Product Recommendations: Sunscreen

Sunscreen Products |

Here is a list of photostable, broad-spectrum sunscreens that shouldn't irritate your skin. They are sunscreens with decent finishes and minimal white cast that get good reviews and are generally well tolerated by most people. However, exactly how it will feel or whether it will break you out will depend on your skin.

This is just a general list of good, protective sunscreens for you to consider because I know looking for a good sunscreen is really hard. I think it's also safe to assume that these sunscreens are water-proof and therefore will require a makeup remover or cleansing oil of some sort for effective removal.

In general, European sunscreens have better PPD protection but the trade off is a higher chance of irritation. Asian sunscreens offer decent protection against UVA and UVB rays, but not as much protection against UVA rays as European sunscreens. However, Asian sunscreens seem to be better tolerated and have more cosmetically elegant finishes. Both European and Asian sunscreens seem to be better (and more preferred) than US sunscreens.

The below sunscreen chart is separated into physical sunscreens, chemical sunscreens, and sunscreens with both physical and chemical active ingredients:

NOTE: A * by the product name means that these sunscreens are not available in the US.

~PPD approximations are calculated using the BASF Sunscreen Simulator

Not all of these sunscreens will work for your skin, but the above chart is a good place to start when searching for the sunscreen that will both feel great and offer maximum UV protection.

This is a growing list of sunscreen recommendations and will be continually updated when there are new products. Please check back often!

Last updated: February 27, 2011