The Best Sunscreen for Living Sunny Side Up
Finding the best sunscreen doesn’t have to be a last-minute affair: Believe it or not, the best way to pick an SPF is not to go to the store five minutes before you head to the beach and grab whatever is on sale on the end cap (though dermatologists and grooming editors would like to pause and give you an A for effort). With a little forethought, you can actually get sun protection that you look forward to slathering on: mousses that are lighter than air, lotions that smell like a piña colada, and sprays that go on without leaving you feeling even a little bit greasy. Ahead, here are the SPFs that are actually worth thinking about ahead of time and that will leave your skin protected and sun-ready for whatever is ahead.
The Best Body Sunscreen, According to GQ
In This Guide
The Best SPF All Around: Coola Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50
Why we love it: Spray sunscreens are a cinch to apply—especially when you have body hair—because you can mist them on your skin, and they sink in seamlessly without too much tugging. Coola’s, in particular, is made with skin-supporting, plant-derived ingredients that help hydrate the skin and prevent free radical damage. It leaves a sheen on the skin that is impressive but never greasy. The brand has a range of spray SPFs with varying degrees of protection and scents that belong by the pool, but we like this non-assuming, fragrance-free SPF 50 that’s versatile for outdoor fitness and beach days alike.
The Best Chemical SPF Lotion: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60, $24
Why we love it: If there were a sunscreen hall of fame, La Roche-Posay’s melt-in milk would have been inducted years ago. While plenty of SPF lotions require a lot of rubbing in (and thus: “Oh, you missed a spot,” rom-com meet-cutes), this SPF was designed to be lapped by the skin thanks in part thanks to Cell-Ox technology, which helps to guard against UVA, UVB, and free radicals with a blend of chemical filters and senna alata (a tropical leaf extract). Over the years, La Roche-Posay has updated its formula to improve it, and in its current iteration, the product is seriously good. (P.S. If you do find yourself at the drugstore looking for an SPF five minutes ahead of your outdoor activity, buy this stuff.)
The Best SPF Mousse: Supergoop! The Mousse SPF 50, $36
Why we love it: This SPF is a blast to apply. It has a whipped cream texture that pretty much dares you not to want to use as much as you can, and with a high SPF, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Supergoop! is the American SPF brand to beat, thanks to savvy scientists who choose great ingredients—this one has shea butter to moisturize skin and olive fruit extract and blue sea kale to help guard against free radicals. It’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes, so it’s good for exercising outdoors or parking it under an umbrella poolside.
The Best Stick SPF: Freaks of Nature Peak Performance Sun Stick SPF 50, $24
Why we love it: If you’re looking for an SPF that you can keep in your pocket and slather on anytime sunny plans await, it’s this cute, vibey stick from Freaks of Nature. Some stick SPFs can have a lot of drag on the skin, but this one glides easily over it. We will admit, it’s going to be hard to get full-body protection from this SPF, but we love it to do double duty on sensitive, sun-prone areas: a bald head, the shoulders, your nose. It has out-of-the-box ingredients like microalgae oil, alpenrose flower, and wakame extract to help prevent and guard skin from environmental aggressors that inevitably stress it out and cause damage.
The Best Smelling SPF: Vacation Classic Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, $36 (for 3)
Why we love it: If you’re only in it for the piña colada scent, then you’ll do no better than Vacation, the 80s-ifed SPF. Known for its coconut-heavy fragrance that absorbs right up into the skin. The brand really runs on vibes, and from its packaging to its formulas (oils! whips! gels!) you’re never going to disappoint Zack, Slater, Kelly, and the gang if you come home with a bottle from this brand. The original formula, though, really does it for me. It’s packed with aloe vera, vitamin E, and shea oil to help fend of skin damage and keep your skin nourished while you’re wearing it and beyond. Plus it doesn’t feel greasy while still leaving the faintest sheen to skin.
The Best Active SPF: Blue Lizard SPF 50 Sport Spray, $15
Why we love it: To all the runners out there, this SPF is going to change your life. It’s from Aussie brand Blue Lizard, and it feels like it locks onto skin and doesn’t budge once it’s on. Using the physical blocker zinc oxide and a base of aloe juice, it’s great for people with sensitive skin, helping to keep your skin protected and soothed. I like to use this over a chemical SPF when I’m active because some chemical SPFs can sweat into my eyes. For those looking for something for fun purposes, this option is reef-safe and good for taking a dip in the deep blue.
The Best Mineral SPF Spray: Elta MD AOX SPF 50 Mist, $46
Why we love it: You usually find vitamin C and E in fancy formulas that you slather on your face, but we’d expect nothing less than the addition of those antioxidants in this body spritz from EltaMD, which is known for making the best-of-the-best SPFs. Because of some intricacies in propelling physical SPF filters like titanium dioxide via propellants, you don’t get many great mineral SPF sprays, but this one is just that. Coconut fruit extract, aloe vera, and glycerin help to almost cushion the zinc oxide so that it goes on smoothly and doesn’t leave any chalky streaks. It’s great to spray ahead of a short run or bike ride outside, but because it only has 40 minutes of water resistance, make sure to reapply if you’re out in the sun and sweating, or if you’re in water. Bonus points for being hypoallergenic for folks with the most sensitive skin.
The Best Mineral SPF Lotion: Necessaire The Sunscreen, $45
Why we love it: From a sunny yellow bottle, this zinc-oxide SPF feels a lot more like a supple body lotion than a pasty sunscreen. With skin-hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and panthenol, the formula sinks into the skin to hydrate, while laminaria saccharina helps protect against sun damage. Reviewers say that it blends in seamlessly, although some are unsure whether it leaves a white cast on the skin. It might be worth patch testing to see how it works for you.
More Sunscreens We Love
Sunscreen FAQ
What’s the difference between chemical and physical SPF?
Chemical filters use ingredients like avobenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, and homosalate. Many dermatologists will use the analogy that chemical sunscreens sink into the skin and act like a sponge, absorbing and dissipating the sun’s rays, while physical sunscreens—those that use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—act like a full-on blocker, preventing UV rays from reaching the skin.
What’s the best format to wear SPF?
Dermatologists will tell you that the right format to wear for your skin is the one that you will wear consistently when you’re outdoors. That means you and your best friend could have completely different SPF routines, so you should prepare accordingly when you head out on a trip together. However, consider things like hypoallergenic formulas, which can be beneficial for the most sensitive skin types or a non-comedogenic formula for oily or acne-prone skin types. And if you find that a particular format isn’t working for you, try something new rather than give up on SPF altogether.
How much SPF should you apply?
If you are wearing a lotion, dermatologists recommend applying a shot glass full of SPF every two hours while you’re out in the sun (remember that water resistance is only up to 80 minutes with any SPF). If you are wearing a spray, hold the bottle 4 to 6 inches from your skin and spray in both directions, so no skin is missed when applying. While there aren’t hard-and-fast rules for things like sticks and sprays, you’ll just want to ensure that your amply covering the skin so that you don’t wind up getting burned.
What SPF number should I wear?
Dermatologists recommend no less than SPF 30 for days when you’re out in the sun—but they themselves wear SPF 50 or higher and huddle under hats and umbrellas when they’re spending long stints of time outdoors. SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays (the type responsible for burning your skin), and SPF 50 increases that number slightly to 98%.
How We Tested
Over my decade of experience writing about personal care products, I have tested the majority of the sunscreens listed above for durations of a week or more. To write this article, we revisited those experiences and dug into the latest formulas to provide you with the ones that you really shouldn’t miss. For those that we didn’t get to try firsthand, we relied on reviews from customers and recommendations from experts.
