Stocksy
We get it—you hate sunscreen. It’s too greasy, it’s too thick, it breaks you out, and, most annoyingly, it turns your makeup into a patchy, shiny mess. At least, that’s what you’ve been telling yourself since junior high. In reality, today’s sunscreens are freaking awesome. They’re lightweight, semi-matte, and non-chalky, and they look completely invisible under your foundation. And I know you already know this, but it wouldn't be right not to say that even though we're in the middle of winter, your skin deserves sun protection year-round.
And to prove it to you, we cherry-picked the eight absolute best formulas to slather on every morning (every single morning, lest you become a skin-cancer statistic). These sunscreens can fight acne, brighten dark marks, fade scars, and, yes, even make your foundation look ridiculously smooth and natural. A lot has changed since your Britney Spears days.
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1
This Wrinkle-Fighting Formula
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Protect SPF 30 Sunscreen PA+++, $38
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This lightweight foundation primer has the consistency of a gel, so it sinks into skin without feeling heavy, tacky, or greasy. It’s also filled with a ton of protection against wrinkle-causing UVB rays, as denoted by the PA+ ranking (a Japanese rating system that uses one-to-four plus marks to show how much UVA protection a sunscreen offers). U.S. sunscreens are only required to protect you against cancer-causing UVB rays—which is what an SPF rating means—but Laura Mercier took sun protection one step forward by including hardcore protection against all of the sun's rays in one little primer.
2
This Completely Clear Formula
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40, $32
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Sunscreen haters, meet your new favorite sunscreen. The totally clear gel truly disappears into skin as soon as you smooth it on, so it won't leave a cast on deeper skin tones, or cause dark makeup shades to look ashy. It's also free of fragrance, common irritants, and oil—all the stuff you'd usually use as an excuse not to wear sunscreen. Basically, it’s the most pared-down, nothing-to-see-here formula haters could hope for.
3
This Tinted Formula
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Daily Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen, $39
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This creamy sunscreen has the biggest stamp of approval from Consumer Reports (the Anthelios line has been ranked number one for four years running). It’s crazy lightweight and non-chalky—a rarity for mineral-based sunscreens—and it’s got the tiniest bit of a tint to it so you can wear it alone for a subtle blurring effect, or layer it under your concealer and foundation for a smooth finish.
4
This Acne-Fighting Formula
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, $33
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Ask 100 derms what their favorite sunscreen is, and you’ll get 100 of the same response: EltaMD. Not only is the cult-favorite formula completely safe for acne-prone skin, but it’s also infused with a small dose of lactic acid to keep pores clear, along with mattifying ingredients that’ll help prevent your makeup from slipping and sliding by noon.
5
This Brightening Formula
Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30, $14
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The reason you’ve seen this lotion on every billboard and commercial for a decade? It’s freaking awesome. And in the wise words of your mom, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The sunscreen-spiked moisturizer dries to a semi-matte finish, making it excellent for all types of foundation and BB creams. Plus, it’s filled with soy extract, an antioxidant that fades scars and discoloration over time, so you'll reap even more rewards for diligently applying your sunscreen every single day.
6
This Water-Resistant Formula
Dermalogica, Protection Sport SPF 50, $36
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See you later, slippery formulas and makeup meltdowns. This water-resistant sunscreen is here to save the day. It has a creamy, lightweight lather that will sink right onto your skin and stay put for hours. You'll never have to worry about patchy foundation after approximately 15 minutes outside with this light-as-air formula that acts as the perfect base pre-foundation. Those with dry skin will appreciate the microspheres floating around to lock in moisture without that extra shiny side effect.
7
This Weightless Formula
Shiseido Clear Stick UV Protector WetForce Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50+, $28
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I get it—applying sunscreen feels like an extra annoying step in your skincare routine. But sunscreen in stick-form makes the process ten times easier. This clear stick is is actually clear, meaning it won't leave an ashy white residue on deep skin tones. The stick glides right on top of your skin so beautifully and feels literally like nothing. What's even cooler is that you can apply this on top of your makeup and it won't mess up your foundation. Don't believe me? Watch this video.
8
This Invisible Formula
Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen SPF 35
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One time I asked eight brown-girl beauty editors their favorite sunscreen for dark skin, and half of them name-dropped this gem. Why? It truly is invisible, and works on the deepest of complexions. Fortunately, the sunscreen market understands the demand to create innovative formulas that are better than the not-so-good options for women of color. Glossier listened, and created this gel-based formula full of active microcapsules to deeply hydrate and protect the skin.
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Chloe Metzger
Senior Beauty Editor
Chloe Metzger is the senior beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, obsessively writing about new makeup launches, the best hair products (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare formulas that really work for every skin type (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life).
Maya Allen
Digital Beauty Editor
Maya Allen is the Digital Beauty Editor at MarieClaire.com where she covers makeup, skincare, haircare, wellness, you name it!
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