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Sunscreens and SPF moisturizers

A thoughtful sunscreen gently shields delicate skin cells from harsh ultraviolet rays. It is used every morning. The formula relies on zinc oxide to block UVA and UVB light, hyaluronic acid to increase cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression, and vitamin E to provide enhanced moisturizing and anti-aging properties.

Drug Delivery, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

What to look for in a sunscreen

From reviews of 24 popular sunscreens.

What reviewers value

  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “sunk in like a dream — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum”
    • “melts into skin — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “Disappears into skin — EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46”
  • No white cast Mostly Mentioned
    • “completely clear — Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen”
    • “zero white cast — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum”
    • “transparent finish — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Hydrating and moisturizing Often Mentioned
    • “feels like a moisturizer — innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen”
    • “keeps skin hydrated — CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen”
    • “leaves skin visibly smooth and moisturized — Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula”
  • Works well under makeup Often Mentioned
    • “grips makeup well — Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen”
    • “grips foundation like a dream — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum”
    • “primer-like — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Sensitive skin safe and gentle Often Mentioned
    • “No fragrance — Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer”
    • “No breakouts — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30”
    • “doesn't clog pores — CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30”
  • Reliable sun protection Sometimes Noted
    • “No burns on me — La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60”
    • “SPF 50+ PA++++ — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “prevents daily burn — CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30”

Common complaints

  • Stings the eyes Often Mentioned
    • “burns my eyes terribly — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”
    • “stings eyes — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “stings my eyes badly — innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen”
  • Greasy or shiny finish Often Mentioned
    • “too oily for my skin — innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen”
    • “oily on face — Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50”
    • “feels like Vaseline — Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen”
  • Leaves a white cast Sometimes Noted
    • “chalk white face — CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen”
    • “leaves white residue — CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30”
    • “leaves a purple/blue tint — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”
  • Strong fragrance or scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells like alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
    • “smells like vodka — Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence”
    • “scent is too overpowering — innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen”
  • Pills under makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “rolls off skin — CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30”
    • “Balls up on skin — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30”
    • “Pills under my foundation — EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “woke up with pimples — L'Oréal Bright Reveal”
    • “closed comedones — Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer”
    • “caused cystic acne — Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen”

All sunscreens

See all 252 sunscreens

Research behind sunscreen ingredients

Behind these picks

Lovi picks every product by its fit score, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.