Beauty People Share the Very Best Sunscreens
By Leslie Price
I can’t remember when I started noticing that the skin on my hands was becoming really thin and papery, making them look all bony and veiny. Or when age spots started appearing on the sides of my face. I do, however, remember many summers spent sunning myself at my parents’ pool in high school, and the few unfortunate trips to the tanning bed I took before junior and senior prom.
Suffice to say that I came to sun protection a little late. Now, however, I am trying to get serious about it. I carry a tube in my bag, just in case I want to reapply when I’m driving. I wear a hat with a brim most every day. And I’m constantly trying to find the best formulas out there. That is why this week, I asked all the beauty experts I know which sunscreens they swear by.
Below, their MVP sunscreens – mineral, chemical, face, body, you name it.
Founder of How Not to F*ck Up Your Face and former beauty director at O, The Oprah Magazine
“While I like all the Anthelios sunscreens and would recommend them, most useful for me, especially when traveling in the summer, are the colorscience sunscreen powders. They make reapplication easy when you don't want to apply more lotion to your face on a sweltering day and they provide good broad spectrum protection.”
Social media strategist and former associate director of social at Allure
“I have combination skin so I have all the key issues EltaMD’s UV Clear targets; acne prone, rosacea and hyperpigmentation. Overall it feels really soothing, not heavy and dries down to a faint glow and no white cast. I like that it doesn’t clog your pores and has a very subtle scent. It’s great on its own, but also wears well under makeup.”
Executive beauty editor at InStyle
[Ed note: A double rec!] "EltaMD's UV Clear has been my go-to for years. It offers sheer protection and doubles as a moisturizer, all while combating acne and discoloration. It's easy to see why it has a cult following."
Features writer at Gawker, former beauty columnist and founder of unhinged beauty newsletter That Wet Look
“I like the Elta one because it feels like lotion, but I also like this Supergoop one, which feels more like an oil serum.”
Author, podcast host of Forever35 and Matt and Doree's Eggcellent Adventure, and writer of the newsletter Now We’re Talking
“I have a few different recs that I use in different circumstances. For face mineral sunscreen, I love the Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen. The original formulation of this sunscreen left a white cast, but they rejiggered it within the last couple of years and it's now incredibly smooth. You honestly would not know it's a mineral sunscreen. And it works. For face chemical sunscreen, I'm a Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence gal — it feels so light going on, and it's a Japanese sunscreen so it has protection that American sunscreens don't. For the body and/or working out outdoors, I'm a fan of the Supergoop PLAY sunscreen, which has withstood tennis in the blazing Los Angeles summer sun. I personally prefer the lotion but it also comes in a number of other formulations, including a mist and a mousse. And finally, for my 3-year-old, I've been using a combination of a Supergoop 100% Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick and the Coppertone Mineral Baby Spray — he's allergic to chemical sunscreen, and I like to use the stick on his face and the spray on his body. He's been taking outdoor swim lessons and hasn't come home with a burn yet.”
Leslie Price
Gloria co-founder
“I just purchased the Woods Copenhagen sunscreen, and I am absolutely in love with it. This under-the-radar Danish brand formulates products for people with sensitive skin. It goes on smoothly, sinks in fast, is very light, has a nice scent (it’s actually fragrance free, so the smell is more “upscale skincare product” than “beachy”), and doesn’t mess up my face. Yes, it is a chemical sunscreen, and it’s expensive…but using it feels like a luxury, honestly, so I find myself being better about sunscreen in general with this because it’s actually enjoyable to apply. That’s how I talk myself into the price.”
Michelle Curb
Gloria co-founder
“I use the SuperGoop Play Everyday Lotion exclusively in the summer. It’s a nice, everyday light facial sunscreen that moisturizes and rubs in well. It is also water and sweat-proof, so I always feel protected during daily outdoor exercise or hot afternoons spent in the park. And the SPF 50 is a definite bonus.”