Face Sunscreens You’ll Actually Want to Wear
There are few feelings worse than smearing on sunscreen and feeling like a greasy, shining beacon for the rest of the day. Your hair is sticking to your face, your makeup is smudging, and someone on TikTok is telling you to reapply that god-forsaken SPF every two hours or someday you’ll look old. The horror! Now I’m not saying that a good, comfortable face sunscreen will fix all your problems, but it can certainly help a few. I’ve tried a TON of sunscreens, so let me share some of my personal favorites!
Requirements for Really Good Face SPF
A good sunscreen, in my opinion, feels light on the skin. It plays well with makeup. It doesn’t make me sweat, breakout, pill, or otherwise hate my life. There can be absolutely no visible whitecast. It shouldn’t smell like sunscreen. My skin leans toward the drier side, so bonus points if this miracle sunscreen is a bit hydrating. Let’s dive in! I’ve linked purchasing options for each SPF below. All YesStyle and Amazon links are affiliate and may earn me commission at no extra cost to you. Any other links are non-affiliate and just for your convenience🙂
CosRX - Aloe Soothing Sun Cream
A personal favorite of mine! It smells nice and is thick and creamy. I’ve used up three bottles so far and will continue to repurchase it.
PROS: Hydrating, can be used as an AM moisturizer
CONS: Could be too heavy for oily skin
Available online at: YesStyle | Amazon
TJ Maxx is an authorized retailed of CosRX, so this product can sometimes be found there, too!
Biore - UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence
The very formula that got me into Korean sunscreens! This is a cult favorite and one of the best sunscreens on the market. I got my stepmom hooked on it, too! It’s hydrating, comfortable, and almost imperceivable on the skin. One of my favorites!
PROS: Lightweight, hydrating, feels like nothing on the skin
CONS: Some people say it can be drying- I haven’t personally experienced this
Available online at: YesStyle | Amazon
La Roche-Posay - Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Face Sunscreen
A quick and easy SPF. It’s very runny and soaks in like a serum. It leaves a satin-matte finish to the skin and plays well with both skincare and makeup.
PROS: Ultra light, great under makeup
CONS: Can cling to patches of dry skin, making them more visible
Available online at: Amazon | Ulta | La Roche-Posay
Supergoop - Unseen Sunscreen
A classic. This silicone-based sunscreen is ultra smooth, hydrating, and perfectly clear. It leave your skin feeling silky smooth and works great under makeup.
PROS: Completely transparent, smoothing
CONS: So expensive! Silicone base is not for everyone and it doesn’t fully dry down
Available online at: Amazon | Ulta | Sephora | Supergoop
Trader Joe’s - Daily Facial Sunscreen
My one true love. For $9 a bottle, this sunscreen tops my list of favorites. It’s a great dupe for Supergoop Unseen and is incredibly affordable. The only downside is that you need to be lucky enough to live near a Trader Joe’s, and also lucky enough for them to stock it.
PROS: Dupe for Supergoop! Transparent and comfortable
CONS: Silicone base is not universally loved. Not available online, can be tough to find
Canmake - Mermaid Skin Gel UV Sunscreen
A cult-favorite Japanese sunscreen! This one feels like skincare to me. Very light, simple to apply, and blends in nicely.
PROS: Lightweight, comfortable, plays well with makeup
CONS: Some people say it can get dry and flaky. The bottle is also pretty small
Available online at: YesStyle | Amazon
MadHippie - Daily Protective Serum
When they say “serum”, they mean it! This SPF is incredibly runny and comes in a pump bottle. It soaks in super quickly and doesn’t leave a whitecast, despite being a mineral formula. I reach for this one a lot!
PROS: Super lightweight! Sinks in like a serum
CONS: Comparably low SPF rating
Available online at: Ulta | Amazon | MadHippie
Cay Skin - Mo’Bay Mineral Sunscreen Drops
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I love these. The formula is very light and runny, much like the MadHippie and La Roche-Posay sunscreens mentioned above. It blends in nicely and leaves a velvety, soft matte finish. Read my full review here!
PROS: Very lightweight, easy to blend in
CONS: Has potential to be drying, but very minimally so
Available online at: Sephora | Cay Skin
Coola - Refreshing Water Cream Sunscreen
This was a chance TJ Max purchase, and it got me hooked on Coola as a brand. This stuff is intense. It’s thick, creamy, and incredibly hydrating. Not for the faint of heart, but perfect for dry skin and cold weather!
PROS: This is a whole, decadent moisturizer. Perfect for ski season!
CONS: Will be too heavy for oily skin or super hot/humid weather
Available online at: Ulta | Coola
Coola products can sometimes be found at TJ Maxx!
Cay Skin - Isle Glow Face Moisutrizer
I wasn’t expecting to like a sunscreen that has shimmer! This one is very lightweight and comfortable. The shimmer is gorgeous on the skin- it doesn’t come across as glittery, greasy, or shiny. It just gives a pretty, healthy glow. I struggled a lot with the airless pump at first, so until they improve the packaging, it might not be the best for older folk or people who struggle with hand strength or mobility.
PROS: Sinks in like a dream and feels like nothing. Glowy finish!
CONS: Pump is super difficult at first
Available online at: Amazon | Sephora | Cay Skin
Which face sunscreen are you going to try?
Any of them calling your name? These are all products that I tried and enjoyed. If there’s something missing from the list that you think deserves a spot, let me know! Either I haven’t tried it yet or didn’t love it as much as you did🙂
Let me know if you have any questions about these sunscreens! I’m happy to help in whatever way I can.
As always, thanks so much for being here. I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,
Lindsay
