Key takeaways
- Sunscreen helps protect your skin from the effects of the sun year-round.
- Look for a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays.
- For darker skin tones, we consider Black Girl Sunscreen a great pick. For kids, we chose Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen.
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.
Read on to learn more about Healthline’s top picks and how to get the most out of your sunscreen.
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 octisalate. Some may contain oxybenzone, although fewer are made with this ingredient because of its
potentialTrusted Source as an irritant and its negative environmental impact. These ingredients absorb UV rays before they seep into the skin.
Sticks, sprays, and lotions
Dermatologists recommend opting for sunscreen sticks and lotions with at least 30 SPF. The same goes for spray sunscreens, which are great for quick touchups on the go but must be applied correctly to be effective.
The best sunscreen type is a matter of personal choice and depends on the body parts you’re protecting. As long as it has broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection, an SPF of 30 or higher, and water resistance, you’re good.
For example, lotions or creams can be applied to the whole body. Sunscreen sticks can be great for the face and eyes because they’re less greasy and heavy than a lotion, and you can target sensitive or hard-to-reach areas.
Sprays and sticks offer just as much sun protection as other types of sunscreen when applied correctly, as found through mandatory
From there, 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?
SPF 30+
for better overall protection
UVA and UVB protection
against burns and aging
Water resistance
up to 80 minutes
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.
• octinoxate
• parabens
• fragrance
• octinoxate
• parabens
• fragrance
• fragrance
• oil
• octinoxate
SPF stands for sun protection factor. It’s a number, typically ranging from 15 to 100, that tells you how long it would take for UV radiation to turn your skin red while wearing the sunscreen as directed, compared with how long it would take without the product.
For example, if you apply a SPF 50 product, your skin would take 50 times longer to redden or burn than it would with no sunscreen at all.
Follow these best practices the next time you’re heading out to prevent a sunburn:
- Apply sunscreen about 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. Since it takes about 15 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed by your skin and offer protection, be sure to leave enough time in advance.
- Rub the sunscreen in thoroughly on bare skin, including the face, ears, feet, neck, and back. Most adults need about 1 oz of lotion to fully cover their bodies. Don’t forget to protect your lips with an SPF lip balm.
- Be sure to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when outdoors and right after sweating or swimming.
Here are a few key things to consider when shopping for sunscreen:
- Choose a water-resistant sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection: Since water makes sunscreen less effective, choosing a water-resistant formula will prolong its protection. Sunscreens labeled as broad-spectrum protect against both
UVA and UVB raysTrusted Source . All sunscreens protect against UVB rays, which are the main cause of sunburn and skin cancers. But UVA rays also contribute to skin cancer and premature aging. - Make sure your sunscreen has SPF 30 or higher: According to the
American Cancer SocietyTrusted Source , higher SPF numbers do mean more protection, but the higher you go, the smaller the difference. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%, SPF 50 about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. - Check the ingredients: Typical sunscreen or sunblock ingredients include tinosorb S and M, mexoryl SX, oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, PABA, and trolamine salicylate PABA. These ingredients will have varying degrees of risks and benefits to people and the environment. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, common sunscreen ingredients like oxybenzone, benzophenone-1, benzophenone-8, OD-PABA, nano-titanium dioxide, nano-zinc oxide, octinoxate, and octocrylene can harm marine life, including coral reefs. The chemicals can accumulate in coral and animal tissues, bleach coral, and damage the coral’s DNA.
- Consider your skin type: Many sunscreens are made to help people with dry, oily, or sensitive skin. If you have dry skin, look for hydrating ingredients — like glycerin, lanolin, oils, silicones, and aloe — and avoid sunscreen sprays or gels with alcohol. If you’re looking for sunscreen for your child or baby, there are formulas specially designed with safe ingredients for them.
- Decide whether you want a physical or chemical sunscreen: It’s thought that inorganic sunscreens create a protective barrier on the surface of your skin that reflects and scatters UV rays away from your body. There are only two inorganic sunscreen ingredients approved by the FDA: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Active ingredients that aren’t zinc or titanium are considered chemical sunscreen ingredients. Chemical sunscreens absorb into your skin like lotion instead of forming a barrier on top of the skin.
There is no one “best” sunscreen — the best type depends on you, the activities you’re planning to do, and what areas you’re trying to protect. Whether you choose a lotion, spray or stick, look for a water-resistant sunscreen with broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection and SPF 30 or higher.
Yes, you can still get a tan even if you wear sunscreen. This is because sunscreen does not block all UV rays.
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before heading outdoors, and reapply every 2 hours for optimal effectiveness. Reapply more often if you’re sweating or swimming.
Sunscreen absorbs UV rays before your skin has the chance to, while sunblock protects the skin from UV rays by blocking them through a physical shield. Sunscreens contain chemicals like oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate, and they easily absorb into the skin. Sunblocks contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Effective sunscreens offer SPF 30 and over and broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Besides ingredients, other considerations that make a particular sunscreen the best choice for you come down to your skin type, tone, and the level of protection you want.
Once you’ve zeroed in on the right sunscreen, wear it regularly to get the most benefits.