Long gone are the days of frying in the sun for a bit of tanned beauty. Today, we know that excess sun exposure is detrimental to our skin. Even if maintaining smooth, youthful-looking skin is not on your list of priorities, skin cancer is a real sun-related threat.
Sunscreen is an important part of protecting the skin from harmful sun rays. Dermatologists agree it’s an essential step in the daily skincare routine. However, not all sunscreens offer equal protection. While any sunscreen is better than none, the product’s composition greatly affects how it protects the skin.
Here, we’ve put together a list of the best sunscreens with explanations of each product’s ingredients and key features.
8 Best Sunscreen Products in 2021
The following sunscreen products offer the best protection against immediate and long-term effects of the sun—if you use them properly.
Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to the skin and reapply every two hours or after being in the water. Sunscreens work best in combination with sun-protective clothing like wide hats, sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts.
Best Face Sunscreen
Elta MD UV Daily is one of dermatologists’ favorite sunscreens. It’s a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula suitable for all skin types and everyday use. It offers protection against both types of UV rays that cause sunburns and long-term damage, and it has an SPF of 40. It absorbs quickly, without leaving any white cast or oily residue. An added benefit of this sunscreen is its hyaluronic acid that provides essential daily moisture and helps decrease the signs of aging.
It’s available in tinted and clear form. The tinted variant covers up skin discoloration and gives an appearance of smooth, even skin.
Best Body Sunscreen
Suntegrity’s Natural Mineral Body Sunscreen is a powerful sun blocker with 20% zinc oxide that provides broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection against sun rays. The product is free of any harmful chemicals and has a non-greasy texture, making for a smooth application. It’s often included in dermatologists’ best body sunscreen lists because it offers added protection with potent antioxidants like green tea extract, cucumber extract, and pomegranate seed oil.
Best Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin
Elta MD UV Clear is a great solution for people with sensitive, acne-prone skin and those who experience breakouts during the summer because of clogged pores due to high humidity. This product offers broad-spectrum, SPF-46 protection, ideal for daily use during the summer. It also includes niacinamide, a vitamin B3 ingredient that provides multiple benefits to the skin: reduced redness, balanced skin oils, minimized pores, and suppler, firmer skin.
Best Mineral, Reef-Friendly Sunscreen
Mineral sunscreens are replacing chemical ones because they don’t include oxybenzone, a substance that is considered harmful to ocean life. Alastin Hydratint Pro-Mineral Sunscreen is reef-friendly, appealing to increasingly ecologically conscious consumers. Its lightweight, non-greasy formula is suitable for all skin types, and it provides adequate protection against UVA and UVB rays. It’s water-resistant for 40 minutes.
Best Stick Sunscreen
Stick sunscreens may not be convenient for application on large body areas, but they are great for quick touch-ups on the face and shoulders. Sport Mineral Sun Stick by Suntegrity has a smooth texture that easily glides over the skin. It’s one of the most potent sun-blocking products, with an SPF of 30 and broad-spectrum application. It’s reef-friendly and water-resistant for 80 minutes. It also includes rich organic oils and butters (coconut, cocoa seed, and shea butter) that provide much needed hydration to the skin during the summer heat.
Best Compact Powder Sunscreen
With an SPF 68 protection, mineral broad-spectrum protection, and 80-minute water resistance, Sunbetter Tone Smart by skinbetter is among the most powerful face sun blockers. It’s a tinted, compact powder that can be used as a makeup primer or simply give the skin a tone-adapting hue to hide imperfections and even the skin tone.
Best Moisturizing Sunscreen
Products that combine sun-blocking ingredients with moisturizing agents are a win-win solution for summer skin that needs protection from heat and humidity. Suntegrity’s 5-in-1 Natural Moisturizing Face-Sunscreen is a mineral, broad-spectrum sunscreen packed with moisturizing agents (hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, green tea, cucumber) and high-performing antioxidants to boost the skin’s defenses against free radicals. It’s available in several colors and suitable for all skin types.
Best Anti-Aging Sunscreen
The sun is responsible for up to 80-90% of premature aging signs. Sunscreen functions as a shield against UV rays, but it can’t offer 100% protection, especially if you spend hours in the sun. To help the skin combat long-term damage from UV rays, use sunscreens that include anti-aging ingredients.
Suntegrity’s Impeccable Skin is rich in collagen-boosting peptides, wrinkle-reducing vitamins C and E, and deeply hydrating hyaluronic acid. It reduces the signs of aging while providing broad-spectrum, SPF-30 protection to your skin.
Things to Consider Before Choosing a Sunscreen
Let’s quickly go over each element of a high-performing sunscreen to help you choose the right product for your skin:
- UVA and UVB—Always choose sunscreen products that are labeled “broad-spectrum” or “UVA+UVB.” They shield the skin from sunburns caused by UVB rays and long-term damage caused by UVA rays.
- SPF—Use products with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply every two hours.
- Mineral or Chemical—Mineral sunscreen products protect the skin against both types of UV rays and are generally considered coral reef friendly.
- Skin Type—Look for products that are suitable for all skin types. If you have acne-prone skin, use non-comedogenic, non-greasy formulas.
- Spray, Stick, or Lotion—The choice of sunscreen form depends on your lifestyle and preferences. Stick sunscreens are useful for small, targeted areas such as the eye area. Spray sunscreens are suitable for children who can’t stand still. Lotions may be the easiest to apply evenly.
Don’t know what to buy with all the different options out there? Follow our guide on how to choose sunscreen and make the right decision.
Conclusion
While our grandmothers dabbed olive oil on their skin, today we know better than to leave the house without serious sun-blocking ingredients on our faces and bodies.
Choosing a sunscreen can be challenging, but as long as you use a broad-spectrum, SPF 30+, water-resistant product, you’ll do right by your skin.
