As someone who preaches the importance of daily sun protection to anyone who will listen, I often get asked what’s the best sunscreen I’ve ever used. I could list a few of my faves (and when pressed, I do) but I usually relay the same answer that dermatologists tell me when I ask them the same question: the best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually use everyday. Vogue’s Favorite Sunscreens The BEMT Sunscreen: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Defense SPF, $40 The Everyday Spray: Vacation Classic Spray SPF 50, $19 The Semi-Matte Stick: Abib Airy Sunstick Protection Bar SPF50+ , $20 The Invisible Powder: Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On SPF 50, $69 The White Cast-Free Mineral: Beauty Pie’s Traceless Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, $45 We are blessed with so many sunscreen options, it’s hard to go wrong with most of them.
But how does one choose that perfect formula that will make you remember this very important step in your routine? To figure that out, there are a couple of things you have to consider. If you’re an active outdoors person, for example, you might want something that’s portable and waterproof.
If you have sensitive skin, you might want something with gentle ingredients that won’t cause irritation. And on top of all of that, you’ll have to understand all the different types of sunscreen available to you. It can be a lot, but that’s where this handy guide comes in.
From chemical to mineral and all the different applications, experts break down every type of sunscreen to help you make wise skin health (and shopping) decisions. There are two types of sunscreens you can choose from: mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens. The difference between the two can be broken down as follows: Mineral Sunscreens Mineral sunscreens, also known as physical sunscreens, block the sun’s harmful UV rays from penetrating the skin.
As Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, explains it, mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to scatter and reflect the UV rays when it bounces off the skin to protect it from damage. There are many pros of mineral sunscreen, but they are most known to be less irritating and great for sensitive skin. Though they may leave behind a white cast, Dr.
Garshick says that newer formulations have been developed to minimize that. For example, Beauty Pie’s Traceless Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, Good Weather Skin The One Daily Sun Scream SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen, and ILIA Sun Serum Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 are all lightweight textures that blend into the skin very well, while something like the EltaMD UV Recovery 100% Mineral Face Sunscreen, which has a green tint to color correct any redness. Chemical Sunscreens According to Hadley King, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s UV rays and create a chemical reaction to turn the UV rays into heat that will be released from the skin.
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