What do you recommend for sunscreen?
This thread can be used for general recommendations for anyone, but I'm specifically looking for a daily sunscreen I can wear on my face and neck.
I'm looking for a holy grail sunscreen that might not even exist (in the US, but I'm willing to import if needed). Here are my preferences:
- Not greasy
- No whitecast
- I'm not allergic to it (this I won't know until I try it -- I'm allergic to "fragrance" which is a relatively useless thing to know -- it just means that any scented product is a roll of the die as to whether or not I react with it because there are thousands of different things that can constitute "fragrance" in a product)
I found what I thought was it: this imported sunscreen. Went on easy, smelled great (green apple!), and legitimately worked.
Unfortunately, I'm allergic to it.
I've since replaced it with this Sun Bum face stick which is similar, but it doesn't go on nearly as easily and the synthetic banana smell is offputting. Nevertheless, I put up with it because 1) it doesn't activate my allergies (yay!) and 2) the banana smell is actually better to me than "regular" sunscreen smell.
Sun Bum actually has a fragrance free mineral sunscreen, but it still smells like sunscreen (which I hate) and it has a really strong whitecast, so it's out.
The Sun Bum I'm using now technically "works" for what I want, but I don't love it. I'm looking to see if there's something out there that I can actually love wearing, especially because I'm going to be doing it daily.
If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know!
Don't know if you've tried it, but this NIVEA Water Gel has been great for me. Doesn't break me out, thinner and lighter than my regular moisturizer, and I believe it's unscented.
It is a Japanese import, so it takes a while to ship, but you said that's not a dealbreaker. I've been real happy with it!
Importing is almost preferred, if I’m being honest! While I’d like the convenience of something locally available, I’m also aware that other countries have better sunscreen standards than the US. I’m definitely willing to import if it means I can get a better product. Thanks for the recommendation!
I have similar preferences in sunscreen.
If you want something mineral, Aveeno made the best. It was a sensitive skin, ultra light, 50 spf sunscreen, but unfortunately it's been discontinued. Garnier makes a lightweight mineral one that's better than many others, but it's nothing like the Aveeno was. Online reviews hate the new Aveeno.
Personally, I find the Asian sunscreens to be much better. Stylevana is a great one stop shop to try a bunch of different sunscreens, including slightly different formulations from different countries.
Most of the online focus is on matte, ultra absorbent sunscreen that can be applied and then covered with makeup. I ordered several, and they're great — but they're pricey to be used as full body sunscreens, and largely not waterproof.
Kose makes the terrific Suncut UV Perfect Essence, which is much more reasonably priced. Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Essence (not Gold) is comparable, though not quite as good. Both are spf 50, absorb quickly, and leave a quick dry finish. And they're perfectly fine on one's face, though perhaps less so if you're putting makeup over top.
The biggest problem with Japanese and Korean sunscreens is that they reformulate often. So something you love today will be different the next time you buy it. I have some K-beauty skincare staples and I have to research their latest ingredients list every time I restock.
Good to know, thanks! I'm a new convert, so I'll have to keep an eye on that.
This doesn't appear to have wide-spectrum protection, at least according to 1 critical review who got sunburned.
I like this line from Eucerin. The hyaluronic acid seems to really calm my extremely sensitive and kinda dry skin. It's all fragrance free AFAIK, i can't use scented stuff either.
I use the SPF50 on my face & neck, but it does have a slight white cast (I'm too pale for it to matter)- the sensitive mineral stuff, however, is sheer and great for under makeup.
Its surprisingly good, especially for the price.
Good luck!
Eucerin is a great product line, good recommendation.
It might be a bit pricier than others, but I've had good experience with "Paula's Choice" sunscreen for years. It's very non-greasy and scentless. I found it recommended quite often in the big skincare subreddits.
I use this this SPF 50 if I'm spending significant time in the sun.
I use this SPF 30 on my face only for daily use (ex. driving to work). This is hands down the lightest sunscreen that I've ever used, but it's pretty expensive.
If I'm at the beach then I'll just use some cheap sunblock from the grocery store.
Several people have mentioned Unseen by Supergoop. Just wanted to throw out that Trader Joe’s has a dupe for $9!
