The best sunscreen for your face is one you can actually use every day. It’s perfectly fine to apply the same sunscreen to your face. The best sunscreen for your face depends on your skin type, preferences, and the level of protection you need. Sunscreens come in a variety of formulas, including lotions, sprays, and sticks.To find facial sunscreens that suit skin types, tones, and sensitivity levels, we considered dozens of options, and we conducted secret brand reviews with a panel of 24 testers whose complexions moisturize your face in different ways.
Sunscreen protects your skin from sun damage, which can cause wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer.Using sunscreen also helps prevent premature aging, uneven skin tone, and inflammation.UV rays break down collagen, which can contribute to wrinkles and fine lines. Sunscreen can benefit your face by preventing sunburn, reducing the risk of skin cancer, and protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays.
Our selection includes chemical sunscreens, which contain filters that absorb UV light. Like all sunscreens, the ones we recommend should be reapplied every two hours to achieve their promised effectiveness. The Skin Cancer Foundation says that using sunscreen with SPF 15 can reduce the risk of melanoma by 50 percent.
Best 10 sunscreen for your skin
1. Banana Boat Light As Air SPF 50+
This chemical sunscreen goes on smooth and doesn’t leave a white cast or pilling. It blends easily into your skin, and it has a light scent.
This sunscreen top pick for chemical sunscreens used for body application also works well as a facial sunscreen, making it ideal for those who want a non-sticky, non-greasy option that’s available at a great price.
SPF: 50+
Protection Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), homosalate (9%), octosalate (4%), octocrylene (5%)
Water Resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $1.67
This Banana Boat Light as Air SPF 50+ sunscreen rubs in easily and blends well on a range of skin tones. And it has a nice, airy scent it doesn’t take much effort to spread this sunscreen on your skin and it stays put, meaning it’s less likely to sting your eyes.
One tester said it melts into skin instantly and gives your face a “soft, slightly powdery texture.” Also, the scent of this sunscreen may not be for everyone. While none of our testers had any issues, this sunscreen does have a noticeable scent that may bother some. Additionally, a couple of testers noticed a mild burning or tingling sensation on their skin when applying this sunscreen.
2. Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30
This sunscreen is a great choice for those of you who want a less expensive hydrating option that doesn’t leave a white cast.
SPF: 30
Protection Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), Homoslate (10%), Octoslate (5%), Octocrylene (2.75%)
Water Resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $5.00
It blends easily. Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 has a nice, full texture. It has a light, classic sunscreen scent the kind you see on kids at the beach with a breeze and when applied, this sunscreen doesn’t melt into the skin. The white formula takes a little elbow grease to fully blend in. It’s moisturizing. We love the creamy texture of this sunscreen, which testers said felt weightless on their skin. Because this sunscreen is very hydrating.
This sunscreen will appeal to a wide range of people. If you have dry skin, it may be suitable for you. If you have oily skin, you may not like it. Since Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 is slow to dry, it leaves what feels like a sticky layer on the skin after application. If you have oily skin, you may not like the shine of this sunscreen.
3. Coola Refreshing Water Plumping Gel Serum SPF 30
This serum-like sunscreen is a very lightweight, moisturizing sunscreen that you don’t mind splurging on.
SPF: 30
Protection Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (6%), Octosalate (5%), Octocrylene (7%)
Water Resistant: No
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $48
It’s a lightweight hybrid between a moisturizer and a gel. The airy cream consistency of Coola Refreshing Water Plumping Gel SPF 30 feels almost cool against the skin. It has a faint tropical scent, and it rubs in especially quickly and easily. It has a green tint that blends into the skin immediately, and it’s nicely hydrating.
It blends well with facial hair. It’s very sheer. One tester didn’t like that this sunscreen left them with a dewy appearance before drying completely.
4. Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50
This sunscreen is a favorite of mine. It will also appeal to those who want the option of buying an economical jug with a pump dispenser.
SPF: 50
Protection Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), homoslate (10%), octoslate (5%), octocrylene (7.5%)
Water Resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $10 (small tube), $3.78 (large jug)
It’s almost unnoticeable on the skin. We found Supergoop’s Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50 easy to rub in and almost invisible after application. We love the way it smells of Play Everyday. Right out of the bottle, it absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave a white cast. It comes in a wide range of bottle sizes. Unlike our other picks, it comes in four sizes. It’s less expensive than any of our facial sunscreen picks.
“It’s a great sunscreen,” this sunscreen for the past five years and finds it to be well-moisturizing. “It’s not expensive enough that you can’t afford to use it.” Some testers noted that this sunscreen made them feel greasy, like there was a layer of gunk on top of their skin that never completely dried. Let’s see if this is the right sunscreen for you, so try the 2.4-ounce tube first.
5. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
This sunscreen is a great choice for those who want to splurge a little for an easily spreadable, concealing formula, and for those who layer well with makeup.
SPF: 40
Protection Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), homosilicate (8%), octosilicate (5%), octocrylene (4%)
Water Resistant: Yes, up to 40 minutes
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $22
It goes on like a makeup primer. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 is a clear gel, so you avoid any white cast. It spreads on the skin much more easily than anything else, and it absorbs quickly. It’s also easier to reapply than most sunscreens. One long-term tester said the invisible sunscreen “stays on great under makeup or can be reapplied throughout the day without looking oily or sticky on top of makeup.”
