Wearing sunscreen on your skin is the best thing you can do to prevent wrinkles, premature aging, and skin cancer. Many dermatologists, Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Academy of Dermatology all recommend wear sunscreen everyday, especially on your face. Because our bodies are bundled up against the cold with less exposed skin during cooler seasons, you can usually get by without wearing sunscreen all over your skin during fall and winter, but our faces are always exposed to the harmful UV and UVB rays of the sun during these seasons.
If you skip the sunscreen because you don’t want to apply a thick lotion to your face and skin every day, I don’t hold it against you, and the good news is that you don’t have to. There are now hundreds of different face sunscreen formulas that are light, breathable and blend into your skin. Some even work as a makeup primer.
I have reduced these hundreds of products to a much smaller list. These are the best selling sunscreens on Amazon, Walmart, Sephora and Dermstore, referenced against lists of the best sunscreens recommended by beauty publishers from magazines such as Charm and Seduce. Many of these formulas come from premium skin care brands, with two pharmacy finds as well. Although i am not telling you need to buy more expensive options, you will usually get a better formula that feels light and blends well.
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This sunscreen is for people who hate thick, pasty sunscreens on their skin. It looks and feels like a facial moisturizer, melts incredibly quickly and makes my skin soft. Honestly, I kept touching my face after it fell because it was incredibly soft.
For people sensitive to perfumes, this is not perfumed. But you can also buy a version that has a scent of white tea. Coola Classic Face Sunscreen is water resistant for up to 80 minutes, but doesn’t look heavy at all, unlike the other water resistant options I have tried. As a bonus, it also contains ingredients that are safe for reefs under Hawaii’s solar regulations.
Among all the products I tested, I liked Coola best as a daily sunscreen, under makeup or alone.
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This chemical sunscreen formula is ultra light and has an incomparable scent of sunscreen. The formula is white, but blends well, so there isn’t a lot of white – although it can leave one on darker skin. Matte dry sunscreen with a powdery finish, but it creates a detectable film that looks more like a sunscreen than you would use on your body.
Because of this film, he didn’t feel the light on my skin, and I wouldn’t necessarily pick up that sunscreen to wear it under makeup on a work day. However, since it resists water for up to 80 minutes, I would wear it to the beach, the pool or hiking. The sunscreen seems to stay in place all day and gives the impression that it can hold in moist or humid conditions.
If you prefer mineral-based sunscreen, a bottle of La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50 is also a good choice. It’s like ultra light sunscreen, but the formula uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to protect your skin from UV and UVB rays. Mineral sunscreens are often good for those who have sensitive skin because they are less likely to cause irritation.
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Aveeno’s sunscreen looks more like a body sunscreen than any of the products on this list. Although it continues to be thick, it sinks well and leaves a soft, matte finish. The scent also reminds of the typical sunscreen you catch when you head to the beach, but not as strong.
The formula resists water and perspiration for up to 80 minutes and the formula is supposed to be moisturizing as The other Aveeno lotions and creams. Given its moisturizing ingredients and the consistency of the formula, it’s probably a better choice if you have normal or dry skin, as opposed to oily or combination skin.
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Supergoop’s sunscreen formulas are designed to not look like sunscreen at all and this one is no different. Unseen is a thick, transparent gel that dries to a soft matte finish, creating an excellent base for applying makeup. And because it’s clear, it works for all skin tones – many other sunscreens on this list may leave a white film or be too light in shade for darker skin tones.
There is a hint of sunscreen odor, but it’s not overwhelming at all. The formula wasn’t as hydrating on my skin as Coola sunscreen, so I wouldn’t wear it alone. But if you already use a facial moisturizer and you wear make-up daily, Unseen will serve you well.
Although I received a sample of Invisible courtesy of Supergoop, I actually purchased products from the company long before writing this story. I can testify to the brand Smooth and without porosity matte formula that works as a makeup primer and has a “universal” shade that would work for most people with fair skin. The only downside I noticed is that it can make your skin dry, so be sure to moisturize before applying it.
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Despite its name, this sunscreen is not clear off the pump. However, this mineral-based sunscreen rubs without any white (a white film that titanium dioxide or zinc oxide can leave on the skin). It is designed for people suffering from acne, rosacea and hyperpigmentation and includes niacinamide, an ingredient that can soothe inflammation and reduce redness.
This formula is neither thick nor thin, and the odor is non-existent. I take a little friction to run the formula and there is a very thin but detectable clear film that it leaves.
Elta® Daily UV Moisturizing Sunscreen has a similar consistency and finish on the skin, although it left a little white plaster after rubbing it. This formula contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and EltaMD says it is gentle enough to apply after a chemical peel or microdermabrasion.
I haven’t fallen in love with either formula, but I think they’re good if you have a specific skin problem – like rosacea or tenderness. Both are formulated based on various skin conditions.
Also tested
I have a lot to love about this broad spectrum protection offering Skinceuticals sunscreen. This UVA and UVB protective care formula felt hydrated on my skin. It slides easily and sinks quickly, drying to a matte finish. There is a slight universal shade that evens out your complexion (although I suspect it would be too light for darker skin tones), providing a blur effect to soften the appearance of pores and dark spots. This makes it comfortable to wear under makeup or alone.
I loved the lightness of the formula on my skin – almost like I was wearing nothing. Another advantage is that there is no perfume, which is good for sensitive skin.
Between this sunscreen and the Supergoop Unseen, I had a hard time choosing what was best to wear under makeup. Ultimately, Supergoop won because the clear formula works on any skin tone, but if the universal shade of this Skinceitucal sunscreen works for your skin, it’s also a worthy choice.
Sarah Mitroff / CNET
Algenist has made a name for the use of alguronic acid derived from algae to promote anti-aging. As for Sublime Defense sunscreen, I thought it was very good. Although I cannot assess the anti-aging properties of the product (it would take years of testing and detailed reports on wrinkles in my skin and other signs of aging), as daily sunscreen is OK, but don’t blow me.
It has a very weak baby powder scent and, for me, hasn’t dried to a matte finish, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you have oily skin. I would congratulate him for not leaving any kind of white, even if it contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
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Shiseido’s fine, aqueous formula takes a little effort to rub and leaves a little white. Given the small size and the price of the container, I am not delighted. However, I appreciate that it dries mat and looks like a good base for makeup.
Sarah Mitroff / CNET
Neutrogena, I wanted to love you, but I didn’t do it. The formula looks so old-school compared to the other formulas I’ve tested, and it leaves a filmed finish on the skin. It is water resistant for up to 80 minutes and has a very light scent, but this sunscreen was nothing special. The best quality of this sunscreen is that it dries mat, but there are many better formulas that do this too.
I also used Neutrogena Ultra transparent liquid sunscreen in the past and didn’t like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer for the same reasons as the Age Shield.
Test Notes
I tested these products on my naturally oily skin in addition to my daily moisturizing gel. Not all of the formulas on this list will work for everyone. My goal is to give you an idea of the viscosity and smell of each product and how they feel on the skin.
I deliberately omitted daily moisturizers containing SPF because some dermatologists say that to get the level of sun protection on the product label you need to apply more moisturizer than most people do. It is generally recommended to apply sunscreen alone, in addition to moisturizers and other products.
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The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended for medical or health advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified health care professional for any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.
