No matter the time of year, one skincare rule rings true: you absolutely, under every circumstance, need to wear sunscreen. Whether you’re shoveling snow from your driveway in Minneapolis or lounging on the beach in Barbados, the sun’s UVA/UVB rays are beating down on you all the same — yes, even if it’s overcast and raining. Sunscreen is the ultimate holy grail of skin health, so we do everything we can to motivate us to never skip out on it.
We’ve found the best daily sunscreens out there, all of which we actually want to put on in the morning. Gone are the days of having a stark white, greasy, sunscreen-ridden face — these sunscreens feel just like skincare and are perfect for dry skin.
If you have sensitive or reactive skin that is especially irritated in the harsh winter weather, then a conventional sunscreen is not going to work for you. This particular product behaves on the skin more like an essence — meaning that it soaks right in and hydrates as well as it protects. You’ll never even know it’s there!
The only product on our list that comes with a super official Skin Cancer Foundation recommendation, this high-end product’s merit easily justifies its higher price tag. The super silky formula envelops your skin in deep hydration and has been clinically tested for optimal coverage and protection from UVA/UVB rays.
Natural and clean beauty brands have long struggled to create facial SPF that wasn’t greasy or pilled under makeup or with other skincare — but that's not the case for Farmacy’s Green Screen. This all-natural SPF absorbs quickly and is loaded with soothing and protecting antioxidants, specifically echinacea, that calm any present irritation on your skin throughout the day.
EltaMD has maintained a cult following by being one of the few brands that is recommended by estheticians and dermatologists alike. This product acts not only as an SPF but as a skin tone corrector as well. By including niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin E this formula goes to work fading dark spots and discoloration as well as plumping and minimizing fine lines.
Perfect for those of you who remain super dedicated to your outdoor workouts despite frigid temps, or anyone trying to survive winter in a rainy climate, Missha offers waterproof protection while also being impossibly hydrating. While other waterproof sunscreens can be super tight and irritating, this formula’s essence-like consistency melts into skin and won’t budge.
Korean women hold two things sacred when it comes to skincare: hydration and sun protection. That’s why we trust a K-beauty brand’s SPF any day of the week. Neogen included rose extract for an extra dose of youth preserving power and this non-greasy formula that leaves zero white cast.
We love a good viscous fluid formulation for SPF, and Anthelios 50 takes it up a notch by including an antioxidant blend that defends your skin from environmental aggressors like air pollution — perfect for those living in bigger cities. It also dries down matte which is excellent for layering under makeup.
