Best Facial Sunscreens
We tested products designed for faces and found some that worked better than others
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Your face is the one part of your body that’s exposed to UV rays all year-round, so using sunscreen daily is key. But despite all the marketing, you don’t really need a special sunscreen for your face.
Best Sunscreens for Your Skin Type
For oily or acne-prone complexions: Go for an oil-free product, such as Neutrogena Sport Face Oil-Free Lotion SPF 70+, which should be less likely to contribute to breakouts. And oil-free sunscreens are usually lighter than others, so you can use them under makeup without feeling greasy.
If you have dry skin: you may want a product with moisturizing ingredients, such as Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Matte Gel SPF 45 with shea butter and coconut oil.
If you have sensitive skin: Facial sunscreens often have no fragrance or just have a light scent, and because fragrances are one of the major causes of skin irritation, that’s a plus. Face formulas with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or colloidal oatmeal help moisturize and soothe. Sensitive skin is less likely to have a reaction to mineral active ingredients—titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. But as we found with body sunscreens, mineral facial sunscreens were not highly rated in our tests. Aveeno Positively Mineral Sensitive Skin Face Lotion SPF 50 is the mineral facial sunscreen that our testers say provides adequate protection.
What About Makeup With SPF?
"A foundation with SPF 30 would give you proper protection if you used enough of it," Zeichner says. But you’ll have that caked-on look if you use the right amount—about a quarter-sized dollop for your face alone. Instead, put that amount of sunscreen on your face, give it several minutes to dry, and then apply the makeup. Think of the SPF it contains as a little extra protection.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the July 2023 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
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