If Your Moisturizer Doesn't Have SPF, You're Doing It Wrong
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Sunscreen should be applied every day—yes, literally every day—even if you're not going outside, even if you're spending all day watching movies, and especially if you are going to embrace the great outdoors and expose that precious skin to the harsh sun. Okay, I love the sun, she's a great lady, but she does some *stuff* to our skin.
Life is hard enough, so in order to make sure you put on that all important SPF, why not consolidate steps by using a sunscreen/moisturizer hybrid? Hydrating formulas give you the benefits of sun protection without the white, streaky aftermath. Look for moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or niacinamide that give your skin a drink without leaving it greasy. Your skin will be thanking you for protecting it from the sun and hydrating it with such essential ingredients.
If you're still in the camp of "my skin doesn't get burned," here's the thing–that's not an excuse to skip daily SPF. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, "no matter your skin type, UV radiation from the sun and other sources can cause dangerous, lasting damage to your skin." Sunscreen isn't just about protecting your skin from a sunburn; it also reduces your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (the second most common type of skin cancer) by about 40 percent (again, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation) and lowers your melanoma risk by 50 percent. And if it's aging you're worried about, it has your skin covered there too as it prevents wrinkles, sagging, and age spots as well.
So sometimes sunscreen can make you look like a ghost. That’s because sunscreens (even sometimes the SPF in moisturizers) are usually “white and thick by nature which makes them stand out—mainly in darker skin tones. This leaves behind the white cast, which is the greyish-purple ghosting effect caused by the sunscreen,” says Kemi Fabusiwa, MD, board-certified dermatologist.
If you have a darker skin tone, choose chemical sunscreens, which don’t leave the white cast behind. “Chemical sunscreens provide very high, broad-spectrum UV protection and do this in lesser concentrations, Dr. Fabusiwa notes. These SPFs are “lighter and are formulated specifically so that they don’t leave behind a white cast.”
And, if you still want absolutely no chance of that white cast, say hello to tinted sunscreen! 🙌 (Keep reading for some favorites.)
To get all these benefits of SPF, you have to make sure you're wearing it correctly: “You need at least a nickel-size drop of sunscreen or SPF moisturizer to cover your face every morning," says Mona Gohara, MD, dermatologist and Women's Health advisory board member.
Here are the 21 best moisturizers with SPF that you won't mind applying every day.
1. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30
Have acne-prone skin? Then this moisturizer is for you. The formula contains a prebiotic blend of ingredients that keeps your skin’s microbiome healthy. And, you’ll get just the right amount of SPF to protect your skin.
2. Bolden SPF 30 Brightening Moisturizer
If you need to incorporate a moisturizer with SPF into your routine, reach for this one. It’s packed with safflower oil to repair the skin’s barrier and calm dry skin. The vitamin C that’s also in this moisturizer will brighten your skin and smooth any discoloration. Don’t forget about the SPF 30 that protects against UV damage.
3. Origins A Perfect World SPF 40 Moisturizer with White Tea
No one has to know that you're fighting signs of aging while receiving needed protection from harmful UV rays simultaneously. This moisturizer combines SPF with antioxidant-rich ingredients (like white tea) to protect your skin and keep it youthful.
4. CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Face
If you're prone to an oily T-zone, this hydrating sunscreen is for you. Ceramides and niacinamide nourish your skin without making it feel greasy, and the mineral SPF ingredients (it contains both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) keep you sun safe.
5. Paula’s Choice Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30
Whether you're new to adding SPF to your skincare routine or you're a veteran looking to cut your skincare steps down, this moisturizer makes protecting your skin simple. The creamy texture melts into your skin without leaving a greasy feeling behind. Although it's a mineral-based formula, there is no white cast, which creates a smooth canvas for makeup application.
6. Pixi Sun Mist SPF 30
For an easy sunscreen refresh midday, try this sun mist from Pixi. Not only does it provide your skin with a much needed SPF 30 boost, it also contains bamboo, aloe leaf, and chamomile extract that calms, conditions, and soothes your skin. The perfect afternoon moisture and sunscreen mist.
7. Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35
If you're looking for a bit of coverage and a dewy finish, this Saie Tinted Moisturizer is the one for you. With hydrating hyaluronic acid and sweet pea extract, brightening licorice root, and 100% mineral zinc oxide, this moisturizer is ready to take care of all of your needs. Mineral-based sunscreen tends to create a white cast, but since this is a tinted moisturizer, it blends in with any skin tone.
8. CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Another option from CeraVe that is just as dependable as all of their other products. This day cream is soothing and easy to apply while also being non-greasy. It doesn't feel like you're rubbing sunscreen in, it feels like you're rubbing a soothing moisturizer in that your skin wants gulp up. With hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and ceramides, it has all of the essential ingredients for the perfect moisturizer with SPF. Plus, it's non-comedogenic so acne-prone folks won't have to worry.
9. Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF 30
This oil-free, lightweight moisturizer blends right in so fast you'll forget if you even applied it. And if you don't want to listen to WH about wearing sunscreen, maybe you'll take a page out of Rihanna's book: “You gotta protect your skin from the sun no matter what your skin color is" she says on the Fenty site. "If you have discoloration, guess what, you can get that from the sun. I think a lot of people with darker skin tones think because they’re not burning that they don’t need SPF but we can still get sun damage."
10. Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30
This triple threat corrects redness, moisturizes, and protects your skin from UV damage. Centella asiatica (an herb native to Asia) is the hero ingredient that works to protect the skin from environmental stress that can lead to irritated, inflamed skin. While the cream goes on green, it quickly turns into a neutral shade to blend into your skin tone for a more even complexion.
Our commerce editor tried this trendy product out. You can read her review here.
11. Glossier Invisible Shield SPF 35
Does your skin start looking greasy at the mere thought of applying sunscreen? This one is for you. The clear, gel formula absorbs fast and blends in without leaving behind any white cast or weighing your skin down. Dare we say it almost even mattifies the skin?
12. Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30
If you love the sun but love your skin more, give this high-tech moisturizer a try. The light activates the moisturizer to engage the intelligent drone technology in the formula to give your skin a subtle glow. You’ll also find sage in the formula that evens and smoothes the skin.
13. Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30
Made by Black women for Black women, you can trust that this sunscreen/moisturizer hybrid isn't going to leave any white streaks behind. Avocado, jojoba, and sunflower oil all contribute to the rich, hydrating texture that sinks in without clogging pores or leading to breakouts.
14. UnSun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen
Specially formulated for those with darker skin tones, this mineral-based moisturizer won't leave a white cast. The tinted sunscreen multitasks by adding protection against harmful rays and color-correcting hyperpigmentation.
15. Suntegrity 5-in-1 Tinted Moisturizing Face Sunscreen
Moisturizing gold standard hyaluronic acid is paired alongside coconut oil and aloe vera for a refreshing and hydrating formula. And thanks to the tint (there's four shades to choose from), it'll even out your complexion too.
16. Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
Most derms recommend a combination of sunscreen and an antioxidant product (to fight aging free radical damage from UV exposure) for the best daily protection. This lightweight lotion has it all in one. It hydrates, has SPF 30, and contains a combination of blackberry extract and vitamins C and E for an antioxidant boost.
17. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50
Hate the feeling of thick, greasy sunscreen? Meet the complete opposite. This gel sunscreen hydrates (thanks to hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin E) and protects (thanks to a combo of proven chemical sunscreen ingredients) all while feeling like nothing on your skin.
18. Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Sunscreen SPF 30
You would never know this natural sunscreen houses a whopping 20% zinc oxide thanks to the blendable tint. (Read: You will not mind applying this every day.) You'll also get antioxidant protection thanks to algae and sunflower sprout extract.
19. Sobel Skin RX Plant Stem Cell Day Cream SPF 30
Yes, this is a moisturizer with sunscreen, but if you couldn't tell from the name, it's also packed with plant stem cells (they actually make up 15.5 percent of the formula) that fight free radicals to prevent collagen breakdown, promote firmer looking skin, and help smooth fine lines.
20. Murad Oil And Pore Control Mattifier SPF 45++++
Ever feel like your sunscreen is leaving your skin looking like an oil slick? Meet your new SPF BFF. Not only does it protect your skin from UVA (what causes aging) and UVB (what causes your skin to burn) rays, it also claims to minimize pores by 54 percent and keeps your skin matte for up to 10 hours.
21. Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 40 PA+++
The combo of chemical sun protection ingredients (avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate) in this nourishing cream provide your skin safety from UVA and UVB rays. It also contains cerium, a mineral that protects from the blue of your computer screen, television, and phone. So, you're double protected.
22. Olay Total Effects Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25
Extra oily skin types, meet the moisturizer-SPF face cream that will not leave you looking like a greaseball. It has a whipped texture that absorbs in seconds and leaves a velvety smooth finish that looks great under makeup.
23. L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer SPF 30
If you're starting to see hyperpigmentation, then you need to up your SPF game. Start with a brightening product like L'Oréal's. This sunscreen lotion contains SPF 30 to stop new dark spots from forming and a combination of glycolic acid, vitamin C, and retinol to treat any existing discoloration.
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