You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day. Here Are 16 of the Best. (2024)

You really need to be wearing sunscreen. Sun damage can cause faster-aging skin, pigmentation issues like sun spots, and, most important, skin cancer—the most common form of cancer. Sunscreen is your best defense, and you should slather it on if you’re hanging out by the pool or going for a run outside as well as on cloudy days and when you’re inside. “If you are out in the daylight, you are exposed to UV rays. Even incidental sunlight exposure on your lunch break or your commute to work adds up over a lifetime,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research, department of dermatology at Mount Sinai. That means wearing sunscreen on the daily, not just when you’re at the beach, is essential.

The reason most people don’t do that? Sunscreen is confusing. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing SPF 30 at minimum and looking for screens that say broad spectrum on the label—they protect against both UVA and UVB light. There are also mineral and chemical kinds to consider. Mineral sunscreens use materials like zinc oxide to form a physical barrier on the skin that blocks UV light. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, absorb and disperse the light rays.

Which you choose is mostly “personal preference, because both are effective,” says Dr. Zeichner, who usually recommends mineral screens for people with sensitive skin. Facial sunscreens, designed for use on your face only, come in both forms and often have additional ingredients like antioxidants and hydrating factors that might not be found in body sunscreens.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.