The best sunscreens dermatologists recommend — and use themselves
You’ve heard it before: You should wear sunscreen often, and ideally every day. Dermatologists don’t just talk about the importance of wearing sunscreen — they practice what they preach. “I wear it every day, 365 days a year,” Dr. Gary Goldenberg, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, tells Yahoo Life. (His top pick for daily wear is EltaMD's Sunscreen Sport Lotion). "Even in winter, you still get some UV that can cause skin damage."
- Best High SPF Sunscreen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion
- Best Non-comedogenic Sunscreen
EltaMD UV Sport Body Sunscreen, SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Lotion, Sweat Resistant and Water Resistant up to 80 Minutes, Formulated with Zinc Oxide, Oil Free, Full Body Sunscreen, 3 oz Tube
- Best for Sun Damaged Skin
Eryfotona Actinica Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+
- Best for Lips
Lip Protectant Sunscreen Spf 30
- Best Reef-Friendly Formula
Organic Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50
- Best for Skin Repair
Protect + Hydrate Moisturizing Face Sunscreen
- Best Hypoallergenic Sunscreen
Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 30
And they make it easy to remember: “I actually incorporate sunscreen into my daily grooming routine and apply it right after shaving,” Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a New York City–based dermatologist, tells Yahoo Life. These are the best sunscreens that dermatologists recommend — and actually use themselves. We've got something in the mix for every skin type, whether you have sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin or something in between.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion
“This sunscreen has been clinically tested and shown to give better sunburn protection compared to sunscreens with lower SPFs,” Zeichner says. Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen is lightweight, fast-absorbing and has a non-greasy, matte finish. Zeichner particularly likes its high SPF. “In the real world, consumers do not apply as much sunscreen as they should, so the level of protection gets diluted out,” he explains. “Starting with a higher SPF to begin with acts like an insurance policy to give you the best level of protection possible.”
Sunscreen Sport Lotion, SPF 50
- Best Non-comedogenic Sunscreen
EltaMD UV Sport Body Sunscreen, SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Lotion, Sweat Resistant and Water Resistant up to 80 Minutes, Formulated with Zinc Oxide, Oil Free, Full Body Sunscreen, 3 oz Tube
EltaMD is known for its quality sunscreen, and Goldenberg is a fan. “This product is non-comedogenic, offers broad spectrum UV protection and does not leave your face feeling greasy,” he says. EltaMD’s UV Sport is mineral-based and water-resistant, so it won’t drip into your eyes when you sweat.
Eryfotona Actinica Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+
The name may be a mouthful, but Goldenberg swears by this mineral sunscreen. He particularly recommends it for patients who have known sun damage. Isdin’s Eryfotona Actinica is lightweight, won’t leave your skin feeling greasy, and has broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It also has DNA repairsomes and vitamin E to help fight UVA-induced skin damage.
Lip Protectant Sunscreen Spf 30
Dermatologist Dr. Cynthia Bailey, founder of Dr. Bailey Skin Care, tells Yahoo Life that she relies heavily on her own sunscreen line for daily use — she uses this sunscreen for lips. Vanicream’s lip protectant is SPF 30, and goes on like a lip balm. It’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes, and is free of chemical sunscreens, dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde, flavoring, oil and gluten, so the odds of having an allergic reaction to it are low. “It also fights lip chapping,” Bailey says.
Organic Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Bailey calls Coola’s organic face sunscreen “a nice zinc oxide product.” This unscented sunscreen doubles as a lotion, so you can moisturize and protect in one go. It’s easy to wear under makeup and is water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes. A nice feature: Coola’s sunscreen is reef-friendly, so you don’t need to worry about harming ocean life when you go for a swim.
Protect + Hydrate Moisturizing Face Sunscreen
Zeichner likes Aveeno’s Protect + Hydrate sunscreen for a few reasons. “Besides offering broad-spectrum sun protection, it delivers a little oatmeal to repair and hydrate the outer skin layer,” he says. “We know that UV light can disrupt the outer skin layer, leading to dryness and irritation.” The sunscreen is fast-absorbing, oil-free and non-comedogenic, so it won't clog your pores. It’s also water resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 30
DERMA-E’s Sun Defense sunscreen is 100% unscented, which Bailey likes. It’s also fortified with vitamin C and green tea to help skin recover after sun exposure and fight the signs of aging. The sunscreen’s zinc oxide provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection, and it’s oil-free so it won’t clog your pores.
How dermatologists shop for sunscreen
In general, it’s a good idea to look for a sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30 or higher and has the words “broad spectrum” on the label, says Bailey. “Broad spectrum” means it will protect you against both UVA rays, which cause premature aging and the development of skin cancers, and UVB rays, which cause sunburn, Zeichner says.
Other than that, a lot boils down to personal preference. “Whether it’s a lotion or gel, stick or spray, the best sunscreen is ultimately the one you are actually using on your skin,” Zeichner says.
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