7 sunscreens for all scenarios and skin types
Written By Jenny Wu on
I don’t think I need to stress how important sunscreen is. You can skip toners, serums, or even moisturizers but sunscreen is a must-have.
I’ve tried my fair share of sunscreens, including most of the popular Japanese brands, and today I’m sharing 7 that have stood out from the rest. No matter the occasion or skin type, you’ll find one that fit your needs.
When you’ll be mostly outdoors…
Whether you’re hiking or at the beach, if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in the sun you’ll want a sunscreen that’s water-resistant with high UVB and UVA coverage.
I recommend going with a chemical + physical formula to get more protection without sacrificing texture. The last thing you want in the heat is a face full of heavy sunscreen!
Skip US sunscreens if you can as the chemical filters available are mostly trash due to the FDA’s molasses-like approval speed.
For normal/combo/oily skin:
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Xl Ultra Light Fluid Spf 50+
One of my HG outdoors sunscreen, I wore this during my summer trip to Asia (think 90°F/33°C+ heat and lots of humidity), and it kept me from burning and tanning. It has a medium-weight milky texture that’s easy to apply on the skin and leaves a dewy finish. It reminds me a bit of the moisturizing Japanese sunscreens, but with a whopping PPD42 (vs. PA++++ is just PPD16+)!
I wouldn’t use a face oil before this as it could lead to pilling. But otherwise it layers very well under makeup and has no white cast. Do NOT buy the US version, they’re not the same!
$20 – $23 on eBay →
For normal/dry skin:
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Cream Comfort SPF50+
True to its name, it feels like a rich cream when applied, but spreads easily to ensure even coverage. I actually used this during my Taiwan trip this spring, and despite the humid 85°F weather, this did not feel heavy or sticky on my face. Unlike the Ultra Light Fluid, this doesn’t pill at all, and it works just as well under makeup. However, I do notice a slight white cast, but nothing foundation or a bit of bronzer can’t handle.
With a PPD39 rating, it also ranked in the top tier of overall sun protection in Dr. Chiu’s sunscreen test!
← $25 on eBay
For the body or reapplying:
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Invisible Mist SPF50+
The key with using mists is that after spraying it liberally on your body, make sure you massage and pat the sunscreen into your skin so it’s evenly distributed! I’ve tried several mists and they all have the same texture and application experience, so the LRP wins for having the great ingredients on top of everything else.
I used this during my Europe trip 2 summers ago, and even after spending a sunny afternoon on a boat in Barcelona I didn’t tan or burn.
$21-$22 on eBay →
Clearly I’m partial to the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL range, and that’s due to its inclusion of 2 patents powerhouse filters: Mexoryl XS and Mexoryl XL.
What’s so amazing about Mexoryl?
Both are photostable, which means they don’t degrade in the sun like Avobenzone, and they protect against the entire UVA spectrum (and then some) from 290 to 400nm. One is water soluble and the other is oil soluble, and together they create synergy to enhance their UV protection. Dr. Darrell Rigel, a clinical professor of Dermatology at New York University called it “the number 1 ingredient in terms of protection from UVA radiation”.
Despite the inclusion of fragrance, La Roche-Posay products are suitable for sensitive skin and I wore the Cream Comfort post-laser surgery with my doctor’s approval and no irritations whatsoever.
When you’re spending all day in a big city…
In addition to UV rays, air pollution might be a major concern. Studies have found that these airborne particles can damage to your skin in the long run, with similar outcomes as sun damage: discoloration, inflammation, and lines + wrinkles. Yikes.
A lot of products are now coming out with anti-pollution features, so why not use a sunscreen that does both?
For dry/normal/combo skin:
La Roche-Posay UVIdea XL Melt-in Cream SPF50
This feels similar to the comfort cream in texture, albeit a bit lighter. If you have oilier skin, you can skip your moisturizers and just use this instead as it does contain hydrating ingredients. I used this while in Taiwan (alternating between this and the cream comfort) due to the poor air quality in Taipei, and all I can say is that my skin didn’t react to the sun or pollution. Layers well under makeup and no issues with pilling.
This comes in several versions: original, tinted, bb cream, and tone up. Do NOT get the tone up version, which I made the mistake of doing, as it gives an insane white cast. You’d have to be as pale as a sheet for it to pull it off.
← $36.99 on eBay
If you own an anti-pollution mist, you can simply layer that under or over your regular sunscreen for the extra protection. One that I like using is the Alba1913 Metropolitan Skin Guard Mist* which smells amazing and feels refreshing on the skin. Read my full Alba1913 brand review if you want to learn more!
