19 Best Sunscreens for Face, Recommended by Dermatologists and Our Editors

For those on the hunt for a product that marries affordability and efficacy (um, everyone?!), La Roche-Posay’s products are a good bet—and that includes the sunscreen. “La Roche-Posay is a great sunscreen brand for hydration and sun protection for all skin types and ages,” says Deborah Longwill, DO, FAOCD, and founder of the Miami Center for Dermatology.

This sunscreen, which absorbs almost instantly, has a formulation that will leave your skin feeling good, never greasy or sticky. And because it’s so lightweight, you can easily apply makeup on top for daily wear. You’ll also get some antiaging benefits, thanks to a dose of antioxidants in the ingredient list. We love that it’s water-resistant for up to 40 minutes too.

Pros: Hydrating; lightweight; easy to layer
Cons: May leave a slight white cast

Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide / SPF: 50 / Water-resistant: Yes, up to 40 minutes / Size: 1.7 oz.

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Neutrogena’s sunscreen is one of the best options you can find at the drugstore, and is a favorite among Glamour editors and dermatologists alike. “It has a high SPF to allow for a margin of error if you don’t apply enough or as often as you should,” says dermatologist and cosmetic dermatology expert Kenneth Mark, MD. If you’ve tried this before and had your doubts, note that Dr. Mark is a fan of the new and improved formula, which no longer has oxybenzone. It rubs into the skin effortlessly and has a nongreasy texture that won’t clog pores.

One of our testers, Jennifer Lucci, runs every single day, and this is the SPF she swears by. “I’m postpartum and my hormones are still regulating, so I’ve got pretty bad acne and most sunscreens tend to break me out if I sweat while wearing them,” she says. “I’ve been wearing this on my daily runs, and even during a particularly humid day of playing pickleball, I didn’t get one spot after!”

Pros: Water-resistant; sheer; nongreasy; good for acne-prone skin
Cons: May irritate eyes

Active ingredients: Avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene / SPF: 70 / Water-resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes / Size: 3 oz.

Consider this the comfy wireless bra of the SPF world—and by that we mean this sunscreen is a real unicorn. Neova SmartSkincare’s Facial Sunscreen Everyday Facial Fluid is a mineral formula, but unlike its competitors, it goes on completely sheer. It’s super quick to settle into skin and leaves no trace—no greasiness, no stickiness. Because of this, the oil-free, noncomedogenic formula is perfect under makeup. (The brand also has a blurring formula for those who prefer the no-makeup look.)

Dr. Mark is a fan of the formula for everyone, but particularly for those with darker skin tones and anyone looking to reap antiaging benefits while giving their skin the daily sun protection it needs. “It has DNA repair enzymes, antioxidants, and zinc oxide to block the full UV spectrum,” he says. “Additionally, it is cosmetically elegant and rubs in nicely.”

Pros: Layers well; sheer
Cons: Not ideal for dry skin

Active ingredients: Octinoxate, octisalate, zinc oxide / SPF: 44 / Water-resistant: No / Size: 2.5 oz.

Since Neutrogena is one of the most beloved drugstore brands, it's no surprise to see another pick from the brand on our list of the best sunscreen for faces. Neutrogena delivers high-quality skin care at a more moderate price point than luxe lines—and derms say the products work just as well. “I am partial to Neutrogena Clear Faces Ultra-Sheer, as I am prone to acne breakouts,” says Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles. The budget-friendly vegan formula is lightweight and noncomedogenic as well as fragrance-free, so even those with sensitive skin can put their best face forward without excess shine.

The formula comes in a number of different SPF levels, so you can choose what kind of coverage you like: 35, 50, or 55. They all fall within the range of what’s recommended. The formula is also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes—perfect for exercise.

Pros: Vegan formula' budget-friendly; noncomedogenic
Cons: Formula is a bit thick

Active ingredients: Avobenzon, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene / SPF: 50 / Water-resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes / Size: 3 oz.

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Is it expensive? You betcha. But this luxe sunscreen does a lot more than protect your skin from the sun’s rays. The ingredient list boasts brightening ingredients that help with dark spots and pigmentation over time, and it does so almost immediately with its beautiful light pink tint that blurs pores. Think of it as total skin care.

It’s also a suitable pick for those with dark skin. “Having medium-dark skin and being South Asian, I am prone to hyperpigmentation and have trouble finding an SPF that doesn’t leave a white cast,” says contributing beauty writer Neha Tandon. “I know it’s super pricey, but it’s a great investment for my unique skin type, and I love wearing it on its own because it makes my skin look like I have a tinted moisturizer on.”

Pros: Blurs pores; multipurpose
Cons: Expensive

Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone / SPF: 30+ / Water-resistant: No / Size: 1.7 oz.

