8 Best Face Sunscreens




Best face sunscreen for under makeup

Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Daily Defense

  • Price: $$$
  • Size: 3 fl. oz.
  • SPF: 30
  • Sunscreen type: mineral
  • Main/active ingredients: titanium dioxide; glycerin, vitamin E, vitamin C, aloe
  • Broad spectrum: yes
  • Water resistant: no

This skin-friendly sunscreen contains vitamin C, a hella researched antioxidant that gives your SPF a huge boost in protecting your skin from photo damage.

It also has aloe to add an extra dose of moisture and to help soothe any irritation. The company is committed to using clean, earth-friendly ingredients, and we’re here for it.

It has a tint to it, so you can apply it solo but it also layers well with makeup. But people complain that it’s hella greasy — so stay away from this if you’ve got oily skin probs.

Pros
  • moisturizing (glycerin, vitamin E), soothing (aloe), and antioxidant (vitamin C) ingredients
  • fragrance- and essential oil-free
Cons
  • leaves a white cast
  • not water resistant

Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Daily Defense

Best face sunscreen for acne-prone skin

EltaMD UV Facial Sunscreen

  • Price: $$$
  • Size: 1.7 oz.
  • SPF: 46
  • Sunscreen type: combination
  • Main/active ingredients: octinoxate, zinc oxide; niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
  • Broad spectrum: yes
  • Water resistant: no

This EltaMD sunblock is a triple threat. It’s suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin. It’s oil-free. And derms lurv it.

And since your skin deserves a little treat, it also contains niacinamide, which is a pretty legit anti-acne ingredient that can also help curb oil production. Plus, it helps lock in hydration. We told you it was a triple threat, didn’t we??

A lot of mineral sunscreens wish they could go on sheer. But this formula is legit transparent. And it’s fragrance-free.

Pros
  • odorless
  • sheer
  • moisturizing (hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin E) and anti-acne (niacinamide) ingredients
  • fragrance- and essential oil-free
Cons
  • might take some adjusting to get used to the added niacinamide

EltaMD UV Facial Sunscreen