This sunscreen is amazing! Cheap and feels and looks like nothing is there after applying. Absolutely recommend for everyone.
For face, Unseen Sunscreen from SuperGoop.
I've been cycling through different options and this stuff is amazing. Not greasy, no residue, not shiny, doesn't whiten, and honestly my skin just feels and looks better with it. It could probably by its own moisturizer in addition to the SPF. My dermatologist and surgical dermatologist both asked what I used for SPF and both said "That's the best." It is however priced like the best. A tube will last me about a month if I'm applying twice a day (morning and after workout) or two months if I'm doing early workouts.
For neck, ears, everything else I just use Banana Boat Sport or other similar on-brand options. The store brand / generic stuff is gets gross and is really hard to work into your skin.
I absolutely love my supergroup and wear it every day. But I’ve had doubts about its actual SPF after still getting some redness on my face after wearing it in the sun. To be fair I do use tretinoin which makes your skin more sun sensitive.
Also make sure you check the reapplication period for supergoop. The standard lotion they have is good for 80 minutes, but the glow stick is only good for 40.
I ran into the sunburn issue with the glow stick, but I realized I just wasn’t applying as often as I needed.
Tretinoin actually doesn't make your skin more sensitive to the sun (as in negatively impact the minimal erythema dose aka cause redness). It can even inhibit activation of collagenase, which gets upregulated during sun exposure and breaks up collagen.
Of course, using sunscreen is a great habit anyhow and definitely necessary to prevent and reduce photoaging on top of tretinoin.
Just wanted to chime in on a general discussion of mineral vs chemical sunscreens.
If you are going to be in water, specifically a body of water that contains marine life, chemical sunscreens are more likely to be harmful. While it's also true plenty of mineral sunscreens were banned from places like Hawaii due to their negative effect on marine life, ultimately the active ingredients in chemical sunscreens are the cause of the harm, so you can't really escape that side effect. Now I haven't researched every single chemical sunscreen active ingredient so I'm just saying check beforehand if you plan to eg use a chemical sunscreen when going surfing at the beach.
Also know that chemical sunscreens are the only way you can fully avoid white cast on your skin. Chemical sunscreen absorbs into the skin and then any UV rays that hit your skin are converted to heat rather than being absorbed by you. The heat isn't significant though, at jest not in my personal experience. Also bear in mind that because these are intended to be absorbed into the skin, they will the bloodstream. However, most (maybe all?) commercial chemical sunscreens have their active ingredients present in such small quantities that it's not a health risk, so although I'm highlighting this fact I'm also saying no one should be alarmed by this outright. If the concept seems scary, feel free to look at the research, but ultimately the stuff available from reputable companies is well within what's considered a safe dose, even if you're applying once or twice a day almost every day.
Mineral sunscreens work by reflecting UV rays away from the skin. So, fundamentally, you're putting something over your skin, which isn't intended to be absorbed, and having the active ingredients reflect harmful UV radiation away. You will always get a white cast or similar using this approach. I'm not aware of any other color or transparency that works as great in a mineral sunscreen as the white (I think it's usually zinc oxide and titanium dioxide?) does. But it's cheaper, typically better for marine life (since it doesn't get absorbed into the bloodstream), and is widely available all over the world.
Organic ("chemical") and inorganic ("mineral") UV filters completely overlap in regards to acute toxicity, so in a way, none is really better or worse than the other; practically speaking, sunscreen on the whole doesn't seem to have much of an impact on marine life at all though (à la the dose makes the poison). Certain sunscreen products being labelled "reef-safe" is really just a marketing story; there shouldn't be any worry about harming marine life when choosing sunscreen.
This is actually a pretty widespread misconception; mineral sunscreens – just like chemical sunscreens – work by mostly absorbing UV and converting it into a different type of energy, usually heat (but yeah, as you said, the amount of heat produced isn't very significant, and its origin is more the visible light and infrared that come from sunlight, and only a minor part is actually UV). A small portion of it does get scattered, though for the most part toward the skin. But thanks for saying state-of-the-art chemical sunscreens are safe; too many people believe otherwise.
