The Best Sunscreens

Few people have probably worn more sunscreen in their lives than 11-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater, so it’s not exactly a shock he’s come out with his own line of mineral-based sunscreens. The “microbiome protecting” formula includes Slater’s patented Freak Barrier Defense System, which includes, among other things, vegan spider silk and vegan shark squalene. It’s also cruelty-free and, unlike some other sunscreens, its water resistance is not derived from microplastics.

There is a white cast—though not beyond what one might expect from a mineral sunscreen—and the finish is slightly greasy, but if you’re going to be sweating anyway it shouldn’t be a deal breaker. In short, this is a sunscreen for people who have to wear sunscreen constantly and would prefer it to be both clean and performance-oriented. There’s a Peak Performance version with a beefier SPF rating, but be forewarned: That one leaves even more of a white cast. During my testing (a week of daily hiking), I appreciated that it was totally unscented, and even more so that I didn’t have to worry about its unique, airless recycled-plastic pump bottle squishing or spilling in a bag or jacket pocket. —Kat Merck

This splurge-y chemical sunscreen is great for folks who want to avoid a cast or are fans of makeup primer. It has a totally clear, lightweight gel texture and leaves skin feeling smooth, silky, and ready for makeup application (though you can totally wear it on its own!). Packed with vitamin C, it’ll also help minimize hyperpigmentation and fight free radicals. The citrus scent is a nice touch too (if your skin can handle added fragrance).

Banana Boat products remind me of being a kid at the pool, which might have led me to prejudge this sunscreen as being gloppy, greasy, and overly scented. Not the case with this Light as Air iteration—I actually loved it! I put this on before a motorcycle ride in the sun, and it rubbed in easily and absorbed right away. It’s truly not greasy and really felt like I had nothing on.

The consistency is a little thicker than body lotion, there’s no white cast, and the smell is like a milder version of Love Spell or some other sweet/fruity/floral Victoria's Secret scent (which I liked, but it might be a bit much for some).

I used this spray before several trail runs in Colorado, and I was impressed by how well it held up against sweat. I didn’t feel like it was running or dripping off of me at all; once it soaked in, it really felt dry and weightless and didn’t budge. The bottle (which has a locking lid) sprayed nice and evenly, and the product rubs in easily.

It was a bit sticky at first, but left little feeling on the skin after a few minutes. It has a glowy, white-cast-free finish. The smell is subtle, but unfortunately a bit bug-spray-like.

This little stick provided great protection on my face and neck during several hikes in British Columbia, holding up well against sweat. It glides on easily and feels nice (no stinging!), but it needs to be rubbed in a bit to avoid the lifeguard nosecoat look. Even after rubbing it in, there is a slight white cast. I really liked the mild, fresh, oat-y, milk-y scent, and the size and ease of application just makes it feel like a no-brainer product to throw in your bag.

I can’t always be convinced to stop mid-hike to reapply a liquid sunscreen, but this is so easy to pull out of a pocket and swipe on your face as you move (or sit on a chairlift on a ski day) that I feel like having it on hand is really going to benefit my skin. It also contains ceramides, which support the skin barrier, and moisturizing hyaluronic acid. With this twist-up bar, there’s no mess, no sticky hands, just a great on-the-go product.

This sunscreen has the texture of a makeup primer, or a silky gel. It goes on totally clear, which is why it would be a good pick for anyone with darker skin or who really hates to have a white cast. It feels hydrating, then weightless, though the invisible nature and barely-there feel does make it a little hard to tell what kind of coverage you’re getting. It also has a slight chemical smell.

It’s very expensive, which makes it feel more like a splurge product for a vacation where you might be wearing nice clothes and you really don’t want to get greasy white stains, rather than an everyday product.

This is a holy grail product for me—I’ve used it every day for years and despite testing tons of new products for this story, the All Good sunscreen still takes the cake. The skin on my face is super sensitive, and acne and rosacea are big issues for me. I’ve been on a journey to find a facial sunscreen that doesn’t cause irritation or breakouts, and this is really the only one that works for me consistently. Lightweight, quick-absorbing, and nongreasy but hydrating, this product doesn’t drip in my eyes or sting when I sweat, and the tint means it doesn’t have a white cast despite being a mineral sunscreen (which I prefer).

Actually, the sheer brown coloring blends in so well with my light, olive-toned skin (there are no orange or pink pigments, bless) that this sunscreen has completely replaced foundation for me. I’ve worn it on marathon training runs in 95-degree-Fahrenehit Colorado heat, while paddle-boarding, cycling, and snowboarding, and for everything in between. It contains soothing skin care ingredients like calendula, green tea, coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, and aloe. I feel like this sunscreen not only protects me from UV damage, but actually makes my skin better. It has a subtle buttery scent, and there’s no added fragrance.

Another win: One 3-ounce bottle lasts several months for me. It’s worth noting that not everyone will like a tinted sunscreen. It comes in only one shade, so it won’t work for all skin tones, and the iron oxide can transfer and stain light fabrics. I’ve never had issues with this, but some reviews mention it. If you like the idea of SPF makeup (and are OK with light coverage and a glowy finish), I highly recommend giving this a try.

Whether or not you typically use makeup setting spray, this product is great for reapplying SPF over makeup (which can be really hard to do without totally messing up your look). When I used it, I found it left a glowy finish with no cast, didn’t disrupt my facial makeup at all, and did seem to help it stay in place longer and keep me from looking oily.

Skin care ingredients like moisturizing hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, brightening vitamin C, and antioxidant-rich green tea extract make it a very face-friendly product. It’s hard to get thorough coverage without getting it in your nose or mouth, and it has a fairly strong citrusy, perfumy smell. The bottle—while chic—also leaked, sadly. I wouldn’t recommend this chemical sunscreen for use on its own, but it’s great for touch-ups and adding another layer of protection to your face sunscreen or SPF makeup throughout the day (which you should do roughly every two hours if you’re outside).

I’m extremely picky about the sunscreen that goes on my face, and this silky primer won me over and earned a permanent spot in my vanity. Packed with skincare ingredients like jojoba oil, microalgae extract, and antioxidant-rich gooseberry fruit juice and cranberry seed oil, it has a lightweight, glowy, pore-blurring, skin-smoothing finish that sits beautifully under makeup without pilling. The hydrating, organic formula has a pleasant, subtle, clay-like scent, but no added fragrance. It comes out of the pump bottle looking slightly pink, but dries down clear.

On days when I forgot to put it on under my makeup, my skin was noticeably less radiant, and my makeup products didn’t go on as smoothly or last as long throughout the day. One note: I couldn’t find any info about the product’s sweat- or water-resistance, so while I’d recommend this primer for everyday use, it’s probably not the best option for outdoor activities.

If you like the idea of a sunscreen stick (hello convenience!), but want to avoid a white cast, this is the one for you. The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Stick glides on like butter (but doesn’t feel like it on your skin). It leaves behind a layer of lightweight hydration that you don’t even have to rub in—it absorbs quickly and leaves zero cast. I tested this pocket-size stick on a spring ski day at Winter Park, and I loved how easily it went on and how gentle it felt on my cheeks, nose, and chin, which are typically irritated by chemical sunscreens. I shared it with my friends when it was SPF reapplication time, and they also raved about the easy-on glide and feel.

It does have a slight chemical smell, but isn’t noticeable on the skin (you can really only smell it if you sniff the stick itself). Thanks to the addition of antioxidants vitamin C and E, this sunscreen will also help fight skin-damaging free radicals and provide soothing moisturization.