts much longer than you’d expect. Its anti-inflammatory, hydrating, and antioxidant ingredients make it a superb moisturizer, but the inclusion of chemical UV defenses rounds it out for minimalists who want to wear a product that does it all.
Who it’s best for: People who want a moisturizer that doubles up on sun protection. It’s a one-and-done product that gives you the protection you need.
About the formula: You might think that because it’s a moisturizer the formula is slightly thicker than other SPFs, but that’s not the case with Cardon. It manages to feel light and silky on skin while still packing in ingredients that help keep your skin hydrated like cactus extract, as well as vitamins A, C, and E for additional antioxidant defense.
The High SPF Face Sunscreen: Skinbetter Sciences Sunbetter SPF 75
Our tester’s take: Some formulas are developed for daily use and others are meant for the times when your skin is the most sensitized, like after a visit to the derm’s office or if you’re using a retinol or acid. With a soaring SPF 75 from mineral protection, the cream gives you extra assurance that you aren’t accidentally incurring damage on your skin after spending money to help address an issue. On skin, it gives a slight bit of tint and wears comfortably (though it’s not quite as layerable as other formulas).
Who it’s best for: People with a concern about getting sun damage, which is folks who’ve gotten laser treatments, microneedling, or are using a sun-sensitizing product like hydroquinone, retinol, or an acid.
About the formula: Because mineral filters lay atop the skin to give you protection, it’s actually really hard to get a formula that is 50+ because they wind up having that lifeguard white-nose strip effect. This formula manages to be both cosmetically elegant and effective. It also has antioxidants like green tea and olive extracts that help to prevent from environmental aggressors.
The Best Drugstore Face Sunscreen: Neutrogena Clear Face Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 50
Our tester’s take: Hurly says that, “Neutrogena is my ‘old reliable’ whenever I need a guaranteed great defense at a low cost.” While we recommend the SPF 50 (if you’re putting the stuff on, you might as well get better protection), you can also pick up the same formula in an SPF 30. It’s honestly a super versatile product that will work well for most people.
Who it’s best for: This product is perfect for all skin types thanks to its oil-free formula (oily and acne-prone folks will especially appreciate that), and it even keeps skin looking more matte than before.
The formula: The water-based formula feels light and airy on skin. It’s water resistant up to 80 minutes, so if you need a daily sunscreen for your outdoor activities, here is one that won’t break the bank—and won’t break out your skin, either.
The Best Mineral SPF Moisturizer: Good Weather Skin Sun Cream
Our tester’s take: It’s hard to make a sunscreen feel splashy these days, but Good Weather Skin has managed to do so with its buttery yellow formula that glides onto skin and leaves it feeling dewy and with an ever-so-subtle sheen. With an SPF 30, it’s a really solid option for people who want a daily sunscreen that feels like skin care and doesn’t have that chalky texture that many SPFs usually do.