Do you have any references for how titanium dioxide actually works as a UV filter? Literally all literature I can find remarks that it "reflects" (their word, not mine) UV rays. I would love to know if the general literature is just over simplifying the process.
And yeah, I love my chemical sunscreen for my face and neck. It's been a real game changer for me, as I burn super easily, but I find that most mineral sunscreen is actually just really hard to get good coverage with and the chemical ones spread much more effectively.
Sure! Excuse my messy citations.
The general consensus on the matter that I could find seems to be that titanium dioxide (and zinc oxide) protect from UV mostly by absorption, somewhat by scattering, and not much by reflection.
My original comment wasn't very nuanced, so yes, it does reflect UV but to a very insignificant extent. People and companies have exaggerated and maliciously used the argument to mean that that's the only thing it does, so that organic sunscreens can be demonized instead ("chemical sunscreens take UV and get absorbed into your body, while mineral sunscreens stay on top and get rid of UV!!").
Anyway, on to the evidence:
"Micronized inorganic oxides used in sunscreens (TiO 2 and ZnO) attenuate UV mainly by absorption and some scattering" [1]
"Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide provide UV protection primarily via absorption of UV radiation and not through significant reflection or scattering" [2]
"ZnO and TiO2 nanomaterials are efficient absorbers of UV radiation; they absorb both UVB and UVA radiation and re-emit it as less damaging UVA, as visible fluorescence or heat" [3]
It also doesn't appear to be a recent finding; one study from 1990 found that both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide absorb UV light: "Physical sunscreens have been described as compounds that attenuate radiation through scattering. This work indicates that physical sunscreens can be also strong absorbers of ultraviolet radiation as well as good scatterers of visible light" [4]
Concerning the question of why this seems to be the case, it largely boils down to particle size and chemical composition:
When light hits a particle, it can either be reflected, scattered, or absorbed.
The particle size of the commonly used titanium dioxide nanoparticles of the titanium-containing ore rutile titanium dioxide is less than 100 nm.
Rutile Titanium dioxide is preferred for sunscreen formulation because it is more photostable than other TiO2 polymorphs, such as anatase titanium dioxide. Nanoparticles of it are used in sunscreen because (1) they're transparent rather than white and stay transparent on the skin and because (2) larger-sized titanium dioxide exhibits weaker UV attenuation. So basically, the right form of the compound + smaller particle size means better protection and minimized white cast. Generally speaking, for submicrometer particles, the amount of reflection is very small compared to the amount of scattering and absorption [5].
~ I'm glad you've had such a good experience with your current sunscreen!
[1] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2013.08.022
[2] https://doi.org/10.1111/phpp.12214
[3] https://doi.org/10.1166/jbn.2010.1144
[4] Sayre, R. et al. Physical Sunscreens. Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. 1990, 43, 103–109
[5] Shaath, N. Sunscreens: Regulations and Commercial Development, Third Edition (2005), p. 246
Ooooh, interesting. While most of the literature I've seen doesn't specify, one of the articles I was reading mentioned titanium dioxide macroparticulates. And I notice your references mention "micronized" and "nanoparticles". I wonder if the mechanism by which this compound works depends on something like eg how it's processed. Maybe originally it had a primarily reflective property and then it became more absorbent as processing it became more advanced? Just a curiosity, but it's great to know that even mineral sunscreen has at least a component of absorption, as I do believe that's a more effective system.
Thanks for the knowledge!
Nope. The now discontinued Aveeno ultra light mineral sunscreen had zero whitecast.
I did leave open the possibility of mineral sunscreens that do work and have little to no white cast, I only said this in a statement where I compared its effectiveness to those mineral sunscreens which do have noticeable white cast. All the literature I've seen basically states that the most effective version of mineral sunscreen uses the macroparticulate form which undeniably leaves behind some degree of white cast.
Also, a discontinued product isn't very compelling as a counter argument, at least to me. I imagine they must have an updated version that is also "invisible" and not discontinued. But I'd be interested to know how they remove the inevitable white cast of using titanium dioxide, and whether or not their solution reduces the overall effectiveness of it. It's not exactly a secret that many sunscreens do not perform as well as advertised.
