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Most dermatologists would agree that sunscreen is The Most Important product in your bathroom cabinet, far outweighing your cleanser, treatment serums, or face masks. Yet, for many people, sunscreen is still the one product that can feel like pulling teeth to apply. Which makes sense: Face sunscreens have historically had less-than-stellar formulations, from greasy formulas to white-cast finishes—so why would anyone want to use a product that leaves them oily and chalky?

But in the last few years, sunscreen innovation has come a long way. And that’s a good thing, considering sunscreen is your best line of defense against cancer-causing UVB rays and damage-causing UVA rays. Still, the best face sunscreen is the one that you’ll slather on every single day—which is why Well+Good did the work of testing dozens of facial sunscreens, from the top-selling to the lesser-known, to find the best formulas, below. Not sure where to start or which one to try first? Try following these expert-approved tips:

How to choose the best face sunscreen

Picking the best sunscreen for your skin type boils down to finding one you’ll use daily. So, it’s important to consider a few different factors like your skin type, lifestyle, and formulation to lock down one that fits into your routine. 

Look for an SPF rating of 30 or more

First things first: Always pick a sunscreen with at least an SPF 30—which, FYI, all of our 2024 SPF Award Winners have. A sunscreen’s SPF (sun protection factor) measures how well it will protect your skin from sunburn, says Karan Lal, DO, a board-certified dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ. The kicker is, to get the most protection from your sunscreen, you also need to ensure that you’re applying enough (two finger-lengths of sunscreen for your face) and reapplying appropriately every few hours, especially if you’re sweating or swimming. So, even the fanciest SPF 60 cream on the market isn’t doing you justice if you only apply a pea-size amount once in a while. 

Pick a formula you’ll actually enjoy using

To get the most protection from your sunscreen, you also need to ensure that you’re applying enough. “When it comes to sunscreen, most people only apply 25 to 5