The Best Facial Sunscreens To Wear Into The Winter
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There are a few beauty commandments that are simply non-negotiable. Remove your makeup and wash your face every single night. Use eye cream. Never put toothpaste on a pimple. And never, ever, ever skip sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun is the number one best thing you can do for it. Whether to avoid signs of aging, or hyperpigmentation, or even just keep your skin looking as fresh for as long as possible — sunscreen is the way to go. Essentially, the sun is the devil when it comes to the skincare world and it's your job to shield yourself from it in every way you can.
Now, one of the biggest beauty mistakes you can make is assuming that winter is the time to take an SPF break. Absolutely not! The sun is still sun-ing regardless of the weather. UVA and UVB rays are still there to cause your skin to prematurely age. Your needs when it comes to winter sunscreens may differ slightly — suddenly you need a bit more hydration, but sunscreen should definitely remain on board at all times. That's why we've put together a list of the best sunscreens to keep your skin protected through the colder months.
How we selected the sunscreens
Sunscreen holds such high regard in the skincare community. It's one of the most important skincare categories, and with that comes a lot of heated debate about what works best for what needs. When selecting the best sunscreens for winter we first and foremost had to make sure they all pass the hydration test. Barring the acne-prone skin option, these sunscreens are all guaranteed to help make your transition into winter sunscreen seamless.
Whenever it comes to selecting a new beauty purchase, you have to understand what your skin needs. By breaking down this list into different skin types and concerns, we were able to scan and deliver the best sunscreen option for each person. The best way to guarantee this was to specifically take into consideration reviews written by shoppers with the exact same skin types or concerns as you. Think of it like asking your friend with oily skin for her tried and true product recommendation, without having to go through the trial and error yourself.
Best overall sunscreen
You can't really tackle the topic of sunscreens without mentioning Supergoop! The fan-favorite brand has become a go-to when it comes to sunscreens, and it's because the vast range of sun protection products is gold.
The Unseen Sunscreen is the most simple and stripped-down product in Supergoop!'s range, and it's a must-have staple sunscreen. With an SPF of 40 and PA+++, this sunscreen will keep you fully protected while being almost undetectable on the skin. It is a lightweight and breathable formula, while still hydrating your skin. This sunscreen especially sits beautifully under makeup thanks to its makeup-gripping texture. The red algae in it even protects your skin from blue light. One Sephora reviewer raved, "This sunscreen is perfect! It doesn't make me look greasy like some sunscreens do. I love this because you can't tell I'm wearing sunscreen and I've also noticed a difference in my skin."
Purchase Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen at Sephora for $48.
Best budget sunscreen
If you're still reeling from the price point of that last pick, don't worry. You can still get your winter sun protection at a fraction of that price. If you're looking for an affordable option that you won't feel bad about slathering on then Bondi Sands Sunscreen is a great option.
Bondi Sands is typically known for its sun-mimicking abilities with its self-tanning range, but the brand has since ventured into all sun-related products. This fragrance-free sunscreen is a water-resistant lotion that offers a lot of protection with SPF 50. Formulated with aloe vera and vitamin E, it is especially hydrating and soothing to help prevent any sun irritation. The sunscreen is non-comedogenic, sulfate-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free which makes it ideal for sensitive skin types as one Target reviewer shares, "When I find my skin to be irritated, this is my absolute favorite sunscreen to wear."
Purchase Bondi Sands Sunscreen at Target for $6.99.
Best luxury sunscreen
From one end of the spectrum to the other extreme comes our pick for luxury sunscreen. Yes, you didn't misread that $150 price point. But if you're looking to indulge and treat yourself to some luxe beauty then you can never go wrong with Dr. Barbara Sturm, and definitely not with her Sun Drops.
