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Whether you’re out camping, laying on the beach, or just commuting to work, protecting your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays is crucial in preventing damage such as sun burns or premature aging. While you can prevent burns with protective clothing or by staying out of the sun, sunscreen is the most effective option.
Sunscreen both prevents sunburns and protects your skin from aging prematurely (and developing cancerous melanomas) due to UV exposure. Most sunscreen can be worn daily as part of your regular morning skincare routine for protection and moisturization.
Between the setting, style of application, and of course, your skin type, choosing the right sunscreen for your life is a bit of a challenge. Protect your skin, stay comfortable under the sun, and prevent that lobster shade of red at the beach using our picks for the best sunscreen.
Best Sunscreen
- Best Overall: EltaMD UV Sport Body Sunscreen
- Best Value: Hawaiian Tropic AntiOxidant+ Sunscreen Lotion
- Best Face Sunscreen: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Face Sunscreen
- Best Mineral Sunscreen: Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide
- Best Stick Sunscreen: CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen Stick
What to Consider
The Difference Between Sun Protection Factor and Broad-Spectrum Protection
Broad-spectrum protection means the sunscreen protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays, whereas non-spectrum sunscreens just protect against UVB rays. Nearly all sunscreens on the market have broad-spectrum protection.
SPF, or sun protection factor, refers to the sunscreen’s level of protective filtration from UVA and UVB rays. The higher the number, the better the protection, but beyond 30 SPF, the increase in protection is incredibly minimal. For a sunscreen with 30 SPF, the lotion filters about 97 percent of UV rays while 50 SPF filters around 98 percent.
Chemical Versus Mineral
Neither chemical or mineral sunscreen is directly harmful to your skin, and each should offer similar protection if they have the same SPF. The major difference is that mineral sunscreens deflect UV rays, while chemical sunscreens absorb and break down the rays before they reach your skin. Some options, like our top pick from EltaMD, are combinations of chemical and mineral protection.
Many users find mineral sunscreens to be gentler on sensitive skin. Chemical sunscreens tend to rub in easier while mineral sunscreens may leave a light sheen or film that is visible on darker skin.
Water and Sweat Resistance
While no sunscreen is completely waterproof or totally resistant from running off when you sweat, most have a level of water resistance. You can get anywhere from 40 to 120 minutes of full protection before you’ll need to reapply.
For face application, make sure to use enough sunscreen to fully cover your nose, ears, and neck. This should be about the size of a nickel when squeezed into your hand.
For hikes in the sun, make sure to reapply sunscreen more often on your neck and ears than the traditional timetable listed on the bottle. For most sunscreens that provide 80 minutes of water and sweat resistance, try and reapply every 60 minutes.
How We Selected
We made these choices to cover a wide spectrum of styles, consistencies, and prices, across both chemical and mineral options. Our team also consulted spokesperson for the Skin Cancer Foundation, Dr. Shawn Allen, M.D., for certain selections on the list. We chose many options based on research and direct testing. We, of course, also pooled from the outdoor experts here at Popular Mechanics.
Pros
Won't rinse into eyes or nose- Combination protection
Cons
- Not reef-safe
If you’re an active outdoors enthusiast or you just expect spend a bit extra time in the yard this weekend, the EltaMD UV Sport body sunscreen is a top choice.
The sunscreen is made of a combination of zinc oxide, and octisalate, making it one of the few options that uses both mineral and chemical protective ingredients.
The 80 minutes of water resistance also score near the top of the available options. Most importantly on a personal level, the sunscreen doesn’t have an oily feel and rubs in quickly and easily into your skin.
Key Specs
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Type of Protection | Combination |
| Water Resistance | 80 min. |
| Active Ingredients | Zinc oxide, octinoxate, octisalate |
Pros
- No animal testing
- Light tropical scent
Cons
- Will take a bit longer to fully rub in.
An affordable option (and personal favorite), the Hawaiian Tropic Skin Defense sunscreen lotion is a go-to choice for anyone who wants to keep their skin protected while still on a budget.
The sunscreen is built with solid UV defense at SPF 50 and up to 80 minutes of water resistance, so feel free to hang out at the beach or pool without worrying.
The biggest difference between this sunscreen versus others is the affordable price and the remarkably pleasant scent that helps it live up to the Hawaiian Tropic name.
Key Specs
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Type of Protection | Chemical |
| Water Resistance | 80 min. |
| Active Ingredients | Avobenzone, hom*osalate, octisalate, octocrylate |
3
Best Spray Sunscreen
Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Spray
Pros
- Moisturizing formula
- Easy spray application
Cons
- Spray shouldn't be used on your face
Personally, spray sunscreens have always been a favorite of mine to use due to their convenience and my laziness. Of the spray options to choose, the Sun Bum original sunscreen spray is one of the best.
The spray application cuts down on the time you need for prep for a beach day, and the moisturizing formula means you can feel comfortable reapplying all day.
At the same time, the solid 80-minute water resistance should be enough to feel safe for swimming.