Here at Glamour, we’re convinced Versed skin care products are worth your money—and their SPF is no exception. In fact, we love them so much that after reviewing this sunscreen, we gave it a Glamour Beauty Award in 2022. “This sunscreen is a sleeper hit—and one of my favorite launches from the past few years,” says contributor Bella Cacciatore. “It’s a mineral sunscreen, which has a reputation of being chalky and thick, so people generally avoid them, even though they’re recommended for acne-prone skin; however, this one has a superlight texture that adds a little extra moisture without being greasy or heavy."

The formula is tinted, so there’s no white cast, and although it doesn’t add any coverage, the matte finish helps to blur pores and doesn’t pill or ball up under makeup. "I like it enough to wear it every day without fail, the true marker of a good sunscreen,” says Cacciatore.

Pros: Lightweight; hydrating; bottle made of mostly recycled packaging
Cons: Tint may stain clothes

Active ingredient: Non-nano zinc oxide / SPF: 35 / Water-resistant: No / Size: 2.5 oz.

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After five weeks of testing through various temperatures, climates, and environments, associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay gives this brand-new face sunscreen her seal of approval, calling it a “dream for oily skin.” Really, it’s one of the best examples of skin-care-meets-SPF.

The lightweight product plumps, hydrates, and smooths skin like a face serum, and even has a subtle peachy-pink hue that corrects discoloration and redness. The tint is subtle, but perfect for days when you want a little coverage without putting on a full face of makeup. Also key for days when it’s just too hot for all of that layering. The result is a dewy finish “without triggering my very oily yet sensitive skin,” Sinay says.

Pros: Hydrating;, lightly tinted; smoothing
Cons: Slightly tacky formula

Active ingredient: Zinc oxide / SPF: 40 / Water-resistant: Yes, time not listed / Size: 1.3 oz.

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Concerned that your sunscreen won’t stay after you sweat? Glamour writer Macaela Mackenzie put this water-resistant spray by Coola to the ultimate test by running a half-marathon in 80-degree heat. “Despite all the sweat and salt, I had a straight-up glow after 13 miles,” she says. “My makeup stayed nearly flawless.”

Also notable: The formula contains tons of hydrating ingredients to keep your skin looking its best for long after your time in the sun. Formula standouts include hyaluronic acid, which holds up to 1,000 times its weight in moisture to keep skin supple and aloe vera, which soothes. Powerful antioxidants like juniper, date palm, and peony plant cell extracts offer nourishing benefits too.

Also nice: This SPF has the most pleasing but understated green tea scent.

Pros: Long-lasting; hydrating; easy to apply
Cons: Small container

Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate / SPF: 30 / Water-resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes / Size: 1.5 oz.

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“I didn’t expect to fall in love with Tower 28’s tinted sunscreen foundation, mainly because most tinted sunscreens soak right into my skin and offer no real coverage,” says senior West Coast editor Jessica Radloff. But this Glamour Beauty Award winner gets the job done. “My skin looks airbrushed and smooth, making it easier to apply bronzer and blush, and it lasts all day.” It comes in a whopping 17 different tones too.

And you’ll get more than UV coverage out of this editor favorite. The matte pick has extracts of prickly pear and white sage to help protect skin from blue light and free radicals. The icing on the cake: The formula is fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and nongreasy, and never leaves a white cast.

Pros: Lightweight but still offers coverage; primes skin for bronzer and blush
Cons: Might not be suitable for combo or oily skin

Active ingredient: Zinc oxide / SPF: 30 / Water-resistant: No / Size: 1 oz.

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This daily face sunscreen offers broad-spectrum mineral sun protection and is fast-absorbing and ultralight for convenience and comfort. For those who tend to skip sunscreen because they don’t like the feel, you now have no excuse. That includes athletes, since users say the water-resistant formula doesn’t sting or burn eyes as a result of sweating.

As if we needed another reason to love this product, the hardworking SPF has an important claim to fame beyond preventing sun damage, says Lian Mack, MD, a board-certified dermatologist: DNA Repairsomes. It’s a patented ingredient that’s clinically proven to repair existing sun damage.

Pros: Prevents and repairs; light; fast-absorbing
Cons: Expensive

Active ingredient: Zinc oxide / SPF: 50 / Water-resistant: Yes, up to 40 minutes / Size: 3.4 oz.

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If you’re shopping for zinc-oxide-based sunscreen, look for at least 10% of the active ingredient, says Kunal Malik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology in New York City. At 12%, this lightweight formula delivers. And it’s also recommended by Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in NYC, who says it also contains iron oxide, antioxidants, and a patented Enviroscreen technology to protect against pretty much everything: UVA and UVB, blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation.

It also boasts an antioxidant-rich ingredient list that makes it a great hydrating pick for anyone with dry skin. And if you’re looking for some coverage, you’ve come to the right place. This sunscreen has a buildable matte finish, available in four shades.

