The best drugstore sunscreens have something for everyone—at an affordable price. And dermatologists say there are only slight differences between a drugstore buy and an expensive sunscreen. “In some cases, there may be specialized ingredients in the formula besides the UV filter itself,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. “Some of the more costly facial sunscreens contain specialized botanicals, antioxidants, or antiaging ingredients.” But any product labeled SPF 30 will offer that level of sun protection regardless of price tag, as long as it’s applied properly, he says.
Glamour editors test hundreds of SPF products collectively year-round across every price range to determine the best mineral sunscreens, spray sunscreens, and more. Products are tested for ease of application and blending, as well as how well they work with different skin types. We also rely on recommendations and insights from dermatologists to finalize our lists. Our top pick for the best drugstore buy is EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen because it stands out for its chameleon-like ability to work on all skin tones and types.
Looking for something different? Luckily, this shelf at the drugstore runs deep, and these expert- and editor-recommended choices will help you nail down your new go-to.
The best drugstore sunscreens, at a glance
- Best Overall: EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen (SPF 46), $44
- Best for Dry Skin: Eucerin Sun Advanced Hydration Face (SPF 50), $16
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Sunscreen Lotion (SPF 30), $12
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Absorbing Moisturizer (SPF 30), $14
- Best Body Sunscreen: Banana Boat Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 50), $13
Best Overall: EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen
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- What we love: No white cast; moisturizing; available in tinted
- What can improve: Pricier than other options
Ask any dermatologist what their favorite sunscreens are, and chances are Elta MD’s UV Clear tops the list. The mineral SPF blends easily into a clear finish on all skin tones. The formula is also boosted with skin care ingredients such as niacinamide to even out blotchy skin and hyaluronic acid to moisturize. Plus, it’s safe for sensitive and acne-prone skin. “I frequently recommend EltaMD UV Clear to my acne-prone or oily-skin patients for excellent sun protection that won’t promote breakouts, and my patients love it,” says Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist previously told Glamour.
“My skin is very hard to predict. One day I’m oily, the next I have flakes surrounding my eyebrows and nose. I try to look for formulas that will help hydrate the drier areas but won’t make me look too shiny or greasy. This clear face sunscreen has managed to balance out both, and keeps my skin tame and matte without drying it out. I’ve also noticed that it doesn’t break me out, a huge plus when I’m trying to keep my acne under control,” says Glamour’s commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary.
Best Drugstore Sunscreen for Deeper Skintones: Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Matte Sunscreen
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- What we love: Comes in matte or regular finish; no white cast; moisturizing
- What can improve: Greasy feel
Along with its completely clear finish, the cream is laced with moisturizing jojoba and antioxidant-enriched avocado and cacao oils. If you have oily skin, there’s a matte version that doesn’t feel greasy and will keep shine down. If you prefer mineral protection, try Make It Hybrid, which combines chemical and mineral ingredients.
“This feels a lot like a good moisturizer that happens to also have SPF in it,” says Glamour contributor Nykia Spradley. She adds that the cream comes out white but turns clear without a lot of rubbing needed. “There’s also a newer version that’s vanilla-scented, which I love since I don’t really like the smell of traditional sunscreens.”
Best Drugstore Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin: Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Sunscreen
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- What we love: No white cast; nongreasy finish; not too thick
- What can improve: Too dewy-looking for oily skin types
Sensitive skin needs extra shielding from the sun, but some sunscreen ingredients can cause irritation. Aveeno’s Protect + Hydrate Sunscreen Lotion, which comes recommended by Sheila Farhang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, does the opposite. It protects from UVA and UVB rays, while also sealing moisture into skin and calming irritation with its triple oat complex: oat oil, extract, and flour.
“This ultralightweight formula is a dream if you’re looking for a sunscreen lotion that’ll keep your skin really hydrated. It has a glossy, milky formula that doesn’t feel greasy and sinks right in. I found it to be extra useful on areas where my skin was really dry, and it also helped eliminate some redness around my nose. I wouldn’t go for this if you have a very oily complexion, but it’s great if you just need a boost of creamy hydration with your sun protection,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best Drugstore Sunscreen for Dry Skin: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen
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- What we love: Fragrance-free; matte finish; absorbed fast
- What can improve: Leaves a white cast
Sunscreen can leave a sticky or greasy film on the skin, but the Dry-Touch tech protects without feeling heavy or sticky. That’s no easy task, considering this is a mineral SPF, which can leave a grittiness behind. Dr. Zeichner says that face and body sunscreens are interchangeable, but if you’re squeamish about slathering a thick body sunscreen all over your forehead, know that this product is specially formulated to work well on both.