Key Specs
| SPF | 30 |
|---|---|
| Type of Protection | Chemical |
| Water Resistance | 80 min. |
| Active Ingredients | Avobenzone, hom*osalate, octisalate, octocrylene |
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4
Most Versatile
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion
Pros
- Dry finishing feel
- Lightweight formula
Cons
- Floral scent despite being unscented
The Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch sunscreen lotion from Neutrogena does live up to that dry-touch title. The lotion is easy to apply and rubs seamlessly into your skin without leaving much of a film or “feel” to it at all.
The 80 minutes of water resistance means you can feel comfortable using this as your go-to pool or beach sunscreen.
Neutrogena also offers a wide range of SPF protection levels—everything from SPF 30 all the way to 100+. So, even if you are practically allergic to the sun, you should feel comfortable using Neutrogena.
Key Specs
| SPF | 55 |
|---|---|
| Type of Protection | Chemical |
| Water Resistance | 80 min. |
| Active Ingredients | Avobenzone, hom*osalate, octisalate, octocrylene |
5
Best Mineral Sunscreen
BLUE LIZARD SENSITIVE Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide
Now 11% Off
Pros
- Smart bottle design
- Created for sensitive skin
Cons
- Difficult to fully rub in
For a more natural option, Blue Lizard Sensitive mineral sunscreen is worth considering. The sunscreen uses zinc oxide as well as titanium oxide to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
The natural formula is gentler on more sensitive skin, so if chemical sunscreen is a bit too harsh, this sunscreen is specifically designed for your skin.
The sunscreen isn’t the only unique feature from Blue Lizard—the bottle slowly turns blue in the sun, so you have a physical indicator of when to put on another layer.
Key Specs
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Type of Protection | Mineral |
| Water Resistance | 80 min. |
| Active Ingredients | Titanium oxide, zinc oxide |
Pros
- Quick, stick application
- Added hylauronic acid
Cons
- Lower water resistance
The convenience of the CeraVe mineral sunscreen stick simply cannot be competed with, especially for the particularly lazy among us. The stick design means that whenever you want to apply, all you do is spread the entire stick directly on your face, without needing to spend time rubbing it in or wiping off your hands
This convenience also comes with some pretty solid protection as well at SPF 50. The infusion of hylauronic acid also helps the sunscreen stick stand out as one of the better options for skin health.
The only downside may be the relatively low level of water resistance, at just 40 minutes.
Key Specs
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Type of Protection | Mineral |
| Water Resistance | 40 min. |
| Active Ingredients | Titanium oxide, zinc oxide |
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7
Best Face Sunscreen
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Face Sunscreen
Pros
- Silica powder to remove excess oil or shininess
- Suitable to wear under makeup
Cons
- May burn if too close to your eyes
The Anthelios face sunscreen from La Roche-Posay serves as one of the best face sunscreens you can buy for both protection and comfort. The sunscreen uses silica power to reduce oiliness and give your face a matte finish instead of a greasy one.
This also allows the sunscreen to be used in tandem with makeup or bug spray without leaving your skin feeling clogged or sticky. The face sunscreen comes with an antioxidant formula that provides added protection from UV rays in addition to the combination of chemical active ingredients.
Key Specs
| SPF | 60 |
|---|---|
| Type of Protection | Chemical |
| Water Resistance | 80 min. |
| Active Ingredients | Avobenzone, hom*osalate, octisalate, octocrylene |
Pros
- Invisible on all skin tones
- Grips makeup
Cons
- Has a scent to it
If you want a face sunscreen you can wear every day, the Supergoop! Unseen sunscreen is well worth trying out. The sunscreen has a naturally light, smooth finish that blends in quickly to to your skin so you won't have to spend significant time each morning fruitlessly rubbing it in.
The sunscreen also has a unique makeup primer design that allows you to apply makeup even after you've already applied a full layer of Supergoop! on. And feel free to use it even on sensitive skin.
Key Specs
| SPF | 40 |
|---|---|
| Type of Protection | Chemical |
| Water Resistance | 40 min. |
| Active Ingredients | Avobenzone, hom*osalate, octisalate, octocrylene |
Pros
- Reef-safe formula
- Plant-based ingredients
Cons
- Leaves a light white sheen
Thrive Natural Care sunscreen is an option you can feel comfortable wearing to not just the beach, but any body of water with wildlife nearby. The plant-based mineral formula is fully reef-safe and can be used anywhere in the world without environmental restriction.
The mineral-based protective ingredients remain just as effective as many other options meaning you don't have to sacrifice your own skin for the environmental peace of mind.
That being said, it will take a bit of extra elbow grease to get the sunscreen fully rubbed in without a light sheen from the zinc.
Key Specs
| SPF | 50 |
|---|---|
| Type of Protection | Mineral |
| Water Resistance | 80 min. |
| Active Ingredients | Zinc oxide |
Tom Price
Associate Reviews Editor
Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.
