You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (2024)

You really need to be wearing sunscreen. Sun damage can cause faster-aging skin, pigmentation issues like sun spots, and, most important, skin cancer—the most common form of cancer. Sunscreen is your best defense, and you should slather it on if you’re hanging out by the pool or going for a run outside as well as on cloudy days and when you’re inside. “If you are out in the daylight, you are exposed to UV rays. Even incidental sunlight exposure on your lunch break or your commute to work adds up over a lifetime,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research, department of dermatology at Mount Sinai. That means wearing sunscreen on the daily, not just when you’re at the beach, is essential.

The reason most people don’t do that? Sunscreen is confusing. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing SPF 30 at minimum and looking for screens that say broad spectrum on the label—they protect against both UVA and UVB light. There are also mineral and chemical kinds to consider. Mineral sunscreens use materials like zinc oxide to form a physical barrier on the skin that blocks UV light. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, absorb and disperse the light rays.

Which you choose is mostly “personal preference, because both are effective,” says Dr. Zeichner, who usually recommends mineral screens for people with sensitive skin. Facial sunscreens, designed for use on your face only, come in both forms and often have additional ingredients like antioxidants and hydrating factors that might not be found in body sunscreens.

No matter which kind you spring for, you must use it properly: Reapply it every two hours, especially if you’re out in the sun, and make sure you put enough on. “You should use a quarter-size dollop for the full face and a shot-glass amount for the rest of the body—which is more than most people are using,” says Dr. Zeichner. And if you’re wondering, yes, you can still get tan while wearing sunscreen, even if you use that much. But the absolute most important thing when choosing a sunscreen, he says, is finding one you will actually use. “If it’s not on your skin, it won’t protect you.” Start with this list and you’re halfway there.

Best Non-Greasy SPF

Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (7)

If you struggle with oily skin or breakouts, this lotion will give you the UV protection you need without clogging pores or making you feel greasy.

SPF30
Volume3 oz
Top Review“I like how the sunscreen dries with a matte feel rather than greasy, wet feel.”

Best Lightweight SPF

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ Sunscreen

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (8)

Somehow this super-lightweight gel-lotion seems more like a fancy body lotion than a sunscreen, yet it delivers powerful sun protection and doesn’t make your skin feel gross. It’s perfect for someone who wants a higher SPF without compromising the feel.

SPF50+
Volume5 oz

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Best Spray-on SPF

Sun Bum Original SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (9)

This mineral spray goes on easy and provides physical protection without goopiness. Dr. Zeichner says you must spray it till your skin glistens and you can actually see the sunscreen, then “rub it in afterward to ensure you don’t have any missed areas.”

SPF30
Volume6 oz
Top Review“This is the best sunscreen if you care about your skin and the environment. I bought it for a trip to the Caribbean where I snorkeled many times. This is reef safe, so it doesn’t hurt the animals in the ocean, which is important to me. It smells wonderful. Not strong. It goes on light but works the normal amount of time. I always reapply after going in the water, as I hate getting sunburned, and this worked really well. Felt good on my skin, too."

As its name suggests, this sunscreen from Jaxon Lane is great for all occasions and for all skin types. So much so that we named it the best sunscreen of 2020.

SPF50+
Volume2.03 oz

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Best Moisturizing SPF

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (11)

One of the easiest ways to work sunscreen into your daily routine? Combine it with moisturizer. Just apply each morning as you usually do and you’ll stop worrying about whether you’ll get a face full of UV rays when you step out the door. (Because you will. Yes, even if it’s overcast.)

SPF30
Volume1.7 oz

Best Dermatologist-Recommended SPF

EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen SPF 46

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (12)

Often recommended by dermatologists, this powerful sunscreen is formulated for daily use on your face. It’s highly effective but light enough that you won’t even know it’s there. Put it on after your morning moisturizer.

SPF46
Volume1.7 oz

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Best Brightening SPF

Bolden Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (13)

Instead of looking for a moisturizer with SPF (in many cases, the protective factor isn’t high enough), look for a sunscreen that also moisturizes. This one, which is especially good for darker skin tones, is richly moisturizing, packs a hefty dose of vitamin C, and also protects your skin from UV rays.

SPF30
Volume2 oz
Top Review“This is a great product. It brightens, helps with fine lines, keeps your skin feeling moisturized, and provides sun protection. Worth every penny. I’m on my second order.”

