When it comes to sunscreen, the absolute most important thing is that you’re using one. It’s imperative that you find a sunscreen you like, you’re actually going to use, and that’s proven effective. But how do you do that? Well, for starters, decide between a mineral or a chemical sunscreen. leaves skin glowing and radiant with no white cast. The face sunscreen with SPF and 100% mineral actives, is formulated Enhance your skin’s natural tone while protecting it from sun damage. This tinted broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen improves the look of skin, blurring visible imperfections and revealing a radiant-looking glow. Sethi A, Kaur T, Malhotra SK, Gambhir ML. Moisturizers: The Slippery Road. Indian J Dermatol. 2016;61(3):279-287. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.182427 With this advice in mind, we tried it ourselves and can honestly say that the clear zinc oxide protects skin even through the most grueling workouts or hikes, so you can be sure it will do the job even if you’re just out for a walk. Plus, it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and provides broad-spectrum coverage against UVA and UVB rays.

Inactive ingredients: water, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, octyldodecyl citrate crosspolymer, styrene/acrylates copolymer, phenyl trimethicone, cetyl peg/ppg- 10⁄ 1 dimethicone, dimethicone, polyhydroxystearic acid, glycerin, ethyl methicone,cetyl dimethicone, silica, colloidal oatmeal, tocopheryl acetate, chrysanthemum parthenium (feverfew) flower/leaf/stem juice, glyceryl behenate, phenethyl alcohol, caprylyl glycol, cetyl dimethicone/bis-vinyldimethicone crosspolymer, acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, sodium chloride, phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesNo, it is not bad to wear sunscreen every day. In fact, you should be wearing an SPF daily to fully protect yourself from the sun. This is true for days when you aren’t spending a lot of time outside, or when it isn’t sunny out. UV rays are still able to penetrate through clouds and windows. That’s why it is so important to find a sunscreen that you like and will use daily. The Bottom Line

As you might surmise, this is a fantastic option for those with acne-prone skin. It boasts a slight green tint that helps offset the look of redness from breakouts and scars. One last downside of this sunscreen: It’s a bit challenging to remove. However, this is typically the case with every zinc oxide sunscreen I’ve tried in the past, so Aveeno is not the only one guilty of this crime. This sunscreen leaves behind a waxy residue that’s hard to dissolve. You need to use some sort of oil cleanser or makeup remover to get it all off. I’m curious to see if Neutrogena’s formula has the same downsides as this product, including the weird smell. I’ll let you know what happens when I finally try that one out. Related reading

What’s the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreen?

Our testing found that it blends beautifully into the skin and doesn't pill when makeup is layered on top of it. We also love that the applicator makes it easy to dole out the ideal amount of product for all-day coverage. Dr. Kim highly recommends this product: “It’s very liquid-y and comes in a shaker. It dispenses really easily and it blends in pretty well—plus a small amount shields the whole face.” It’s also tinted, which should help prevent a stark white cast. All in all, it makes for a perfect base under makeup since it blends so smoothly into the skin, but it’s also a great choice for the days you want to go sans makeup (but still give your skin a little something). The only thing we wish we could change is the fact that the tint is only available in two options—Light/Medium and Medium/Dark. We felt like each tint could cover a wide range of skin tones, but we’d love to see more options so that everyone can find a more suitable match. Interestingly, both of these sunscreens contain some sort of oat-based product, perhaps because they’re both marketed for sensitive skin. Colloidal oatmeal is commonly used in eczema products because it is known to soothe itchy, inflamed skin.

Per the tinted part, this option comes in four shades: light, medium, medium/deep, and deep. This is a huge pro, as many tinted sunscreens—including my daily go-to that I’ve used for years—only come in one shade that claims to be “universal,” yet often isn’t. (More importantly, there aren’t a ton of tinted sunscreens to be found at the drugstore in general.) I received both the light and medium; my skin is fair with a lot of warm and yellow undertones, and I found the medium to be an almost perfect match. While I can’t say with complete confidence these four shades work on everyone, the two I tried did seem to be versatile (I could’ve gotten away with the light had I wanted to) so I do think the range is fairly inclusive. If you’re looking for a formula that contains both mineral and chemical SPF, consider this option. It’s a hybrid that blends zinc oxide and octinoxate, a chemical sunscreen ingredient, both of which are chemically proven to prevent UV damage. We love how the formula goes on totally clear—so there’s no white cast—and it dries almost immediately. We also like it as an option for acne-prone skin since it’s oil-free and contains anti-inflammatory niacinamide and gently exfoliating lactic acid. This trusty drugstore find offers broad-spectrum SPF 50 (meaning it protects against UVA and UVB rays, both of which can contribute to skin cancer) thanks to naturally sourced 100 percent zinc oxide. Even better, it uses a special dry-touch technology that ensures you won’t be left feeling greasy after application. The fact that it’s non-comedogenic—meaning it won’t clog your pores—only adds to the appeal. Who It’s For Araviiskaia E, Berardesca E, Bieber T, Gontijo G, Sanchez Viera M, Marrot L, Chuberre B, Dreno B. The impact of airborne pollution on skin. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Aug;33(8):1496-1505. doi: 10.1111/jdv.15583. Epub 2019 Apr 26. PMID: 30897234; PMCID: PMC6766865. Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Dry Touch Sunscreen vs. Aveeno Positively Mineral Sunscreen ingredient comparisonTrying products is a standard—and very fun—part of my job as a beauty writer. But, to be totally honest, I end up testing way fewer products than one might expect, largely because my skin is very sensitive. There is, however, one category of products that I will always, always try: mineral sunscreen. In my 15-year career, I’ve taken every single one that’s come across my desk for a test drive. That’s largely because I firmly believe sunscreen is the absolute most important skincare product you can use. And experts agree. It’s also the one product I use without fail every single day. A good choice for anyone who wears makeup daily or likes to have a little something on their face, this SPF color-corrects skin with two tinted shades and leaves behind a healthy-looking glow. mineral actives and vitamin E formula helps prevent sun-induced wrinkles, dark spots, fine lines and discoloration. Dear Emily, they’re the same formula except Aveeno brand always add oat flour into the formula, I would just choose the one with lower price, usually the Neutrogena is slightly lower.