From Kosas to Drunk Elephant, These Celeb-Loved Sunscreens Are a Must-Have to Protect Your Skin This Summer
Here's how to shop the best of the best, used by top stars from Lady Gaga to Sabrina Carpenter.
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Summer is officially here, which can only mean one thing: Time to break out the sunscreen.
To survive the summer sun, you need a good sunscreen handy to protect your skin from those harsh UV rays. Skin prep, especially during the summer, is extremely important. Sunscreen defends the skin from damage, preventing skin cancer, premature aging and, of course, fends off sunburn.
When picking a sunscreen, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the SPF level. 30 or higher will ensure that your skin is fully protected with each application. You’ll also want to take into consideration your skin type, skin tone and formula. For example, our sensitive-skin folks might want to opt for a mineral-based formula without any irritants — think sunscreens that are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.
With so many sunscreens on the market to choose from, why not trust some of your favorite celebs? We’ve compiled a list of seven unique celeb-used sunscreens for you to look through that might help narrow down your sunscreen search. We’re talking about top brands like Supergoop!, Kosas, Cerave and Drunk Elephant. Stick around: Your skin will thank you.
Used by the likes of Sabrina Carpenter (in her “Espresso” video), Lady Gaga, Jessica Chastain and Christie Brinkley, Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen is a dreamy lightweight unscented formula with a 100% invisible finish. This stuff blends into the skin seamlessly, meaning you can kiss white casts goodbye. It’s easy to see why celebrities gravitate toward this sunscreen.
It’s pretty much got it all: The product boasts a broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection and is non-greasy and made with non-irritating ingredients. Additionally, the Unseen sunscreen is universally flattering on all skin types, even sensitive or acne-prone skin. Pro tip. Use this product to prep the skin before starting your makeup. The product leaves skin with a natural finish, and it blurs pores too.
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30
A SPF 30 sunscreen with clean ingredients in a tube.
Drunk Elephant’s Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense sunscreen is equipped with antioxidants and powerful SPF 30 protection. Used by Selena Gomez, the lightweight tinted formula features key ingredients like astaxanthin, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and ubiquinone that all work together to help boost your skin’s free radical defenses.
It’s kind of like building a sturdy wall to keep the sun’s rays out. While most sunscreens are clear or leave a weird white cast, Drunk Elephant’s formula comes in three tinted finishes: Sheer, Cocoa and Tinte. Sheer leaves the skin with a pink hue, while Tinte is more golden. Finally, Cocoa leaves a healthy warm cocoa tint, leaving the skin looking healthy and bronzed every time.
Kosas DreamBeam Silicone-Free Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40
An SPF 40 sunscreen formulated with ceramides and peptides.
Hilary Duff and Hailey Bieber use Kosas’ DreamBeam Mineral Sunscreen. The formula is silicone-free and boasts an SPF of 40, leaving the skin super protected against the harshest of UV rays. This Kosas product is formulated with ceramides and peptides.
The special blend moisturizes, visibly smooths and brightens the skin, creating the perfect base to apply makeup. Also, the additional hyaluronic acid and allantoin combo boosts hydration, soothing the skin. The best part? The sunscreen practically melts into the skin, leaving no pilling or white cast. Skincare jargon aside. If it’s good enough for Bieber and Duff, it’s probably good enough for you too.
Bask Suncare SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray
A lightweight non-aerosol SPF 30 sunscreen.
This sunscreen is scented like a dreamy vacation with notes of coconut and vanilla. It’s also used by former teen heartthrob Justin Timberlake. Retailing for $20 on Amazon, Bask’s Suncare Sunscreen Spray is a non-aerosol SPF 30 sunscreen that’s fast-absorbing, lightweight and easy to apply. Just spray on, rub in and you’re ready to go. The dry down on this sunscreen is impressively fast, leaving your skin dry and non-greasy with every application. Additionally, Bask’s sunscreen is water and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes so you know you’re protected through dips at the beach, sweaty workouts and outdoor adventures.
Cerave Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30
An SPF 30 skincare-infused sunscreen with a hydrating finish.
Zendaya and Busy Philips have worn Cerave’s Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen in the past, and it’s easy to see why. This SPF 30 formula works on the face and body and acts as a sheer hydrating lotion that moisturizes as well as protects. It’s a genius concept that makes a multi-step skincare routine obsolete.
The key to this sunscreen’s success is the combination of mineral and chemical sun filters that help effectively reflect and absorb the sun’s damaging rays. Something to note. This formula goes on white. Don’t be scared though. The white cast is there to guide you to an even application. After rubbing it into the skin, the white sheen is quickly absorbed within seconds, leaving the skin feeling non-greasy without any white residue.
Dryness be gone. Meet Fenty Beauty’s Hydra Vizor SPF Moisturizer. Like the Cerave pick, this product combines sunscreen and moisturizer, delivering the benefits of both in one convenient product. The Hydra Vizor is true to its name, hydrating while acting as a shield against the sun’s rays and pollution. The SPF 30 moisturizer fades the look of dark spots and smooths pores too for a silky smooth finish on the skin. Of course, Rihanna loves this product. It’s her own creation, after all.
This sunscreen is a splurge at $69.00, but it’s well worth it. You know it’s good because Ciara uses it. Murad’s Correct & Protect Serum is an SPF 45 sunscreen unlike any other sunscreen you’ve come across. The satiny-smooth serum formula is one-of-a-kind, utilizing carotenoid technology that reflects UV light.
It’s watery, unlike most goopy sunscreens, and acts as a powerful antioxidant to brighten and reduce discoloration. This formula is created without a long list of irritants like parabens, sulfates, phthalates, gluten and animal-derived ingredients, making it safe on sensitive skin. To use, just shake the bottle and drop an ample amount into the palm of your hand. Rub into your face, neck and chest for best results.
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