Everyday Humans Resting Beach Face
Best sunscreen for the face that doubles as skincare
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With summer right around the corner, many people are starting to plan their days with outdoor activities. However, prolonged sun exposure and ultraviolet rays can cause premature aging, sunburn and even skin cancer. Using sunscreen is one of the best ways to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. You’ll want sunscreen that’s powerful enough to protect your skin for hours and that can withstand water if you swim at the beach or in your pool. On top of protecting from skin cancer, sunscreen also helps keep your skin youthful and prevents skin issues such as wrinkles, sagging and hyperpigmentation.
Read more: 10 Sunscreen Myths You Need to Stop Believing
We’ll discuss the best sunscreens on the market to help you find the right one for your skin types and lifestyle.
How we tested the best sunscreen
To determine our roundup of best sunscreens, we considered factors like SPF levels, ingredients, consistency and price. We also tested these sunscreens hands-on to better understand how these products perform in real-time during different activities. Through this process, we identified the top sunscreens that offer the best sun protection and have quality ingredients.
Our editors independently choose these products based on hands-on testing and extensive research into the available options in the marketplace. The prices may change.
Read more: What Is the Best SPF for Sunscreen?
Best sunscreen for 2023
Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer is a bestseller for a reason, but the new mineral formula exceeded my expectations. Compared to the regular formula, Netrogena’s Mineral body sunscreen feels a bit more watery and lightweight. It doesn’t feel greasy and rubs in clear on all skin tones. I have darker skin, so it took about a minute of rubbing before it became clear, but once it did, you couldn’t see any white residue. For an everyday sunscreen at a good price, you can’t go wrong with this.
- SPF level: 30
- Mineral or chemical: Mineral
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Matte
I chose this sunscreen as the best sunscreen for everyday use because of its lightweight and sheer formula. It absorbs well into the skin and doesn’t smell like sunscreen, so you can wear it to work or to go out without smelling like you just got back from a tropical vacation. The gel-like consistency also makes it easy to rub onto the skin and doesn’t leave a matte or dewy finish — it doesn’t look like you have anything on at all. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen Body contains a blend of antioxidants that helps protect the skin from free radicals. This sunscreen is water resistant (up to 40 minutes), dermatologist tested, reef friendly and vegan and contains no artificial fragrances.
- SPF level: 40
- Mineral or chemical: Chemical
- Active ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 9%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 10%
- Consistency: Gel
- Finish: Natural
Greasy sunscreens are no longer the norm, thankfully. Now you can find many sunscreens that feel like (and blend into your skin like) a moisturizing lotion. One of them is Coola Classic Body Sunscreen. This SPF 30 is ultra-lightweight, water resistant (up to 80 minutes) and promises to hydrate and nurture your skin while protecting it from the sun. This sunscreen has a proprietary Plant Protection complex that contains antioxidant-rich ingredients like red raspberry seed oil, buriti oil, meadowfoam seed oil and prickly pear extract that help fight free radicals and nourish your skin.
- SPF level: 30
- Mineral or chemical: Chemical
- Active ingredients: Avobenzone 1.84%, homosalate 2.50%, octisalate 1.65% and octocrylene 3.95%
- Consistency: Ultra lightweight
- Finish: Dewy
Zinc sunscreens have come a long way from those pasty lotions that left a sheen of white behind. EltaMD UV Sport Sunscreen uses only zinc oxide to reflect harmful UV rays off your skin so they don’t cause skin damage. Amazon reviewers love this sunscreen because it rubs in clear. It’s also oil-, fragrance- and paraben-free, so it’s a good sun protection choice for anyone with sensitive or oily skin.
- SPF level: 50
- Mineral or chemical: Mineral and chemical combo
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide 9.0%, octinoxate 7.50% and octisalate 5.0%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Dewy
CeraVe is already a great brand for simple, budget skincare, so this sunscreen’s effectiveness is no surprise. CeraVe’s hydrating mineral sunscreen is a great choice for those looking for a sunscreen that provides protection and a natural-looking tint. In addition to sun protection, CeraVe Mineral Tinted Sunscreen also contains three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, that help restore and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. This product is great for all skin types and is free of fragrance, oil and parabens.