For everyday life when you’re mostly indoors….
…other than the few hours outdoors commuting, running errands, getting a meal, or whatever it is you may be doing. For days like these we don’t need something as strong , which means we have more options:
For normal/combo/oily skin:
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Spf 50+ (or any Japanaese sunscreen)
With their super light texture, excellent UVA protection, affordable prices, and plethora of options, you can’t go wrong with one of the more popular Japanese sunscreens. I’ve tried a lot and my personal favorite is still this one because it literally feels like nothing on the skin and layers well under makeup.
It does contain alcohol, but since I apply sunscreen after a moisturizer (which acts as a buffer between my skin and the sunscreen) it has never dried me out or irritated my skin. Now I’d never use this if I knew I’d be out all day, and people have complained about tanning (UVA damage) with this. But if you’re mostly indoors, it’s a great option.
For all skin types that want an extra tint:
Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral SPF45*
I reviewed this briefly on Instagram but I’ll say it again, for a mineral sunscreen this is fantastic. 19.24% zinc provides great UVB + UVA protection for daily use, and it contains a few antioxidants to help further protect your skin. I also really love the tint, it blends seamlessly with my skin tone while blurring imperfections, allowing me to skip foundation completely. It’s not heavy, oily, or uncomfortable in anyway, and might actually be my favorite texture-wise out of all 7 sunscreens on this list.
For all skin types that want a moisturizer + spf in one:
Skin Actives Daily Defense Anti-Aging Day Cream SPF30*
I reviewed this in detail a while back, but this is an extremely well formulated 2-in-1 product with great ingredients. Antioxidants to protect your skin, emollients to moisturize, and 18% zinc oxide to protect against UV rays. The cream is on the richer side so oily or even combo skin in the summer might not like the texture as much, but dry/normal skin will appreciate the convenience of using one less product in the morning.
← $59 on Skin Actives
Or if you’re curious, my ultimate sunscreen guide has the top 7 sunscreens with the most comprehensive UV protection, which includes the La Roche-Posay Cream Comfort. I haven’t tried the rest yet because sadly none of them are readily available in the US, thanks to the FDA’s reluctance to approve new sunscreen filters.
So even if you don’t buy any of the sunscreens listed here, I still recommend European or Asian brands because you’ll get superior formula and ingredient.
The issue with US sunscreens is that there’s no required rating for UVA protection, and as long as the filters cover both the UVB and UVA spectrum, it can be labeled as “broad spectrum”. An EWG analysis of 446 outdoor sunscreens found that ~66% of them didn’t have enough UVA protection (shocker), and because you don’t burn from UVA rays, you’d never know until years later when it’s too late.
Sunscreens that pass the test
When in doubt, check the sunscreen filters. You want to see a good mix of UVB and UVA filters, and in the case of mineral sunscreens, look for at least 15% zinc oxide. Titanium dioxide is trash in my books as it’s mostly a UVB filter and is responsible for the atrocious white cast. Need a breakdown of all the common sunscreen filters? I’ve got you covered.
Whether you plan to spend your summer by the beach or in the city, hopefully one of these sunscreens will keep your skin healthy and safe. Please don’t go and buy them all, because no one needs 7 sunscreens.
At most you just need 2 sunscreens, one for outdoor and one for daily use, which can be one with anti-pollution filters if you live in the city. If you have any awesome sunscreens you recommend, please let me know in the comments below!
Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.
Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨
Comments & Questions
Jennifer | Mrs Q Beauty
These look great. I recently switched to a BB cream that has SPF.
Jennifer | Mrs Q Beauty
Rowena @ rolala loves
This is such a great post Jenny! Yes sunscreen is a must but using the right type for different situations is also important. I definitely amp it up with more heavy duty protection when I know I'm going to be outdoors for most of the day. I used to be a big fan of LRP sunscreens back in the day and it looks like they've really expanded their range. I'm mostly into organic sunscreens now. I really like Soleil Toujours because their formulations are organic and don't contain oxybenzone or octinoxate. No matter what sunscreen one chooses, reapplication every two hours is key!
Jenny Wu
Thank you Rowena! I try to stick to mineral sunscreens on a day to day basis if I can as well, it's just less potential irritations for my skin and I'm not a fan of oxybenzone or octinoxate either. But I agree, the most important thing is actually using sunscreen and reapplying it!
Shireen L. Platt
I adore the Shiseido sunscreen but I need to get the invisible version or I get a horrible white cast!
