Best Face Sunscreen for Men of 2024 to Protect and Nourish Your Skin

We'd argue the best face sunscreen for men is the one you want to use on the reg. It doesn't matter how much face moisturizer, anti-aging cream, face serum, or eye cream you use; face sunscreen is the frontline soldier preventing skin aging. Skipping it is a bad habit making you look older than you are. However, there are some stipulations that make some better than others. Our best sunscreen for face picks check a few boxes: They're at least SPF 30, don't have a greasy feel, have powerful active ingredients, and are suited to specific concerns to enhance your skincare regimen overall (think mineral sunscreens, natural sunscreens, best sunscreen for sensitive skin).

Think of your skin like a new pair of sneakers. If you want to keep them looking fresh, then you need to treat them and regularly clean them for maintenance. Without that shield deflecting dirt and debris, you’ll be replacing them much earlier. As for your skin, investing in the best sunscreen for face can save time and money on pricier products, like corrective skincare, chemical peels, and laser treatments.

Our top choice is Supergoop Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion, which wears light on all skin types and is genuinely enjoyable to use every day.

Read more of the greatest hits from our 2024 Men's Journal Grooming Awards, including best aftershaves, beard oil, beard brushes, colognes, and more.

Best Face Sunscreens for Men at a Glance

• Best Sunscreen for Face Overall: Supergoop Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion
• Best Mineral Sunscreen for Face: Ursa Major Force Field
• Best Tinted Sunscreen for Face: Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Tinted Moisturizer
• Best Moisturizer With SPF: Cardon Moisturizer
• Best Daily Sunscreen for Face: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk
• Best Face Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin: EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47
• Best Korean Sunscreen for Face: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella, Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF 50+ PA++++
• Best Face Sunscreen for Oily Skin: Vacation Super Spritz Face Mist
• Best Sunscreen Stick: Vertra Invisible Face Stick
• Best Face Sunscreen for Dry Skin: Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen
• Best Face Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin: Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
• Best Face Sunscreen for Rosacea: Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

Best Sunscreen for Face Overall: Supergoop Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion

Supergoop is synonymous with sunscreen; its entire brand is built on the basis of sun defense. No surprise, the brand is a top contender in just about every possible category on this list (plus body sunscreens, scalp SPFs, and more). Supergoop Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion is the brand's best sunscreen for face, though. It's a lightweight, easily absorbed chemical 50 SPF option, which is sweat- and water-resistant up to 40 minutes while satisfying all skin types. Of all the products from the supreme suncare company, we reach for this the most. There are two powerhouse ingredients that nourish skin: Cress sprout extract supports the skin barrier, while wild butterfly ginger root extract protects against the visible signs of free radical damage, such as fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and dark spots.

• Sunscreen Type: Chemical
• Key Ingredients: Cress sprout extract and wild butterfly ginger root extract
• SPF: 50

Best Mineral Sunscreen for Face: Ursa Major Force Field

Ursa Major Force Field checks all the SPF boxes. It's a lightweight, cast-free mineral SPF 30 (non-nano) shield with 15 percent zinc oxide in a moisturizer chock full of skin-fortifying ingredients like hydrating sodium hyaluronate and skin-toning squalane. On top of that, it has two ingredients that help shield skin against the potentially damaging effects of constant blue light exposure from our daily devices: elfdoc flower and lingonberry stem cells. These enhance firmness and elasticity, plus minimize fine lines and dark spots. Combine all that with Ursa Major’s overall ethos of being plastic negative, reef safe, and cruelty free, it’s an obvious pick.

• Sunscreen Type: Mineral 
• Key Ingredients: zinc oxidem squalane, sodium hyaluronate, and elfdoc flower and lingonberry stem cells
• SPF: 30

Best Tinted Sunscreen for Face: Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Tinted Moisturizer

If you aren’t on the tinted moisturizer plane, then buy a one-way ticket now. Slight tint helps balance your complexion so any blemishes and discolorations balance out to a neutral middle. So long as you pick something in your shade range, the product blends in evenly and won’t be noticeable to the untrained eye. Nor will it sweat off and transfer to your shirt collar. Dr. Jart+ BB Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 40, which comes in four skin shades, uses a niacinamide-dense formula that fortifies skin’s barrier and improves textural inconsistencies, while a dose of glycerin hydrates the skin. 

• Sunscreen Type: Mineral and chemical
• Key Ingredients: niacinamide, glycerin 
• SPF: 40

Best Moisturizer With SPF: Cardon Moisturizer

Cardon Moisturizer is proof that great things come in small packages—and rest assured, a little goes a long way. This tiny carton gives you a daily lightweight layer of sun defense (30 SPF), along with the soothing, anti-inflammatory powers of cactus extract as well as vitamins A, D, E, and K for a host of anti-aging, skin-fortifying benefits. It blends in quickly and thoroughly, and a tiny vessel lasts months if you apply the prescribed pea-sized amount daily.