Dr. Barbara Sturm's Sun Drops offer a uniquely lightweight sunscreen formula that is perfect for layering up with your moisturizer during colder months. It provides SPF 50 as well as broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB light. The watery formula feels like you have nothing sitting on your skin, and the complex of Cassia Extract, Vitamin E, and Beta-Glucan offers your skin some extra protection from oxidative damage. One Dr. Barbara Sturm reviewer shares, "Soft, smooth, and lightweight, it feels like beautiful moisture that will make your skin glow like the sun and protect you at the same time."
Purchase Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops at Dr. Barbara Sturm for $150.
Best long-lasting sunscreen
Most of us try to do our best to stay on top of sunscreen re-application, but it's possibly one of the beauty rules people break the most often. Adding a layer of lotion on top of your makeup just never seems appealing, but Ultrasun has saved us all the worry with the Ultrasun Face Anti-Aging Lotion.
Somehow Ultrasun has cracked the code with a sunscreen that works perfectly all day without having to be reapplied. With an SPF of 50 and UVB as well as UVA protection, this sunscreen will keep your skin protected throughout the day. The Anti Aging Lotion is also formulated with Ectoin, a natural substance that helps prevent premature photo aging. One Look Fantastic reviewer confirms that it passed the test, "I don't get any sunburns when I use it, and I just applied once a day."
Purchase Ultrasun Face Anti-Aging Lotion at Look Fantastic for $33.20.
Best tinted sunscreen
Sometimes you need your sunscreen to do a little more than just protect your skin. Tinted sunscreens are a great way to get a bit of extra coverage to give your skin a little boost while protecting it. La Roche-Posay's Anthelios Mineral Tinted Ultra Light Face Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50 gives just the right amount of subtle tint while giving more than the right amount of protection.
This La Roche-Posay sunscreen adds a light universal tint to the skin that really serves the purpose of evening out your skin tone, and it dries down to a smooth oil-free matte finish to avoid that super greasy look and feel that sunscreen can have. It is perfect for winter because it contains La-Roche Posay's trademark mineral-rich Thermal Spring Water to keep your skin hydrated. The mineral sunscreen offers SPF 50 alongside powerful antioxidant protection. One Ulta reviewer raves, "This sunscreen is like wearing nothing! The fact that I can protect my skin and not feel like I'm greasy or chalky is fabulous!!"
Purchase La Roche-Posay's Anthelios Mineral Tinted Ultra Light Face Sunscreen Fluid at Ulta for $38.99.
Best sunscreen without a white cast
One of the most daunting side effects of sunscreen that we have all had to deal with is the white cast they can leave. Sometimes no matter how much you rub it in, if you're using the right amount of sunscreen you can end up with a visible white cast, but not with Black Girl Sunscreen's Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30.
Designed specifically for darker skin tones that especially struggle with white casts, this hydrating lotion will blend seamlessly into your skin and leave no residue behind. With an SPF of 30, this sunscreen will also protect you from harmful UVA and UVB rays. This will be your winter sunscreen staple thanks to the hydrating power trio of jojoba, cacao, and shea that deeply nourish your skin. One Ulta reviewer confirms the no-white cast claims, "As a black girl it was hard for me to find a non-white cast and non-pilling sunscreen but this is the one!"
Purchase Black Girl Sunscreen's Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 at Ulta for $15.99.
Best sunscreen stick
Facial sunscreen comes in many forms other than the typical lotions we're used to, and we have a few listed in this roundup. Sunscreen sticks are especially ideal for popping in your purse and easily reapplying throughout the day, and Shiseido has nailed the perfect sunscreen stick formula with the Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+.
This compact roll-up sunscreen stick is easy to carry around, but its true magic is in the formula. It offers SPF 50 protection, and a unique Syncroshield Technology to keep your skin protected from all UVA/UVB rays. It is dermatologist and opthamologist tested and even offers additional skincare benefits by using soy lecithin and licorice extract to combat hyperpigmentation and dark spots caused by sun exposure. One Ulta reviewer shares, "I tried this on a whim and it has become my go-to sunscreen! It's hydrating and makes my skin glow. Also, it goes flawlessly over makeup without moving the products around."
