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Finding the right sunscreen can be a nuanced, trial-and-error-filled process.

While the rules of SPF engagement — applying half a teaspoon of product to cover your face and neck; reapplying every two hours, and so on — are, at this point, known and abided by many, the matter of choosing the right SPF in an ever-proliferating market can feel like an enigma.

Sunscreen products are designated by two camps of protection: there are mineral SPFs, which work primarily by “forming an even film on the skin that deflects most UV rays,” says Krupa Koestline, cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Innovation Labs. Then there are chemical sunscreens which, by contrast, feature chemical filters that absorb UV rays and convert them into heat to prevent damage.

Because mineral filters must form a physical layer on a wearer’s skin in order to deflect UV rays, they create a white cast that is visible on people with deeper skin tones. Some brands mitigate this white cast by offering mineral sunscreens in tinted formulas, but formulating a sheer, untinted mineral SPF product that doesn’t leave a white cast “is impossible,” Koestline says.

To that end, chemical SPFs are the best bet for consumers with medium to deep skin tones who are looking for adequate sun protection. Reasons someone might opt for a mineral formulation, on the other hand, include that some formulas can be more gentle on skin and thus work well for sensitive skin types.

To help cut through the noise and determine the very best sunscreens on the market — including those most suitable for dry skin, everyday use, makeup-compatible wear, tight budgets, or for the body — WWD Weekend’s editors put more than 150 sunscreen products to the test.

Over the course of six weeks, 40 testers with different skin tones and types tested and reviewed these products, gleaning which 30 offerings provide the most comprehensive, effective protection while delivering positive experiences in terms of wearability and feel as well.

Here, just in time for summer, the 2025 WWD Weekend Editors’ Choice SPF Award winners.

• Best Facial SPFs Under $20: Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

  Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion For Face and Body SPF 30

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (10%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (3%), octocrylene (2.75%)

  Developed with deeper skin tones in mind, this chemical SPF not only won’t leave a white cast, but it addresses dryness, too, thanks to infusions of jojoba and avocado oils. It has a medium consistency that absorbs quickly into the skin, with one tester noting that the product “leaves no residue, and no wasted time.” While this formula is designed for both the face and the body, our testers particularly enjoyed its lightweight feel as a facial SPF, also using it in place of moisturizer and primer before makeup. “It’s a thoughtfully-crafted product in both formula and presentation that leaves skin feeling refreshed,” said one tester.

• The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30

  

  The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30

  $16
  

  
  Buy Now at the inkey list

  $17.50
  

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Octocrylene (10%), ethylhexyl salicylate (5%), avobenzone (3%), phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid (3%)

  For a sensitive skin-safe sunscreen that doesn’t break the bank, this cream from The Inkey List is a solid choice. For one, it has moisture-retaining properties thanks to an 8 percent concentration of polyglutamic acid, glycerin and squalane, plus it works well under makeup or on its own, according to one tester with dry, sensitive skin who said the formula “makes skin feel hydrated and soft.” The product has what our tester described as a “light, sunscreen scent,” but was effective in combatting sun damage, offering a “high-quality sunblock that is great for everyday use.”

• CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30

  

  CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30

  SPF Type: Hybrid
  Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide (7%), homosalate (6%), octisalate (5%), octocrylene (5%)

  Combining mineral zinc oxide with a trio of chemical UV filters, this SPF from CeraVe was developed alongside dermatologists with the aim of offering a flexible, sensitive skin-safe option. It features three kinds of ceramides and niacinamide in addition to its suite of UV filters, and hydrates without pilling, according to one tester, who said the cream “offered strong coverage that blended well, wasn’t odorous and felt high-quality.”

• Hero Cosmetics Force Shield Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30

  

  Hero Cosmetics Force Shield Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30

  $19.99
  

  
  Buy Now at hero cosmetics

  $19.98
  

  SPF Type: Mineral
  Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide (17.53%)

  Leave it to Hero to create a high-performance yet budget-friendly SPF for acne-prone skin. This mineral formula features a green tint to counteract redness, while also delivering barrier-boosting ectoin and antimicrobial properties via green tea leaf extract. According to one tester, the product “spread evenly and absorbed immediately,” working well to balance their complexion before makeup application, and becoming their new go-to formula.

