The 5 Best Sunscreens
Spending some time in the sun is a great way to improve your mood, improve your health, get some much-needed vitamin D, and give you a better outlook on life. However, being in the sun can also expose your delicate skin to damaging UVA and UVB rays. This can cause skin damage, can increase your risk of skin cancer, and can cause your face and skin to age prematurely. To prevent this type of damage, it is important to find a quality sunblock that you enjoy wearing and feel confident can protect your skin.
Sunscreen should be applied liberally whenever you’re in the sun: all day, everyday, at any age. Nobody is safe from the sun, so it’s important to protect your skin every day of your life. Along with wearing sunscreen on your face and body, you should also seek shade when the sun is out, cover up with protective clothing, wear a hat, and wear sunglasses with UV absorption to better protect yourself from the sun.
What Is Sunscreen?
Sunscreen is a topical cream, lotion, gel, or spray that can be applied to the face and body to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. It is always a good idea to combine products that contain SPF with sunscreen for optimal sun protection. Sunscreen works by absorbing or reflecting the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation so that it cannot reach the deeper layers of the skin.
To get the most from your sun protection, it is important to find sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. We have covered some of the best sunscreens, so that you can protect yourself from UVA and UVB rays, prevent sun damage, and hydrate your skin all at once.
Top 5 Sunscreens
Blue Lizard Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30+
As Amazon’s #1 best seller in sports sunscreen and one of TotalBeauty.com’s top sunscreen choices, Blue Lizard Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30+ is gentle enough even for sensitive skin and can be used everyday on both the face and body. This classic dermatologist-recommended sunblock uses only high quality natural minerals for broad spectrum UVA and UVB skin protection.
It is also paraben-free, fragrance-free, and chemical-free. Both the sunscreen and the bottle itself can help protect you from the sun. That’s because the patented BPA-free Smart Bottle turns blue in the presence of harmful UV rays and becomes a deeper blue color with the presence of more UV rays, so you’ll know when you’re in danger and have an automatic reminder to apply your sunscreen.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid for Face
The award-winning La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid for Face is Consumer Reports’ top sunscreen pick with a 100% rating and was also chosen as a top pick by TotalBeauty.com and ConsumerSearch. This dermatologist-recommended sunscreen is ideal for normal, oily, combination and sensitive skin, and offers a powdery matte finish.
This fast absorbing, water-resistant sunscreen is fragrance-free, PABA-free, non-comedogenic, and comfortable to wear. It offers broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and SPF 60 to protect the skin from UV-induced skin damage. It features Cell-Ox Shield, which can protect your skin at the cellular level, as well as an advanced UV filtering system, and a powerful antioxidant complex called Senna Alata, which is a tropical leaf extract known to defend skin cells. It is also photostable for longer-lasting protection and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Coppertone Sunscreen Lotion Ultra Guard Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Coppertone makes a number of award-winning sunscreens for babies, kids, and adults, so you almost can’t go wrong with Coppertone Sunscreen Lotion. They are also the #1 pediatrician recommended brand and make kid-friendly options like “Wacky Foam” that kids actually like using. InStyle, TotalBeauty.com and Consumer Reports also stand behind Coppertone sunscreens and their heavy-duty protection. The Coppertone Sunscreen Lotion Ultra Guard Broad Spectrum SPF 50 can prevent sunburn and provide extra UVA and UVB protection. The water-resistant, non-greasy, non-comedogenic sunscreen provides broad-spectrum protection from the sun's damaging rays using Avobenzone.
It can also moisturize your skin in the process with Aloe, Vitamin E, and specially blended moisturizers. It is also PABA-free, dermatologist-tested, and water-resistant for 80 minutes. This sunscreen is perfect even for the hottest climates and Coppertone offers other options of SPF 100+.
Neutrogena Age Shield Face Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 110
If you want to protect, preserve, and care for your skin, then Neutrogena Age Shield Face Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 110 is the right lightweight sunscreen for you. The water-resistant face lotion comes from a #1 dermatologist recommended brand of suncare and is oil-free, PABA-free, non-greasy, and non-comedogenic. It offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection and can protect skin six layers deep from the sun’s damaging rays.
It also combats free radical damage and has anti-aging properties to help better care for your skin. It also features Helioplex, which helps screen out UVB burning rays and prevent UVA aging rays from penetrating the surface layers. This lotion is also packed with skin conditioners, which will hydrate and replenish the skin.
Eltamd UV Clear SPF 46
As Amazon’s #1 best seller in skin sun protection, Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 is intended for skin types prone to acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation, but is great for all skin types. Backed by great reviews, even users with sensitive and acne-prone complexions love wearing this alone or under makeup. The lightweight, oil-free facial sunscreen calms and protects acne-prone skin, while offering broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection.
It also helps reduce the appearance of blemishes, discoloration, and photo-damaged skin, while protecting it from sun damage. It is also oil-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and is specially formulated with 5% pure form Niacinamide, which is like Vitamin B3 or niacine without the same toxic effects.
And those are our recommendations for the best sunscreens. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!
Like this article? Pin it!
Tagged: Health and Beauty, Lifestyle, Shopping, beauty products, product reviews, skin care, sunscreen
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
