When it comes to taking care of your skin, finding the best facial sunscreen is essential for men who want to protect their skin from harmful UV rays and maintain a youthful appearance. With an array of options available, it can be challenging to navigate through the vast selection of products. That's why we've compiled a list of top-rated facial sunscreens for men based on user reviews. Whether you're looking for a lightweight formula, non-greasy application, or powerful sun protection, our curated selection features highly recommended products to meet your skincare needs.
Face sunscreen: You know you need to wear it, but every “best of” article says something different. How do you choose the best sunscreen for you? Don’t worry, it’s less complicated than it seems. Whether you’re looking for a chemical sunscreen, a mineral sunscreen (or if you have no idea what that means!), you’re in the right place.
Why Men Need Facial Sunscreen
The sun, though it brings us joy, can cause some major harm. UVA and UVB rays cause skin cancer, sun spots, wrinkles, leathery skin, etc. Darker skin, while less prone to burning than lighter skin tones, is still susceptible to all the risks above. Plus, people with a darker skin tone are more likely to develop hyperpigmentation from rashes and acne blemishes due to sun exposure. Luckily, facial sunscreen can help.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Facial Sunscreen
To help you narrow down your options, here are some key considerations to keep in mind:
- Broad-spectrum protection: Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF30 to shield your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
- Lightweight and non-greasy: Men often prefer lightweight, non-greasy formulas that absorb quickly and don’t leave a shiny residue.
- Skin type: Choose a sunscreen formulated for your specific skin type-whether it’s sensitive, dry, oily, or acne-prone.
- Convenience: Convenience matters, so consider sunscreens that are easy to apply and reapply throughout the day.
Top Facial Sunscreen Recommendations
Over the past several years, we've tested 50+ of the most popular and recommended face sunscreen options to find the best face sunscreen for most people. Keep in mind, though: as long as it meets the AADA’s guidelines, any sunscreen you’ll use every day - EVERY DAY!
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Coola Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50
- Broad spectrum SPF: 50
- Sunscreen Type: Chemical (Avobenzone 1.75%, Homosalate 5.0%, Octisalate 2.0%, Octocrylene 5.0%)
- Skin Type: All skin types
- Cost per oz: $18.82/oz on Amazon.com
- What we liked: Moisturizing, lightweight, high-end feel, fragrance-free, non-irritating
- What we didn’t like: Expensive, leaves a slight tackiness on the skin, ambiguous “organic” label
In looking for an all-around winner for best facial sunscreen, we spent years evaluating top candidates. Coola Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 checks all the boxes: it’s lightweight, fragrance-free, moisturizing, non-greasy, leaves no white cast on any skin tones, and doesn’t irritate sensitive skin. We need our face sunscreen to feel so nice that we want to put it on in the morning, and then we want to completely forget we’re wearing it. Coola Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 definitely fits that bill.
We love Coola Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 because, as one tester noted, “it feels more like skincare than sunscreen.” Its texture is thin like a moisturizer when applied, and plant-based hydrating ingredients provide additional moisture and skin protection. It easily doubles as a sunscreen/moisturizer combo unless your skin or outside conditions are very dry.
While there is a very slightly sticky or tacky finish (common to most sunscreens with moisturizing elements), this is minimal, and was only noticed by testers with particular sensitivity to this quality. We were especially impressed by Coola Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50’s lack of fragrance: while many products claim to be fragrance-free, very few really are. Most products without added fragrances have a chemical smell that can be even more off-putting than fragrance, but this product has one of the most neutral smells we’ve encountered.
We tested Coola Classic SPF 50 as an everyday sunscreen as well as during adventures like hiking, backpacking, and snowboarding. We found it held up well under all these conditions and reapplied without pilling or creating a white cast over time. Even our testers with sensitive skin found this sunscreen to be non-irritating, which many online reviewers mention as well.
As for negatives, we don’t love that the “organic” claim on the bottle doesn’t completely describe the product. Three of the top five inactive ingredients are organic, which is better than most sunscreens and we do appreciate that. However, the 30+ additional ingredients are not, and the sun-protective ingredients are typical sunscreen filters. This slightly misleading marketing rubs us the wrong way, but this is unrelated to the user experience. Otherwise, the main negative noted in our testing and across online reviews was the slightly tacky finish, which was too oily for some users. It’s also on the expensive side of the products we tested, though it’s nowhere near the price ceiling for facial sunscreens or high-end moisturizers, and we think that the quality of the product is a good value for the price.
