Skin protection is never more important than in the summer. Tanning, swimming, and enjoying the sun feels amazing, but all of that UV radiation is what causes most cases of skin cancer. Start a search today to find the best sun protection products.
In order to reap the benefits of a lovely summer day in the sun, it’s essential to protect your skin using hats, sunglasses, and most importantly, sunscreen. Sunscreen helps block the sun’s rays which prevents these UV rays from penetrating the skin.
1. Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum
Lots of people avoid sunscreen because they don’t like the unpleasant heavy feeling or its artificial scent.
Fortunately, this light-as-air sunscreen from Supergoop! has all the sun protection without the heavy feeling. It functions as a morning moisturizer and protects the skin from the sun with broad-spectrum SPF 30. It’s formulated with vitamins E and B5, as well as antioxidants which protect the face from photoaging. It goes on super light and absorbs really quickly, so you can layer it under makeup for all-day protection.
It costs $15 and can be purchased via the Supergoop! website.
2. Renee Rouleau Weightless Protection
Another fantastic weightless sunscreen that offers SPF 30 protection is the Weightless Protection SPF 30 sunscreen from Renee Rouleau. It’s formulated with zinc oxide as a physical UV blocker, so it doesn’t contain potentially harmful or irritating ingredients like other chemical sunscreens.
The use of these physical blockers, plus the completely greaseless formula makes it perfect for people who have skin that’s sensitive or oily. You can use it under any makeup or primer and it won’t make you feel weighed down.
It’s a little pricy at $57.50, but if you need sunscreen made for sensitive skin, it won’t let you down.
3. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
If you’re looking for a product with high SPF, IT Cosmetics’ Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream is formulated with SPF 50. This color-correcting cream is made to be worn under makeup, to provide an even base layer that camouflages redness, blemishes, and dark spots.
Reviewers rave about how it never cracks or looks blotchy, even after all-day wear. It’s formulated with peptides, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants, which fight signs of aging.
It costs around $42 and is available in 10 unique shades.
4. CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream
Another great light-as-air moisturizer that comes formulated with SPF 30 is CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Day Cream. It’s one of the best options for an anti-aging moisturizer that also contains SPF. The anti-aging ingredients used — retinol, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides — are typically only found in higher-end products, which makes the $24.99 price tag a steal.
If you want 24/7 protection, they carry a night cream that uses many of the same anti-aging ingredients. It’s fragrance-free and completely hypoallergenic.
5. Glossier Invisible Shield
Glossier’s thoughtful product line and attention to their customers’ needs has made them extremely popular. They use their Instagram to poll their customers — they call them “stakeholders” — often and take their feedback into account.
One of their most popular products is their Invisible Shield, a daily-wearing facial sunscreen that goes on clear with no white cast. In addition to protecting skin with SPF 35, it’s made with ingredients that work to neutralize pollution in the air and prevent free radicals from damaging the skin. It’s available for $34.
6. Nécessaire The Body Lotion
Even if you’ve worn sunscreen all day, exposing your skin to the sun can still make it dry, irritated, and itchy. At the end of a long day, smooth The Body Lotion from Nécessaire over your skin for a deeply moisturizing experience.
It’s made with three unique oils — marula, cacao, and meadowfoam — that help lock in moisture. It also contains anti-aging ingredients like niacinamide and peptides, which are typically only found in facial moisturizers. Spread over the entire body, these ingredients help brighten and firm skin from head to toe.
7. Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream
Another great product that will help dry, tight skin recover after a long day in the sun is Olay’s Regenerist Night Recovery Cream. It’s intensely moisturizing and helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles with Olay’s signature Amino-Peptide Complex.
Just a little dab goes a long way. Use it every night after you’ve washed and cleaned your face, and you’ll see the benefits after just a few applications. It goes on non-greasy and is completely fragrance-free, so it’s easy to sleep in.
One 1.7oz jar costs $29.99.
8. Blistex Five Star Lip Protection
When you’re thinking about applying sun protection to your skin, don’t forget about your lips! The skin of our lips is extremely sensitive, and they should be covered in at least SPF 15 if you’re out in the sun.
The best lip balms for summer contain humectants, which brings moisture to the skin, and emollients, which lock it into place. Stay away from lip gloss, which can attract UV rays.
The best lip balm that we found for summer is Blistex Five Star Lip Protection, which contains SPF 30. At $2.84 for a pack of two, you can’t go wrong.
9. Solumbra Clothing
The best way to make sure that harmful UV radiation doesn’t reach the skin is to keep it completely covered. In the summer, this may seem like a tall order. That’s why the sun protective clothing from Solumbra is such a great innovation.
Their clothing is made from light and airy fabric that also contains SPF 100 sun protection. They carry a wide variety of shirts, dresses, pants, hats, and even gloves and umbrellas. Their products range in price from $40 to $150, but the price tag is definitely worth it for complete sun protection.
10. Quay Australia Oversize Square Sunnies
Did you ever think about what the sun’s UV rays are doing to your eyes every time you squint in the hot sunlight? Protecting your eyes is extremely important, yet many people insist on wearing cheap sunglasses that offer no UV protection.
These lightweight sunglasses from Quay Australia offers 100 percent UV protection at all times. At $65, they’re super cute and come in two different color options.
11. Coppertone Ultra Guard Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70
Sometimes, you just need a basic sunscreen that you can buy for under $10 to go in your beach bag or picnic basket.
Coppertone’s Ultra Guard Sunscreen contains SPF 70 and is a great basic option for all skin types. It’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes, goes on evenly, and doesn’t smell cloyingly sweet.
Stay Protected
Whether you’re at the beach, lounging by the pool, or just out running errands this summer, make sure you’re protected. It’s easy to brush off statistics about skin cancer when you’re young, but once you start getting wrinkles and suspicious moles, you may wish you had paid more attention to your skin’s health.
This summer, stock up on some of these products, which will protect your skin from UV radiation and keep it looking healthy and radiant long into old age.