A comprehensive guide to: Sunscreen.
A comprehensive guide to: Sunscreen.
You'll find every SPF review I have written here.
I am *militant* about wearing sunscreen on my face. You should be doing this every day, year-round, whether you are spending significant amounts of time outside or not. This is the MOST important thing you can do for your skin. Do not tell me you “don’t get sunburned” or you “don’t go outside.” UVB/UVA rays are everywhere, and they do not only cause sunburn. They can do real, severe, long term damage to your skin. You may as well throw the rest of your skin care products in the trash if you are skipping this step. It’s also important to be aware of whether or not you are using certain skin care products or medications that can make your skin more susceptible to the sun (Specifically, AHAs, retinoids, and lots of acne medications do this). If you are a person who wears makeup, it is also not good enough that your foundation has SPF in it! Foundation rarely goes above SPF 20 (aka not high enough!) and the amount of foundation you put on your face is not enough to give you sufficient sun protection (if it is, that is a different problem we can discuss later). You need a separate product that is SPF and only SPF. Every day! Face and neck! I would apologize for this lecture, but I do not feel bad about it!
Another thing worth mentioning is chemical vs. physical sunscreens (good explainer of the difference here). In a perfect world, I would only use physical sunscreens. Unfortunately most of them are either more expensive than I want them to be, or so thick I absolutely refuse to wear them. I do try to specifically avoid oxybenzone if possible because I have found that it irritates my skin (I am the person who stands in the store and reads the ingredient list on every product), but a chemical sunscreen is not a dealbreaker for me. If you have sensitive skin, a physical sunscreen might be better for you.
Here is what I am looking for: SPF 30 minimum (50 would be ideal but we can’t always get what we want), no white cast (I am a very white person, so a product may not be the same on your skin as it is on mine), I do not want to feel like I have a very thick layer of sunscreen on my face, and I don’t want to smell like it either. Obviously, price is a consideration as well.
You do not need this many sunscreens. No one does. I am just a very pale person who needs to have options. Pick at least one of these! Wear it every day!
Here’s a list of every sunscreen I have tried and how I feel about them.
My favorite (it’s a tie):
Native Sunscreen: This is my absolute ideal sunscreen. I saw someone on Instagram put this on their face and purchased it immediately, despite already owning (as you all know) way too many sunscreens. This is a mineral sunscreen, 20% (!!!) zinc oxide. Normally an SPF that with a zinc percentage that high would be the consistency of molasses, but this is *so* thin. Applies like a DREAM. Absolutely no white cast, it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy, it doesn’t smell like sunscreen. I don’t understand? THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANT A SUNSCREEN TO BE. $16 for 1.7oz, a very reasonable price for a mineral sunscreen. Would recommend to anyone and everyone. In addition to buying online, I have seen Native products in CVS and Target.
Purito Sunscreen: A reformulation after the Centella Green crisis (this is what sent me into an absolute *spiral* of needing to try every sunscreen that exists). It’s very good. It has the same, perfect texture as the old one—incredibly lightweight, easy to rub in, no scent or whitecast at all. This feels like a regular lotion. At $19.50 for 2oz, a very reasonable price. I like this just as much as I like the Native one, but the Native one is a little more accessible since you can find it in stores. Both are excellent options that I will continue to buy….once I get through my drawer of unopened sunscreens first (I will not tell you how many are in there, don’t ask).
My top drugstore recommendations:
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen (SPF 30): At $11 for 3oz, this is the cheapest one I’ve been able to find that I actually like. If you are new to a daily SPF, or you don’t want to spend a ton of money, I think this is a really great option for an affordable, easily accessible SPF that is comfortable to wear every day. I also buy this version to use on my arms if I will be spending time outside. Both definitely smell like sunscreen when you apply, but it does not linger and I do not notice it throughout the day. Might give you some issues if you have oily skin, but it’s fine for me. You can buy this at any drugstore.
Aveeno Protect & Hydrate Sunscreen Body Lotion (SPF 60): This one is $2 more at $13 for 3oz, but I do prefer it to the Neutrogena one. It says its for body but I also use it on my face with no issues. Very hydrating, easy to rub in, no scent issues. If I’m going for cheap and easy, this is my top choice.
Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Sunscreen Face Serum (SPF 60): I think this is my biggest sunscreen heartbreak, because I *loved* this sunscreen but something in it broke me out and I cannot use it. This is the perfect drugstore sunscreen— it’s so lightweight and easy to rub in, it feels like nothing on your face, and it’s $18.19 for 1.7oz. This feels like a high end sunscreen. Even though it broke me out, I still tell everyone to try it on the off chance that your skin agrees with it more than mine does. Because it’s just really good.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer (SPF 30): This is extremely hydrating, and when I was using this as my daily SPF my skin was doing really well. This feels like a regular lotion, it’s so easy to rub in. It has a scent as you’re applying but it does not linger. This dries down to just feel like a regular moisturizer, and works great under makeup. $25.99 for a big 3.38oz bottle, so it lasted me a long time even using it daily. A win!
If you want a little bit of glow, my favorite one is:
Kinship Self Reflect Probiotic Moisturizing Sunscreen Zinc Oxide (SPF 32): The most popular in this category is probably Supergoop Glownscreen (review for that below), but I just think this one is better. For a mineral sunscreen this is remarkably lightweight, easy to rub in, and leaves such a nice looking glow to my skin. At $26 for 1.7oz, it is cheaper than Glowscreen, and it also leaves me feeling much less oily at the end of the day. It is just better! Sorry! I don’t think I’ll ever buy Glowscreen again.
I also like and would buy again:
Cocokind Daily SPF 32: I really liked this. It’s a little thick, so I probably would not wear this under makeup, but it’s fine on a bare face. When you first apply it has a bit of a white cast, but it rubs in really nicely and that goes away quickly. No discernible scent. This is $25 for 1.7oz, and I will definitely buy it again. You unfortunately cannot find Cocokind in every drugstore, but they do sell it at Target and Ulta, and I found it at Whole Foods.
EltaMD UV Shield Broad-Spectrum SPF 45: This is a combination physical/chemical SPF that I also think is very nice. It rubs in very easily, does not smell like sunscreen, and left no white cast on me. This is a pretty popular sunscreen brand, and there are a couple other EltaMD products I want to try before I would buy this one again, but I think this one is a great option. $27 for 3oz, so you get a pretty big bottle for a decent price. You can get EltaMD products on Amazon, at Dermstore, or sometimes at CVS.
I would buy these if they were on sale, not at full price:
Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense Sunscreen SPF 30: I got a little sample of this with my Sephora points and it is so nice. This is a physical sunscreen, and it’s super lightweight and left no white cast on me. My one problem here is that this is $45 for 1.7oz, and I have trouble justifying that price. You can get Dermalogica products at Ulta and Sephora, and sometimes at CVS.
Dr. Brandt Liquid Sun Shield Daily Brightening Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50: LOVE. This is so good. It’s a liquid mineral sunscreen, applies so well and not white cast or discernible scent at all. I have two problems with this: the dropper cap worked terribly (maybe this was just my bottle but it was really bad) and for what this costs I want the packaging to work! My second problem is the price. This is $65 for 1.7oz (cries). I got my bottle as part of a Sephora Favorites kit that sadly does not exist anymore, but that whole thing cost $45 and came with several other products, so it was a steal. I would absolutely buy this again if it’s on sale for under $50. It’s a very good sunscreen.
ZitSticka MEGASHADE Breakout-proof SPF 50 Serum: This is so nice! It’s a liquid consistency so it’s super easy to rub in, and it’s got a lot of great hydrating ingredients. It’s combination mineral and physical, and I had no issues with smell or white cast. A little pricey at $40 for 1.7oz, but this brand is often on sale at Ulta.
The Supergoop Section
I love this brand, they have so many great sunscreen products. A little pricier than your average drugstore SPF, but I have liked everything I have tried from this brand and have several more I want to get to. Here’s what I’ve tried:
Unseen Sunscreen (SPF 40): This is my “special occasion sunscreen”. It has the best texture, so lightweight and easy to rub in, and it is also completely clear, so no white cast at all. It has a silicone consistency, like a make-up primer, so this is not a typical sunscreen texture. This is formulated specifically to wear under makeup, so I typically save it for that. At $36 for 1.7oz this is a little pricey, so that’s another reason I do not wear it every day.