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CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
- Broad spectrum SPF: 30
- Sunscreen Type: Chemical + mineral (Homosalate 10%, Meradimate 5%, Octinoxate 5%, Octocrylene 2%, Zinc Oxide 6.3%)
- Skin Type: Dry skin, combination skin
- Cost per oz: $4.99 /oz
- What we liked: Moisturizing, non-irritating, includes hyaluronic acid, good value
- What we didn’t like: Greasier than higher-end sunscreens (though the best of its price), can leave a white cast, slower to absorb than higher-end sunscreens
The CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 is the best face sunscreen you can get at a drugstore, with a user-friendly price of less than $5 per ounce. CeraVe is a moisturizer and SPF from a brand that many love for its simplicity, effective go-to quality, and particularly its usefulness for dry skin or sensitive skin. CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is an oil-free facial sunscreen that also contains hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide, chemicals that naturally occur in the body and help keep skin moisturized and elastic. At the top of many best-SPF lists, this is also Amazon’s No. 1 best-selling face moisturizer.
At $4-$5 per ounce for a purely face sunscreen, we can see why it’s a fan favorite. While there are less expensive facial sunscreens out there, most feel greasy, oily, or don’t absorb into the skin well. If your skin is not sensitive, you may be able to wear body sunscreen on your face, which is generally a cheaper option. However, body sunscreen may irritate those with sensitive skin, reactive skin, or those who don’t like the feel of thicker and more fragrant products on their face.
On the down side, some users found CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion to be too greasy, and some noted that it left a white cast on their skin or didn’t absorb completely, likely due to the presence of zinc oxide. While our testers found it non-irritating, some online reviewers found it irritated their skin or caused redness. It also contains meradimate (a chemical sunscreen filter not legal for use in the EU or Japan) and octinoxate (a chemical sunscreen filter which is legal, but being phased out of many products due to early research suggesting potential hormone disruption effects in animals). There is not sufficient evidence to say definitively that either of these chemicals is harmful to human health, but if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or experiencing hormonal challenges, you might want to opt for a mineral sunscreen (like the Innbeauty or Thrive products below) anyway.
Overall, though, we appreciate how moisturizing this sunscreen is and how it can easily be integrated into a daily sunscreen routine. At a fraction of the cost of the other sunscreen brands, we think the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen is the best budget face sunscreen.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
- Broad spectrum SPF: 40
- Sunscreen Type: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 7%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 9%)
- Skin Type: Oily skin, sensitive skin
- Cost per oz: $22.35/oz
- What we liked: Transparent gel, smooth, doesn’t feel like a sunscreen, invisible, light, no white cast, good for all skin tones, not oily, good to wear under makeup
- What we didn’t like: Expensive, not available at all stores, not moisturizing
Gel sunscreens are very popular options for face sunscreens at the moment. The most beloved of the gel sunscreens on the market is undoubtedly Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen. A smooth, fragrance-free, transparent gel, Unseen Sunscreen feels unlike any other sunscreen we’ve tried (hardly like a sunscreen). That's why we think this gel sunscreen is a great face sunscreen for users with oily or sensitive skin, and those who hate the sticky, tacky, or greasy feel of traditional sunscreens.
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The main thing that distinguishes Unseen Sunscreen is its texture, almost like a drier version of aloe vera, which settles into the skin to leave a light, invisible, matte finish. Those who wear makeup note that its texture is similar to a makeup primer (a product applied before makeup to create an even texture and keep any cosmetics looking good longer). In fact, many people use Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen in place of products like these.
If you have oily skin, sensitive skin, or dislike the texture of lotions and creams on your face, this is a great product to try. However, it can feel a bit greasy for a few minutes until it sinks in, and because its texture is so gel-like and oil-free, it may not be ideal for someone with drier skin or those looking for a more moisturizing product.
Innbeauty Project’s Mineral Sun Glow SPF43+
- Broad spectrum SPF: 43+
- Sunscreen Type: Mineral (Non-nano Zinc Oxide 14.2%)
- Skin Type: All skin types
- Cost per oz: $20.6/oz
- What we liked: No white cast, lightweight, easy to apply, low fragrance, helpful dispenser, not drying
- What we didn’t like: Expensive, finish is slightly shiny, not available in all stores
If you’re looking for an all-mineral face sunscreen (that is, a sunscreen that uses only mineral sun filters like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide), Innbeauty Project’s Mineral Sun Glow is the only one we’ve ever found that does not leave a white cast. It’s also easy to apply, has almost no fragrance, and feels lightweight on the skin.
When it comes to mineral sunscreens, the white cast has always been a fact of life. Less expensive versions can be thick, hard to rub in, and drying to the skin as well as leaving the inevitable chalky white residue. More expensive versions (like the Dr. Jart Every Sun Day mineral sunscreen that tops many online lists) have a pleasant texture and more moisturizing user experience, but the white cast remains. The only alternative in the past has been a tinted mineral sunscreen, which invariably does not come in enough shades to match all skin tones.
