My Favorite Face Sunscreens

May is Melanoma Awareness month. Every year at this time I like to give everyone a firm reminder about the importance of wearing sunscreen. If you don’t already know, my mother passed away in 2012 from Melanoma. In my mother’s case I believe her melanoma was the result of a DNA mutation rather than being caused by the sun. Her melanoma was found on her genitals. This is rare, but it can happen. You’d be surprised where melanoma and skin cancers can appear.

You can read more about my mom’s story in another post. I share her story to increase awareness to help others prevent skin cancers from ever happening. This weekend I will be walking in the Aim for Cure Against Melanoma walk here in Dallas. I think this my 8th or 9th year walking to honor my mom and all of the current and past warriors and survivors in hopes of finding a cure so nobody else has to endure this beast.

There are two types of sunscreens out there, physical and chemical (and some combo). My preference is physical sunscreen. This type sits on top of the skin and “physically” protects the skin by reflecting UVA and UVB rays. When a physical sunscreen is applied you’re immediately protected from the sun. Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin and usually need to be applied 20 minutes before exposure to the sun.

Some of my current favorite face sunscreens:

Babo Botanicals Tinted Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 – I received this sunscreen just last week at a blog conference. I’ve been loving this sunscreen as a quick “apply and go” type. So far I have used this lightweight sunscreen when I’m not wearing makeup. It is tinted and has a little bit of a glow to it making my skin appear pretty on its own. AND this product has the most divine scent thanks to the cocoa seed butter in it! This is available as regular and tinted, stick and lotion formulas. Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 19.7%

Here you can see the slight glow that this sunscreen gives.

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30 – This is the newest sunscreen from trusted drugstore brand CeraVe. It contains 3 essential ceramides to help restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier and niacinamide to calm and soothe the skin. It is fragrance free, lightweight and non-greasy.  I like that this product applies smoothly. Best when worn on its own rather than under my makeup. Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide 5% and Titanium Dioxide 6%

REN Clean Screen Mattifying Sunscreen SPF 30 – This sunscreen is perfect under makeup or on its own. I like to use it under my tinted moisturizers and cc creams. It’s formulated to help with anti-aging and to prevent skin cancer. This one is mattifying therefore people with oily skin will appreciate it more. It’s formulated without any toxins, harsh chemicals or potential irritants, like silicone and oxybenzone. Their packaging is environmentally sustainable (tube and cap are made from recycled materials). Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22%

DermaE Sun Defense Mineral Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 30 – This formula is a bit different in the others mentioned here. It contains vitamin E and green tea. This formula provides safe, chemical-free broad spectrum protection without irritating skin or clogging pores. Works well alone or under makeup. This sunscreen glides on evenly, absorbs quickly and leaves a sheer, lightweight, non-greasy finish. Hypoallergenic, non-irritating, sensitivity tested, fragrance-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, GMO-free and 100% vegan. Active ingredient: Zinc oxide 20%

Elta MD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 – I’ve used Elta MD sunscreen products for about 10 years now. This is a moisturizing facial sunscreen with hyaluronic acid. This one glides on easily and absorbs fast. Works well under makeup. This sunscreen has a bit of a typical sunscreen scent even though it says fragrance-free. It’s available as a regular formula and a tinted version. Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 9%

Kerstin Florian Correcting Multi-Vitamin Day Creme SPF 30 – High-performance, anti-aging skincare meets powerful, natural sun protection in this nutrient-rich daily moisturizer. Antioxidants and active botanicals combine with mineral-based broad-spectrum sunscreen to leave skin hydrated, protected and luminous. I love this sunscreen because it actually hydrates well and works well under makeup. It goes with me on every beach vacation. Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20.2%

You can purchase or learn more about these products by clicking the photos below. (affiliate links – I earn a small commission from sales. Please note that it doesn’t change your price by clicking my links, just helps support my blogging efforts.

SHOP THE POST

Do you have any favorite face sunscreens? Let me know in the comments below.