I know what you mean, I hate sunscreen too. When it's not greasy, it's weirdly tacky and they make clothing really uncomfortable to wear because it starts sticking to your skin. I don't have a specific recommendation, though.
I find the spray-on ones to be the least irritating to deal with for the body. I don't like spraying my face with them, though, because I want to avoid breathing it in as much as possible. The bar type sunscreens - the ones that look like deoderant - are best for the face. The one I have is Neutrogena brand.
I have rosacea and also need to be careful which sunblocks I use on my face. My favorite so far has been EltaMD UV Clear, with their UV Physical Broad Spectrum Tinted as a close second. I don't mind the texture of them and am more likely to reapply because of it.
I also have some rosacea problems, and I'm happy to say that the fairly inexpensive Eucerin doesn't seem to bother it. Have you tried it? I'm curious if it bothers anyone else
I have not because I haven't seen it before. Looked it up, it might be worth trying but I like the EltaMD sunblocks I've been using.
Check out ThinkSport. It is a mineral sunscreen and works super well. It’s also reef safe, which is something more people should care about. It has a fragrance, so I hope you aren’t allergic to it.
Similarly, I try to get products without microplastics. I've found that these brands are safe in that regard:
Raw Elements
Solara Suncare
Native
Bare Republic (plastic that it does contain is readily biodegradable)
My holy grail is Biore Perfect Bright Face Milk (this is the pink bottle but the blue or white "face milk" variants work fine for me too). I have an oily t-zone and this is the sunscreen that absorbs the fastest for me-- it leaves a smooth matte finish. But it might have a white cast for some people. (I'm Asian and not super pale but do have relatively light-colored skin.) It also contains alcohol, which might be an issue for some people. For me personally it just makes it really easy to work with; I also use it as a primer/medium that I blend with my makeup because it has a pore-"blurring" effect for me. I have decent skin to begin with (just genetically lucky) but I notice that I get more compliments on my skin when I use this.
If my skin feels dehydrated though, or I'm going to be very sweaty, or I'm going swimming, then I'll use La Roche Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid. This feels more like a moisturizer than the above, and has more of a dewy finish. It's super waterproof and the best part is it doesn't sting my eyes. I wear contact lens and have sensitive eyes, so some other sunscreens-- like my HG Biore above-- can sting if my sweat gets in my eyes.
Not sure if the above are scented! I don't really detect any strong scents from them, myself.
I've also heard that the brand Anessa is very good for sensitive skin, but haven't tried it yet myself.
I used to go for mixed physical and chemical sunscreens, as a happy medium, but sadly (or good, I guess) research has shown that mixing sunscreens reduces their efficacy.
Sad rant aside, a couple sunscreens I dont hate:
-la roche posay chemical facial sunscreen. Pricy, but it goes on light and nonshiny, no fragrance i think, and not mineral based, so zero whitecast. I think la roche posay is one of the few brands available in the US that contain mexoryl, though my knowledge is out of date.
-Ombrelle (may be canadian) is reasonably priced, so I use it as a body sunscreen (or face when im not concerned about presentation). I find its a little shiny for face use, but it has no scent and the chemcial sunscreen ingredients offer great broad spectrum coverage.
I really like Etude House's Sunprise.
What I'd actually suggest, though, is heading to your local Asian market to see what they have for skincare shops. A lot of them will have samples or little travel sized bottles to try. If you haven't looked it up before, it's worth reading up on the different standards so that you understand how to compare sunscreens.
There's also a trick if you only have a little white cast: wait a few minutes after application for it to sink in and then tap gently all over your face with your fingertips. This won't help if you look like you have clown white on.
I'd recommend the UVMune 400 range from La Roche-Posay; personally, I like the non-tinted fluid (SPF 50+ PPD 46).
It's the first (and so far only, afaik) sunscreen on the market with the new Mexoryl 400 filter, a sunscreen agent that specifically targets the UVA I ("ultra long UVA") region (with a pretty high absorption peak at 385 nm), which is known to exacerbate some skin conditions like melasma or rosacea and contribute to the formation of solar lentigines ("sun spots"). So if you're already applying sunscreen but are struggling with any of those issues and haven't determined a cause, this might be something worth looking into.