Pros: Universal tint; lightweight; water- and sweat-resistant
Cons: Expensive

Active ingredient: Antioxidants, iron oxide, zinc oxide / SPF: 50 / Water-resistant: Yes, up to 40 minutes / Size: 1.8 oz.

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It may not look like anything fancy, but Shari Sperling, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey, says this chemical- and paraben-free lotion is one of the best face sunscreens for sensitive skin. Families take note: Derms say it’s also a great pick for kids and babies, so you can stock one formula for the whole family.

The broad-spectrum formula also contains hyaluronic acid, which keeps things moisturized and helps tame irritated skin. Plus, the packaging has a unique feature she says can help if you’re not sure how strong the sun is: The cap or bottle changes color when exposed to the sun, signifying it’s time to slather on some lotion. Adding to the convenience, it’s also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Pros: Gentle; hydrating; color-changing cap or bottle
Cons: May leave a white cast

Active ingredient: Zinc oxide / SPF: 30 / Water-resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes / Size: 1.7 oz.

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So much more than your average daily sunscreen, this face-forward pick combines zinc and titanium with vitamins C and E for a boost of antioxidants, says Corey L. Hartman, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. It also contains ceramides—an ingredient that helps keep your skin barrier in tip-top condition—to keep skin supple, he says.

Of course, sun protection is what we’re really after here, and this physical pick delivers SPF 40. It’s not water-resistant, but it does offer a light tint, so you can go makeup-free without looking totally bare-faced if you want to.

Pros: Hydrating; nourishing
Cons: Expensive

Active ingredient: Zinc oxide / SPF: 40 / Water-resistant: No / Size: 1.75 oz.

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Another Neutrogena pick? Groundbreaking. All jokes aside though, this Glamour Beauty Award winner is unique, because it’s actually a face mist. And the beauty of that? It’s a nice and easy way to get more SPF in your life. Since all it takes is a simple spritz, it’s particularly great as the last step in your morning routine or as a refresher later in the day.

It’s lightweight and as sheer as can be, too. “A lot of sunscreens leave Black skin looking like dust or an ashy ghost, but I’m happy to report this one did not,” says writer Heben Nigatu. “As the name says, it truly is invisible.” If you have darker skin, you know how rare that is for a drugstore pick.

Pros: No white cast; lightweight
Cons: Scent is a bit strong

Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene / SPF: 60 / Water-resistant: Yes, up to 80 minutes / Size: 1.7 oz.

Aramore’s lightweight sunscreen provides a safe, nontoxic broad-spectrum shield against both UVA and UVB rays, says dermatologist Sarina Elmariah, MD, It absorbs quickly and has a hypoallergenic, vegan, and fragrance-free ingredient list that won’t cause flare-ups or irritation in those with sensitive skin.

It’s also designed to nourish skin while shielding it. “In addition to protection, it contains many antioxidant ingredients to increase radiance for skin exposed to pollutants, extreme temperatures, and other environmental factors,” says Elmariah. You can count hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, royal tea, and niacinamide among those good-for-skin ingredients.

Pros: Hydrating; nourishing; gentle
Cons: Pricey for the small bottle

Active ingredient: Non-nano zinc oxide / SPF: 30 / Water-resistant: No / Size: 1.7 oz.

“My skin type (combination and prone to breakouts) and skin tone (olive) have made it hard for me to find a good sunscreen,” says Glamour beauty writer Deanna Pai. “Most tend to feel cloying or prove hard to blend out invisibly.” Not this lightweight SPF, though, she says. It blends in seamlessly without feeling heavy and doesn’t leave skin shiny—even if you skew oily and acne-prone.

Don’t be put off by the unique green color, either. The formula is specifically designed this way to help cancel out any redness associated with irritated or acne-prone skin. Also nice for inflamed skin? The gel-cream formula feels nice and cool as it settles into the skin, lending a soothing effect.

Pros: Lightweight; easy to layer
Cons: Pump can get clogged

Active ingredient: Zinc oxide / SPF: 30 / Water-resistant: No / Size: 1.69 oz.

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“I was convinced this tinted SPF was too good to be true—how could one shade fit all?” says Tandon. “But I tried it myself and it provided the most perfect light, glowy tint to my medium-toned skin, and then my mom tried it and she loved the way it made her skin glow. It’s her new go-to, and she’s already asked me for her own backup bottle.”

The light tint is perfect for wearing to the gym or just when you don’t feel like wearing actual makeup. Dr. Sobel is a fan, too, saying that he appreciates the universal tint that blurs skin imperfections thanks to the “niacinamide that helps minimize the appearance of pores. It also has ceramides that strengthen the skin’s barrier against environmental damage and dehydration.”

Pros: A little goes a long way; universal tint
Cons: Expensive

Active ingredients: Zinc oxide / SPF: 30 / Water-resistant: No / Size: 1.7 oz.