• Banana Boat Sport Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

  

  Banana Boat Sport Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Octocrylene (5%), homosalate (4%), octisalate (4%), avobenzone (2.7%)

  When it comes to outdoor exercise, SPF is arguably the most important form of pre-workout. Our tester recommends this “tried-and-true” chemical option from Banana Boat for those looking for waterproof protection (this one is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes). Its consistency is on the thicker side, so expect to spend a little more time rubbing it in, but once it does absorb it stays put and doesn’t become runny during intense, sweat-inducing activity. The formula also features a sun protection factor of 50 — higher than most other sunscreens around the same price point.

• Best Under Makeup: Allies of Skin The One Invisible Sunscreen Gel SPF 50

  

  Allies of Skin The One Invisible Sunscreen Gel SPF 50

  $45
  

  
  Buy Now at allies of skin

  $45
  

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Octocrylene (10%), homosalate (7%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (3%)

  It’s called the One and not the two for a reason. For a gel SPF, this product is surprisingly moisturizing, absorbing into the skin “within seconds,” according to one tester, who added that the finish is — and remains throughout the day — “breathable, velvety and smooth.” This formula is not tacky, so prepare to add a primer if you prefer a grippy makeup base. But it is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, making it a friendly choice for long, hot days in the sun or for wear during physical activity. A multitasker through and through, it’s also infused with vitamin C, carrot seed and licorice root.

• Ultra Violette Supreme Screen Sunscreen SPF 50

  

  Ultra Violette Supreme Screen Sunscreen SPF 50

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Octocrylene (8%), homosalate (7%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (3%)

  Billed as a “one-and-done” sunscreen, this chemical formula from Australian brand Ultra Violette offers PA++++ protection, meaning it protects against more than 90 percent of UVA rays, which are known to accelerate aging due to overexposure. The formula taps moisture-boosting squalane and pentavitin and, according to one tester, “kept makeup feeling fresh even on 12-plus-hour makeup days.”

• Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF 50

  

  Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF 50

  $55
  

  
  Buy Now at charlotte tilbury

  $55
  

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Octinoxate (6.79%), octisalate (4.5%), avobenzone (3%), octocrylene (2%)

  When your SPF needs to double as a foolproof makeup base, sometimes it pays to opt for one developed by a makeup artist-led brand. This fragrance-free SPF/primer by Charlotte Tilbury leaves no stone unturned: it has nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera to keep dryness at bay; a velvety texture to minimize pores, plus SPF 50 defense against sun rays. Check, check and check.

• Naked Sundays CabanaClear Water Gel Serum SPF 50

  

  Naked Sundays CabanaClear Water Gel Serum SPF 50

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (6%), octyl salicylate (5%), butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (3%)

  For lightweight yet hardworking protection, consider a gel-serum formula like this offering from Australian sun care brand Naked Sundays. Featuring hyaluronic acid and vitamin-rich kakadu plum, this product combines skin care and sun care for SPF 50 that comes with a dewy finish. Our tester reported that not only did the formula hold up from a protection point of view, but it was hydrating enough to replace her moisturizer and added a subtle glow when worn underneath makeup, as well.

• Dr.Jart+ Every Sun Day Sun Fluid Sunscreen SPF 50+

  

  Dr.Jart+ Every Sun Day Sun Fluid SPF 50+

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (9%), octinoxate (6.8%), octisalate (4.5%), octocrylene (4%), avobenzone (2.9%)

  Our testers found this product to be one of the easiest SPFs to apply (and reapply) thanks to its fluid texture and rapid absorption. It has a light scent — somewhere between fresh and herbal — and proved capable of fending off sunburn for one burn-prone tester during all-day outdoor wear on sunny days. Its finish errs on the radiant side, and humectants like pentylene glycol and propanediol give it a silky, moisture-retaining feel that also creates a pill-free base for makeup application.

