Most popular face SPFs to use in 2024

Sunscreen is said to be the most important part of your morning skincare routine. It protects the skin from UV radiation and its harmful consequences. As the sunny season is approaching, let’s see what are the best face sunscreens, according to the Amazon users.

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How do sunscreens work?

Sunscreen is a skincare product that was created to protect the skin from UVA, UVB, IR and HEV radiation. UVA radiation is connected to premature aging, while UVB is mostly associated with sunburns. Most importantly both types of UV radiation can be responsible for development of skin cancer. Less discussed IR and HEV radiations can also have a negative impact on the skin. They can lead to the loss of its elasticity, dryness and faster aging.

There are two main types of filters used in sunscreens. According to that, we can divide sunscreens into 2 categories:

• sunscreens with chemical filters absorb the UV radiation and transform it into heat. They typically don’t leave a greasy or white layer on the skin, so they’re recommended to me used under makeup. In order to properly penetrate the layers of the skin, they need to be applied at least 20 minutes before exposure to the sun and then reapplied during the day. You need to be very cautious of chemical filters if your skin is prone to imperfections or allergies.
• sunscreens with physical filters, also known as mineral filters, have a different working mechanism than the chemical ones. They scatter or reflect the UV radiation from the skin surface. Most commonly we can see them listed as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide in the ingredients list. They protect the skin primarily against UVB radiation and are recommended especially for small children and people with sensitive, problematic skin. They don’t get absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin, so it’s difficult to use them under makeup. They are more oily and might leave white residue.

What SPF do I need?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It’s the measure of a product’s ability to protect the skin against different types of radiation we’ve discussed before. The higher the SPF, the longer you can stay in the sun without harmful consequences of radiation. None of the available on the market filters can protect the skin 100%, but some products are close to that. Most commonly, we can stumble upon SPF 50. More rarely SPF 50+ or SPF 100.

Based on the protection level, we can divide sunscreens into:

• low protection sunscreens — with SPF 6 and 10. They protect from sunburn for a short time and are recommended for people with very dark skin tones or in cases of very little exposure to the sun. You won’t find face sunscreens with a protection level lower than SPF 6.
• medium protection sunscreens — with SPF 15–25. They are said to block 93–95% of UV radiation. Medium protection sunscreens are recommended for people, who have little exposure to the sun or get exposed in short intervals.
• high protection sunscreens — SPF 30 and SPF 50. They are recommended for everybody. Most skincare experts advise using SPF 50 as a last step of the morning skincare all year round. SPF 30 is supposed to block 96–97% of the radiation, while SPF 50 can stop up to 98,5%.
• very high protection sunscreens — SPF 50+. Cosmetics with SPF higher than 50 can be seen very rarely. They provide the highest protection against UV, IR and HEV radiation, but the difference between them and sunscreens with SPF 50 is minimal. They are recommended for people experiencing extreme weather conditions. SPF 100 is supposed to block approximately 99% of the solar radiation.

What face SPFs are the most popular?

No morning skincare routine is complete without the good quality SPF. Let’s see what sunscreens are most popular, according to Amazon users.

Images from producers’ official websites.

• Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin

Neutrogena Face Sunscreen has reached the rating of 4,6 stars based on 22700 reviews. It has SPF 50 and provides protection against UVA and UVB radiation. According to the customers it’s very lightweight and doesn’t irritate the skin. The producer recommends it for use during outdoor activities as it is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50

La Roche-Posay Tinted Sunscreen has reached the rating of 4,5 stars based on 19407 reviews. It’s a mineral sunscreen with SPF 50. The producer promises a non-greasy, fast absorbing texture with a matte finish and no white cast. It can be used on all skin types and is water resistant for up to 40 minutes. Customers emphasize its light formula and say that it’s a perfect base for makeup. It can also be used on no makeup days to even out the complexion.

• CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion With SPF 30

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion has reached the rating of 4,7 stars based on 13452 reviews. It has SPF 30 and is recommended for use as the last step of the skincare routine. The customers praise its light-weight and hydrating formula that doesn’t leave the white cast on the skin. The producer doesn’t provide information on waterproof qualities of the product.

Current skincare market offers a variety of sunscreen options. Hopefully, this article will help you make a more informed decision, when picking the product that suits your everyday needs. If you want to learn more about mixing the active ingredients, check out my previous article.