The 12 Best Face Sunscreens for Every Skin Type, Tested by Editors

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A consistent top-seller online and in drugstores, Cerave’s AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is the best daily face sunscreen our editors tested, and shoppers agree, with it earning over 60,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Cerave is known for including skin barrier-supporting ingredients in all of its face washes, face serums, and moisturizers, and this face sunscreen gets the same treatment. Beyond its chemical and mineral blockers, the lightweight lotion includes nourishing and softening ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. Its hydration-focused formula is best suited for normal to dry skin types, though it’s oil-free and non-comedogenic, giving it the green light for those with acne.

Editor testing and review notes: “Few sunscreens feel like nothing on my skin — many err on the greasy side, some are scented, and others impart a subtle white cast that makes me hesitate before I reapply. Cerave’s face sunscreen, on the other hand, goes on featherweight without fragrance. I love that it never breaks me out but also doesn’t leave my skin feeling thirsty: It’s a true two-in-one moisturizer and sunscreen. Because it’s so lightweight and breathable, it’s easy for me to massage on another coat if I’m at the beach; it doesn’t pill, sting, or feel slick.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $12.90

Acne-prone skin types know that finding a face sunscreen that doesn’t result in breakouts or irritation can be a wild goose chase. After multiple rounds of product testing, La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen has held its spot on our list of the best sunscreens for acne-prone skin. Its a non-comedogenic chemical sunscreen that has the added benefit of oil-absorbing technology that prevents shine from peeking through on the t-zone throughout the day. This face sunscreen also includes the brand’s signature thermal water that soothes sensitivity and balances the skin, making this one of the best face sunscreens for sensitive skin types, too.

Our testers with oily skin found this face sunscreen suitable to wear as a daytime moisturizer thanks to its breathable texture and matte finish. Those with combination or dry skin will want to layer it on top of a hydrating serum or moisturizer.

Editor testing and review notes: “If you’re about to give up on sunscreens due to consistent breakouts — don’t! Instead, give this lightweight lotion a try. I swear by it because it can stand in as a daytime moisturizer with SPF for acne-prone skin types, which allows your skin to breathe more than layering on both moisturizer and sunscreen. It dries down quickly with a matte finish that keeps greasiness at bay throughout the day.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $20

Eltamd makes some of the best dermatologist-recommended sunscreens for every skin concern, and this gentle formula is a longtime favorite. Our testers rate it as the best tinted sunscreen on the market, particularly now that it comes in a brand new Daily Deep Tint formulation that suits dark skin tones without a white cast.

The non-comedogenic lotion helps soothe and protect sensitive skin types, and our testers report that it’s even friendly for those with rosacea. It helps reduce irritation from breakouts and prevents skin from feeling overly dry after sun exposure thanks to ingredients like vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. The sheer tint provides coverage that’s similar to a tinted moisturizer with SPF, helping to camouflage dark spots or post-acne marks.

Editor testing and review notes: “Nearly every dermatologist I’ve interviewed during my six plus years as a beauty editor has recommended this sunscreen, and I love it, too. It delivers bulletproof sun protection in an easy-to-wear formula. I struggle with rosacea on my cheeks, and this formula is one of the few face sunscreens that doesn’t exacerbate or irritate it with consistent wear.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $40.85

Amazon shoppers have long praised Innisfree’s Daily UV Defense SPF as the best Korean sunscreen for the face — it’s racked up over 4,500 five-star reviews. Our testers evaluated it across a wide range of skin tones and skin types, with the consensus being that this is a no-frills face sunscreen that’s only second to Cerave as the best face sunscreen for everyday wear.

On top of its SPF 36 protection, the formula includes calming and moisturizing ingredients, namely cica to reduce redness, sunflower seed oil for lasting moisture, and green tea extracts that forage free radicals to reduce visual signs of sun damage. For the price point, you can’t beat it as a daily face moisturizer with SPF or as your go-to face sunscreen for a beach day.

