What's the biggest skin-care trick we have up our sleeves? The best sunscreens for face — formulated with broad-spectrum protection of SPF 30 or higher — that we've incorporated into our routines, of course. We don't just write about wearing it; we actually wear it every single day. (Yes, even when it's raining cats and dogs or if we're spending the day cozied up inside.)
But don't simply take our word for it. Every dermatologist in the world will wax poetic about the importance of wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen daily to protect your skin from harmful, damage-causing UVA and UVB rays that result in long-lasting sun damage like sun spots, skin sagging, fine lines and wrinkles, and so on. (UVA rays, for good measure, penetrate more deeply than UVB rays and can potentially lead to more aggressive skin cancers including melanomas.) Face Sun Cream
As a reminder in regards to efficacy, SPF 30 guards against 97% of UVB rays, and SPF 50 is about 98%, and so forth. (SPF 15 only protects against 93%, which is why most dermatologists — and the Allure team — recommend at least 30.) The evidence is crystal-clear so do yourself a favor, slather up, and consistently reapply facial sunscreen every few hours to prevent the aforementioned effects — which, at their worst, can culminate in a skin cancer diagnosis.
Now that we've gotten the facts out of the way, we want to acknowledge that finding the right sunscreen for your skin tone and type can be tricky. Like any other skin-care product, personal preferences run the gamut. Those with sensitive skin may prefer mineral or physical sunscreens, which are always formulated with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide and "reflect ultraviolet rays off of them before the rays penetrate into skin cells," as Loretta Ciraldo, MD, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist, previously explained.
On the other hand, those who prefer their SPF to feel more like a lightweight serum or moisturizer (that's also more likely to induce zero white/grey cast) will turn to chemical sunscreens, which "use chemicals that absorb damaging UV rays and convert them to non-damaging heat," Sejal Shah, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist told Allure. And FYI: Common chemical UV filters include avobenzone, homosalate, octocrylene, octisalate, and ensulizole. (Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two other chemical filters that are banned in Hawaii, and therefore many companies have followed suit to keep them out of their ingredient lists.)
Nevertheless, to help you out on your daily sunscreen-wearing journey, we've rounded up 20 of the best face sunscreens, as recommended by Allure editors and board-certified dermatologists. These formulas glide on like a dream, never disrupt makeup, work well on all skin types, and most importantly, prevent sunburns and UV-induced damage with proper application.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you've ever been on beauty TikTok, you know that Korean skin-care brands are the golden standard of the moisturizing sunscreen category, and Innisfree's Daily UV Sunscreen SPF 36 is a prime example. Infused with cica, green tea, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E to soothe and protect the skin barrier, people of all skin types (especially dry skin) will relish this lightweight, no-cast formula that leaves a slight glow. (Fear not, the finish isn't even remotely greasy.) Did we mention it's only $16 and a 2023 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner? One thing's clear: You don't need to blow your budget for high-quality sun protection.
The last thing you need to worry about when it comes to wearing (and reapplying) sunscreen is the possibility of fresh breakouts forming. Consider an oil-absorbing formula like the Best of Beauty-winning Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free Mineral Sunscreen SPF 42. This all-physical SPF doubles as a face primer and minimizes shine all at once, but that doesn't mean it skimps out on moisture. (Because, yes, oily skin needs moisture to thrive. It's all about balance.) For that, hyaluronic acid and spirulina lend a radiant, soft-matte, but never greasy finish to your skin.
P.S. If you prefer chemical sunscreen, check out Shiseido's Urban Environment Vita-Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 42 Sunscreen, an ultra-light formula that leaves a dewy (as opposed to matte) finish and touts vitamin C for overall brightening.
Founded in 2023 by David Kim, MD, a NYC-based board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology, Lightsaver is on a mission to "make daily sun protection mindlessly easy," as the website states. The Activated Mineral Sunscreen SPF 33 is a tinted, zinc oxide formula that leaves a subtly radiant finish. It's one of the few mineral sunscreens Han not only tolerates, but actually looks forward to applying, and she also attests that it doesn't leave even a hint of white cast. No wonder it won a 2023 Best of Beauty Award in the clean category.