• Sunscreen Type: Chemical
• Key Ingredients: Cactus and chia seed extract and turmeric 
• SPF: 30

Best Daily Sunscreen for Face: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk could also win best full body and face sunscreen award, too. Its generous SPF 60 coat gives ample protection to the fairest and most sensitive skinned among us. The oil-free formula wears featherlight, which actually means won't feel it on your skin. It's even water resistant up to 80 minutes, so athletes will enjoy it for its invisibility and breathability as they sweat.

• Sunscreen Type: Non-nano chemical
• Key Ingredients: Cell-Ox Shield® Technology (photostable UVA/UVB filters), senna alata (tropical leaf extract), vitamin E 
• SPF: 60

Best Face Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin: EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47

EltaMD is one of the most trusted skincare brands and dermatologists recommend its UV Pure Broad Spectrum SPF 47 time and time again as the best face sunscreen for sensitive skin. It's paraben-, fragrance-, oil-, dye-, gluten-, and fragrance-free, in addition to being vegan and noncomedogenic. This isn't a chemical sunscreen, which is more apt to clog pores and irritate conditions like rosacea because they absorb UV rays and convert them to heat; instead, it uses physical active ingredients that sit on top of the skin and reflect UV rays. Bonus, the chemical-free formula is water resistant for 80 minutes.

• Sunscreen Type: Physical
• Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
• SPF: 47

Best Korean Sunscreen for Face: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella, Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF 50+ PA++++

The name's a mouthful, but SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella, Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF 50+ PA++++ refers to all the powerful ingredients packed into this Korean sunscreen. Centella asiatica extract moisturizes and soothes dry, sensitive skin (especially for those prone to eczema); aids burn and wound healing; and reduces inflammation. This formula combines the plant-based extract with hyaluronic acids to hydrate skin. This is also a non-nano chemical sunscreen, meaning its particles are larger than 100nm and won't penetrate skin. It's also the safest option for marine life and coral reefs. Moreover, the PA++++ rating means the sunscreen blocks more than 95% of UVA rays and lasts for up to 16 hours. 

• Sunscreen Type: Non-nano chemical
• Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica extract, hyaluronic acid, ginkgo biloba leaf extract
• SPF: 50+ PA++++

Best Face Sunscreen for Oily Skin: Vacation Super Spritz Face Mist

Do you really remember to reapply SPF every two hours? Not to mention, if you’re applying it over sweat, oil, sand, and so forth, then it just feels gnarly. Vacation Super Spritz Face Mist solves the problem and is our pick for the best face sunscreen for oily skin. It prevents you from having to wear something heavy and gloopy on your face, thanks to the mist, as it does contain alcohol (bisabolol), plus aloe vera and shea butter. Furthermore, the 50 SPF spritz is water-resistant up to 80 minutes, great for oily skin, and—like the rest of Vacation’s iconic nostalgia-themed brand—its aroma is reminiscent of the beach (think coconut, cucumber, and banana).

• Sunscreen Type: Chemical 
• Key Ingredients: Aloe, bisabolol, shea butter
• SPF: 50

Best Sunscreen Stick: Vertra Invisible Face Stick

Vertra’s various SPF sticks and SPF moisturizer are a masterclass in how there's no one-product-fits-all solution with SPF. The water- and sweat-resistant Vertra Invisible Face Stick, might satisfy the broadest audience, but it's especially great for outdoor enthusiasts who plan to hit the waves, run under the sun, or splash around the pool. Its 22 percent zinc oxide defense shields you from UV rays for as long as 80 minutes, and its non-nano mineral formula is kind to both human skin and marine life.

• Sunscreen Type: Non-nano mineral
• Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide
• SPF: 45

Best Face Sunscreen for Dry Skin: Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen strikes the perfect middle ground: The Korean sunscreen moisturizes skin and can be used in place of moisturizer during the dog days of summer if you have a normal skin type; otherwise, it's an excellent final step in your spring, winter, and fall skincare regimen to lock in hydration. The texture is light and creamy, blending easily into skin without leaving a greasy film on skin. Betula platyphylla japonica juice is loaded with amino acids and antioxidants that ease inflammation, while hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates, and niacinamide diminishes redness and dark spots. But the star of this sunscreen is birch tree sap, which hydrates and calms irritation. This is great for sensitive and dry skin types, as well as those with fair skin as it offers 50+ PA++++, blocking more than 95% of UVA rays.

• Sunscreen Type: Chemical
• Key Ingredients: Birch tree sap, niacinamide, betula platyphylla japonica juice, and hyaluronic acid  
• SPF: 50+ PA++++

Best Face Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin: Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

A chemical-powered face sunscreen, Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 is an oil-free formula that sits light atop moisturizer, blending seamlessly under patchy beards to shield sun-exposed skin. A little goes a long way—a pea-sized amount will cover most of your mug. This is a great pick for those who are acne prone and want something non-comedogenic; just note shea butter is an ingredient, which may clog pores for some. It's a unique formula that glides onto skin like an ultra-light Vaseline.

