The best sunscreen is one you'll actually use. (Getty Images)
Summer's in full swing, which means more time in the sun and more questions about how to best protect your skin. If you've been on social media recently, you may have noticed a lot of, well, not totally reliable information about sunscreen use. I know I've seen some outrageous claims about sunscreen, including dangerous myths about how you don't need sun protection at all. The truth, according to decades of scientific research, is that skipping sunscreen puts you at a much higher risk for skin cancer.
I've been a beauty editor long enough to know it's important to use sunscreen, both for my health and to keep my skin from looking old. But as summer gets going, I'm trying to sort out the best sun protection for my family, and I wanted to better understand the mistakes I might still be making while trying to protect my skin. I reached out to dermatologists to find answers to my most pressing sunscreen concerns, and here's what they said.
"The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF minimum of 30 that has broad-spectrum coverage and is water-resistant," says Dr. Brendan Camp, a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York City.
There are two main types of sunscreen: mineral and chemical. The main difference is that chemical sunscreen doesn't contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, while mineral sunscreen has one or both of these ingredients. If you have sensitive skin, mineral sunscreen will most likely be less irritating, but it may leave a white cast on your skin. When deciding between the two, experts emphasize that the best sunscreen is one you actually like and will use.
With that in mind, here are a few products dermatologists recommend. They're also among the best sunscreens we've tested this year.
"This sunscreen has been clinically tested and shown to give better sunburn protection compared to sunscreens with lower SPFs," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner, who's based in New York City. The lightweight formula is fast-absorbing, has a non-greasy matte finish and can be found at drugstores.
Zeichner particularly likes its high SPF. "In the real world, consumers do not apply as much sunscreen as they should, so the level of protection gets diluted," he explains. "Starting with a higher SPF to begin with acts like an insurance policy to give you the best level of protection possible."
SPF: 50 | Broad spectrum: Yes | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Mineral or chemical: Chemical | Active ingredients: Avobenzone 1.75%, Homosalate 5%, Octisalate 2%, Octocrylene 5%
Dermatologist Dr. Cynthia Bailey calls Coola’s Organic Face Sunscreen “a nice zinc oxide product.” This fragrance-free option doubles as a lotion, so you can moisturize and protect in one go. It’s easy to wear under makeup and is water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes. A nice feature: Coola’s sunscreen is reef-friendly, so it helps minimize the harmful effects on ocean life when you go for a swim.
This award-winning French sunscreen is considered among the best in the world. The texture is lightweight, almost watery (like a thin day cream), which helps it soak into your skin on contact. Once on, the formula, which works for your face or body, looks natural, with no greasy feel, stickiness or glossy sheen.
Read my in-depth review of La Roche-Posay Anthelios sunscreen.
If you're not into wearing a hat or you're planning to swim, this lightweight, non-greasy mist has SPF 30 to protect against UVA and UVB rays and keep your scalp from burning. It's water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so you can wear it in the water and still reap the SPF benefits.
Aquafor's dermatologist-recommended repair balm is clinically proven to relieve dryness and soothe the most chapped, cracked lips. Because it contains potent sunscreen (broad-spectrum SPF 30), it's an essential beauty product for summer.
Though you'll still need to reapply every two hours, if you're going to be sweating or in the water, this potent mineral sunscreen stick may last longer than traditional creams on high-burn-risk areas like your nose. Its hero ingredient is zinc oxide, but it's also packed with skin-nourishing beeswax and vitamin E.
Like most zinc oxide sunscreens, it does leave a slight white cast. To combat this, we recommend applying it slowly, in thin layers, and massaging it into the skin, which will lend the best coverage without a ghostly finish.
This silky, fast-drying, sweat-wicking shirt comes in more than two dozen stylish shades, and check out that flattering drape.
This lightweight, versatile cotton hat comes in 17 colors and is UPF 50+, meaning it will block out at least 98% of the sun's harmful UVB and UVA rays.
"The face, body, arms and legs are the first places people apply sunscreen," says Camp. But "you shouldn't forget the ears, neck and back of your hands because these are areas exposed to the sun on a daily basis," he cautions. "Use an SPF lip balm to protect your lips. To protect your scalp, consider a liquid or powder sunscreen to cover the part in your hair."
Start with your first sunscreen application in the morning before you go out. (How much? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, adults need around 1 ounce of product, or about a shot glass' worth, to cover the face and body.) After that, Camp says, "The AAD recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours when outside for extended periods and again after sweating and swimming." Keep in mind that it takes around 15 minutes for sunscreen to fully absorb and start protecting your skin.
"What I really want patients to know is that, in addition to sunscreen, other sun-protective behaviors are important too," says Camp. "Like wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and UPF clothing."
The Skin Cancer Foundation considers UPF clothing to be among the most effective ways to prevent both sun damage and skin cancer, and also the simplest method — unlike sunscreen, you don't have to remember to reapply.
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