The 20 Best Sunscreens For All Of Your Outdoor Summer Activities

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Many people only wear sunscreen when they go outdoors, but truthfully, you need to wear sunscreen every day, outdoors or indoors. The sun's UV rays damage healthy skin cells, and over time, you will see noticeable signs of sun damage such as skin cancer. Furthermore, free radicals prevent collagen production that can cause negative skin problems, including wrinkling and premature aging (via Medical News Today).

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) recommends that everyone wears sunscreen on all exposed parts of their body, including the lips, to protect themselves from the sun's harmful effects irrespective of skin tone. You want to choose a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection, protecting you from UVA (causes aging) and UVB (causes burning) rays.

Wearing sunscreen is one of the best investments you can make to take care of your skin to keep it healthy and protected. Everyone over the age of 6 months needs to wear sunscreen; it's one of the best ways to protect yourself from the sun (via the Skin Cancer Foundation). There are two types of sunscreen — physical/mineral and chemical — depending on the type of active ingredient in it. Mineral sunscreen has ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that reflect the sun's rays, and chemical sunscreen has ingredients like avobenzone and oxybenzone that absorb the sun's rays.

La Roche-Posay is known for making quality drugstore skincare products. One of their most popular products is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60, our pick for the best overall sunscreen because it's oil-free, non-irritating, fragrance-free, and water-resistant for 80 minutes. According to La Roche-Posay, it's the brand's best-selling sunscreen for the face and body. It has the Skin Cancer Foundation's stamp of approval and boasts an impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon with over 8,000 reviews. One reviewer even said, "Probably the BEST sunscreen ever."

Purchase the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60 on Amazon for $36.

If you don't mind splurging a little on sunscreen with extra skin-loving benefits, try the Priori Adaptive Skincare Tetra fx251 Sunscreen Lotion SPF 55. This dermatologist-recommended sunscreen protects and heals your skin from the damage of free radicals. According to Priori, it also has GPF (genetic protection factor) to protect you from blue light, heat, and pollution, in addition to SPF. It comes in a universal tint that works on every skin tone.

Purchase the Priori Adaptive Skincare Tetra fx251 Sunscreen Lotion SPF 55 at Amazon for $85.50

If you wear makeup and are out and about for hours, it can be hard to apply sunscreen all over your face to keep it protected; that's why powder sunscreen is helpful. In fact, this makes them perfect for summer. They can also help control the oil on your skin. You should try Colorscience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Sunscreen SPF 50 because it's water-resistant and non-comedogenic, so it's suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin and super comfortable to wear, per Colorescience. It comes in four shades, so it's easy to find your perfect match.

Purchase the Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Sunscreen SPF 50 at Walmart for $48.

Another portable, easy around the eyes than powder, and convenient way to apply (or reapply) sunscreen is a sunscreen stick. They're great not only because you can apply them to more specific areas but also because they absorb well. You can't go wrong with Supergoop Sunnyscreen 100% Mineral Stick because it's gentle for all skin types, even those with sensitive skin, and babies can wear it, too (via Supergoop's official website). It's water-resistant and hydrating to boot.

Purchase the Supergoop Sunnyscreen 100% Mineral Stick at Supergoop for $24.

Summer can get sweaty, and foundation might not be ideal for oily or acne-prone skin. However, if you want a little hint of color with sun protection, we guarantee you will love Tower 28 SunnyDays Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen. According to Tower 28, this tinted sunscreen provides broad-spectrum protection and is infused with reparative prickly pear, anti-inflammatory white sage, and aloe to soothe the skin in the sun. It even has the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance and comes in 14 shades, making it easier to find your perfect shade for light to medium coverage.

Purchase the Tower 28 SunnyDays Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen at Tower 28 for $30.

If you want to avoid chemical sunscreens and don't want to deal with the white cast left by mineral sunscreens, we'd love for you to try the Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen Mineral Lotion SPF 50. It's slightly tinted, so it'll leave zero chalkiness on your skin while evening your skin tone. People are fans of this skin-loving sunscreen with antioxidant-rich red algae, eucalyptus, and Kakadu plum, and it has over 26.5 thousand reviews on Amazon. One of the reviewers even said, "Long-lasting, no white cast, good mineral formula, no breakouts on sensitive skin." Sounds so perfect, doesn't it?

Purchase the Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen Mineral Lotion SPF 50 at Amazon for about $14.

It can be tricky to find the right sunscreen to be outdoors for those with sensitive skin because the last thing you need is to cause more irritation or inflammation. If you want quality protection without a hefty price tag, our vote goes to Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive SPF 30+ if your skin is prone to extra sensitivity. It's also free of chemicals and fragrances that could cause irritation. Fun fact: the bottle turns blue in UV light, so you can't forget to reapply it. It's long-lasting, so it works for those who sweat a lot in the summer.

Purchase the Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive SPF 30+ at Amazon for around $18.

Dry skin can always benefit from extra hydration. According to Peter Thomas Roth, this water-resistant chemical sunscreen is infused with ceramides and hyaluronic acid for added moisturizing benefits and absorbs super quickly, leaving you with super hydrated and dewy-looking skin for a staggering 72 hours. One reviewer on Ulta commented, "I have very dry, sensitive, and very fair skin. But now I use this product every morning. NO breakout, no irritation, just soft, moist skin."

Purchase the Peter Thomas Roth Drench Cloud Moisturizer SPF 45 at Ulta for $55.

While most Americans love soaking in the sun, many Asian countries avoid it to maintain healthier skin, and their sunscreens are next level. This means that their cosmetic technologies are often more advanced than those in the U.S., making their products, including sunscreens, superior. Neogen Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen is among the best as it has SPF 50 and ingredients like skin-loving ingredients like avocado, aloe, hibiscus, and acai to keep your skin healthy and protected. It's one of the best sellers on Soko Glam for a reason.

Purchase the Neogen Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen at Soko Glam for $32.

While our face gets all the love and sun protection, it's also essential to give the same level of TLC to the body. Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ is perfect for the body as it goes on completely invisible and is water- and- sweat-resistant for 80 minutes. According to Shiseido, its key ingredients are WetForce Technology and HeatForce Technology, which amp up the protection when exposed to water, sweat, and heat, and that's precisely what we need.

Purchase the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ at Dermstore for $49.