We Sifted Through 80+ Sunscreens so You Don't Have To—These 12 Came Out on Top

Never buy lackluster SPF again.

Who What Wear beauty editors testing the best sunscreens of 2025
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Skincare recs are ultimately so personal. A hyaluronic acid serum, for instance, may have meh results for you yet become another person's absolute holy grail. But sunscreen? That's a whole other can of worms. There's a ton to consider when selecting a sunscreen (type of filter, texture, fragrance, tint, etc.), and everyone has unique priorities based on their skin type, tone, and lifestyle, so crowning the "best of the best" is a tricky feat.

Tricky, yes, but not impossible! We took on the intimidating task of testing the most beloved SPF options out there (plus a few personal favorites, for good measure) to determine which formulas truly reign supreme. After much deliberation and debate (I told you, sunscreen is personal!), we whittled down a list of 80 options to wind up with our 12 tried-and-true winners. Keep scrolling, and you're bound to discover your new go-to. Take it from a *very* picky team of beauty editors.

The Best Sunscreens, at a Glance:

The Best Sunscreens We've Ever Tested

Best Overall (Body): Vacation Classic Whip SPF 30

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

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Best Overall (Face): EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

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Best Mineral: Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Mineral Milk Sunscreen SPF 30

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

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Best Hydrating: Innisfree Daily UV Defense Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 36 Sunscreen

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

(Image credit:Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing )

Best Spray: Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Spray SPF 50

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

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Best Consistency: Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

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Best Lightweight: Banana Boat Light As Air Sunscreen Lotion

Who What Wear beauty editors testing the best sunscreens

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Best Under Makeup: Naturium Dew Glow SPF 50

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

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Best Drugstore: Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Sunscreen Lotion

Who What Wear beauty editors testing the best sunscreens

(Image credit:Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing )

Best for Oily Skin: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

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Best for Sensitive Skin: Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

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Best Water-Resistant: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Body Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 100

Who What Wear Beauty Editors testing the best sunscreens

(Image credit:Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing )

What to Look for in a Sunscreen

We tapped board-certified dermatologist Geeta Yadav, MD, founder of Facet Dermatology, for all her sunscreen shopping tips. Below, find her top considerations.

  • SPF: "The most important feature to look for in a sunscreen is its sun protection factor (SPF), which should be at least SPF 30, meaning it'll block about 97% of the sun's rays—note that SPF 50 blocks 98% and there is no sunscreen that blocks 100%; it's really a case of diminishing returns!—and that it offers broad spectrum protection, meaning that it protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays."
  • Water-resistance: "Water resistance is really only important if you're someone who sweats or swims a lot. The average person likely won't need this type of formula unless they're participating in strenuous outdoor activities or are hanging out by the beach or pool."
  • PA level: "PA level is useful but really only comes up when you're shopping for sunscreen formulas that were created in Japan. [Editor's note: It's also used in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.] They're an indication of how effective they are at blocking UVA rays specifically. All you need to know here is that the more plus signs you see after PA, the better—PA++++ is the highest level of protection measured by this scale."
  • Form: "Sticks are great for swiping on kids, as are sprays, which have the added benefit of being very lightweight and covering a greater surface area faster than your average lotion [...] It's really about what [you] like and look forward to using."
  • Skin type: "When shopping for a SPF for your skin type, consider its consistency. Thicker, creamier sunscreens tend to pair best with dry skin, while sprays and gels are frequently better for those with oily or acne-prone skin. Powders are also a nice option for those with oily skin—brushing on powder SPF for a midday reapplication will help soak up any excess shine!"

What sunscreens do dermatologists recommend?

"The best sunscreen for any given patient is one that they'll actually use. The formula should be broad-spectrum and offer a minimum of SPF 30, but other than that, it really comes down to the product experience and what you enjoy. If you don't like a sunscreen, you're not going to wear it—and if you're not going to wear it, it's totally useless," declares Yadav.

"Vitamin C is nice to have, as it helps strengthen the efficacy of sunscreen while providing defense against free radicals, but honestly, all that matters is that you like it. It can be a lotion, a powder, a spray, chemical, or mineral—it just has to be something you like to use."

What's the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens?

"Mineral sunscreens are also known as physical sunscreens because they work by physically blocking the sun's rays, acting as a shield to deflect UV off and away from the skin," Yadav explains. "Chemical sunscreens work by creating a chemical reaction within the skin (which is why you have to apply it 15 minutes before sun exposure, to give it time to work!). This chemical reaction transforms UV energy when it touches the skin, turning it into heat that is easily released by the skin without damage."