On the other hand, there is Innbeauty Project’s Mineral Sun Glow SPF43+, which hit the market relatively recently but has won a number of awards and gained a strong following in that time. We were shocked to find that this sunscreen, although powered entirely by 14.2% non-nano zinc oxide, leaves absolutely no white cast. Although it contains no added fragrance, it does have a very slight smell reminiscent of coconut oil. The product itself has the texture of a thin lotion, which dispenses with an easy-to-use pump and rubs in smoothly. The finish is relatively transparent with a slight shine rather than a chalky white cast.
Innbeauty Project’s Mineral Sun Glow SPF43+ also contains moisturizing elements that prevent the drying qualities of many mineral sunscreens. Though it’s head and shoulders above other all-mineral formulas we’ve tried, you can’t completely escape the trade-offs inherent in a mineral sunscreen. There is no white cast, but there is, as mentioned above, a light “radiant” or “glowy” finish. While it’s not a tinted sunscreen in the sense that you have to find a shade that matches your skin tone, Innbeauty Project’s Mineral Sun Glow SPF43+ does come in three “flexible” shades: fair/light, medium, and tan/deep. These shades are not intended to match your skin tone exactly; theoretically anyone can wear any shade. However, the darker shades lend a bronzing/tanning effect that looks more seamless on darker skin (the effect is very similar to Supergoop!
Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen
- Broad spectrum SPF: 40
- Sunscreen Type: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 12%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 6%)
- Skin Type: Oily skin, sensitive skin
- Cost per oz: $4.7/oz
- What we liked: Very similar user experience to Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen for a fraction of the price, clear and transparent, lightweight
- What we didn’t like: Doesn’t absorb as well as Supergoop, slightly greasy on the skin, slightly grainy texture, only available for the original price at Trader Joe’s brick-and-mortar stores
Given the popularity of Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen, it’s unsurprising that a number of brands (including Sun Bum, Black Girl Sunscreen, and others) have created their own versions of gel sunscreen. All of these have vaguely the same look and feel: lightweight gels that apply smoothly, dry completely clear, and have a texture similar to a “primer” that goes on under makeup. The texture of Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen is remarkably similar to that of Supergoop Unseen, and it is similarly completely transparent and non-shiny. The comparison isn’t perfect: Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen doesn’t absorb quite as well, remains greasy on the skin to a greater degree, and has a slightly more grainy texture than Supergoop Unseen.
Thrive Bodyshield Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
- Broad spectrum SPF: 50
- Sunscreen Type: Mineral (Non-nano Zinc Oxide 23.5%)
- Skin Type: All skin types, especially sensitive skin
- Cost per oz: $5.16/oz
- What we liked: Most sheer of comparable mineral sunscreens, applies smoothly & easily, less sticky than competitors, almost no fragrance, reef-safe, among the most affordable mineral sunscreens
- What we didn’t like: Only available online, white cast, sticky
The unfortunate truth is that mineral sunscreen tends to be more expensive than chemical sunscreen. About $5/oz is currently the ballpark for the most affordable mineral sunscreens, and most of the products we’ve tried in that range have a significant white cast, have little water/sweat resistance, or both of these drawbacks. The best affordable mineral face sunscreen we’ve found is Thrive Bodyshield Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, and it clears both of these common hurdles.
Thrive Bodyshield is at the top of many mineral sunscreen lists, and it has been one of our favorite affordable mineral sunscreens for a while (you’ll find it’s a winner in both our Best Sunscreens for Your Body and our Best Reef-Safe Sunscreens guides). It’s reef-safe, applies easily, has almost no fragrance, and has excellent sweat and water resistance. While Thrive Bodyshield Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 is thicker than more high-end sunscreens and takes a bit longer to absorb, it’s hard to tell the difference between this and more expensive products once they’re applied.
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
- Broad spectrum SPF: Yes, SPF 50+
- Sunscreen Type: Chemical
- Skin Type: oily skin
- Cost per oz: $11.24/oz
- What we liked: pleasant to wear, comes with moisturizing ingredients, lightweight, invisible, fragrance-free
- What we didn’t like: can only order online
In my opinion - shared by a number of skincare experts and fellow testers - the Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel is actually one of the best and most pleasant-to-wear face sunscreens out there.
Formulated with ceramides and hyaluronic acid (common moisturizing ingredients), this popular Korean face sunscreen is moisturizing, lightweight, invisible, fragrance-free, and my personal favorite for daily use. On the downside, you do have to order it online, and it isn’t on as many “Best Sunscree…