The Data — Skincare
The Sunscreen Shortlist
Six sunscreens, and the SPF numbers run from 30 to 70 while the protection difference across that range is about a percentage point of UVB. Sorted by the skin and the day, not by the figure.
This guide is research-led: we have not handled these units ourselves. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission — it never changes a pick. How we choose
The SPF figures on this page run from 30 to 70. Across that whole range the difference in UVB transmitted is about a percentage point, which makes texture the variable that actually decides outcomes.
The quick list
Every pick, in order. Jump to the full test on any of them.
- Highest rated
EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
4.6 across 44,856 ratings, at SPF 40 rather than a headline figure, and owners report it sitting well under makeup.
4.6from 44,856 verified reviews - Best for skin that breaks out
Neutrogena Clear Face Broad-Spectrum SPF 50
4.6 on an oil-free formula built for acne-prone skin, which removes the single most common reason people stop wearing sunscreen.
4.6from 9,852 verified reviews - Most-reviewed
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
70,691 ratings makes this the most-evidenced facial sunscreen on the shelf, and the reports are about texture rather than protection.
4.5from 70,691 verified reviews - Best for a body
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 70
40,124 ratings on a dry-finish body sunscreen, at an SPF about a percentage point of UVB above SPF 30.
4.5from 40,124 verified reviews CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Sheer SPF 30
SPF 30 is the floor every dermatological body recommends, in a sheer mineral formula on a hydrating base.
4.5from 3,859 verified reviews- For reactive skin
Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
A mineral SPF 50 across 21,598 ratings, which is a deep evidence base for a filter type people usually reach for after a reaction.
4.4from 21,598 verified reviews
What SPF should you actually buy? 30 to 50
SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB. SPF 30 blocks about 97%. SPF 50 blocks about 98%. The curve flattens hard, which is why several regulators cap the printed number at 50+ rather than letting it climb.
Below 30 there is no margin for imperfect application. Above 50 you are paying for a number, and what the SPF number measures works through the arithmetic.
Every product here is broad-spectrum, which is the separate designation certifying UVA coverage. A sunscreen without those 2 words is a sunburn product, because SPF measures only the burning band.
| Product | SPF | Rating | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| EltaMD UV Daily | 40 | 4.6 | 44,856 |
| Neutrogena Clear Face | 50 | 4.6 | 9,852 |
| EltaMD UV Clear | 46 | 4.5 | 70,691 |
| Neutrogena Ultra Sheer | 70 | 4.5 | 40,124 |
| CeraVe Hydrating Sheer | 30 | 4.5 | 3,859 |
| Blue Lizard Sensitive | 50 | 4.4 | 21,598 |
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
70,691 ratings makes this the most-evidenced facial sunscreen on the shelf, and the reports are about texture rather than protection.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| SPF | 46, broad-spectrum |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 70,691 ratings |
| Owners praise | Light on sensitive skin |
70,691 ratings makes this the most-evidenced facial sunscreen available, and the reports concentrate on how it wears rather than on whether it works: light enough for sensitive skin, unobtrusive under makeup.
That focus is the useful signal. Once a product is broad-spectrum at 30 or above, the remaining variable is whether you put it on every morning, and texture decides that entirely.
Buy it if
- You want the deepest evidence base available
- Sensitive or reactive skin
Don't buy it if
- You are covering a body, not a face
The best sunscreen for your face is not the one for your body
Daily face products compete on finish. They have to sit under makeup, not sting the eyes, and disappear on the skin, because they are used 300 days a year rather than 10.
Body products compete on coverage and cost per millilitre. The application density the test assumes is about 30 millilitres for a whole body in swimwear, which is a shot glass, and most people apply a fraction of that.
That is the single most useful fact here. A generous layer of SPF 30 outperforms a thin smear of SPF 70, and reapplying every 2 hours outdoors matters more than either.
EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
4.6 across 44,856 ratings, at SPF 40 rather than a headline figure, and owners report it sitting well under makeup.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| SPF | 40, broad-spectrum |
|---|---|
| Best for | Daily wear under makeup |
| Filters | Chemical |
The highest-rated product here at 4.6 across 44,856 ratings, at SPF 40 rather than a headline number, and owners specifically report it sitting well under makeup.