Jenny Wu
Ugh white cast is the worse. Which one do you have issues with, the Annessa one or the blue bottle one?
Rachel
Nice guide. Love the part about anti pollution. It's definitely aging - I know the ordinary survival 0 has a lot of anti pollution features as well as things like blue light / infrared protection.
Love Japanese sunscreens... too bad they contain alcohol so high up on the lists.
LRP is good too. Can't wait to try their new range with anti pollution. I wonder what the PPD for it is.
Would love it if you could look at or review sun sticks and sun powders. Tons out there.
Jenny Wu
Thanks Rachel! The ordinary survival 0 sounds great, but unfortunately it doesn't offer any UV protection. The climate in Japan is warmer and more humid, hence alcohol is frequently featured to help improve the texture of the products. However there are still plenty of Japanese sunscreen without alcohol high up in the formula (or at all), especially ones formulated for dry skin types.
PPD is a rating for UVA protection, similar to what SPF is for UVB. You can learn more in my sunscreen guide if you're curious.
I personally don't like sun sticks as it's hard to judge how much you've applied, which is important if you want to get the full amount of protection labeled on the sunscreen. I also considered including powders on the list, but an experiment on the sun protection of various sunscreen formats showed that powders offer little to no protection. Again this goes back to applying the correct amount of sunscreen to get the labeled protection, and you can't really get that with powder without looking ridiculously cakey :(
Linda Libra Loca
I admit, I haven’t tried any of the ones you mentioned (not even the La Roche Posay versions) because I am so happy with my ISDIN Fotoprotect Fusion Water. It is European, offers both UVA and UVB protection and feels like nothing on my skin.
Anne - Linda, Libra, Loca
Jenny Wu
I need to try that one, hopefully it's available on ebay! Someone else recommended it to me a while back, but I forgot to pick it up when I was in Europe last year :(
Radi
Love your suggestions for every type of summer activity. I hate it when I sometimes forget to apply sunscreen.
www.fashionradi.com
sonia // daring coco
Such a great read! I may get lazy with skincare some days but I'll never forget sunscreen on my face now. I have the perfect one for my face but I need to find something for body as I may be going to Europe next month so this article has been perfect. I'll have to keep an eye out for La Roche Posy now.
Sxx
daringcoco.com
Alyssa
I'm currently using Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, and I love how light and effective it is. It suits my oily skin. I thought the Biore UV Face Milk was enough for me, but it's better! :) And reading this post made me want to try La Roche Posay more. I wish they can be more accessible in my country. Only one luxury department store sells them here but the stocks are limited and the markup is quite high.
xx Alyssa | STYLE VANITY
Naya
Wonderful post here, Jenny! I love LRP sunscreens too; sometimes they sit too heavy under makeup, but overall - they seem to have a solution for every sunscreen dilemma possible! Welcome back and congrats! xx
Naya
partyparrotblog.com
MissLaven
Love this round-up of sunscreens, Jen! I love La Roche Possay products and their sun screens are great!
Meredith Christine
I really love that Peter Thomas Roth sunscreen!
xx,
Meredith
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Gabrielle
This is such a brilliant guide to different sunscreens for certain skin types, I've always just used the same one each and every summer! Will be keeping your advice in mind for sure :) Hope you're having a lovely week so far!
aglassofice.com x
Veronica
Thanks for the guide. I never know what to look for in a sunscreen. It's especially important where I live.
Joy to the World!
Susan Slattery
The LRP Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid is my holy grail. I wear it Every. Single. Day. Inside + out. I didn't start wearing SPF (on my face/neck) until I was 53 years old. At least I wore SPF hats + shirts for about 30 years prior to that, but no dermatologist ever explained UVA + UVB to me. I did a ton of research after I started wearing sunscreen. And what I really learned was how far behind the rest of the world we are in the U.S. Since the early 90s, Europeans have had better sun protection. I buy the Ultra Fluid from Canada, from Ireland + from eBay. I have simply not found a sunscreen my skin likes better than that Anthelios. I also use the Derma Kids spray on the back of my hands. And I still wear SPF hats + shirts in the spring + summer. Now I wear them everyday, when before I understood all this, I wore them when I exercised or worked in the garden. Now I wear them to work. And my face is always tipped away from the sun. The sun is not my friend.
Jenny Wu
Thanks for sharing Susan! I agree, the US is ridiculously behind when it comes to sunscreens. Good thing we're now able to easily purchase better sunscreens from other countries!