• Sunscreen Type: Chemical
• Key Ingredients: Red algae, frankincense, and meadowfoam seed oil complex
• SPF: 40

Best Face Sunscreen for Rosacea: Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

Barrier Protect Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 is a dream for anyone with rosacea, acne, or a damaged skin barrier. It's a gel cream that does double duty as a calming moisturizer and SPF 30 sunscreen, with a light texture that's gentle on reactive skin. Allantoin, centella asiatica, and prebiotics nourish skin by hydrating and supporting the barrier and microbiome. With this, you'll heal your skin, minimize redness, and get broad-spectrum protection thanks to titanium dioxide and zinc.

• Sunscreen Type: Mineral
• Key Ingredients: Allantoin and centella asiatica
• SPF: 30

What to Look for in the Best Face Sunscreen for Men

The sun’s UV rays can penetrate overcast skies and the thickest glass, while silently mutating your skin cells and stifling your skin’s elasticity, firmness, brightness, and resilience. Those invisible rays can also cause discoloration, dryness, dehydration, looseness, and more. Your one defense (aside from hiding indoors with the shades down) is a quality face sunscreen that's at least SPF 30. The good news is that there are plenty of excellent SPF product options. The better news—you can even get it from your daily moisturizer to save money and an extra step.

Get SPF 30 or Greater

Every single dermatologist will say you need a daily sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater. That recommendation is also preached by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the FDA. SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of UV rays over the course of two hours, compared to just 93 percent with SPF 15. It’s the biggest jump between SPF values, as the increase to SPF 50 will only add an additional percentage to your shield—while SPF 100 will thwart 99 percent of rays.

So, while SPF 50 and 100 are great, they’re really just imperative for fair and sensitive skin types—and anyone who wants to bounce as many rays as possible (which we respect). Think of SPF 30 as the minimum—but a good baseline at that.

Face Sunscreens vs. SPF Moisturizers

Next, it’s important to think about your regimen, and how likely you are to apply an additional product over top of your moisturizer every day. If you already have a non-SPF moisturizer that you don’t want to part with, you’ll need to get a dedicated face sunscreen (not a body sunscreen). 

Some brands will make products that target face and body, meaning the formula was made with the sensitivity of the face in mind—but if it just says “body,” then it’s not for the neck upwards (it's oily and can lead to breakouts). On the other hand, if you’re open to getting a new moisturizer with SPF, then using one every morning will spare you from applying two heavier, back-to-back products. 

Pro tip: you can always reassign that non-SPF face moisturizer you like to bedtime application when you won’t be needing any sunscreen.

Broad-Spectrum Coverage

Make sure your SPF is “broad spectrum,” which most SPFs these days are. This means the product will block both types of UV rays that penetrate the atmosphere: UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are the ones that cause signs of accelerated aging and make skin more tanned; UVB rays make your skin burn and can cause skin cancer.

Mineral vs. Chemical SPF

Finally, it’s important to think about your preference between mineral and chemical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens absorb into your skin, where they then absorb any UV rays and neutralize them before they do damage. Mineral sunscreens sit atop your skin and deflect UV rays entirely. Some might leave a white cast on the skin, since their primary ingredients (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) aren’t being absorbed.

Your decision comes down to whether or not you care about using chemical sunscreens. Some people avoid them altogether since the worst ingredients in that category have been proven to absorb into the endocrine system and disrupt hormones. They’re also not great for marine life. The worst offenders, oxybenzone and octinoxate, have been largely banned from production, and the remaining primary chemical SPFs (avobenzone, octisalate, and homosalate) are more or less cleared for use by the FDA. Keep in mind that these are also likelier to cause reactions than mineral options.

The general consensus is that mineral sunscreens are the superior choice. If you go the mineral route, be sure to prioritize formulas with zinc oxide since it offers a slightly broader coverage than titanium dioxide. Look for the words “non-nano” with any mineral picks, because it means the ingredients’ particles aren’t so small that they can be absorbed by your skin or marine life.

Why You Should Trust Us

At Men's Journal, we’re constantly testing the latest products, some of our team with more than a decade of grooming coverage under their belt. Whenever something enters the marketplace, it’s also at our desks, and quickly being tested. Think of us as grooming lab rats; we get to enjoy the spoils when something is really great, and endure the agony when a product isn’t up to par.

I’ve been a grooming journalist for nearly 11 years, over half of those spent with Men’s Journal. My work appears in GQ, Forbes, Robb Report, SPY, and many more, and I’m the guy who tests thousands of products a year for the benefit of readers. Compound that against 10-plus years on the beat, and I like to think I’ve got a good take on the best grooming products worth your time and money. As a former heavy tanner (who has had numerous weird moles removed), I am now an SPF apostle, never leaving the house without a layer over top of my face in the very least. I’m even known to nag my partner and friends when they neglect to wear SPF for even the slightest of stints outdoors, which I’m sure is annoying, but which also underscores why I love testing SPFs and reporting back on the best of them.

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