- SPF level: 30
- Mineral or chemical: Mineral
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Extra dewy
One myth is that Black people don’t need sunscreen, which couldn’t be further from the truth. While melanin does protect Black skin, it doesn’t mean immunity from harmful rays. Black Girl Sunscreen is specially formulated to protect darker skin tones. Many sunscreens leave a sheer white cast on dark skin, but Black Girl Sunscreen blends seamlessly onto the skin. And if you’re worried about oxybenzone and octinoxate, neither are in this sunscreen — all you’ll find are natural ingredients like avocado and jojoba oil, which also hydrate the skin.
- SPF level: 50
- Mineral or chemical: Mineral and chemical combo
- Active ingredients: Homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 5% and zinc oxide 5%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Dewy
Doctors recommend limiting your baby’s sun exposure by having them wear a wide-brimmed hat and sun-protective clothing and keeping them in the shade. But even with those precautions, sunscreen is still recommended, generally when they are six months and older. Once they reach the six-month milestone, you can use sunscreen to protect them from the sun’s rays, but stick to formulas free of dyes and scents and use minerals (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) for sun protection.
Badger Baby Mineral Sunscreen Cream is an excellent choice for parents looking to protect their babies from the sun’s rays. This sunscreen is made with natural and organic ingredients and is free from harsh chemicals like oxybenzone. It’s also water resistant (up to 40 minutes) and has a soft scent (from the chamomile).
- SPF level: 40
- Mineral or chemical: Mineral
- Consistency: Creamy
- Finish: Matte
Despite its name, this sunscreen isn’t clear out of the pump. However, this mineral sunscreen rubs in without any white cast. It’s designed for those with acne, rosacea and hyperpigmentation and includes niacinamide (vitamin B3), an ingredient that can soothe inflammation and reduce redness.
This formula is neither thick nor thin, and there’s no smell. It takes a bit of rubbing to get the formula to sink in, but once rubbed in, it feels lightweight and moisturizing on the skin. If you’re opposed to the white hue, EltaMD also makes a tinted sunscreen.
EltaMD products are great if you have various skin concerns such as rosacea or sensitivity.
- SPF level: 46
- Mineral or chemical: Both
- Active ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, zinc oxide 9%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Dewy
Looking for a sports sunscreen that doesn’t feel sticky or oily? This is a good bet. This sunscreen is designed to provide protection from UV rays, even during intense physical activity. Coppertone’s Sport Sunscreen is a popular lotion that’s both water-resistant and moisturizing, thanks to vitamin E. It’ll protect you from UVA/UVB rays for up to 80 minutes if you’re in the water or sweaty, and it won’t sting your eyes.
- SPF level: 50
- Mineral or chemical: Chemical
- Active ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 4.5%, octocrylene 8%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Matte
If you’re looking for a sunscreen that doubles as a skincare duo, you’ll love Everyday Human’s Resting Beach Face formula. It’s infused with natural ingredients like green tea extract and spinach, which help strengthen your skin’s natural defense systems. It also contains hyaluronic acid and Pentavitin®, a moisturizing complex that helps restore your skin’s suppleness and volume. This sunscreen is lightweight and non-greasy, so it’s a great option to use under your makeup. It also provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, which is essential for maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin. All of Everyday Human’s products are cruelty-free, vegan, oxybenzone and PABA-free, fragrance-free and Climate Neutral Certified. The packaging is also recyclable. All you have to do is unscrew the cap, cut the tube to remove any product and rinse.
- SPF level: 30
- Mineral or chemical: Chemical
- Active ingredients: Octocrylene 2%, avobenzone 3%, octisalate 4% and homosalate 8%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Dewy
This sun gloss contains SPF 50 to protect your lips against the damaging effects of UV rays while helping you look fabulous. It contains hyaluronic acid, tripeptides, vitamin E and jojoba that nourish your lips. Unlike other lip sunscreens I’ve tested, this one doesn’t leave a chalky or sticky residue on your lips. It has a glossy and smooth texture that keeps your lips moisturized, similar to high-end glosses you would get at Sephora. Just like regular body sunscreen, you must reapply every two hours for maximum sun protection.
