Have you ever wondered why despite using high-end makeup and skincare products, your skin doesn’t look fresh and healthy? Chances are you’re missing out on a critical product: Sunscreen. There’s no debate on its importance because if you don’t religiously apply it every morning, it’s like you’re doing nothing for your skin. That being said, it’s the first and must step that should be present in your skincare routine.
It protects your skin from harmful rays and helps prevent hyperpigmentation, wrinkling, sagging, premature aging, and much more. Regardless of whether you spend your day indoors or outdoors, you should never, and we mean it, never skip sunscreen, even if it’s raining cats and dogs.
Now we know why it’s a necessary product, let’s talk about how to find one that is perfect for your skin type. While preferences play a big role, such as mineral versus physical, tinted versus non-tinted, you should know what your needs are clearly before investing in this essential pick. To help, we have created this buying guide and rounded up our five ultimate favorites that check all the boxes of keeping your skin safe from UV damage.
Below find some high-quality facial sunscreens that glide like a dream and suit all skin types.
Comparing Top Sunscreens
CeraVe SPF 30 Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen — Best Overall
Formulated with three essential ceramides and niacinamide (vitamin B3), CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen, helps restore and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. It is a hard-to-miss drugstore pick as it also soothes and calms the skin from irritants. The zinc and titanium dioxide in this mineral sunscreen reflects UVA and UVB rays, thus guarding your face against sun damage. The best part is that this pick also contains hyaluronic acid, ensuring that the skin retains its natural moisture, remains healthy and fresh .
It’s a tinted moisturizer and offers a subtle coverage that helps to diminish the appearance of redness and blemishes on your face. It also smooths skin tone, adding a beautiful, radiant glow. What’s more impressive, the product is vegan, fragrance-free, and paraben-free, which makes it ideal for people with all skin types, especially sensitive skin. Its lightweight feel, silky texture, and sheer finish make it the best overall product on our list.
Pros
- Goes on easily
- It’s non-comedogenic
- Leaves no white cast
Cons
- It’s not cruelty-free
Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50 — Best Vegan
Sun Bum Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50 is an oil-free, budget-friendly lotion that isn’t greasy or sticky, making it ideal for long summer days on the beach. It’s dermatologist and sonny-approved, which offers UVA/UVB protection and is excellent at keeping your skin safe from sun rays. The formula also contains Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps to neutralize free radicals and shields your skin against premature aging.
Moreover, this chemical sunscreen is hypoallergenic and reef friendly. The lotion has a weightless feel and is easy to glide. So grab this affordable sunscreen and slather yourself generously for maximum sun protection.
Pros
- Water resistant for 80 minutes
- Gluten-free
- Has sturdy packaging
Cons
- Might feel greasy on oily skin
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen SPF 60 — Best for Acne-prone Skin
If you don’t apply sunscreen out of fear of never-ending breakouts, this La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin SPF 60 is perfect for you. Formulated with silica and perlite that helps to absorb excess sebum production, this pick imparts a matte, shine-free, velvety finish. The innovative, unique cell-ox technology offers UVA, UVB, and antioxidant protection, which shields your skin from any free radical damage.
It’s a dermatologist’s favorite brand and ours too, due to its fantastic range of products. Despite being clear white, it spreads evenly and quickly, so much that you won’t feel something is on your skin. Being oil-free, this chemical sunscreen absorbs quickly into the skin and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. The lightweight formula makes this pick our go-to sunscreen all year round. It’s non-irritating and fragrance-free, making it ideal for sensitive skin types.
Pros
- Rich, smooth texture
- Hydrates the skin
- Free of parabens and oxybenzone
Cons
- It’s not cruelty-free
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 55 — Best Drugstore
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen with SPF 55 is a game changer with its oil-free, chemical formula that is sweat and water-resistant. It’s super affordable and is poised to become your can’t-live-without-it sunscreen 365 days a year. Infused with helioplex technology, it excellently protects your skin from all the harmful ultraviolet and infrared rays. The fast-absorbing, featherlight, creamy, oxybenzone free-formula blends seamlessly into your skin without leaving any weird residue or white cast.
