Chemical sunscreens
Beauty of Joseon Day Dew Sunscreen SPF 50 and Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ are picks in our guide to the best Korean skin-care products. The former contains only FDA-approved active ingredients, whereas the latter has chemical UV filters approved for sale in Asia and Europe. Both sunscreens are widely beloved for their lightweight textures. Compared with the Bioré UV Aqua Rich Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 50 we recommend, the Day Dew Sunscreen costs slightly more ($10.65 per ounce, versus $10.58 for our pick at the time of publication), and it contains less of the active ingredient homosalate (7%, versus 10% in our pick). Unlike the UV Aqua Rich sunscreen, the Day Dew contains no added fragrance, and it is rated water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 (formerly a pick in this guide) is affordable, hydrating, and water-resistant. It had a nice, dewy finish, but compared with our picks, it was harder to rub in.
Our panelists said the Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Matte SPF 45 Gel was overly drying. For some, it left an oily residue that didn’t go away, even after it was fully set. Others experienced running and eye stinging.
We found that the Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF 30 spread easily and left a slight sheen. But the creamy pink moisturizer’s strong floral fragrance may not appeal to people with sensitive noses or skin. One tester said it was sticky, went on unevenly, and left an overly shiny finish. This sunscreen is not water-resistant.
Testers said the Krave Beauty Beet the Sun Lightweight Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ was too runny, yet many also said it didn’t provide adequate moisture. One tester even noted that it left their skin feeling tight and dry and, over time, made their face feel flaky.
The Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50 was too wet out of the bottle, our panelists said, and it dried with a grainy finish.
The lightweight Paula’s Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 has a mild, typical sunscreen scent (despite its lack of added fragrance). We found that it absorbed quickly into the skin. But several panelists said it was too runny and didn’t reapply well. And some said layering this sunscreen with other skin-care or makeup products led to pilling.
Supergoop Play Everyday Face Lotion SPF 50 is a fragrance-free version of our pick, Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50. It has the same active ingredients, but otherwise it’s a different formula. It also costs roughly $3 more per ounce (and is available only in a 1.7-ounce tube). We found that the face version felt lighter, and it seemed to dry down slightly more matte on the skin.
Clear gel chemical sunscreens
Allies of Skin voluntarily recalled its The One SPF 50 Invisible Suncreen Gel in August 2026, after company-initiated testing confirmed that the product “may not reliably provide the SPF performance reflected on its label.” The One had a makeup-primer-like finish that our panel testers found slightly more appealing than that of our Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 pick. And it was rated water-resistant for up to 80 minutes (our Trader Joe’s pick is rated to resist water for 40 minutes). But the Allies of Skin sunscreen was also over five times more expensive than our Trader Joe’s pick. Allies of Skin is refunding impacted customers who register recalled tubes of sunscreen.
The E.L.F Skin Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen SPF 35 looks and feels somewhat similar to our pick from Trader Joe’s, and it does not contain added fragrance. But we ultimately found the consistency too watery. It felt greasier on the skin when compared with the matte finish of our nearly invisible pick. Also, at the time of publication, the E.L.F. Skin sunscreen was almost $9 per ounce, so it was pricier than the Trader Joe’s sunscreen. E.L.F. Skin Suntouchable is rated water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
The Murad Multi-Vitamin Clear Coat Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is another makeup-primer-like sunscreen that rubs in quickly and looks almost invisible on the skin. Its added fragrance imparts a subtle citrus scent that some may enjoy (there’s no fragrance in our pick from Trader Joe’s). At the time of publication, though, the Murad sunscreen was nearly five times more than our pick on a per-ounce basis.
Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Invisible Gel Face Sunscreen SPF 40 is another one that can double as a makeup primer. But panelists found the texture and smell almost unanimously off-putting.
The Nyx Professional Makeup Blur Screen Primer SPF 30 costs more than our Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 pick. And it had a slightly thicker consistency and took longer to fully rub in. Also, panelists said its added fragrance was far too strong.
In brand-concealed testing, Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50, a former longtime pick in this guide, was not as popular as the recalled Allies of Skin The One SPF 50 Invisible Gel: Panel testers dinged the Unseen Sunscreen for its comparatively thicker consistency and shinier finish. And over the years, several different testing panels have found the Trader Joe’s pick to be nearly as good as both the Allies of Skin The One and the Supergoop Unseen — for a fraction of the price.
Vacation Crystal SPF 50 Face Gel has a similar feel to our pick from Trader Joe’s, but it also has a slightly shinier look after drying down. It’s rated water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. But it costs three times more than our pick.
Mineral sunscreens
The Badger Active Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 is especially runny (so easier to spread across the skin) and especially greasy (taking longer to dry down and leaving a long-lasting sheen). We think it’s a better choice for use on the body. Badger’s Adventure Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 50 — a pick in our body sunscreen guide — is likewise not the best choice for use on the face.
Banana Boat’s Sensitive Mineral Face SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion left a prominent white cast on several of our panel testers’ faces.
Panelists said the Blue Lizard Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 didn’t absorb as well as our Vanicream Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 pick. On a per-ounce basis, the Blue Lizard sunscreen is around $4 more per ounce than our pick.