Purchase Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+ at Ulta for $30.
Best sunscreen for under makeup
One of the main reasons people make the critical mistake of skipping sunscreen is to avoid how it sits under makeup. Well, with Live Tinted's Hueguard 3-in-1 Broad Spectrum Mineral SPF 30 Primer you no longer have an excuse.
This vegan and cruelty-free mineral sunscreen offers high protection with SPF 30 and 18% zinc oxide. But, it is the perfect pick for this category because it has been formulated with makeup application in mind. The sunscreen/primer hybrid definitely won't affect your makeup application — in fact, it'll enhance it by leaving your skin with a natural glow and gripping onto your makeup to make it last longer. One Ulta reviewer confirms how well it sits under makeup, "My skin is normal to dry but in the winter it gets really dry to the point where none of my makeup goes on smoothly. With this having a primer and feeling so lightweight and not sticky, it is the best."
Purchase Live Tinted's Hueguard 3-in-1 Broad Spectrum Mineral SPF 30 Primer at Ulta for $32.
Best sunscreen for acne-prone skin
When you have acne-prone skin, skin care products like sunscreen can be your worst nightmare. When not washed off properly, sunscreen is infamous for causing breakouts. Couple that with the generally greasy formula, and sunscreens just don't bode well for acne-prone skin. But Zitsticka's Megashade Breakout-proof SPF 50 Serum is formulated specifically to tackle all of those concerns.
As a pimple patch brand, Zitsticka understands breakouts, and this SPF 50 Serum is a lightweight chemical-mineral hybrid that blends seamlessly into your skin without making it look oily. It is jam-packed full of acne-treating ingredients like niacinamide, tea tree, ferulic acid, and Kakadu plum which make this sunscreen actually help treat your acne and heal any scarring rather than add to the problem. One Ulta reviewer raves, "I have highly acne-prone skin and about every sunscreen, I have tried either gave my face a total white cast or broke me out. This does neither and my gosh does it make my skin feel amazing!!"
Purchase Zitsticka's Megashade Breakout-proof SPF 50 Serum at Ulta for $40.
Best anti-aging sunscreen
Sunscreens protect your skin from a number of outcomes, but one of the big things that sun damage can cause is signs of premature aging. So why not double up on your anti-aging dose by using a sunscreen that protects your skin from aging while also treating any signs of aging? Cue: StriVectin's Advanced Retinol Daily Repair Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30.
The daily protective moisturizer protects your skin from sun damage with SPF 30, but it also protects your skin from signs of aging. Using StriVectin's patented form of Niacin, NIA-114, alongside retinol and retinol-mimicking peptides this moisturizer works to visibly improve your skin's tone, texture, and any signs of wrinkles. One Ulta reviewer definitely noticed its effects, "I have been using this product for a long time and it really delivers what it says. I am 70 and when people ask me my age, they can't believe I'm that old!"
Purchase StriVectin's Advanced Retinol Daily Repair Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 at Ulta for $99.
Best drugstore sunscreen
When it comes to skincare, CeraVe always seems to find its way onto lists as the best drugstore option. The dermatologist-developed brand always delivers at a reasonable price point, and the CeraVe Ultra-Light Face Lotion Moisturizer with Sunscreen is definitely a drugstore gem.
As the name would suggest, this Ultra-Light sunscreen is ideal for oily skin types as it feels super lightweight on the skin and blends in seamlessly without leaving a greasy film — in fact, it has a matte finish. The SPF 30 protects from UVA/UVB rays, and it is formulated with CeraVe's infamous three essential ceramides that keep your skin hydrated throughout winter. This sunscreen is also ideal for sensitive skin types as it is allergy-tested, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and non-comedogenic. One Target reviewer raves, "I really enjoy this moisturizer. I hate greasy sunscreens and this is not one of them. It leaves a slight glow to the skin but it doesn't make me look like a grease ball which I enjoy."
