These lightweight formulas blend into the skin and protect against wrinkles, discoloration and skin cancer.

Best Sunscreen for Faces

Best Sunscreen for Face at the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation, the most important thing you can do to help slow down visible signs of aging is to wear. And that doesn’t mean just using whatever sunscreen is the cheapest at your local drug store. You need to choose a sunscreen that suits your activities, complexion type and skin care rituals for the best protection and care.

Most days we don’t need to wear sunscreen all over our bodies — unless you’re heading to the beach, in which case, slather it all over because harmful UV rays can get you even when it’s cloudy. But our faces are exposed to harmful UV and UVB radiation any time we go outside, and they need some extra sun protection — even if the rest of our bodies are covered up. Best Sunscreen for Faces rays can cause burns, skin cancer, dark spots, fine lines and other types of skin damage to your delicate and sensitive facial skin.

If you’re skipping sunscreen because you don’t want to slather a thick lotion on your face and deal with that oily skin feeling every day, I don’t blame you. However, the good news is that you don’t have to. There are literally hundreds of different formulas of facial sunscreen that are breathable and light and blend into your skin — unseen sunscreen, as it were. Some of the best sunscreen brands make specific formulations for people who have a darker skin tone. Some tinted sunscreen options even work as a makeup primer.

Whether you use mineral sunscreen formulations or chemical ones, be sure you use one with broad spectrum SPF and skin-nurturing hyaluronic acid to provide both the sun protection and breathable skin comfort you need. What I’m saying is there isn’t any reason to risk negative sun exposure side effects: Apply sunscreen. Apply it often. The best sunscreen for face care can protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

So now that I have you on board the sunscreen train, I’ve narrowed down those hundreds of products to a much smaller list, from which you’re sure to find the best sunscreen for face pampering and protection to guard your delicate skin from sun damage and UV rays. No matter if you have oily or acne prone skin, combination skin or dry skin on your face, the best sunscreen for your particular needs exists, and you’ll find something on this list for you Best Sunscreen for Faces.

Many of these formulas are from higher-end skin care brands, with two drugstore finds as well. While I’m not saying you need to buy the more expensive options, if you do you’ll usually get a better formula that caters to your skin type, feels lightweight and blends well.

Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen

“Their big thing is about not leaving a white cast,” Farhan tells us. Not only is it cast-free and lightweight, she loves the added anti-oxidant benefits. It includes “acai and green tea, which also help to decrease free radicals from UV exposure, as well as Rosa Canine fruit oil, which helps minimize the appearance of large pores and excess oil.”

The Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin

This lightweight, fragrance-free sunscreen sinks into the skin quickly without leaving behind a heavy or oily residue. It has a velvety matte finish and is rich in antioxidants like vitamin E to help defend your skin against free radicals. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic and sensitive skin-friendly.

The Best Sunscreen for Dry Skin

Prevent future sun damage and fight existing signs of it with this fragrance-free, non-comedogenic sunscreen. It’s formulated with niacinamide, a soothing, water soluble vitamin that can help fade discoloration. The texture is lightweight and creamy, like a lotion, which leaves dry skin feeling noticeably smoother and softer.

The Best Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin

Made for all skin types, this sunscreen cares for your skin with ceramides, which help restore your skin’s moisture barrier, soothing niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid. It’s also non-comedogenic, meaning it’s less likely to clog your pores.

The Best Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin

Acne-prone skin types, don’t freak out: This mineral sunscreen is gentle, non-greasy and won’t clog your pores. It’s fragrance-free and feels ultra light on the skin. Plus, ingredients like cucumber fruit extract and avocado seed oil help minimize inflammation.

The Best Sunscreen for Skin with Discoloration

For a glow finish and a more even skin tone, reach for this sunscreen. It combines tranexamic acid with niacinamide to help prevent dark spots from forming and tackle current signs of discoloration. A sprinkling of mica gives your skin an instant boost of luminosity.

Best Face Sunscreen Serum

This mineral sunscreen was formulated with Venus Williams’ stamp of approval—so you can trust that it’s made with athletes and people of color in mind. The mineral formula sinks in like any other serum, leaving behind a demi-matte finish that looks just like skin. It also includes safflower liposomes to protect skin and prickly pear steam extract to firm, calm, and hydrate skin. Bonus: It’s cruelty-free, vegan, and bottled in eco-friendly packaging. One reviewer wrote, “This is a mineral sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white, blue, or purple cast on my skin…It doesn’t leave my skin oily or greasy.”

Best Facial Sunscreen for Dark Skin Tones

Formulated by women of color, this sunscreen is super popular due to its invisible finish, says Dr. Woolery-Lloyd. Infused with avocado, jojoba, and vitamin E, it layers beautifully underneath makeup for everyday wear but still withstands tough workouts, all while delivering extra hydration to the skin. Bonus: It’s also vegan and cruelty-free. One reviewer wrote, “I use this every day after I moisturize. It does not leave me oily. It doesn’t break me out. Most importantly, it doesn’t leave a white cast. It is the best sunscreen for brown skin I have found yet.

This reef-safe SPF is non-greasy and non-comedogenic, so you can trust that it will never clog your pores. Plus, it uses probiotic extracts to strengthen the skin barrier, pineapple and papaya to promote even skin tone, and wild butterfly ginger root to help protect against blue light. Great for all skin types, testers rave about its lightweight feeling and truly invisible finish (other than the soft glow it leaves behind). One reviewer said, “This stuff is the real deal! I have very acne-prone skin and it didn’t break me out. It goes on so lightly and it looks amazing under foundation.”