The texture may be off-putting to some. Some testers didn’t like that this sunscreen felt greasy, with a texture similar to watery petroleum jelly. We think it might be worth it for those who prefer these features in a sunscreen. But we found Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 to be just as good for about a quarter of the price.
6. Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40
Those who want the look and feel of Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 without spending a fortune will find Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 a satisfying alternative.
SPF: 40
Protection Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), homoselenate (12%), octoselenate (5%), octocrylene (6%)
Water Resistant: Yes, up to 40 minutes
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $5.80
This Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen is our favorite. It’s a clear gel chemical sunscreen that leaves no white cast at all. This formula has all the same active ingredients and many of the same inactive ingredients. One tester thought it settled into a velvety texture without “that weird matte feel.”
Like Supergoop Unseen, Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen has no added fragrance. Like all Trader Joe’s products, this sunscreen is only available in stores.
7. CeraVe AM Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion With Sunscreen SPF 30
This is a great moisturizer-sunscreen combo for those with sensitive skin, and for those who don’t like scented sunscreens.
SPF: 30
Protection Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (10%), Octosalate (5%), Octocrylene (2.7%)
Water Resistant: No
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $9.14
This is a great combination of moisturizer and sunscreen. If your skin needs a little extra moisture throughout the day, try CeraVe AM Ultra Light Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen SPF 30. It glides on easily without feeling greasy. Almost all of our testers found it to be a great match for their skin tones.
It’s thinner than the classic version. We still like the original formula, CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, which is a combination sunscreen, but the Ultra Light version scored higher in our recent round of testing. It has a strong “sunscreen” smell. Most of the negative feedback testers had about this sunscreen had to do with the scent.
8. Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+
This sunscreen is best for those who want a well-balanced mineral sunscreen that doesn’t look or feel greasy.
SPF: 50+
Protection Type: Physical
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (4.10%), Zinc Oxide (11.50%)
Water Resistant: No
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $23.66
This sunscreen is lightly scented and feels light on the skin. Dr. Jart+Every Sun Day Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ earned high marks in our panel test for its “fresh, light orange scent,” and it doesn’t feel greasy or oily once it’s fully set on the skin. This is a lightweight physical sunscreen.
This sunscreen rubs in easily and has an almost matte finish that doesn’t feel drying. It may have a slight blue cast on darker skin tones immediately after application, but that fades after a few seconds.It’s not for those looking for a more hydrating option. It’s not overly moisturizing, and it has a matte finish. If you’re looking for a hydrating option, consider Hero Force Shield Super Light Sunscreen SPF 30 or Paula’s Choice Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30.
9. Hero Force Shield Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30
This is for those who want an easy-to-wear mineral sunscreen that doesn’t feel chalky or leave a white cast.
SPF: 30
Protection Type: Physical
Active Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide (17.53%)
Water Resistant: No
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $11.80
We know, it’s hard to find a mineral formula that isn’t too drying or grainy, or that doesn’t leave a white cast. Hero Force Shield Super Light Sunscreen SPF 30 exceeded our expectations compared to similarly priced options.
This sunscreen comes in a tube dispenser that dispenses enough to apply generously in one pump. It doesn’t settle well into facial hair. Although this sunscreen is marketed for people with acne-prone skin, it has a sheer/green tint that “fades redness.”
10. Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer With Sunscreen SPF 30
This moisturizer and sunscreen combo is for those who want a relatively affordable sun protection lotion.
SPF: 30
Protection Type: Chemical and Physical
Active Ingredients: Octenoxate (7.5%), Zinc Oxide (6%), Octylate (2.5%), Octocrylene (2.5%)
Water Resistant: No
Price per ounce (at time of publication): $5.98
This is a no-fuss option. Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer With Sunscreen SPF 30 is more moisturizing than the other formulas. It has a slight sunscreen-like scent, and the small pump bottle looks simple and pretty. It’s creamy and moisturizing.
This sunscreen moisturizer has a thicker consistency than CeraVe AM Sunscreen, but without being streaky or heavy. Also, this lotion spreads well and absorbs quickly into the skin. It doesn’t rub in well on oily or darker skin tones. It’s probably best for people with dry skin.
Benefits of Sunscreens on your skin
(i) Prevents Sunburn: Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun by absorbing or reflecting UV rays.
(ii) Prevents Premature Aging: Sunscreen is the best way to prevent wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and dryness.
(iii) Also maintains skin tone: Sunscreen plays an important role in preventing sun spots and uneven skin tone.
(iv) Reduces Hyperpigmentation: Sunscreen protects against uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation caused by UV rays.
(v) Reduces the risk of skin cancer: Sunscreen is an effective way to protect against skin cancer and sun-induced skin aging.
(vi) Improves skin health: Sunscreen protects the skin’s collagen and elastin fibers, which are effective in maintaining skin elasticity and firmness.
(vii) Controls Skin Inflammation: Sunscreen helps control skin inflammation.
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