Upon application, it quickly dries down and leaves a matte, non-shiny finish. The word matte might ring bells for being good for oily skin, but that’s not the case, as it is excellent for all skin types. What’s more fantastic is that it’s non-comedogenic so that it won’t clog your pores. You can generously slather yourself every two hours with this time-tested, classic pick and enjoy your time in the sun without worrying about sunburns.
Pros
- Goes on smoothly
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Travel-friendly packaging
Cons
- Contains fragrance
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA +++ — Best Splurge
True to its name, this Supergoop! Unseen sunscreen literally goops away, thanks to its clear, invisible formula that absorbs into your skin instantly. The lightweight formula has a smooth texture that dries down quickly and offers a natural finish that sets a perfect base – acts as a primer for makeup wearers.
The unseen sunscreen is chock full of powerful get-healthy-skin ingredients. Created with red algae to protect against UVA, UVB, infrared and blue light, meadowfoam seed oil to increase hydration levels, and frankincense that has a soothing effect, this mighty pick is worth the money for the benefits it offers.
Pros
- It’s scentless
- Makeup-gripping sunscreen
- Offers SPF 40 broad spectrum protection
Cons
- It might sting a little at first
Buying Guide: Sunscreen
What is Sunscreen?
Sunscreen, also known as sun cream, sun lotion, or sunblock, is a topical photoreceptive product that protects against sunburn. It does so by either absorbing the UV rays or by reflecting them. Its active ingredients work together to guard your skin against the sun’s harmful rays. Everyone must use it regularly as not doing so can lead to more severe damage and, in the worst-case scenario, warrants a skin cancer diagnosis.
Physical versus Chemical Sunscreen
What’s good? Physical or chemical? Read on to know the difference between them and determine which is right for you.
Physical or mineral sunscreen
Physical sunscreens, also known as mineral sunscreens, sit on the top of your skin’s surface and act as a physical blocker. Active ingredients like zinc oxide help to deflect and scatter ultraviolet rays away from the skin. As they block and reflect the UV rays at the surface level, this sunscreen shields your skin against UVA and UVB rays.
Since they create a physical barrier, you don’t have to sit around and wait for your sunscreen to start working. It’s fast-acting and is effective as soon as it is applied.
However, as they are on the surface of your skin, they may increase sweating. Some mineral sunscreens also have a chalky appearance – the dreaded white cast. A great way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to invest in tinted sunscreens, as they cover up the ghost effect while offering a subtle, natural glow.
Chemical sunscreen
Chemical sunscreen is also known as organic sunscreen. They don’t deflect UV rays but absorb them before your skin can soak them up. It does so with the help of its unique UV filters, such as avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, and many others. Since they don’t sit at the top of your skin, they might not be very effective at protecting you against all harmful rays.
Apart from this, they are easier to spread, non-greasy, and don’t leave any white cast. However, as this sunscreen’s purpose is to absorb the rays, it must be applied at least 20 minutes before sun exposure for its magic to work.
Things to Look for in a Sunscreen
With countless options to choose from, the process of finding the right sunscreen for your skin tone and type can be overwhelming and frustrating. Ahead find some tips to narrow down your search when shopping for this essential pick.
Skin type
Knowing your skin type is vital as it will further influence the decision of what kind of sunscreen you’ll buy, physical or chemical. If you’re more prone to breakouts or are on the oilier side, look for non-comedogenic, mattifying formulas, as they’ll keep the excess oil under control. But if your skin is dry, look for sunscreens with hydrating ingredients, as they will help to lock moisture back into the skin.
SPF level
The SPF number helps judge sunscreen’s efficacy, such as how much protection it’ll offer. Remember, the higher the SPF number, the lower the chances of sun damage. Before buying, ensure that the product is not less than SPF 30.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I apply sunscreen?
Sunscreen should be reapplied after every two hours for maximum sun protection.
Should I apply sunscreen first or last?
Sunscreen should go last. When you’re done getting ready or are following your skincare routine, sunscreen should be the last step.