“I like the consistency of this sunscreen. It’s not as thick and gloppy as some other mineral sunscreens, so you can spread it easily, making it a suitable choice for both the face and the body,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley, “I wouldn’t call it ‘Ultra Sheer,’ since it does leave some white cast even on my relatively pale skin, but it absorbs without any tackiness and offers ample sun protection. I recently spent a week in the blazing Florida sun, and I attribute this lotion to keeping me and my family burn-free.”
Best Drugstore Sunscreen for Oily Skin: CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion With Sunscreen
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- What we love: Moisturizing; nongreasy
- What can improve: Can irritate eyes
Many sunscreens have a natural greasiness that doesn’t work well for oily and shiny skin. CeraVe, however, topped off its barely there moisturizer with a protective SPF 30, moisture-restoring hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to keep skin from drying out too much.
“This CeraVe sunscreen formula is silky to the touch and doesn’t smell overly sunscreen-y, which I like,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “It slid right onto my face and added a nice layer of hydration, though it took a few minutes to dry down. I did notice that it pilled a bit when I layered makeup on top (but only in a few areas); otherwise it kept my skin matte all day long.”
Best Drugstore Sunscreen for Combination Skin: Eucerin Advanced Hydration Sunscreen Lotion for Face
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- What we love: Lightweight; nongreasy
- What can improve: Can leave a slight white tint on deeper skin tones
Dr. Zeichner recommends this newer option that’s loaded with moisturizing ingredients over some of the other options. “The ultralight fluid rubs in without leaving the skin feeling heavy or greasy,” he says. He also points out that the chemical formula’s blend of five antioxidants “has been shown to defend against free radical damage associated with exposure to long-wave UVA and visible light.”
Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle says, “This is a lightweight SPF that works so well on my combination skin. It never pills under my makeup, absorbs instantly, and leaves behind a glowy finish. It works better than some of my over $50 sunscreens.”
Best Invisible Sunscreen: Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen
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- What we love: Completely clear; very lightweight, multitasking
- What can improve: Small tube for the price; caused breakouts for some reviewers
Several options on this list blend into a clear finish, but Supergoop Unseen is invisible right out of the tube. It can also double as an SPF primer and will keep your base in place while it protects. On the skin care front, bisabolol and licorice root help even out discoloration and sun spots after a few weeks of consistent wear.
“You’ll find yourself second-guessing whether you even put anything on,” says Anna Moeslein, Glamour deputy editor. “Because of that, it works well as a primer under your makeup or on its own as a mattifying finish after your daily moisturizer.” We love that it’s reef-safe and cruelty-free too.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Cetaphil Derma Control Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Sunscreen
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- What we love: Moisturizing; absorbs excess oil; gentle enough for sensitive skin
- What can improve: Tube is small
Finding a sunscreen that won’t clog pores or make oily skin look even shinier and greasier is not easy, but Cetaphil did it. The star of the formula is a starch that absorbs excess oils on the surface of the skin. The cream isn’t meant to totally dry skin out, though. Moisturizing glycerin, pro-vitamin B5, and ceramides balance skin’s moisture levels, then lock it in, so you’re protected from sun damage without compromising on hydration or risking breakouts.
“Spring is definitely in the air, and I’ve been spending more time exploring New York City each weekend,” says Condé Nast associate manager of audio audience strategy Miah Hardy. “This Cetaphil sunscreen has become a key part of my skin care routine. It melts seamlessly into my skin, providing sun protection and a healthy glow without any greasy feel. I recommend it for anyone who's always on the go and looking for a lightweight SPF that doesn’t leave a white cast.”
Best Tinted Sunscreen: Eucerin Tinted Age Defense Sunscreen Lotion for Face
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- What we love: Tinted; hides pores; has antioxidants
- What can improve: Can look orange on fairer skin tones
If you’re not a regular makeup wearer but want to visibly even out your complexion, try a tinted sunscreen like this one. It’s loaded up with all the skin-protecting benefits you’d expect from an SPF but has a tint to it that adjusts to your skin tone. “Tinted SPF contain iron oxides, and may be particularly helpful for those with hyperpigmentation or melasma,” says Neera Nathan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic surgeon in New England. Hyaluronic acid in the formula helps smooth fine lines and keep skin hydrated, and an antioxidant complex delivers protection beyond the UV coverage to keep free radicals from damaging skin.