The Beekman 1802 Solar Milk Mineral SPF 40 PA+++ was divisive among our panel testers: Some said they loved it, and they said it absorbed quickly and nearly invisibly. Panelists who hated the Solar Milk Mineral said it was chalky in both look and feel.
Bubble Solar Mate Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 looked shinier and left more of a white cast than our mineral picks from Vanicream and Hero.
Panel testers didn’t like the way Caudalie Vinosun Protect Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 felt on their skin, and several said that it left a chalky cast.
And testers strongly disliked the scent of the fragrance-free CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face. One said it smelled sort of like burning plastic.
The Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Liquid Face Sunscreen SPF 50 was runny. And for several panelists, it left more of a white cast than our mineral picks.
The ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50 is a runny sunscreen that is rated water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. This lotion, which has added fragrance, took a while to rub in and has an off-putting, alcohol-like scent. It felt drying and chalky, and it left one tester looking slightly blue in the sun.
The fragrance-free Kiehl’s Since 1851 Better Screen Miner-all UV Serum Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 was polarizing among our panel testers. Those with dry skin said they loved how well it absorbed, leaving a minimal (if any) white cast. Panelists with normal to oily skin found this sunscreen difficult to apply, slow to absorb, and overly greasy. It is not water-resistant.
Almost all of our panelists said the untinted version of the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Ultra-Light Face Sunscreen SPF 50 was too runny. This one is supposed to dry down with a matte finish, but we found it to be drying and a little chalky.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Gentle Lotion Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ rubs in easily, leaving little to no white cast. But some panelists found that it made their skin look “dull and flat” due to its matte-like finish. It is free of added fragrance and water-resistant for 80 minutes.
Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a peachy-orange lotion with a smooth texture, an inoffensive smell (without added fragrance), and a moisturizing feel. It’s rated water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. But this sunscreen tended to sit on top of the skin instead of sinking in, which some testers strongly disliked.
Our panelists said the Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 was kind of sticky. It’s free of added fragrance and rated water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, but testers said it didn’t absorb well and left a whitish cast. One panelist said it turned their beard “white like Santa Claus’s.”
The PanOxyl Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30 sunscreen goes on very thick, very tacky, and very white. Panel testers said it took a long time to rub in, and some noted that it felt heavy on the skin long after it was set. A couple panelists said this sunscreen clung to dry patches on their skin. I noticed that it easily caught in the baby hairs around the edges of my face, and it left a noticeable white cast after it dried.
Paula’s Choice Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 is silky and lightweight. We found that it rubbed in quickly and easily, and even though it was a little tacky at first, it dried down nicely. Overall, we liked this especially moisturizing sunscreen (which is not water-resistant). While it does not contain added fragrance, it does have a fruity scent that some panel testers disliked.
We found the fragrance-free Round Lab Birch Juice Mild-up UVLock SPF 50+ to be overly drying. It’s not water-resistant, and it leaves a noticeable white cast.
Compared with our mineral picks, the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+ Sunscreen was messier and harder to rub in, and it left a stronger white cast. Plus, it’s more expensive. It’s rated water-resistant for 80 minutes and has no added fragrance.
In testing, Supergoop Play 100% Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 was shiny and left a white cast. It’s fragrance-free and rated water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Some panelists reported it stung their eyes.
The Thinksport SPF 50 Clear Zinc Face Sunscreen is a water-resistant (up to 80 minutes), mildly scented option, and our panelists found it serviceable. But it was thicker, left more of a white cast, and was more expensive than our picks. It’s free of added fragrance.
Thrive Natural Care Mineral Face Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin SPF 30 was slightly shiny and heavily scented — even though it’s fragrance-free. It absorbed well and left a minimal white cast, but at $18 an ounce, it’s pricier than our picks. And it isn’t water-resistant.
The Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 leaves more of a white cast than our pick from Vanicream, plus it’s more expensive.
Combination sunscreens
The Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30 had a nice, whipped texture, which we found moderately moisturizing. But one panelist said it had a “slightly draggy oily feel,” making their face feel greasy after it was rubbed in.
EltaMD UV Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ and EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 are both widely adored by skin-care fans across the internet, but they fell short of our expectations. Some panel testers found both sunscreens greasy compared with our picks. One tester with dark skin noticed a blue sheen long after rubbing in the UV Clear Broad Spectrum formula.
We found the Eucerin Daily Protection Face Lotion SPF 30 to be a serviceable, fragrance-free moisturizer with SPF, and it spread nicely. But it took quite a while to fully absorb into the skin, and some panelists said it was somewhat sticky, even after it dried.
Compared with our mineral picks, the Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer With Sunscreen SPF 30 (a former pick in this guide) left more of a white cast on panelists with darker skin, and it felt greasier than our chemical picks.
Sun Bum Face Cream SPF 50 is a light, airy sunscreen that is most notable for its powerful, beachy smell. It’s rated water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and it comes in a small, twist-cap tub (as opposed to a squeeze or pump bottle); we liked the tub because we could scoop out lotion to slather on our faces. Yet we found this sunscreen’s strong, almost banana-y fragrance to be overpowering for everyday use. Also, despite feeling lightweight on the skin, this cream left our testers’ skin looking greasy.
Caira Blackwell and Shannon Palus contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.
