<p>Which you choose is mostly “personal preference, because both are effective,” says Dr. Zeichner, who usually recommends mineral screens for people with <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g38253997/best-moisturizer-for-sensitive-skin/” target=”_blank”>sensitive</a> skin. <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g45411152/best-moisturizer-for-dry-skin/” target=”_blank”>Facial</a> sunscreens, designed for use on your face only, come in both forms and often have additional ingredients like antioxidants and <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g38513795/best-face-wash-for-dry-skin/” target=”_blank”>hydrating</a> factors that might not be found in body sunscreens.</p><p>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.</p>”/>
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Best Non-Greasy SPF
Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30
Best Non-Greasy SPF
Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30
Now 33% Off
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.
SPF
30
Volume
3 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
Best Lightweight SPF
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ Sunscreen
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.
Best Spray-on SPF
Sun Bum Original SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray
Best Spray-on SPF
Sun Bum Original SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray
Now 30% Off
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.”
SPF
30
Volume
6 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.”
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Best Everyday SPF
Jaxon Lane Rain or Shine Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen
Best Everyday SPF
Jaxon Lane Rain or Shine Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen
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.
Best Moisturizing SPF
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30
Best Moisturizing SPF
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30
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.)
Best Dermatologist-Recommended SPF
EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen SPF 46
Best Dermatologist-Recommended SPF
EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen SPF 46
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.
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Best Brightening SPF
Bolden Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30
Best Brightening SPF
Bolden Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30
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.
SPF
30
Volume
2 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
Best Bronzing SPF
Australian Gold Spray Gel Sunscreen with Instant Bronzer SPF 30
Now 11% Off
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.
Best Antioxidant SPF
RoC Multi Correxion 5-in-1 Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
Best Antioxidant SPF
RoC Multi Correxion 5-in-1 Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
Now 25% Off
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.”
SPF
30
Volume
1.7 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!”
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.
Best Protective SPF
Dr. Loretta Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 40
Best Protective SPF
Dr. Loretta Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 40
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.
SPF
40
Volume
1.7 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
Best Non-Ashy SPF
Melé Dew the Most SPF 30 with Niacinamide and Vitamin E
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.
SPF
30
Volume
1 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
Best Cult-Favorite SPF
Saie Sunvisor Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 35
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.
SPF
35
Volume
1.35 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
Best Natural SPF
Solara Suncare Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen
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.
Best Tinted SPF
Unsun Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30
Best Tinted SPF
Unsun Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30
Now 30% Off
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.
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Best Luxe SPF
Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF 50
Best Luxe SPF
Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF 50
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.
What to Consider
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
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.