5 in 1 with SPF30Face Cream

With SPF 30 and both physical and chemical sun protection, this face cream helps combat signs of aging thanks to its nutrient-rich ingredient list. According to the brand, it features five major ingredients: zinc oxide, alpha arbutin, bisabolol, homeostatine, and the brand’s FAB antioxidant booster. It’s also suitable for all skin types, vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist tested.

One reviewer said, “I haven’t had a single sign of sunburn on my super fair skin on my face since I started using this five or six years now. Even when I’ve burned terribly everywhere else on my body. Seriously, this is the best thing ever!”

Sun forgettable Total Protection Face Shield Glow SPF 50

“This hydrating sunscreen leaves almost no trace on the skin,” says Dr. Chang. She recommends it for what it does leave behind: protective antioxidants and 12% zinc oxide to ward off sun damage and pearly pigments for a radiant finish in three stunning tones. It’s also chemical-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. One reviewer said, “I think this one nailed it. It has a nice pleasant color that blends so perfectly into my skin and is completely transparent. It’s also so hydrating.”

Sun Protection Mineral Powder SPF 30This translucent powder—great for all skin tones—is infused with soothing ingredients like green tea, chamomile, and vitamin E. It’s also 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free, recyclable, and wind-energy-certified, says Leal.

UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Both all-business in terms of protection and impressively lightweight on the skin, this dermatologist favorite blocks UVA and UVB rays with clear zinc-oxide while gently addressing skin-care needs. Doses of sodium hyaluronate and niacinamide restore hydration, while lactic acid helps to unclog pores and control shine

MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen

For those partial to a tint for light coverage, this expert-approved, sweat-resistant mineral cream can function as a primer. It goes on satiny smooth and is packed with antioxidants, such as free-radical fighting vitamin C and healing vitamin E, to help mend environmental damage.

UV Sport Sunscreen Lotion

For the sportier of the bunch, the highly popular sunscreen from Eland also comes in a water-resistant formula to offer plenty of broad-spectrum protection while you get your sweat on.

Sensitive FACE Mineral Sunscreen

Need a reef-friendly pick for a vacation somewhere like Tulum? Try this chemical- and paraben-free formula. It’s great for sensitive skin, says Shari Sperling, DO, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey. A nice extra? When exposed to the sun, the bottle changes color to blue—an alert that you need to use sunscreen.

Complete Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin, SPF 30

If your skin skews dry, Singh recommends using a moisturizer packed with broad-spectrum sunscreen. This one is oil- and fragrance-free for sensitive skin, but is formulated with zinc oxide to offer plenty of protection.

Best for All Skin Tones: Mele Dew the Most SPF 30 Moisturizer

I love that this Best Sunscreen for Faces and the entire brand it’s from—is specifically formulated for melanin-rich skin in that it doesn’t leave a whitish residue like most products with SPF do. It absorbs really well and feels lightweight on, and the SPF 30 is a big plus. It also contains niacin amide and vitamin E, which adds an extra layer of antioxidant protection.

Best Daily Face Sunscreen: Innis free Daily UV Defense 

I’ve been using this sunscreen by Innis free since the fall of last year, and I keep returning to it after attempting to branch out. It’s the only sunscreen that makes my skin feel hydrated and protected from the sun without clogging my pores or giving me that chalky, purple cast that’s all too common. Despite coming out of the tube white, the formula easily soaks in, leaving supple, dewy skin. There is a light floral scent, but it’s refreshing and not at all overbearing in that way some sunscreens can smell like you doused your face in perfume.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

This mineral sunscreen has been passed down in my family for generations—okay, maybe not, but my mom did recommend it to me, and I’ve been using it ever since. It has a lovely sheer finish that never clogs my pores, even with a layer of foundation on top. While I use this best sunscreen for faces daily for protection, I love that I don’t have to change up my routine for a day at the beach. It has a watery texture, so a little goes a long way. And at 1.7 fluid ounces, it’s perfect to keep in my makeup bag, or for a quick refresh every few hours during a day in the sun.

Clark’s Botanicals Invisible Hero SPF 30 Anti-Aging Sunscreen + Hyaluronic Acid

I have not one bad thing to say about this sunscreen, which is from one of my all-time favorite brands (the Youth Serum and Eye Cream are *chef’s kiss*), and leaves zero white cast. It’s admittedly on the more expensive side, but it’s also packed with nourishing and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, because you know how much we love a good hybrid product over here. It has a nice dewy finish best sunscreen for faces.

La Roche-Posey Anthelia’s AOX Face Sunscreen SPF 50

La Roche-Posey has many, many sunscreens, and they are pretty much all a safe bet in terms of not leaving a white cast. The anthelion AOX withstood one of the hottest days so far without burning my eyes. Best sunscreen for faces one with added skin-care ingredients for benefits over time, including vitamins C and E.

Ultimate Sun Protection Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50+

This liquid sunscreen spray is lightweight and absorbs easily, says board-certified dermatologist Tripura Shainhouse, MD. And because it’s water-, sweat-, and oil-resistant, this formula will afford you more sun time than other comparable alternatives.

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