Editor testing and review notes: “The Innisfree sunscreen is perfect for those who are picky about sunscreens. When you sweat, it doesn’t melt off skin or make your eyes sting, and even after a full day’s wear, your skin will feel soft and clean with a quick rinse — it doesn’t create build up or breakouts like other formulas we tested. I love that it delivers a little glow to the skin without feeling greasy or shiny.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $18

One WWD Shop editor batch orders this Bioré UV Aqua Rich sunscreen, which feels more like a great gel moisturizer than a true face sunscreen. Before it launched in the US last summer, the Japanese iteration of this product became famous on TikTok for its incredible texture, quickly racking up over 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. So what’s to love? It absorbs into the skin in mere seconds after you apply it, drying down to a slightly dewy finish with a featherweight feel.

This is one of those face sunscreens that even SPF-averse will grow attached to after a few uses. It’s not smelly, wears beautifully under makeup, and feels cooling on contact. You can choose between SPF 30 or SPF 50; we recommend the latter for summer’s strong rays.

Editor testing and review notes: “I always keep extras of Bioré’s face sunscreen on standby in my medicine cabinet. It’s the first sunscreen I reach for when temperatures spike: Because it’s so lightweight, I don’t have to worry about feeling like any makeup I apply on top is going to slide off my skin. It’s also entirely unscented, which is great for those like me who get sensitive to strong fragrances on my skin when it’s hot and humid outdoors. The fact that it feels like a soothing serum on contact always makes me want to reapply it — and I know that when I do so, I don’t have to worry about it breaking me out.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $15.99

Shiseido is known for creating some of the most luxurious-feeling sunscreens you can find, and dry skin types will adore the Ultimate Sun Protector SPF. Our editors deem it the best sunscreen for face and body after extensively testing this combo category of formulas. The peach-tinted sunscreen has a liquid consistency that’s closer to an emollient face serum than it is a classic sunscreen lotion, which makes it ultra-easy to blend on the skin.

Apart from its comfortable, luxurious texture, this top face sunscreen is worth the spend for its bulletproof sun protection. It enlists a proprietary technology that allows the sunscreen to strengthen when exposed to heat, water, or sweat, so swimmers or pool-goers can rest easy that they’re covered in and out of the water. Ingredients like algae and licorice root soothe sensitive and acne-prone skin that are susceptible to irritation from sun exposure.

Editor testing and review notes: “After testing a slew of Shiseido’s top face sunscreens, the Ultimate Sun Protector stood out to our panel of testers across dry to oily skin types. For starters, the airtight packaging is leakproof and the narrow applicator nozzle allows precision when you’re applying it. But it’s the feel of this face sunscreen that really stood out: It has the silkiest texture that makes skin feel soft, not sticky. It’s a great sunscreen to pack on a trip as it’s available in TSA-safe sizes and works as beautifully on the face as it does on the body.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $50

Skin care minimalists will love Fenty Skin’s Hydravizor Invisible Moisturizer: This two-in-one product is as amazing at moisturizing your skin as it is at protecting it. The light pink lotion contains hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated throughout the day, plus niacinamide, which can help dissolve dark spots and brighten your skin with consistent use. It absorbs like some of the most breathable face creams on the market — with a no white cast guarantee.

Editor testing and review notes: “I packed this sunscreen for a beach vacation a few months back, and I’ve had a hard time parting with it since. The lotion melts in immediately after I apply it, only leaving behind a dewy finish and soft-to-the-touch skin. Even on the hottest days at the beach, I never noticed a fragrance or felt like it was preventing my skin from breathing — it’s a surprisingly gorgeous formulation to wear on its own or under makeup.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $40

Cay Skin is one of editors’ favorite new SPF brand launches in the past few years — all of the brand’s sunscreens feel like luxurious skin care rather than plain-old SPF. The Mo’Bay Mineral Sunscreen Drops are the newest launch that’s created for sensitive and acne-prone skin types who don’t tolerate chemical sunscreens well.

Most mineral sunscreens don’t wear well on dark skin tones, creating a white cast or causing flashback in photos. Model and Cay Skin founder Winnie Harlow, on the other hand, ensured that this mineral sunscreen blends down to a sheer, natural finish without too much elbow grease. This luxurious face sunscreen also contains skin-loving ingredients like sea moss to support the skin barrier and guava-derived antioxidants.