• Best for Dry Skin: Dr. Althea Aqua Glowing Sunscreen SPF 50+

  

  Dr. Althea Aqua Glowing Sunscreen SPF 50+

  SPF Type: Hybrid
  Active Ingredients: Bisoctrizole (4%), ethylhexyl triazone (3.3%), drometrizole trisiloxane (2%)

  From the viral K-beauty brand that brought us Grinding Cleansing Balms: a hydration-forward SPF designed to work for all skin types, but particularly dry to combination skin. Packed with provitamin B5 and marine extracts, the formula plays well with other skin care creams and serums and, despite having a consistency that is “thicker than most K-beauty SPFs,” as one tester noted, the formula spreads easily and doesn’t feel heavy during wear. It also dries to a neutral finish, so for those who don’t want dewiness but also don’t wish to compromise on moisture — this could be the one.

• Belif the True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45

  

  Belif the True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (9%), octocrylene (9%), octisalate (4.5%), avobenzone (2.7%)

  Aqua bomb, indeed. Reported by one tester to have replaced their moisturizer during use, this double-duty offering provides a high sun protection factor while glycerin, marigold and noni fruit extracts work to boost hydration and barrier health. The product is scented — it has a subtle, “spa-like” smell, one tester said — and manages to be moisturizing without feeling greasy or heavy.

• Augustinus Bader The Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

  

  Augustinus Bader The Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

  $140
  

  
  Buy Now at augustinus bader

  $140
  

  SPF Type:
  Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide (13.18%), titanium dioxide (9.1%)

  A sunscreen that, were it not for the proof in its protection, “doesn’t feel like sunscreen,” one tester reported of Augustinus Bader’s first SPF. Formulated with the brand’s signature TCF8 technology — which blends peptides, amino acids and vitamins — in addition to physical SPF filters, this product has a creamy texture akin to that of an ultra-rich moisturizer. It applies “seamlessly over moisturizer and under makeup” and delivered “all-day hydration without feeling sticky or oily,” according to a tester.

• Live Tinted Hueguard 3-in-1 Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

  

  Live Tinted Hueguard 3-in-1 Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

  SPF type: Mineral
  Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide (18%)

  It’s an SPF, but it’s also a triple threat. This mineral sunscreen from Live Tinted features coconut oil-derived emolliants to keep skin supple, as well as vitamin E to combat moisture loss and inflammation. The offering is compatible with makeup — it’s a primer, too — but its proposition holds up on barefaced days as well, particularly for anyone looking to keep their skin guarded (as the name would imply) and healthily quenched with a fast-absorbing hydrator.

• EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46

  

  EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46

  SPF Type: Hybrid
  Active ingredients: Zinc oxide (9%), octinoxate (7.5%)

  Formulated with niacinamide, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, EltaMD’s UV clear SPF 46 caters to skin health in more ways than one. Coming in three shades in order to ensure that it is, indeed, clear on all skin tones (untinted mineral SPFs otherwise tend to leave a white cast on those with deeper skin tones), this product offers sheer but powerful wear. One tester was “amazed at how quickly it absorbed,” adding that it was “the best sunscreen” she had ever used. It’s fuss-free formula is suitable both for everyday wear or long days outdoors, and it aims to improve skin texture over time.

• Best Everyday SPFs: Supergoop Play Everyday Face Lotion SPF 50

  

  Supergoop Play Everyday Face Lotion SPF 50

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (10%), octocrylene (7.5%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (3%)

  Supergoop’s Play Everyday Lotion is one that lives up to its name. Our testers reported that the cream formula applied with ease, integrating well with preluding serum and moisturizer steps without feeling dense despite its heavier-duty protection. The offering features a subtle, citrus-y scent, and is one that testers reached for while running errands, dog-walking and doing outdoor workouts, but also for days spent mostly indoors or at the office, during which it also felt comfortable to wear. “It delivers exactly what it promises,” one tester said.

• Chanel UV Essentiel Sunscreen SPF 50

  

  Chanel UV Essentiel Sunscreen SPF 50

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (10%), octisalate (5%), octocrylene (5%), avobenzene (3%)

  For a splurge-worthy everyday sunscreen, Chanel’s UV Essentiel blends luxury with efficacy for a lightweight fluid that “coats the skin in a lovely cocoon,” one tester said. The product taps ginger and gardenia extract and, despite its lightness, offers a matte, balmy-in-a-good-way finish. “I love everything about this sunscreen,” said our tester. “The packaging, the scent, the richness of the texture and the UV protection — I’ve never gotten a sunburn with it on.”