“I often swipe sunscreen apprehensively, expecting an ashy mess to be left behind. This option promised to blend into a range of skin tones from fair to deep brown. It lived up to its promise and only took a few rubs for the cream to dissolve into a completely clear, satin finish,” says Spradley. “It’s not too shiny or matte and doesn’t feel grainy like other sunscreens. It does have a pretty noticeable sunscreen smell, but not in a nauseating way that I can smell throughout the day.”
Best Under Makeup: E.L.F. SKIN Suntouchable Whoa Glow Sunscreen
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- What we love: Keeps makeup in place; gives skin a subtle smoothing tint; moisturizes
- What can improve: Too glittery for some
Several of the options here play well under makeup, but E.L.F. made a version that’s as much a makeup primer as it is a sunscreen. The glowy tint looks a bit like a liquid highlighter when you squeeze it out and comes in three shades: Sunlight, which has a pink base and a silvery shimmer; Sunbeam, a neutral champagne shimmer; and Sunburst, which is more bronzy with golden undertones. All three help grip makeup so it stays put throughout the day, and they’re laced with moisturizing aloe, hyaluronic acid, and squalene to keep skin hydrated and naturally dewy-looking.
“The wrong sunscreen under makeup can make my skin look greasy pretty quickly. This one does the opposite. The mousse-like texture of the tinted SPF blurs out my pores and hyperpigmentation before I even apply a base. After a few hours under makeup, my oily areas are in check, and my skin looks glowy and not greasy,” says Spradley.
Best Body Sunscreen: Banana Boat Mineral Sunscreen
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- What we love: Blends easily; nourishing ingredients; fragrance-free
- What can improve: Nothing
Dr. Nathan also cosigns using face and body sunscreen interchangeably, but you’ll need a big tube like this one to ensure you’re applying the right amount for proper coverage. Banana Boat’s mineral option has a high SPF and an updated formula that requires way less rubbing for it to blend in quickly. Vitamin E and coconut oil help with moisture too. It also comes in a spray.
“I wore this sunscreen before running a 5K on a really hot Saturday. It didn’t feel greasy at all and it absorbed right away which was great because I was in a hurry,” says Glamour’s Calle. “It does have some white cast but not as much as other body sunscreens that I've tried.”
Best Powder Sunscreen: Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Translucent Sunscreen Powder
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- What we love: Travel-friendly; translucent; helps set makeup
- What can improve: Not moisturizing
Powder sunscreens are not only ideal for helping absorb excess oil, they’re a great option for travel and touch up, particularly over makeup or midday. Hawaiian Tropic’s powder is a mineral SPF that easily dusts on like a translucent finishing powder. The finish is more matte, so if you have dry skin, consider sticking to a formula with a dewier finish.
“It has the same nostalgic smell as the brand’s other products,” says Earley, who is drawn to this product for its silky finish. “I’m very sensitive to that chalky feeling some powdered products can leave behind. This one doesn’t give me that ick factor, because what it leaves behind is actually quite smooth, albeit matte enough to serve as a setting powder on a hot summer day.”
Best Sunscreen Stick: Sun Bum Face + Body Stick Sunscreen
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- What we love: Mess-free; clear finish; cooling sensation
- What can improve: Hard to reapply over makeup
A stick format is another travel-friendly option, though it’s not the best choice if you want to apply over makeup. If you’re going barefaced, however, a sunscreen stick that works for both face and body will make post-swim touch-up quick and easy. Plus, you don’t have to worry about it transferring onto your clothes, nor will it leak in your tote. This one glides on clear and leaves a cooling sensation, which feels nice during peak summer. Apply four back-and-forth passes in each area, and rub it in for even coverage.
“I love a good sunscreen stick, especially if I’m headed out to the park or beach. This compact stick fits in just about any size bag I decide to bring, is super moisturizing, and is easy to glide on when I’m in a pinch. I like that it has a clear finish (no stains on clothes) and that it feels really refreshing and cooling upon application (perfect for a hot day in the sun). The best part? It’s only $20,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
