These Are the 15 Best Sunscreens for All Year Round

Best drugstore sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 70
Best spray sunscreen: Supergoop! Play Antioxidant Body Mist, SPF 50
Best sunscreen for babies: Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sensitive Skin Zinc Oxide Sunscreen, SPF 50
Best sunscreen for kids: Coppertone Pure & Simple Kids 100% Mineral Sun Protection, SPF 50
Best mineral sunscreen for face: Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Face, SPF 70
Best sports mineral sunscreen: Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50
Best reef-friendly sunscreen: Stream2Sea Sunscreen Sport, SPF 30
Best body sunscreen for sensitive skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen, SPF 100
Best face sunscreen for sensitive skin: Avène Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Sunscreen Fluid, SPF 50
Best sunscreen for dark skin: Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion for Face and Body, SPF 30
Best powder sunscreen: Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen, SPF 50
Best sunscreen for oily and acne-prone skin: Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen, SPF 35
Best sunscreen to wear under makeup: Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen, SPF 35
Best tinted sunscreen: Unsun Mineral Tinted Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen, SPF 30
Best sunscreen for tattoos: CannaSmack Ink Guard, SPF 30

Rain or shine, sunscreen is the one step in your skin care routine you never want to skip.

Even if it’s not summer, and you don’t feel the sun burning on your skin, ultraviolet (UV) rays never take a day off.

SPF helps protect your skin from those rays year-round. Ultimately, it helps prevent sun damage, premature signs of aging, skin cancer, and fine lines and wrinkles.

We know shopping for sunscreen can be overwhelming — almost every skin care line offers one, after all. But what’s important to know is that, when you’re considering the following recommendations, there are two major types of sunscreen to choose from:

Physical. Also known as mineral sunscreens, these use ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to deflect UVA and UVB rays.
Chemical. These sunscreens are made with ingredients like avobenzone and oxybenzone. These ingredients absorb UV rays before they seep into the skin.

And then after that, it’s mostly up to personal preference: Do you prefer a tinted sunscreen, an option that’s tried and proven for sports, or a gentle sunscreen for babies and kids?

To help you find a great sun-protecting companion for all year round, we recommend the sunscreens listed here based on such factors as ingredients, cost, SPF ratings, and user reviews.

All the sunscreens on this list are under $30, except for the Colorescience powdered sunscreen.

Pricing guide

We indicate price range using the following scale, based on the cost per ounce (oz.):

$ = under $6 per oz.
$$ = $6–$10 per oz.
$$$ = $11–$20 per oz.
$$$$ = over $20 per oz.

For example, one dollar sign means you get more product for the money spent, while products that cost a bit more might meet other needs besides budget.

Best drugstore sunscreen

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 70

Key features: At an affordable price and available in many stores, Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen has a non-greasy feel, an SPF of 70, and water resistance for up to 80 minutes.

Considerations: It contains potentially irritating ingredients, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which publishes information on personal care products through its Skin Deep database. Oxybenzone has been associated with allergic reactions.

Best spray sunscreen

Supergoop! Play Antioxidant Body Mist, SPF 50

Key features: Offering the convenience of sunscreen application on the go, this spray provides broad spectrum SPF 50 protection (meaning it blocks both UVA and UVB rays) from four active ingredients, plus a boost of antioxidants, like vitamin C.

Considerations: Coverage may be a concern. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that it can be difficult to determine how much spray sunscreen you need for an adequate layer of protective coverage. Additionally, pricing may be an issue, especially since other effective alternatives are on the market.

Best sunscreen for babies

Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sensitive Skin Zinc Oxide Sunscreen, SPF 50

Key features: This SPF 50 sunscreen lotion offers up to 80 minutes of water-resistant protection against UVA and UVB rays. And if you like products backed by experts, know that this sunscreen has received praise from the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Considerations: This sunscreen contains zinc oxide. It also contains Avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, an ingredient that can be an irritant or allergen for some users. However, it’s not in high concentrations in this product.

Best sunscreen for kids

Coppertone Pure and Simple Kids 100% Mineral Sun Protection, SPF 50

Key features: This sunscreen is great for children with sensitive skin, as its formula is hypoallergenic and contains botanical ingredients. Additionally, this lotion contains SPF 50 protection, making it a suitable choice for little ones who like to swim for long periods of time.

The hard plastic bottle and size make it easy to pack. And with enough lotion, you don’t have to worry about running out during a day’s activities.

Considerations: Although this sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, the formula will wash off, especially for little ones going in and out of water frequently. You’ll still need to keep up with reapplication throughout the day — every 1 or 2 hours, ideally.

Best mineral sunscreen for face

Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Face, SPF 70

Key features: This sunscreen offers broad spectrum, mineral-based sun protection with an SPF of 70. It also offers about 80 minutes of water resistance.

Mineral sunscreens have the advantage of blocking UV rays more quickly than chemical sunscreens. We chose this one from Bare Republic (and the next one) for being easily available and affordable.

Considerations: This face sunscreen is scented, although it’s very faint. Some users might not like the classic vanilla coconut scent.

Best sports mineral sunscreen

Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50

Key features: This sunscreen comes in the form of a small solid that you can swipe on. Like the Bare Republic lotion mentioned above, this sunscreen stick offers mineral-based sun protection. And it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Users like being able to throw it in a bag or keep it in a pocket without having the bulk of a bottle or an accidental leak out of a tube.

