While it’s good to protect your face and body from the Sun no matter what, sometimes it can be difficult to be bothered to apply a sunscreen, especially if it’s one which leaves a white cast, or feels uncomfortable on your skin. If you are looking for the best sunscreens for your face and body, you’re in the right place!
Best 3 sunscreens for face
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
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If you are looking for one of the most hyped-up sunscreens for your face, this one from Supergoop! is everywhere. One of the most pleasant things about using it is that it leaves no white cast, whatsoever, so you won’t be spending hours in front of the mirror each morning, desperately trying to rub it in, and it serves as a great makeup primer, too.
Not to mention, the formula claims to be suitable for all skin types, as it is completely fragrance-free, oil-free and even beard-friendly! One thing worth noting is that this sunscreen is a chemical formula, which isn’t always people’s preference, and this formula is not yet completely reef-safe, but Supergoop! are working extremely hard to alter the formula to remove any harmful ingredients.
Coola Organic Classic Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 50
- BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 50 SPRAY: Water resistant up to 80 minutes
- SKIN NOURISHING INGREDIENTS: Absorb fast with no greasy feel
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Although it can be hard to find a sunscreen which is perfect for you, this one ticks pretty much every box for every skin type. It’s easy to see that the formula has been carefully thought about and created with so many benefits, it’s unbelievable! If you’re looking for some examples of the great claims this product makes, they include reef safe, unscented, non-greasy, plant-based and a high protection factor (50).
Because of its high SPF, you can be sure that your skin is covered as much as it would ever need to be, even in the height of summer. As if this wasn’t impressive enough, the formula also contains antioxidants, which are ingredients known to fight free radicals (something which can damage your skin) and strengthen the skin altogether. When wearing this sunscreen, you won’t feel like you have anything on the surface of your skin at all, while it still offers a hefty amount of protection – it’s a win-win!
Also read: What SPF Should I Use on My Face? (3 Best Sunscreens)
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin SPF 60 Face Sunscreen
- Face sunscreen for oily skin with broad spectrum SPF 60 protection; Sunscreen absorbs pore clogging oil, even in heat and humidity; Formulated with cell Ox shield antioxidant technology
- This daily face sunscreen provides advanced protection while absorbing pore-clogging oil. Our best sunscreen for acne prone skin is formulated with Cell-Ox Shield technology: broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with antioxidants.
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For people with acne-prone skin, even the use of an oil-free sunscreen can sometimes not be powerful enough to prevent any additional breakouts but, luckily, this one has got your covered. La Roche-Posay are known for having some really good products, especially for those with oily, sensitive or acne-prone skin (or all 3) and this non-greasy, oil-free sunscreen is no exception.
In addition, it is a mineral sunscreen, so it is effective immediately after application, and therefore free of oxybenzone, a harmful ingredient which is often used in sunscreens. SPF 60 is also a very high protection level, and this broad-spectrum product ill protect you during even the sunniest of days, from both UVA and UVB rays. The formula claims to also be waterproof for up to 80 minutes – and it’s good that the brand is honest like by this letting you know exactly how long it lasts for – so you should re-apply within 80 minutes if you are going in the sea or pool.
Best 3 sunscreens for body
Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen SPF 50
- POWERFUL NATURAL SUNSCREEN FOR SKIN SUN PROTECTION - The gentle Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Mineral Lotion with zinc & titanium offers broad-spectrum protection that blocks harmful UVA & UVB rays, for a refreshing powdery-clean feel
- Fortified WITH AUSTRALIAN BOTANICALS - The antioxidant rich sunscreen, created with soothing elements like Eucalyptus & Red Algae, forms a unique blend of antioxidant-rich plants to fight free radicals for nourishing skin
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If you haven’t heard of them before, Australian Gold are one of the leading sun care brands I the fashion and cosmetics industry, with their entire range of products centred around sun protection. This body sunscreen is one of their classic formulas which is made from Australian botanicals – completely natural ingredients – and is a mineral formula made from titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, two of the most popular, safe sunscreen ingredients. This sunscreen, as well as the entire range, is reef-friendly and does not use animal testing at any point during the production process.
You can wear this sunscreen all over for any occasion, from the beach to a sunny road trip, and it will feel great on your skin, and do great for the environment. When you look at the impressive claims made about this product, it’s hard to see why someone wouldn’t choose it, especially at such a low price point!