The silky, whipped formula has a few active ingredients worth noting, including photolyase, which helps calm the skin and repair sun damage; antioxidant-rich lingonberry stem cells that guard skin cells against blue light damage; as well as niacinamide and squalane to even skin tone and provide hydration.
After two years of intensive research and independent testing, KraveBeauty's Beet the Sun Lightweight Sunscreen SPF 40 is finally back and better than ever — and a newly minted 2023 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner. This ever-moisturizing, ever-soothing formula stars vitamin C-rich beet root extract for added radiance and protection against free radicals, as well as hydrating hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to boost hydration levels and maintain a healthy barrier.
This is one of Allure commerce editor Sarah Han's favorite sunscreen launches of of the year, hands down. "The silky cream applies like a dream, disappears without a trace, and leaves my skin looking just the right amount of dewy — and not greasy," Han attests.
If you're a devoted reader of allure.com, chances are you've seen a few mentions of EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 over the years. Ideal for acne-prone skin, this lightweight, fragrance-free and oil-free formula has been touted by a plethora of board-certified dermatologists for its pore-unclogging (by way of lactic acid), shine-minimizing, and of course, UV-guarding properties.
Remember: All skin types benefit from hydration, including oily skin types, so you'll be glad to know that this mattifying moisturizer and SPF is spiked with just the right amount of quick-absorbing sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid).
We understand the struggle of reapplying sunscreen (every few hours, as dermatologists recommend) on top of lovingly perfected makeup. Hailing from Down Under, Naked Sundays Hydrating Glow Mist SPF 50+ offers a convenient solution in the form of a sunscreen mist. Let's be clear: This isn't a substitute for "regular" sunscreen — you should still be applying a base layer of at least SPF 30 or higher ideally right before makeup application.
OK, back to the mist. This spray sunscreen leaves your skin with a yummy glow that's powered by hydration hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-rich watermelon, and brightening kakadu plum (the latter two ingredients are loaded with vitamin C). Don't be afraid to be a little heavy-handed when spraying. "You will need to apply a lot more product than you think when using a spray-on sunscreen to achieve full coverage," Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at the Shafer Clinic in New York City, previously explained. All in all, this sunscreen mist is an easy way to ensure you stay protected throughout the day.
Chemical sunscreens can be harsh on sensitive skin, which is where Thank You Farmer's Sun Project Light Sun Essence comes into play. This K-beauty pick is gloriously soothing all year round, notes Allure commerce editor Sarah Han, and that's courtesy of ingredients like aloe leaf extract, lotus flower water, and soybean lipids. The lightweight, cast-free formula also absorbs into skin without a damn trace. While your skin looks glowy post-application, it doesn't err into the territories of shiny or greasy.
That's not all; Thank You Farmer has won over experts as well. "The Sun Essence has a light, watery texture with a pearlescent finish that is ideal for normal to oily skin types," Eunice Park, MD, double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon and Founder of Airem Modern Beauty Rituals. "It's a favorite during the hot summer months."
When multiple editors — of different ages and skin tones — all love the same sunscreen, you know it's good. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Face Sunscreen SPF 50 has a delightfully milky texture that dries to an almost powdery finish, perfect for when you want serious sun protection without looking (or feeling) like a greasy mess. As Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, confirms, it's lightweight, fast-absorbing, and non-sticky.
P.S. If you prefer chemical sunscreens, La Roche-Posay offers Anthelios Light Fluid Face Sunscreen SPF 60.
All it takes to upgrade your skin-care routine is swapping out your basic day cream for RoC’s Barrier Renew AM Moisturizer SPF 30. It's lightweight, smooth, never gets in the way of makeup, and leaves your skin feeling, well, more alive. Not to mention, the fragrance- and paraben-free formula is spiked with two types of ceramides to strengthen your barrier for healthier-looking skin, as well as antioxidant-rich green tea and soothing prebiotics.