Glow Screen (SPF 40): I really like this, with some caveats. This has a pearlescent finish and gives my face such a nice glow. It now comes in two shades, but it may not work on every skin tone. This has no discernible scent to me and rubs in really well. If you have oily skin, this may feel a little too greasy for you. I have started mixing this in with another sunscreen, rather than using this as my only sunscreen for my whole face. This helps with oil control, but is obviously not ideal when this costs $36 for 1.7oz. But I really, really like how this looks on my skin. Definitely worth trying, YMMV. I usually buy Supergoop products at Sephora, but they are also on Amazon.
Play Everyday Lotion (SPF 50): This is great for both face and body, which is so nice. It definitely smells like sunscreen when you first apply, but I find that it dissipates fairly quickly. This is just a really nice texture, easy to rub in, no white cast on me. This comes in several different sizes, which is also nice. I like to get the 5.5oz bottle ($32), and this is especially great for a trip or vacation where I know I will be spending a lot of time outside. Great for a beach trip. The smallest bottle (1oz) is only $10, so a great way to test out if this is something you like.
Superscreen (SPF 40): This basically feels like a regular moisturizer. It’s thick, like a face lotion, but it’s easy to rub in and I had absolutely zero issues with white cast. I’m not sure I would buy this again, though, because of the packaging. I don’t love having to dig my fingers into a tub to get a product out. Also a bit pricey, at $48 for 1.7oz. Nothing is actually wrong with this, just didn’t stand out enough to buy it again.
Lip Shield Trio (SPF 30): I have found that most lip products with SPF taste absolutely terrible. I really dislike most of them, to the point where I actively avoid using them. These are the best ones I have tried— they still do have a little bit of that lingering taste but it is much more muted than any other product I’ve tried. I like that these are very small, I carry one around in my wallet at all times. It’s $30 for the trio, which is obviously more than your typical chapstick, but to me these are more than worth it.
(Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder (SPF 35): This was out of stock every time I tried to buy it for months, so I was excited when I finally was able to buy it. This is perfect for reapplication when you are out and about. I toss this in my purse basically every time I leave my house. You should never use a powder as your base SPF, definitely not enough coverage, but for reapplying over makeup this is great.
For underneath makeup:
These all have a silicone texture, so they work great as a primer. They are also clear, so they are invisible on any skin tone. I think all three are good, pick your price.
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen (see above)
Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen: If you would like to buy a silicone texture SPF that is a reasonable price, this is your answer. It’s very nice! It’s not quite as smooth as the other two listed here but it only costs $9, so who cares. The downside here is that you have to find it in stock in your store, and if you don’t have a store near you, you’re out of luck. If you see this in you store, I say absolutely buy it.
Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30: I have once again played myself and purchased a very expensive item when it was super on sale, and now I am upset that I am in love with a $68 sunscreen. A little thinner and a little smoother than the other two, it is really the perfect texture. I just cannot justify spending $68 on a sunscreen. I bought this for 50% off during a 21 days of Beauty Sale, and if I ever see it included in that again I will buy one (or two…or three…) in a heartbeat. It’s so GOOD.
If you’re looking for a tint:
MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème (SPF 30): Another great option that I know I have talked about before. I really like the consistency, and this is one of the most comfortable physical sunscreens I’ve ever tried. It’s tinted, and it may even out my skin tone a little but it’s not giving actual coverage. This is $32 for 1.7oz, and I probably would not pay full price, but I would grab this if I ever saw it on sale. I’ve never seen this brand in a store, I buy it on Amazon.
For the body:
Sun Bum Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50: If I was going on a beach trip, this is probably what I would grab at the drugstore. I want something that’s not super greasy and is easy to rub in, and also something not too expensive since I go through so much of it if I’m spending hours outside in a swimsuit. This checks all the boxes, and it also smells really good, which is a nice bonus. You can buy Sun Bum in pretty much any drugstore.
