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Choosing to forego proper sun protection is like buying all the ingredients for a sandwich but running to the nearest bodega to eat instead. Unlike a great highlighter or self-tanner, sunscreen sits firmly in the you-get-what-you-give category of beauty, so make the sandwich. Ahead, we rounded up the best sunscreens according to the Cut Shop team and contributors, and board-certified dermatologists. Plus, we answered all the frequently asked questions about all things sunscreen.
Our top picks:
The Best Mineral Sunscreen for Oily Skin
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Ultra-Light Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Dr. Perkins, Dr. Idriss, and the Cut Shop team all have their favorites from La Roche-Posay — a New York-based brand with French roots — but this tinted sunscreen is notable since it has a slightly darker pigment, making the shade range a bit more workable across skin tones. It’s also La Roche-Posay’s most-reviewed sunscreen on Amazon — and the feedback is strikingly positive, with over 75 percent of ratings being five-star. Since the formula is oil-free and non-comedogenic with a matte finish, it’s best for those with skin on the oily side.
$38 at Amazon
$37 at Dermstore
The Best Mineral Sunscreen for Redness
innisfree Daily UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45
If you have rosacea or your skin often gets flushed, you’ll find that this fragrance-free sunscreen helps color correct your complexion. The slight green tint balances out any redness, and the squalane and hyaluronic acid ensures your skin is well hydrated. The size makes it easy to toss into any bag, and you don’t need much formula to get proper coverage. Just blend it out and there won’t be any white cast — only a satiny finish.
$22 at Sephora
The Best Chemical Sunscreen for Oily Skin
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Nothing is quite as emblematic of the Supergoop brand (think Glossier for sun care) as its Unseen Sunscreen. The Dr. Perkins–approved best seller leaves a genuinely invisible cast on the skin and is unlike any formula you’ve probably used before. The weightless sunscreen is especially good for oily skin since it has a matte-like finish; as for you dew-hunters, consider the Dr. Idriss-backed Glowscreen with SPF 40.
$18 at Amazon
$18 at Nordstrom
$38 at Dermstore
$38 at Sephora
The Best Mist Sunscreen
Vacation Super Spritz Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Mist
You might be one of those people who forgets to apply sunscreen until after you’ve finished your makeup, but don’t worry. Use this spritz with SPF 50 that won’t mess up your beat with its invisible, lightweight finish. You can rest easy knowing UVB and UVA rays are being blocked, and that your foundation isn’t sliding around on your face. The tropical scent, blend of antioxidants, and plant-based oils will instantly refresh — and protect — your skin with one spray.
$24 at Nordstrom
$24 at Ulta Beauty
More tried-and-true options:
The Best Mineral Sunscreen for Dry Skin
Tatcha the Silk Sunscreen Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA++++
Another sunscreen Dr. Idriss loves (along with the Cut Shop) is this newcomer from Tatcha. The formula has among the highest protection ratings for both SPF and PA, and despite its strength, it melts into even the driest of skin, leaving virtually no white cast. The formula is weightless and feels like, you guessed it, silk, with its inevitably high price being the main drawback.
$62 at Amazon
$62 at Tatcha
$60 at Kohl’s
The Best Sustainable Mineral Sunscreen
Kinship Self Reflect Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 32
This lightweight mineral face sunscreen blends in and blurs skin to perfection while delivering on UVA/UVB protection. It does have a subtle vanilla scent if you’re sensitive to fragrance, but the iridescence gives an instant brightening effect so you can wear it on its own or under makeup to nail that dewy look. The formula contains a blend of turmeric, jojoba, and probiotics to soothe, moisturize, and protect your skin barrier. Now that’s what we call a triple threat.
$28 at Amazon
$28 at Credo Beauty
The Best Mineral Sunscreen for Mature Skin
ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion Sunscreen SPF 50+
This lightweight (albeit liquidy — okay, straight-up runny) formula leaves a slight white cast, but it’s worth it for the potential to reverse sun damage. It’s all thanks to Isdin’s plankton-derived enzyme complex, which has been shown to help repair damage caused by the sun. Dr. Idriss recommends this sunscreen “specifically for [its] well-aging benefits.”