$68 might seem like a lot to shell out for sunscreen, but when Mona Gohara, MD, Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist, says it's one of her favorites, we reconsider. SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair SPF 34 is chock-full of vitamins C and E, which are powerful antioxidants that exist in so many of our most beloved products, as Dr. Gohara notes, and guards skin against UVA, UVB, and Infrared-A rays. Adding to the robust list of skin-nourishing ingredients are squalane, glycerin, and niacinamide to boost radiance and strengthen the barrier.
Dewy is the name of the game when it comes to Coola's Dew Good Illuminating Serum Probiotic Sunscreen, which will you make your complexion look so hydrated and glowy that you'll forget all about your foundation. This SPF 30 goes on sheer and weightless, thanks to a trio of chemical filters to protect your skin. For added hydration, you get aloe and glycerin — making this formula a clear winner for our 2022 Best of Beauty Awards.
The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30 was the second product to earn Allure's coveted One to Watch seal and won a 2023 Best of Beauty Award in the steals category. This is due to its ultra-hydrating formula that works for all skin tones and leaves a glowy but not sticky or oily finish. (Though it is a chemical sunscreen, it contains UV filters that are normally marketed as "reef-safe," so there is no oxybenzone or octinoxate.) Plus, who can argue with the $15 price tag?
In addition to some of our favorite skin-plumping ingredients, such as squalane and glycerin, you'll also find polyglutamic acid, which is a "naturally occurring component of the sticky paste found in the Japanese fermented soybean dish called natto" that is very effective in boosting moisture, as cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos explained.
One of our top picks for darker skin tones has to be Black Girl Sunscreen. Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in West Islip, New York, approves of Make It Matte, the latest iteration of its best-selling, original Black Girl Sunscreen. She spotlights the formula's infusion of moisturizing ingredients such as aloe, squalene, shea butter, and coconut oil — which makes it glide onto skin like silk.
Allure's associate news editor Gabi Thorne also gives the gel-like formula a raving review, noting that the barely-there formula "feels glorious on the skin, like spreading the creamiest butter on a warm slice of toast." And, of course, there isn't any ghastly white cast or ashy tint to be found. It's no wonder this matte-finish formula won a 2021 Best of Beauty Award.
Allure social editor Bianca Richards refers to the Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50, which is formulated with blurring polymers, as "the perfect daytime primer for all her glowy needs." This multitasking product essentially creates the ideal canvas for makeup, as it's also charged with peptides, camellia oil, and aloe vera to smooth the complexion. "Besides using it as a base for my glowy makeup routine, I use this SPF primer on days I go makeup-free and it leaves such a pretty dewy finish on my skin," Richard adds.
In terms of drugstore formulas, Dr. Mariwalla has Neutrogena's Sheer Zinc Face Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 ranked high on her list. The oil-free, non-comedogenic (meaning it doesn't clog/block pores) formula features 100% zinc oxide and dries down to an invisible, matte, and non-greasy finish. Not to mention, it's water-resistant, so it's the perfect option for beach hangs, hikes, and all of your most active days. It's a great option for kiddos, too.
It's no secret countless Allure editors have been singing the praises of Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 over the years. The biggest reason? The gel-like formula dries down matte and completely clear, and therefore pairs perfectly with all complexions (as any sunscreen should). The weightless, oil-free formula is also filled with skin-nourishing ingredients like hydrating meadowfoam seed oil and shea butter, so you won't even mind reapplying every few hours.
Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist Caroline Robinson, MD, previously recommended this broad-spectrum SPF. While she called out its rich, winter-friendly texture, the glycerin- and aloe-spiked lotion works great in warmer weather, too, as it's water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. As the UV-protected cherry on top, it's picked up not only one Best of Beauty Award but two Readers' Choice Awards in its lifetime — the most recent being 2021.
Lip Mask Product Dr. Kim suggests Versed's peach-tinted Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF 35, which blends into all skin tones seamlessly and evens out subtle instances of discoloration. He also notes that his male patients like this particular choice because it's "lightweight, doesn't feel greasy, and doesn't have a strong sunscreen scent." This zinc oxide formula is boosted by sea fennel and moringa seed extracts to soothe and moisturize skin.