Editor testing and review notes: “After years of testing sunscreens in my time as a beauty editor, I can usually sniff out a mineral formulation just by testing it on the back of my hand. Unlike chemical sunscreens, mineral ones usually have a slightly greasy or tacky feel with a classic sunscreen smell. Cay Skin’s mineral sunscreen drops were a total curveball — its texture mimics a super lightweight chemical sunscreen even though it’s powered by physical blockers. This is a great trait for oily or acne-prone skin types who need sun protection without feeling like their skin is suffocating.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $36

Supergoop! is known for creating sunscreen in fun formats — the brand offers mists, balms, oils, eyeshadows and more with SPF. But the hero of their sun protection lineup is the Unseen Sunscreen. This soft-touch gel formula feels like nothing on your skin, but it’s full of active ingredients beyond SPF. You’ll get a meadowfoam complex that hydrates skin, red algae to help protect against blue light, and soothing frankincense. The gel texture has a slight tackiness to it that grips makeup in place, and it’s completely clear, so any skin type or tone will want to wear it regularly. It’s the best face sunscreen to wear under makeup.

Editor testing and review notes: “I give this sunscreen top honors for texture: The velvety gel formula blends down into a demi-matte finish in seconds. It also has a little grip to it, which prevents the sunscreen from sliding around or irritating my eyes throughout the day. Those with oily or combination skin will love to use it as a makeup primer; it prevents foundation from turning shiny in the t-zone on hot days and holds down full glam makeup looks.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $48

Although dark skin types may burn less frequently, daily sunscreen is still a necessity. But finding the best face sunscreen for dark skin tones that doesn’t have flashback or leave behind a white cast on dark skin can be a tall order — that’s where Black Girl Sunscreen’s Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion comes into play. This SPF was specially developed with melanated skin in mind, ensuring no residue or streaks after application.

What reviewers say: “I decided to give this one a try and I absolutely love it. No burning around my eyes when I put this on, blends super easily and wears well under makeup. I would even say this helps my makeup wear better. Since this is so hydrating it helps my makeup melt into my skin.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $16

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Need a lightweight face sunscreen that plays well with your seven-step makeup routine? Try out a sunscreen serum. Kiehl’s Better Screen SPF 50 UV Serum has a radiant finish that make skin look — and feel — healthy rather than shiny. It’s ideal to layer on as a final step in your summer skin care routine, as it plays well with additional face serums and moisturizers you wear underneath it as well as makeup you apply on top.

But more than a great, comfortable feel, this serum is meant to protect your skin while correcting visible signs of sun damage from summers past. The acne-friendly sunscreen includes collagen peptides that work like an anti-aging face serum to correct uneven tone and texture with every use.

Editor testing and review notes: “Serum sunscreens are an emerging category, promising all the protection you need in a thin, watery product. Of all the formulas I’ve tested in the category, this Kiehl’s formula takes the cake. As a final step in my lengthy skin care routine, it never pills or feel suffocating even when the temperatures approach 90 degrees. With just a few seconds of massaging it on, it disappears on the skin.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $35.70

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If you’re looking for a face sunscreen that goes on like a great, glowy tinted moisturizer, Rms Beauty’s sunscreen is the one for you. Available in three shades for fair to deep skin tones, this tinted sunscreen is swirled with pearlescent pigments that provide major radiance and soft-focus coverage. It’s our pick for hot summer days when you want a smooth, bright complexion without layers of sunscreen and foundation: When massaged onto the skin, it’ll provide a filter-like effect that feels lightweight and breathable. Clean sunscreen lovers will appreciate that the formula is all-mineral and that it includes skin-brightening niacinamide.

Editor testing and review notes: “This tinted mineral sunscreen performs like an amazing skin tint, concealing dark spots and blemishes while delivering the most gorgeous glow. I have fair skin, and the lightest shade goes on seamlessly to brighten my skin while protecting it with essential SPF. During the summer, I love going for the medium shade to fib a faux tan. Unlike most mineral sunscreens, this one doesn’t smell or look chalky.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $40.80