• Avène Mineral Sunscreen Multi-Defense Fluid SPF 50+

  

  Avène Mineral Sunscreen Multi-Defense Fluid SPF 50+

  SPF Type: Mineral
  Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide (12%)

  This fluid SPF from French pharmacy brand Avène offers mineral protection in a sensitive skin-safe formula with calming bisabolol and allantoin. The product is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes and has a featherlight finish, according to one tester, who added that it dries quickly and with a “barely there, demi-matte” feel. Worn under makeup, the product doesn’t pill, though for best results add a more gripping primer if planning to wear color cosmetics atop this.

• Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+

  

  Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (10%), octocrylene (10%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (2.5%)

  Out of 10 facial SPF sticks we tested, Shiseido’s Clear Sunscreen Stick was the only one to receive rave reviews across the board. While others in the category were often reported to have filmy, heavy or greasy finishes, this formula — despite its glassy stick — does not leave an ultra-glossy finish, and it doesn’t budge. “This format feels sanitary and easy to slather on quickly when I’m trying to get out the door,” said one tester. The water-resistant formula also holds up during runs and other physical activity, with one tester reporting it routinely held up during 10-plus-mile jogs outdoors on sunny days.

• Dr. Dennis Gross All-physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense Sunscreen SPF 30

  

  Dr. Dennis Gross All-physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense Sunscreen SPF 30

  SPF Type: Mineral
  Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide (16%)

  Suitable for those with oily skin or who simply prefer a fresh, oil-free finish is this mineral SPF from Dr. Dennis Gross. With its airy, fluid-like texture, the product is “so lightweight that it doesn’t feel like you’ve applied an additional layer of product,” said one tester, who has previously been deterred from certain facial SPFs due to their at-times “heavy” feel. With ferulic acid, sea buckthorn and lingonberry, this sunscreen also aims to prevent and treat visible signs of aging.

• Best Tinted SPFs: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45

  

  Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45

  SPF Type: Mineral
  Active ingredients: Zinc oxide (15%)

  This first sun care foray from Merit offers slightly more color coverage than other tinted SPFs we tried, which testers liked because it still maintains a lightweight, layerable feel. Absorption is quick with this one, according to one tester, though the product needs to be “rubbed in well” to ensure it blends fully. Coming in 15 shades, the tint is versatile in the sense that it can be applied by finger, brush or sponge, and it “integrated seamlessly with my skin care routine underneath, and both cream and powder makeup products over it,” said another tester.

• Naturium Dew-Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF 50+

  

  Naturium Dew-glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF 50+

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (10%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (3%)

  The typical pitfalls tinted moisturizers can befall — wear that skews too far in the direction of one or the other rather than offering a true hybrid; thickness that leads to patchy coverage, and so on — don’t exist with this Dew-glow offering from Naturium. It comes in three light, medium and deep varieties, is unscented with a “mess-free pump,” as one tester described, and offers a “dewy finish that absorbs easily and feels light.” Formulated with niacinamide, glycerin and squalane, it hydrates while offering a dose of color that balances the complexion just enough for barely there wear.

• Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen SPF 40

  

  Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen SPF 40

  SPF Type: Mineral
  Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide (21%)

  Beauty of Joseon has long been a chemical SPF crowd-pleaser and its tinted SPF, launched this year, marks the first mineral formula for the K-beauty brand. This tint comes in 12 shades and offers sheer, buildable coverage that one tester reported was easy to spread, even imparting a skin-blurring effect in addition to camouflaging discoloration. No testers were sunburned in the process of assessing this sunscreen, which became a go-to on “no makeup-makeup days” for one tester. Pro tip: this formula is more fluid than most, so shake well before application.