Vacation Classic Lotion (SPF 50): I love this. This has the loveliest scent, exactly how I want to smell at the beach. This is $18 for 3.4oz, so it’s a little bit pricey for an all over body sunscreen. For context, I brought this on a beach vacation and went through it in under 3 days, so if you’re going on a long trip where you’ll be in a swimsuit and reapplying all over multiple times a day this will not be enough. But I love this sunscreen, and I will definitely buy it again.
For reapplication:
The Supergoop (Re)setting Powder is great. See above.
Sun Bum Face Mist SPF 45: Continuing my love of Sun Bum products with this face mist. This is my current go to for reapplying over make-up. The mist is super lightweight, this dries down very quickly and then I cannot feel it on my face at all. It also keeps my makeup intact. I carry this with me basically any time I leave my house with makeup on. It’s $15.99 for 3.4 oz. The one thing about this that may be a dealbreaker for some is that, like all Sun Bum products, this has a very strong banana scent. It dissipates pretty quickly, but it’s a little overpowering right as you spray this on your face. If you don’t like an artificial banana scent, I don’t think you’d be able to use this. I think it smells really good, so I don’t mind. You can get Sun Bum at most drugstores.
Sunscreen STICKS!
I have childhood trauma of my mom rubbing the oiliest, greasiest sunscreen sticks all over my face when I was a kid (who is probably shocked that I have grown up to be so obsessed with SPF after we spent my childhood fighting about me wearing it, sorry mom), so I was hesitant to try these. But, like all other SPF products, these are so much better than what they were in the early 2000s. I do not think these are great as your first or only layer, but they’re great for reapplication when you’re out and about. Here’s the one’s I’ve tried:
Sun Bum Sunscreen Face Stick (SPF 30): Now I know what I just said, but this one is quite oily. I only use this for reapplication if I’m doing an outside activity, like the pool or the beach or a hike or something. I would not want to put this on over makeup, but it’s great for this specific purpose. It has the same banana scent that all Sun Bum products do.
MD Solar Sciences Tinted Solar Stick (SPF 40): This one I will put on over makeup. It has a very subtle tint but it’s not that noticeable on my skin, and this goes on so smooth and easy. I found this at CVS.
Perfectly fine, but I do not see myself purchasing again:
Cerave AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion (SPF 30): This is nice, I just like other options more. It’s a very thin consistency so is very nice to apply and there is no white cast. Texture wise, this feels like a regular lotion and works really well under makeup. The downside to this one is that is definitely smells like a sunscreen, and I do think it lingers. I do not reach for it every day because of that, but I’ll wear it if I’m going out for a run or a walk. I’d also wear this to the beach/pool, if I ever end up back at a beach/pool. It’s not a severe scent, but I am picky! It comes in a pump bottle, which I really like. $18.99 for 3oz, so a nice price. Also very easily accessible at any drugstore.
MD Solar Sciences Mineral Crème SPF 50: This brand makes very nice mineral sunscreens. I love that this one is SPF 50. It took a little bit of work to rub in and get the white cast to disappear, so this may not work for someone with darker skin tones. It’s also pretty thick, I wouldn’t recommend if you have oily skin. I think this is a very nice sunscreen, but at $30 for 1.7oz I’m not sure I would buy it again. I like the tinted one from this brand and would pick that one over this one.
Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen SPF 42: Why is this SPF 42? Annoying. I had a sample of this and it’s fine, but it costs $48 for 1.7oz and I would not even pay half that price for this sunscreen. It’s a liquid consistency and I had no white cast or scent issues, but there is just nothing about this that justifies the price.
Tula Protect + Glow Daily Sunscreen Gel (SPF 30): This was a little too glowy, to the point where I found myself mixing it with another sunscreen or only using on my chest and arms. If I used this on my face I felt like it was too much, and by the end of the day my face was very oily. I am not the biggest Tula fan, in part because I think its overpriced for what it is…this is $38 for 1.7oz. Not my fav, so won’t repurchase.
If you find yourself in a European drugstore you need to buy:
Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Face SPF (Anti Dryness): This entire line is not available in the US, which I take PERSONALLY. It is so nice and so cheap. This one has hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, so if you have super oily skin this may not be your vibe. But if you don’t, this is very good! It’s extremely lightweight and easy to rub in.
Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Age Super UV (SPF 50): This is a very similar consistency to that first one, but less hydrating so it did not make my face as oily. This might work better for you if you have oily skin.
Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Dark Spots & Anti-Pollution Super UV (SPF 50+): This has more of a liquid texture, so it’s super lightweight and easy to rub in. It also has hydrating ingredients so it just felt really nice on my skin.
Garnier Ambre Solaire Over Make-UP Protection Mist (SPF 50): This is the best sunscreen spray I’ve ever used. As advertised, it is perfect over make up because it dries down almost instantly and then I cannot feel it on my face at all. Livid I cannot buy this at home!!
Garnier Ambre Solaire Hydra 24h protect (SPF 50+): Are you sensing a theme? Everything from this Ambre Solaire line is so good and so inexpensive! This is a body sunscreen, and while it definitely has a scent that lingers a bit, this was perfect for a beach vacation or a pool day. SO easy to rub in.
Eucerin Oil Control Dry Touch Face Sun Gel Creme (SPF 50+): This sunscreen is so good that every time I use it I get angry that I cannot buy it at home. This genuinely feels like nothing on my face. It rubs in so easily, it has a bit of a scent but that disappears immediately, and then I swear it’s like I didn’t put anything on my skin. So good.
Under no circumstances should anyone purchase any of these:
Acure Seriously Soothing Day Cream (SPF 30): I bought this because it has blue tansy in it, an ingredient that tends to work really well on my skin. I put this on my face one (1) time and immediately washed it off. This is so thick, I could feel it sitting on top of my skin in the most uncomfortable way. I didn’t even try to use this up on my body, I just threw it away. Nope!
CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion: I am a very pale person who has tried a lot of sunscreens, and this is by far the worst one I have ever used. I hated this so much, I feel angry thinking about it!! I generally trust CeraVe to be good and this was just so so terrible. It’s so thick, it does not rub in, it gets everywhere. The bottle says, “lightweight, non-greasy feel.” LIES. LIES EVERYWHERE. I hate wasting products I have spent my money on, so I forced myself to use this up by only wearing it in the mornings when I was going for a run and knew I would be showering immediately afterwards. This is a good option for anyone who thought the Mark Zuckerberg photo was a good look. For everyone else, do not recommend.
DERMA-E Sun Protection Mineral Powder SPF 30: This is another product I thought would be great for reapplication. It’s a powder, and it’s super small and would be easy to throw in a purse. And it’s a mineral sunscreen. Ideal! I grabbed it when I saw it on sale at Whole Foods and had high expectations. Despite the fact that the box says this is “100% translucent on all skin types,” on me this is just straight up orange. Like, Donald Trump’s skin tone ORANGE. I have never been more confused. The only way I can use this is in my part, since it sort of blends in with my hair. It’s actually really nice for that, so I’m not too upset that I spent money on this, but I will not buy this again.
Pinea-C Brightening 3 in 1 serum cream with Vitamin C + Pineapple: Texture wise this is quite nice, but it has what I found to be the most vile artificial pineapple scent. I could not wear this on my face, it smells so bad to me. You might have a different experience, but for me this was a hard no.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Fluid Mineral Face Sunscreen (SPF 50): I had high hopes for this because I have tried and liked several products from this brand, and it’s SPF 50. This is a super thin (essentially liquid) formula so it’s very lightweight, which can be hard to find in a mineral sunscreen. The problem I have is that this leaves a white cast on me, and because of that I won’t buy it again. I am curious to try the tinted version, and other SPFs from this brand. This one is $33.99 for 1.7oz, so not the cheapest but not the most expensive either. Just doesn’t quite work for me. You can buy La Roche-Posay at CVS, Ulta, Target, Amazon.
Necessaire Sunscreen: I have genuinely loved every product I’ve tried from this brand, so this pains me to say: I *hated* this sunscreen. This is mineral, SPF 30, 20% Zinc Oxide. I knew it was bad the second I put it on my face. It took a minute to rub in and had a minor white cast (minor on me, would not be minor on anyone with an ounce of melanin), and then I could just feel it sitting on my face. I put a little bit of makeup on over it and it immediately started pilling. By the time I got to work it was just crumbling off my neck. Mess! This was just so bad. Very bad. Upsetting because I love this brand!