The Best Sunscreens for Your Body and Face

Choosing an appropriate sunscreen for you and your family can be a confusing experience, given the number of brands, formulations, and price points out there in the stores. Just as it is important to remember to apply sunscreen diligently, it is also vital that you choose the best product for your purpose and activities outdoors. We found a list compiled by one of our favorite magazines, Real Simple, to help you navigate the isles. They’ve made it easy by breaking down the list to accommodate every sunscreen need, and further by sunscreens for body or face. Many of these can be found at your local drugstore or Sephora (for Korres, Shiseido, and Lancome).

For the Outdoor Athlete
Body - Coppertone Continuous Sport Spray SPF 30, $10
Coat hard-to-reach places with a water-resistant spray that works at any angle.

Dace - Sonya Dakar 365 SPF 30+ Sport, $42
Titanium dioxide and lavender combine in a sweatproof formula.

For the Natural-Product Lover
Body - Nature’s Gate Sundercover SPF 30 for Body, $10
Organic botanicals give an earthy scent to a sunscreen loaded with Parsol 1789.

Face - Korres SPF 30 High Protection Sunscreen Emulsion for Children, $28
Nonchemical ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide make a strong shield.

For the Beachgoer
Body - Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55, $35
This light, nonsticky formulation provides water-resistant coverage

Face - Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 85, $11
Sweatproof and water-resistant, the powder-based lotion won’t leave skin shiny, and its SPF is unbeatable.

For the Whole Family
Body - Aveeno Baby Continuous Sunblock Lotion SPF 55, $11
Antioxidants shield against skin-aging free-radical damage in a quick-absorbing, kid-safe product.

For the Traveler
Body - Kinesys Fragrance-Free SPF 30+ Sunscreen Spray with Parsol 1789, $7
You can slip this one-ounce oil-free spray into even the tiniest clutch.

Face - California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick, $15
A compact but wide stick of nonirritating sunscreen can cover even large areas.

For the City Slicker
Body - Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion with SPF 15, $9
Protection is a no-brainer when your daily moisturizer has built-in SPF.

Face - Lancôme UV Expert 20, $35
This lightweight protection contains Mexoryl and works well under makeup.

And for an all-around winner, Consumer Reports recently found the spray sunscreen Up & Up Sport Continuous – Target’s in-house brand – to be their “Best Buy” in sunscreen, offering unbeatable protection and value (less that $10 for two 6oz spray bottles.)

Be sure to check out our earlier post for sunscreen application tips for babies and children!