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50 Face and Body Sunscreen
- This oil-free, 100% mineral sunscreen for face and body with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide leaves skin feeling soothed and protected.
- Body & facial sunscreen is formulated with Cell-Ox Shield technology: broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with antioxidants.
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Upon first seeing this, you may have noticed that it has SPF 50, which is perfect for a day at the beach, when you are lying in the Sun, very exposed. The sunscreen is, in fact, a mineral formula, which is something a lot of people prefer for a variety of reasons, such as the fact that it is effective immediately upon application and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals which soak into the deeper layers of your skin.
Unlike many body sunscreens, you can also use this one on your face, as it has been carefully formulated for this purpose, which is good if you are traveling light, or don’t want to be taking loads of bottles out with you. The product is also oil-free and suitable for sensitive skin, allowing anyone to use it, regardless of what skin type they have.
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+
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On the slightly pricier end, this body sunscreen, from luxury skincare brand Shiseido, is made with a variety of different technologies unique to the brand, such as their SynchroShield and WetForce X HeatForce mechanisms. These all work together to provide you with an enjoyable user experience and comfortable wear.
Once again, this sunscreen is completely reef-safe and compliant with all of the regulations in place in Hawaii, which gives something to prove this claim against. Like others, it is also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes before needing to be re-applied and it is a broad-spectrum, mineral sunscreen.
FAQ
What should you look for when buying a sunscreen for the face?
When buying a sunscreen for your face, you should obviously look for good reviews from other people, as their recommendations can be a good pointer that the product is impressive. You should also take a look at the ingredients list, and briefly research each ingredient in the product, to find out whether it’s particularly great for your skin. Lastly, be guided by your skin type when choosing a sunscreen, so choose one with hydrating ingredients if your skin is dry, and one which is non-comedogenic if your skin is oily.
Do they have to be vegan?
Vegan beauty is a very current and ‘trendy’ ethical value at the moment, and it’s something which a lot of people are passionate about, but do you really need vegan products? No, your sunscreen, or any other product for that matter, doesn’t have to be vegan – this is a personal decision which you can make based on your own ethical values and beliefs. Of course, you can buy a vegan sunscreen if you’d like, but you shouldn’t feel like you have to.
What is a reef-friendly cream?
Vegan sunscreen isn’t the only ethically based category of products, and another popular label is ‘reef-friendly’. Some sunscreens, when worn in the sea, can wash off of the surface of your skin, and mix in with the water in the ocean, where the chemicals can sometimes harm coral reefs and the marine life inside them. Reef-friendly sunscreens contain ingredients which don’t have the same devastating effect, and this is something you should buy if you are wearing your sunscreen in the sea.
I have acne-prone skin. Which creams should I use?
For those with acne-prone skin, this is usually as a result of oiliness, or an imbalance of oils in the skin. Using a sunscreen which is labelled as non-comedogenic or oil-free is a good place to start, but the best option is to take a look at the ingredient list of your sunscreen, before buying it, and checking that everything on here is suitable to use on your acne-prone skin. Using something gentle can also reduce irritation, which can be very good for acne, too.
What do they mean – oil-free, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic?
If you ever look at any skincare product or sunscreens, you’ll notice some of the various labels which are used to promote the product and entice customers, but what do they mean?
- Oil-free: if a sunscreen is oil-free, it shouldn’t contain any greasy, oil-based ingredients which could potentially cause breakouts, especially if your skin is oily or acne-prone.
- Fragrance-free: when used in cosmetics, fragrance can be very irritating, so it’s a good thing to avoid, and this label means that there are no fragrant ingredients included purely for the purpose of their scent (but you should always double-check this on the ingredients list yourself).
- Non-comedogenic: non-comedogenic sunscreens contain ingredients which shouldn’t clog your pores, however, there isn’t much regulation around the use of this word, so you are always better off checking the ingredients yourself.
Also read: Best Non-Comedogenic Self-Tanner For The Face
Related:
What Type of Sunscreen is Best for Black Skin? (Explained)
Final thoughts
Now that you know some of the best sunscreens for your face and for your body, you can be super prepared to go out into the sunlight, completely protected from any potential skin damage from the Sun. Hopefully, you should also know a little extra information about sunscreens themselves, too, which can be useful if you are choosing your own sunscreen!