Best Bronzing SPF

Australian Gold Spray Gel Sunscreen with Instant Bronzer SPF 30

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (14)

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (15)

Somewhere between a spray and a lotion, this innovative gel is easy to apply and leaves no film or residue once it’s rubbed into the skin. It’s also broad spectrum and water-resistant for eighty minutes, both important in a body sunscreen.

SPF30
Volume8 oz

Best Antioxidant SPF

RoC Multi Correxion 5-in-1 Daily Moisturizer SPF 30

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (16)

This daily facial sunscreen gets high marks from Dr. Zeichner because it “provides broad-spectrum protection in a formula containing an antioxidant compound to brighten the skin and protect against free radicals.”

SPF30
Volume1.7 oz
Top Review“I have oily skin, and it’s perfect, plus the SPF! It’s two steps in one—love it! I’ll buy it again!"

Best Sensitive Skin SPF

Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense Sunscreen SPF 30

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (17)

Zinc oxide gives this daily mineral sunscreen its protective factor against both UV light and blue light from your computer screen. Soothing ingredients like argan oil and a bioactive mushroom complex make this non-drying formula ideal for sensitive skin.

SPF30
Volume1.7 oz

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Best Protective SPF

Dr. Loretta Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 40

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (18)

This daily facial sunscreen is so lightweight, it feels more like a serum than a sun-protection product. But it still protects against UV rays as well as blue light and even pollution thanks to the potent antioxidants in the formula.

SPF40
Volume1.7 oz
Top Review“I adore this sunscreen. I am very reactive to many ingredients in sunscreen, but this one screams clean. This does not pill. It covers smoothly, is not drying, and provides a fabulous primer for those with sensitive skin. I will not be without it, if I can help it.”

Best Non-Ashy SPF

Melé Dew the Most SPF 30 with Niacinamide and Vitamin E

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (19)

The best thing about this facial sunscreen isn’t the niacinamide and vitamin E (though those are pretty great); it’s that it’s “a great option for all skin tones, including darker skin, where others may leave behind an ashy discoloration,” says Dr. Zeichner.

SPF30
Volume1 oz
Top Review“It stays on all day and provides a smooth, silky feeling. My face feels good all day.”

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Best Cult-Favorite SPF

Saie Sunvisor Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 35

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (20)

A mineral sunscreen that goes on without any residue and is moisturizing enough to wear without adding a separate moisturizer? This daily facial sunscreen checks those boxes and more.

SPF35
Volume1.35 oz
Top Review“Love this product. It feels amazingly smooth and hydrating on your skin. I will keep rebuying!”

Best Natural SPF

Solara Suncare Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (21)

Dr. Zeichner recommends this all-natural sunscreen because it can be “fully rubbed into the skin without leaving behind a white cast”—something that can’t be said about all mineral sunscreens.

SPF30
Volume1.7 oz

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Best Tinted SPF

Unsun Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (22)

One of the problems with mineral sunscreens, especially on your face, is that many formulas leave a white cast—and no one wants that. The slight tint in this formula takes away the possibility of a white film, even on darker skin tones.

SPF30
Volume1.7 oz

Best Luxe SPF

Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF 50

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (23)

Fifteen minutes before exposing yourself to the sun, generously apply a few drops to your face. The complex—composed of cassia extract, beta glucan, and vitamin E—will support skin regeneration and protect against premature aging. Lightly textured, the serum is particularly great for those with sensitive skin.

SPF50
Volume1 oz

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What to Consider

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (24)

There’s a reason so many SPF options are on the market—finding the perfect sunscreen is no easy task. Hopefully, we’ve made your search easier by narrowing down the best kinds here, but there are still a few things to factor in when choosing one.

Think about not only your skin type but your skin tone, too. Some SPFs, while still powerful, are known to be greasier than others, or less suitable for sensitive skin, or prone to leaving white casts that can cause an ashy appearance on darker skin tones.

You should also keep in mind what benefits you want from SPF. If it’s just sun protection, great! But certain varieties on this list also have ingredients like vitamin E, vitamin C, niacinamide, and even bronzer.

Why You Can Trust Esquire

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (25)

We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our grooming and e-commerce teams.

When it comes to sunscreens, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting picks that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved. We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these sunscreens are the ones that are simply the best.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of trying different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to start.

You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (2024)
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