• Ciele Tint & Protect SPF 50+ Tinted Serum

  

  Ciele Tint & Protect SPF 50+ Tinted Serum

  SPF Type: Mineral
  Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide (12%)

  Developed by makeup artist Nikki DeRoest, this tinted serum features mineral SPF 50+ and glides easily across the skin and over skin-prep steps including vitamin C serum and moisturizer, according to one tester. The 13-shade formula is buildable, and the sweet spot for lightweight coverage that still imparts protection is at least eight drops-worth of the formula, which is non-comedogenic and features skin-soothing ingredients like bisabolol and allantoin.

• Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex Sunscreen SPF 50

  

  Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex Sunscreen SPF 50

  SPF Type: Mineral
  Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide (12%)

  Because it features encapsulated pigments, this mineral formula appears white when first dispensed from the bottle though it quickly — and, as one tester said, “fascinatingly” — develops into its respective tinted shade upon blending. It has a demi-matte finish and comes in six shades. While the formula is layerable, our testers found that best practice is to wait at least one minute in between applying additional layers, with two layers being the sweet spot for foundation-like coverage that doesn’t look cakey. “This is the most long-wearing skin tint I’ve ever used,” said one tester, adding that the formula “stays put and doesn’t leave an oily sheen on my combination skin, even after hours of wear.”

• Best Body SPFs: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen SPF 70

  

  Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen SPF 70

  $9.99
  

  $8.88
  

  $9.88
  

  10% off
  

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (15%), octocrylene (10%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (3%)

  As far as sprayable sun protection goes, this SPF 70 body mist from Neutrogena gets the job done — and at an affordable price point. “The value is great; the product is consistent, and the SPF factor is high — I feel comfortable putting this on my face or my body,” said one tester. This non-comedogenic formula is also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and dries down with a clear, “weightless” finish. Because it applies clear, though, be sure to spray and spread thoroughly to ensure adequate protection without missing a spot.

• Dune Suncare The Bod Guard Invisible Gel Sunscreen SPF 30

  

  Dune Suncare The Bod Guard Invisible Gel Sunscreen SPF 30

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active Ingredients: Homosalate (5.5%), octisalate (4.5%), octocrylene (4%), avobenzone (2%)

  For those with sensitive or breakout-prone skin, this gel-cream hybrid offers protection without any fuss. Featuring vitamin E to protect skin from free radicals; hibiscus extract for hydration and neem extract to clarify inflammation, this hero from Dune is also water-resistant for 40 minutes. One tester with sensitive skin noted its easy, nonstick application and “light and fresh scent.”

• Kopari Sunglaze Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen SPF 42

  

  Kopari Sunglaze Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen SPF 42

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active ingredients: Octocrylene (10%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (3%), homosalate (0.5%)

  Kopari’s suite of SPF products goes wide, but this sheer SPF body mist is among those that add a sense of whimsy — without sacrificing practicality — to sun protection. Coming in the brand’s signature Coconut Milk scent, described by one tester as “mild,” this spray is water- and sweat-proof for up to 80 minutes. While the formula sparkles in its bottle, it applies clear, though it did add a welcome glow for our tester while it protected her skin.

• Vacation Classic Whip Sunscreen Mousse SPF 30

  

  Vacation Classic Whip Sunscreen Mousse SPF 30

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active ingredients: Homosalate (7.5%), octocrylene (5%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (3%)

  While this SPF mousse from Vacation may have initially taken over TikTok feeds for its novelty factor, it made an impression among our testers for its combination of fun and efficacy. Featuring coconut oil, aloe vera and banana extract, this hydrating formula “looked and felt great” on skin, said one tester, while another added that its protection held up during long park days and time spent outdoors. One thing to note: For some, the product’s texture created a slight learning curve when it came to portion control. But the brand recommends applying ping pong ball-sized dollops per limb for sufficient coverage.

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Sunscreen SPF 60

  

  La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60

  $37.99
  

  
  Buy Now at la roche-posay

  $37.99
  

  SPF Type: Chemical
  Active ingredients: Homosalate (10%), octocrylene (7%), octisalate (5%), avobenzone (3%)

  Glycerin, vitamin E and La Roche-Posay’s signature thermal spring water combine in this luminous-finish formula, which was designed to be suitable for use on the body and the face. The formula is on the thicker side and thus takes some time to work into the skin. But for people with dry, combination or normal skin types, this cream offers a “protective, great quality, no-frills product,” said one tester.