Purchase CeraVe Ultra-Light Face Lotion Moisturizer with Sunscreen at Target for $18.29.
Best sunscreen for sensitive skin
For some reason when it comes to having sensitive skin, french pharmacy skincare products seem to have cracked the code. Sunscreen is one of those skincare products that can be tricky to get right for sensitive skin types. You can often end up with irritated skin, but Avene's Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Sunscreen SPF 50+ packs a punch of protection while being ultra-gentle on your skin.
It is an ultra-lightweight sunscreen that provides SPF 50 protection. The sunscreen is formulated with a number of soothing ingredients to keep your sensitive skin happy, like Bisabolol and Allantoin which soothe irritated skin. It even contains niacinamide which calms your skin while protecting it from free radicals. This lotion is formulated with a unique multi-defense shield that enhances antioxidant protection by 100%. One Ulta reviewer shares, "I have trouble with sunscreen irritating and drying my sensitive skin, but this is perfect. Makeup applies flawlessly over it as well."
Purchase Avene's Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Sunscreen SPF 50+ at Ulta for $34.
Best sunscreen mist
Sunscreen coming in mist form is kind of a revolutionary step in skincare. If you hate the feel of sunscreen sitting on your skin, a sunscreen mist is a great fix to get your sun protection in, and Kate Somerville's UncompliKated SPF Soft Focus Makeup Setting Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen is the best choice.
The UncompliKated Spray works in a number of ways. First and foremost of course it provides protection with broad spectrum SPF 50, but it also happens to be a setting spray. Not only is this ideal because it means your sunscreen is going to keep your makeup in place rather than make it slip and slide, but it also makes it way easier to reapply SPF throughout the day by simply spraying it on top of your makeup. Using Light Diffusing Silicone Powder, it blurs any imperfections while the hyaluronic acid keeps your skin feeling hydrated. One Kate Somerville reviewer raves, "The is the first sunscreen I've used that hasn't made my face look and feel oily."
Purchase UncompliKated SPF Soft Focus Makeup Setting Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen at Kate Somerville for $44.
Best sunscreen for glow
It is winter, so if you're looking to add a dose of sunkissed glow to your skin while protecting yourself from the actual sun, you need a glowy sunscreen. With its vast range of sun protection warriors, of course, Supergoop! would come through with the Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++.
Now, this one is not for oilier skin types, but it is great for winter because this will give you some serious glow. The shimmery sunscreen stick offers amazing protection with broad spectrum SPF 50, but it also provides your skin with a ton of beneficial hydrating ingredients to keep it glowing. Buriti oil, Pracaxi oil, and Tamanu oil all work to moisturize your skin and protect it from the effects of free radicals. This stick is so glowy that it is especially great to use on not only your face but your collarbone or shoulders to add a highlighter glow. One Ulta reviewer shares, "I have super dry skin ... and this makes my skin look like glass!"
Purchase Supergoop! Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ at Ulta for $26.
Best fan-favorite sunscreen
Within every skincare category, regardless of how many options exist in the market there are always a few that achieve viral-dom and end up on everyone's wishlist. When it comes to sunscreen, that would be EltaMD's UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46.
This sunscreen is about as popular in the skincare community as it is among dermatologists. It is an amazingly formulated sunscreen that provides a ton of skincare benefits as well as sun protection. With SPF 46 protection, your skin will be safe from sun damage, but where it really excels is using a combination of sodium hyaluronate to hydrate your skin and lactic acid to refine it. The 4,226 5-star reviews speak for themselves, as one Dermstore reviewer raves, "The absolute best sunscreen, have gone through at least 10 bottles. Has an amazing texture, gives a great glow, and doesn't leave a cast."
Purchase EltaMD's UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 at Dermstore for $41.