We are well into Spring and headed for Summer soon, so it is the perfect time to plan ahead and start thinking about protecting your skin, keeping melanomas and wrinkles at bay, and finding a great sunscreen. SPF is ridiculously important, but not all sunscreen is created equal. That’s why the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab is constantly testing to find the best SPFs you can buy and regularly consulting top dermatologists to find the best sunscreen to keep your skin protected, healthy and youthful all year long.
According to Good Housekeeping, their Beauty Lab regularly tests the lastest body and face sunscreens formulas on the market. In the most recent round of sunscreen testing, Beauty Lab scientists analyzed 62 new body sunscreens and polled 1,139 people on their sunscreen habits to inform the testing.After narrowing the field to the top 29 sunscreens, GH Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. and chemists Sabina Wizemann and Danusia Wnek enlisted the help of consumer testers across demographics and races to evaluate the products. Each tester used a label-masked product at least twice over the course of one week, then reported their feedback on factors such as ease of use, scent, texture, look and feel on skin and sun protection ability.
After reviewing 4,883 data points from over 250 testers, their experts narrowed in on the top-performing picks. Whether you’re looking for formulas suited for sensitive skin, sunscreens for kids and babies, zinc oxide formulas, sunscreen for oily skin, or even natural sunscreen, GH Beauty Lab experts say they have the perfect SPF pick for you:
Good Housekeeping’s top picks
- Best Overall Sunscreen for Body: Rodan + Fields Essentials Face + Body Sunscreen SPF 50 ($34 RoddanandFields.com)
- Best Value Sunscreen for Body: Hawaiian Tropic AntiOxidant+ Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 ($10 at Amazon or Walmart)
- Best Overall Sunscreen for Face: Vichy LiftActiv Peptide-C Sunscreen SPF 30 ($39 at Dermstore)
- Best Value Sunscreen for Face: Hawaiian Tropic Matte Effect Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 ($12 at Amazon or Bed Bath and Beyond)
- Best Sunscreen for Combination Skin: Ulta Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 ($15 at Ulta Beauty)
- Best Sunscreen for Everyday Use: SkinCeuticals Light Moisture UV Defense SPF 50 ($39 at Blue Mercury)
- Best Sunscreen for Dry Skin: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ Sunscreen ($49 at Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom, and Walmart)
- Best Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin: Julep No Excuses Invisible Facial Sunscreen Gel SPF 40 ($20 at Amazon)
- Best Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin: Everyday Humans Oh My Bod! SPF 50 Body Sunscreen ($18 at Amazon)
- Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin: Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Gel-Lotion SPF 30 ($17 at Amazon)
- Best Sunscreen for Dark Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Body & Face Sunscreen Lotioon SPF 100 ($26 at Amazon or Ulta Beauty)
- Best Mineral Physical Body Sunscreen: Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Sun Milk Body Lotion SPF 50 ($12 at Amazon)
- Best Mineral Physical Face Sunscreen: Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Face Lotion ($18 at Amazon or Bed Bath and Beyond)
- Best Natural Sunscreen: Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotioon SPF 50 ($16 at Amazon)
- Best Spray Sunscreen: Hampton Sun SPF 50 Continuous Mist Sunscreen ($32 at Amazon or Walmart)
- Best Value Spray Sunscreen: Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 ($16 at Amazon)
- Best Dermatologist Recommended Sunscreen: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 50 ($35 at Amazon or Ulta Beauty)
- Best Scented Sunscreen: Banana Boat Light As Air Reef Friendly Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 (Pack of 2 – $14 at Amazon)
- Best Sunscreen for Sports: Banana Boat Sport Ultra Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 ($11 at Amazon / $8 at Walmart)
- Best Zinc Oxide Sunscreen: Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Body Shield SPF 50 ($46 at Amazon or Nordstrom)
- Best Value Zinc Oxide Sunscreen: Coppertone Pure & Simple SPF 50 Lotion ($10 at Amazon or Bed Bath and Beyond)
- Best Lightweight Sunscreen: Coola Classic Body Sunscreen Guava Mango SPF 50 ($28 at Amazon or Ulta Beauty)
—
Photo Credit: Jakub Zak / Shutterstock.com