Read the absence of a big figure as a design decision. A daily facial sunscreen competes on texture and finish, because those decide whether it gets used at all.
Buy it if
- Everyday face protection rather than a beach day
- You wear makeup over it
Don't buy it if
- You need water resistance for swimming
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 70
40,124 ratings on a dry-finish body sunscreen, at an SPF about a percentage point of UVB above SPF 30.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| SPF | 70, broad-spectrum |
|---|---|
| Filters | Chemical |
| Owners praise | Dry, non-greasy finish |
SPF 70 sits well above where the curve flattens, so against SPF 30 the difference is roughly a percentage point of UVB. That is the arithmetic, stated plainly.
It is still the right body sunscreen here, for a reason the number does not capture: 40,124 owners praise the dry, non-greasy finish, and a product people reapply generously beats a higher-rated one they use sparingly.
Buy it if
- You need to cover arms, legs and shoulders
- A high number makes you apply generously
Don't buy it if
- You expect protection proportional to the number
Mineral or chemical sunscreen: which suits your skin
Mineral filters are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They sit on the surface, work immediately, and are the usual recommendation for reactive skin. Their historic problem is a white cast, worse on deeper skin tones, and it is why people abandon them.
Chemical filters absorb ultraviolet and convert it to heat. They are cosmetically elegant and disappear on every skin tone, and they are the ones most likely to sting around the eyes.
Neither is more effective as a class, and the monograph treats both as acceptable. Two of the 6 products here are mineral, and the choice is about which one you will actually wear.
Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
A mineral SPF 50 across 21,598 ratings, which is a deep evidence base for a filter type people usually reach for after a reaction.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| SPF | 50, broad-spectrum |
|---|---|
| Filters | Mineral |
| Watch | White cast on deeper skin tones |
A mineral SPF 50 with 21,598 ratings behind it, which is a deep evidence base for a filter type many people only reach for after a reaction to a chemical one.
Check the cast in daylight rather than in a bathroom mirror. Mineral formulations have improved substantially and they still show more on deeper skin tones than a chemical filter does.
Buy it if
- Chemical filters sting or irritate
- You want the filter sitting on the surface
Don't buy it if
- A visible cast would stop you wearing it
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Sheer SPF 30
SPF 30 is the floor every dermatological body recommends, in a sheer mineral formula on a hydrating base.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| SPF | 30, broad-spectrum |
|---|---|
| Filters | Mineral, sheer |
| Watch | Thinner evidence base |
SPF 30 is the floor essentially every dermatological body recommends, in a sheer mineral formula with a hydrating base.
3,859 ratings is thinner than everything above it, which is the honest trade for a newer formulation. For daily indoor-and-commute exposure it is enough; for a day outdoors, buy higher and reapply.
Buy it if
- You want mineral filters without a heavy finish
- Dry skin that needs the base to hydrate
Don't buy it if
- You spend hours outdoors at midday
The best sunscreen for acne-prone skin is oil-free
Neutrogena Clear Face Broad-Spectrum SPF 50
4.6 on an oil-free formula built for acne-prone skin, which removes the single most common reason people stop wearing sunscreen.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| SPF | 50, broad-spectrum |
|---|---|
| Formula | Oil-free |
| Filters | Chemical |
4.6 puts this joint top on rating, on an oil-free formula aimed at skin that breaks out. That matters more than it sounds, because sunscreen causing spots is among the most common reasons people abandon it.
SPF 50 in a light texture is the right end of the band. If a previous bottle ended up in a drawer because of how it felt, this is the category of formula that solves it.
Buy it if
- Sunscreen has caused breakouts before
- You want the top of the band in a light texture
Don't buy it if
- You want a mineral filter
What to check before buying
Confirm broad-spectrum, confirm SPF 30 or higher, then stop reading numbers and start reading texture. Check water-resistance minutes if you swim, because that claim is tested and time-limited rather than absolute.
Then apply about a third of a teaspoon to the face and reapply outdoors. Sun protection is also the non-negotiable half of any retinoid routine, which what the retinoid percentage means covers, and the full test protocol is in what the SPF number measures.