"Those with very sensitive or acne-prone skin may want to consider a mineral sunscreen rather than a chemical, though everyone's different! Mineral sunscreens just sit on top of the skin and tend not to be as irritating as chemical formulations, but it's worth noting that chemical SPF tends to offer benefits like water resistance, which can be very important if you're someone who participates in water sports or other outdoor activities. They are also more likely to disappear into deeper skin tones without leaving a chalky cast—mineral formulas can leave a white cast behind, though the technology here is getting better and better!"

How much sunscreen do you need to apply?

"People are often surprised by how much sunscreen you need to apply and reapply. You should be applying at least ¼ of a teaspoon to your face, ¼ of a teaspoon to your neck, and a full shot glass of SPF (about 1 or 1.5 ounces), if not more, to your body," declares Yadav.

How often do you need to reapply?

"The kicker here is that you need to reapply every two hours, more frequently if you've been swimming or sweating," says Yadav. "I find that people are surprised by this specifically because of how little sunscreen tends to be in most bottles—a TSA-friendly bottle of SPF won't even get you through one beach day!"

How We Tested

AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , our curated buying guides are weeks—and sometimes months—in the making. This review is no different! We first consulting our own editors for their favorite picks, compiling a list of 80 potential "best" sunscreens. Next, we pored over each formula's reviews and ratings before whittling the list down to 12 options—body and face options included.

Once we had our list of winners, we sent our editors samples to test and review each sunscreen (swimming and sweating are highly encouraged to test the formulas' longevity!). We collected their in-depth feedback, compared all the notes, and had our final list of supreme sunscreens.

Meet Our Testers

Jamie Schneider, Senior Beauty Editor

  • Skin type: Combination, sensitive
  • Sunscreen must-haves: I typically try to stick to mineral formulas for my face, as they tend to be gentler on my sensitive, combination skin. That said, I'm not opposed to using chemical formulas—they do blend better!—and I'm generally a sucker for a glow-inducing formula. A pleasant scent is also important to me. I just can't stick to a formula that smells too sunscreen-y or, worse, has an overwhelming coconut aroma. What can I say? I'm a proud, beauty-loving Taurus who prefers an A+ sensorial experience.

Maya Thomas, Associate Beauty Editor

  • Skin type: Dry
  • Sunscreen must-haves: "When I'm shopping for a sunscreen, I look for no white cast (which is really important to me because I have a deeper skin tone), a pleasant smell, a lotion or gel-like consistency, and mess-free application."

Kaitlyn McLintock, Beauty Editor

  • Skin type: Dehydrated, redness-prone
  • Sunscreen must-haves: "Hands down, the number one thing I look for in a sunscreen is no pilling. Seriously, I can't stand when my sunscreen pills and it looks like I'm shedding skin all day long. It's even worse when it pills after I've already applied makeup over the top. There's nothing worse than rubbing away a $60 foundation, but I digress. Aside from texture/lack of pilling, I also look for a formula that feels lightweight on my skin, doesn't leave a white cast, and won't sweat off in high heat. It's all about longevity."

Shawna Hudson, Contributing Beauty Writer

  • Skin type: Sensitive, acne-prone
  • Sunscreen must-haves: "My skin is extremely sensitive and can teeter on reactive so I have to be super careful what I put on it—especially when it comes to such an important item like sunscreen. I typically look for a formula that's noncomedogenic, oil-free, and a few extra brightening ingredients for dark spots don't hurt either! It's also important that it doesn't leave a white cast since I'm Brown."

Erin Jahns, Beauty Director

  • Skin type: Sensitive, acne-prone, combination
  • Sunscreen must-haves: "Basically, I want a sunscreen that will make me forget I'm wearing sunscreen—especially formulas for my face! It needs to feel light, it needs to be noncomedogenic, and it needs to be applied and absorbed into my skin like a dream. I don't mind a nice scent for formulas on my body (especially if it’s something nostalgic) but I steer clear of anything too fragrant for my face. I don’t have a preference for chemical vs. mineral sunscreens—I'll use whatever product feels and looks the best on my skin while still delivering protection. Over the years, I've gone back and forth between both."

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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Jamie Schneider
Senior Beauty Editor

Jamie Schneider isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing ’s senior beauty editor based in New York City. With over seven years in the industry, she specializes in trend forecasting, covering everything from innovative fragrance launches to need-to-know makeup tutorials to celebrity profiles. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English before moving to NYC, and her work has appeared in MindBodyGreen, Coveteur, and more. When she’s not writing or testing Wholesale Replica Bag beauty finds, Jamie loves scouting vintage boutiques and reading thrillers, and she’s always down for a park picnic in Brooklyn.