$70 at Amazon
$70 at Violet Grey
$60 at Isdin
The Best Mineral Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin
SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50
Like a lot of SkinCeuticals products (hi, C E Ferulic), this formula has a cult-like following. That’s because it’s non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and formulated with a plankton-derived ingredient that not only wards off UV damage but also stressors triggered by heat. While the water-resistant sunscreen is Dr. Idriss-approved, she notes the “universal” tint color will not work on all skin tones.
$42 at Dermstore
$42 at Bluemercury
The Best Mineral Sunscreen for Combination Skin
Hers Multi-Screen Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 50
Hers’ new sunscreen is formulated more like skin-food than sunscreen. It not only includes a high SPF, but its inclusion of squalane and glycerin allows it to operate more like a daily moisturizer. It’s also the most affordable of the mineral sunscreen bunch, which makes it a more reasonable long-term option for people with other steps (or prescriptions) in their routine.
$12 at Target
$10 at Walmart
$22 at Hers
The Best Mineral Sunscreen Primer
Live Tinted Hueguard 3-in-1 Broad Spectrum Mineral SPF 30 Primer
This weightless, unfussy sunscreen that Dr. Idriss (and our friends at the Strategist) recommends is billed as a primer, but also works well as a standalone product since it subtly blurs out blemishes and uneven tones. And don’t let the yellow color deter you, Huegard tends to blend seamlessly on light, medium, and dark skin tones.
$34 at Amazon
$34 at Ulta Beauty
The Best Chemical Sunscreens
The Best Hybrid Sunscreen
Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Hybrid Sunscreen, SPF 50
For those of you who want the best of both worlds, some of your favorite sunscreen brands may have a hybrid option available, like this recent launch from Black Girl Sunscreen. The benefits: FDA-approved sun blockers like zinc oxide paired with synthetic ingredients to help the formula melt into your skin, leaving no white cast. Dr. Idriss says she’s heard great things about it from her community and patients.
$16 at Target
$16 at Macy’s
$17 at Ulta Beauty
The Best Chemical Sunscreen for Dry Skin
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotic SPF 50
We know, it’s not convenient to buy and pay for overseas shipping, but when it comes to chemical sunscreens, you may be persuaded to. Dr. Idriss recommends this popular Beauty of Joseon product because “it’s formulated using filters available outside of the US.” This is a good thing in the world of sun protection since the FDA regulates sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug; that’s also good but it makes it hard for companies to compete with newer, better chemicals that are greenlit in other countries. Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun formula includes ingredients like Tinosorb M and Uvinul T — two actives that are only approved in the E.U. and Japan. It all makes for a highly effective sunscreen that feels like milk, nourishes your skin, and leaves you positively glowing.
$18 at Stylevana
The Best Chemical Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
This oil-free formula is particularly appealing to sensitive and acne-prone people since it includes lactic acid, an exfoliant that encourages cell turnover and reduces breakouts (among other benefits). It’s recommended by Dr. Perkins, who also notes that those with oily skin may prefer its matte formulation to combat shine.
$43 at Amazon
$43 at Dermstore
$43 at Skinstore
$39 at Target
The Best Reef-Friendly Chemical Sunscreen
Bask Lotion, SPF 50
While there’s no governing body that oversees “reef-safe” sunscreen, you can use the Hawaii Act 104 as a helpful marker when shopping. Bask’s lotion, like all that are compliant with the legislation, eschews oxybenzone and octinoxate — commonly used sunscreen chemicals that contribute to coral bleaching. That’s not the only reason it’s a Cut Shop favorite, though. This sunscreen looks as good as it feels, with the smoothest, lightest application of the bunch.
$22 at Beautylish
FAQs
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Shanna Shipin , 2024-02-23 18:40:00
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