- SPF level: 50
- Mineral or chemical: Chemical
- Active ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 4.5%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 9%
- Consistency: Gloss
- Finish: Glossy
This sunscreen lotion is a great choice for parents who want a safe but effective sunscreen for their little ones. Earth Mama Uber Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion is made with organic shea butter and organic colloidal oatmeal, making it soothing and gentle for sensitive skin. This sunscreen is reef-friendly, cruelty-free and contains non-nano zinc — sun protection that sits on top of the skin that scatters sun rays instead of being absorbed by the skin.
Earth Mama’s Mineral Sunscreen for Kids is water resistant (80 minutes) and free from parabens and artificial fragrances.
- SPF level: 40
- Mineral or chemical: Mineral
- Consistency: Lotion
- Finish: Matte
If you’re looking for a great cruelty-free sunscreen, look no further. Pacifica Sheer Sunscreen is your best bet for those looking for quality sunscreen without compromising their ethical beliefs. This sunscreen is completely free of animal-derived ingredients, and Pacifica also does not test on animals, making it 100% cruelty-free. Pacifica’s Sheer Sunscreen contains vitamin C and marine extracts which decrease photodamage (skin damage from the sun) and helps repair your skin. It’s also water resistant (up to 80 minutes), free of octinoxate, oxybenzone and nanoparticles (small particles that may be absorbed by the skin and have been associated with adverse effects).
- SPF level: 30
- Mineral or chemical: Mineral and chemical combo
- Active ingredients: Octisalate 4.9%, octocrylene 7.6% and zinc oxide 7%
- Consistency: Non-aerosol spray
- Finish: Natural
Sonrei Cleary Zinq mineral sunscreen is the best organic sunscreen I tested on this list. It provides ample protection from UV rays and is also gentle on the skin. This Sonrei sunscreen is made with 70% organic ingredients like zinc oxide, an effective mineral sunscreen agent. It’s also free of oxybenzone, fragrances, parabens and gluten. The Sonrei Clearly Zinq sunscreen is also cruelty-free, vegan, GMO-free, water resistant (up to 80 minutes) and Hawaii Reef compliant. It’s lightweight and doesn’t leave a greasy finish like other mineral sunscreens I tested.
- SPF level: 60
- Mineral or chemical: Mineral
- Consistency: Gel
- Finish: Natural
How to choose a sunscreen
With all of the options available, choosing the best sunscreen for you can be overwhelming. Most sunscreens will offer adequate sun protection, so you just need to keep a few things in mind when buying sunscreen.
- Choose a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection. This means it protects against UVA and UVB rays.
- Look for a sunscreen that offers SPF 30 or higher. Anything under that may not give you enough protection.
- Consider your skin type and any allergies or sensitivities. If you have acne-prone skin, it’s best to choose a sunscreen that’s labeled non-comedogenic.
- Take a look at your lifestyle. If you plan to spend a lot of time in the water, choose a product that’s water-resistant. If you play an outdoor sport, consider one that’s formulated for physical activities.
Mineral sunscreen vs. chemical sunscreen
Mineral and chemical sunscreens work in different ways to protect your skin. Mineral sunscreens use active ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium oxide that create a physical barrier on the skin that reflect and scatter UV rays. These sunscreens tend to be less irritating to the skin and may be a better option for those with sensitive skin.
Chemical sunscreens typically use active ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate that absorb UV rays. Chemical sunscreens generally provide a more even coverage but may not be suitable for people with skin sensitivities.
Many people stay clear of chemical sunscreens because of these active ingredients. However, the FDA says they’re safe.
Sunscreen FAQ
Do sunscreens expire?
Yes. Sunscreens expire, but not how you may think they do. Sunscreens tend to hold on to their strength for at least three years. After that, they lose potency but still provide some protection.
Does sunscreen prevent tanning?
Sunscreen does not prevent tanning. It protects you from potential sun damage but will not prevent your skin from getting darker.
How does sunscreen work?
Chemical sunscreens contain active ingredients that absorb UV rays and convert them into heat that is later released by the skin. On the other hand, mineral sunscreens use ingredients that create a physical barrier on the skin that scatters the light from the sun.