The product is basically a step up from the brand's previous "invisible fluid" / "shaka fluid". It's not very greasy on the skin (but that depends on how much you apply; it still feels better than any other sunscreen I've tried though) and does not leave a white cast. I haven't looked into it, but it's very unlikely that you can get it in the US, because it's using newer filters.
All in all, a very enjoyable sunscreen product and probably the best one I've used.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50+. It's more expensive but I use this on my face, neck and arms and the spread is fantastic so it lasts me a while. Absolutely delivers on the invisible fluid promise. Lightweight, sinks right in, no residue.
I don't know of any non-greasy sunscreens, sorry.
I use these sunscreens by the Cancer Council of Australia, because part of the profits go towards cancer research.
They used to have a sunscreen that also incorporated an insect repellent, but I see that's no longer available on their own website. That's confusing. What will I buy when my current supply runs out? Do I have to stock up now from retailers? [EDIT to update: I contacted the Cancer Council. This sunscreen hasn't been discontinued. They're just temporarily out of stock. Whew!]
However, maybe their sensitive skin range would suit you.
I was gifted this Laneige sunscreen and really love it. No grease, I actually thought I looked really good after applying too. The only issue is that advertised sunscreen has been wrong in Korean products in the past, so I'm not 100% if it's vetted. I enjoy this product from Avène but it is totally greasy to me, so I sometimes remove it after a few hours with the intent of reapplying.
I use EltaMD for my daily facial sunscreen. My skin has a tendency to get eczema flare-ups, and this plus a really good moisturizer have been amazing. It feels extremely lightweight and not greasy at all. I haven't noticed any white cast, but I am also on the lighter side of the skin color spectrum.
For sports where I'll be outdoors for hours on end, I use a completely different but much much greasier sunscreen called SolRX Sport It is much, much greasier, but I tolerate it because I never have to reapply it when I'm out for 7+ hours in the sun. I hate reapplying sunscreen, lol.
I’ve heard good things about Badger Balm’s sunscreen, but I’m still working through my last purchase (it’s a lovely unscented stick sunscreen … but the line was discontinued) and haven’t tried it yet.
I actually really like Sun Bum Face 50. I've never tried the banana-scented one (that would drive me nuts), but I wonder if it has a similar feel, just without the scent.
For something really different, maybe something like Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen? If you've ever used a silicone-heavy makeup primer or other skincare product, it feels a lot like that. There's no white cast or scent at all.
I have multiple chemical sensitivity and have a real issue not only with things that have fragrances added but also a lot of chemicals in general.
I've been using Babo Botanicals, specifically the two linked below and have no issues.
https://www.babobotanicals.com/products/sheer-zinc-continous-spray-sunscreen-spf-30-bundle
https://www.babobotanicals.com/products/sport-stick-sunscreen
My holy grail sunscreen, one that I've used for decades, is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30. I use it daily as my regular moisturizer. Has worked well for me with no eye irritation or burning, no whitecast, and no fragrance. It doesn't smell like sunscreen either. I keep trying new and newly hyped sunscreens but always go back to my ride or die.
On days I'm going to be in the sun for a long time, I often use Elta MD UV Clear sunscreen. It's the only mineral sunscreen that leaves me with no white cast (well, a teensy bit). But also no eye irritation and no fragrance. If you are allergic to most sunscreens I would start with this one.
I think this might only be available in australia but I’ll add it for any aussies reading the thread: Natio 50+ Daily Defence Moisturiser. The only sunscreen I’ve ever used that feels exactly like a regular moisturiser - no greasy feeling, no sitting on top of your skin, no white cast. I have extremely sensitive rosacea skin and not only does it not cause a flare, it actively soothes. It’s my holy grail skincare product!
It's primarily a face moisturizer, but I like this by Jack Black.
I've also been happy with Banana Boat Light As Air, both for face and body. The face version doesn't seem to have a scent that I can discern; not sure about the regular stuff.
And if I'm really trying to get that hardcore pina colada scent, Hawaiian Tropic will have you smelling like a tiki bar in no time.