Considerations: Also like the lotion, this sunscreen stick comes in a vanilla coconut scent. While this form of sunscreen lets you apply it exactly where you want it to go and doesn’t come off easily, this also means it won’t spread as easily as a lotion or gel.

Best reef-friendly sunscreen

Stream2Sea Sunscreen Sport, SPF 30

Key features: This sunscreen doesn’t use any of the known active sunscreen ingredients that affect coral reefs and fish. Stream2Sea states this sunblock uses non-nano titanium dioxide. In other words, the particles of this ingredient are each 100 nanometers or more. This is considered safer for marine life because the larger size is less likely to affect their systems.

Reminder: The very best reef-friendly sunblock if you’re in the water is clothing, according to many experts. A T-shirt, rash guard, or cover-up not only blocks more UV rays from your skin, but also reduces the amount of sunscreen you need to apply (and reapply) to the exposed parts of your body.

That said, this sunscreen may be a good choice if reef safety is important to you, and you want effective sunscreen lotion.

Considerations: While the company boasts that the product formulas have been tested and found reef-safe, keep in mind that there is no set standard or regulatory group for such concerns.

Consumer Reports suggests a reef-safe label can be misleading in general, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently doesn’t have an agreed-upon definition, and this factor isn’t strictly regulated by the government.

Also, other sunscreens that claim to be reef-safe include ingredients that may still be harmful to marine life. For example, a 2014 study found that octocrylene might be harmful to developing zebrafish. Some reef-safe sunscreens still include octocrylene, although this one does not.

Best body sunscreen for sensitive skin

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen, SPF 100

Key features: This option is safe for sensitive skin and offers impressive broad spectrum SPF 100 protection. It’s also free of oxybenzone, which is one of the more controversial sunscreen ingredients, according to the EWG.

Considerations: One big drawback of this product is the price tag. Those few ounces of formula are on the pricier side.

Best face sunscreen for sensitive skin

Avène Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Sunscreen Fluid, SPF 50

Key features: This mineral sunscreen is formulated without the chemicals, fragrances, or irritants used in many sunscreen products, including octinoxate. Beneficial ingredients include emollients and fatty acids.

Considerations: User reviews suggest this sunscreen can leave behind a white cast when you apply it. Several users, for example, say the fluid has a sticky texture and white color, which may not be great if you like to wear sunscreen under makeup.

For more options for sensitive skin, check out what our dermatologists had to say.

Best sunscreen for dark skin

Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion for Face and Body, SPF 30

Key features: Many sunscreens have the disadvantage of leaving behind a white cast, which can be a frustrating issue for People of Color. To avoid a gray mask-like appearance, this product formula boasts a sheer texture that dries on clear. Users like that it feels moisturizing, too.

Considerations: Although SPF 30 provides essential and effective sun protection, it might not be enough if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors or want a higher level of protection.

Best powder sunscreen

Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen, SPF 50

Key features: This all-mineral sunblock offers the convenience of speedy application tucked away in a tube that can easily fit inside purses, backpacks, and pockets. The powder formula comes in four shades to complement skin tones from pale to dark.

Considerations: Although this sunscreen has convenience on its side, it only contains 0.25 oz. of formula in total. This can be problematic if you want a product that lasts long. The AAD suggests that adults need at least 1 oz. (or enough to fill a shot glass) of sunscreen to fully cover the body.

Best sunscreen for oily and acne-prone skin

Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen, SPF 35

Key features: This sunscreen is lightweight, and leaves skin feeling silky and smooth, while also minimizing the appearance of pores. It also doubles as a great makeup primer.

Japanese wild rose helps reduce the appearance of pores and smooths skin texture, and loquat leaf extract contains antioxidants that are meant to protect and calm skin.

Considerations: This sunscreen is formulated without parabens, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, sulfate detergents, phthalates, urea, DEA, or TEA. It doesn’t contain aminobenzoic acid, homosalate, oxybenzone, or octinoxate.

Best sunscreen to wear under makeup

Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen, SPF 35

Key features: This lightweight sunscreen speeds up the application process by providing a serum-like formula that absorbs quickly into the skin. This makes it a great choice if you don’t want a white residue on your skin, or if you have issues with acne-prone skin.

Considerations: Keep in mind that the smaller size means it might not provide enough sunscreen for your face or body on your travels, especially if you’re spending a long weekend under a tropical sun.

Best tinted sunscreen

Unsun Mineral Tinted Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen, SPF 30

Key features: In addition to its broad spectrum SPF 30 protection, this sunscreen offers two shades that satisfy a range from dark chocolate to very light tones. This allows users to wear it alone or underneath makeup as a primer. It claims to color correct redness and dark spots upon application.

Consideration: Physical mineral sunscreens can rub or sweat off quite easily. So this tinted sunscreen might not be the best product choice if you’re going to be outdoors or spending long periods of time in the water.

Best sunscreen for tattoos

CannaSmack Ink Guard, SPF 30

Key features: This sunscreen aims to offer SPF 30 protection against UVA and UVB rays for tattoos of all sizes. It also claims to prevent color fade and dehydration with ingredients like hempseed oil. Other ingredients include beeswax and plant oils to keep skin hydrated.

Considerations: Hempseed oil aside, this sunscreen contains other uncommon ingredients, such as meradimate. Meradimate, also known as menthyl anthranilate, acts as a sunscreen, absorbing UV rays.