My Go-To Sunscreens of 2021
Sunscreen application is arguably the most important step of one’s skincare routine. I like to think of it as insurance - insurance that the rest of my skincare products can do their thing and improve my skin, protected from further damage. It took some time for me to build this habit, if I’m honest. Lots of trial and error lead me to finding SPF formulas that I enjoy applying on my face. If I don’t love the texture and experience of applying a product, I am less likely to use it regularly so those aspects are important to me.
One of the biggest barriers for me in regards to sunscreen application was that as a daily makeup wearer with oilier skin, many of the formulas I had tried didn’t wear nicely under makeup. I kept trying and trying various different ones until finally stumbling upon the few that I am sharing in this post. There are many more sunscreens out there on my radar to try next, but until I get to them, here are my current favorites:
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50+
Formerly known as Shaka Fluide, this La Roche-Posay Anthelios sunscreen formula is the favorite of many European beauty bloggers that I follow. Sadly not sold in the US or Canada due to its newer sunscreen filters, this SPF can be easily purchased online via numerous international retailers. It’s an incredibly lightweight formula that is invisible on the skin and easy to wear year round. It can make me a bit more shiny in the summer if I am having an oily skin moment, but that can be mitigated by skipping moisturizer. Fragrance free.
Price: around $19.00 USD from European retailers like Care To Beauty
Paula’s Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF50
My experience with this sunscreen is similar to that of the La Roche-Posay. It’s incredibly lightweight and wears wonderfully under makeup. It feels slightly more moisturizing upon initial application but imparts a more satin finish on the skin as time goes on. I also tend to skip morning moisturizer if I am using this in the summer. Easy to use year round and is also completely invisible on the skin. I tend to recommend this the most often whenever I get asked about sunscreens to wear under makeup. I have friends with different skin types that all enjoy using this. Fragrance free.
Price: $33.00 USD
Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector SPF42
This one’s for my fellow oily/combination skin friends out there - it has some sebum absorption properties to it and definitely settles to a more matte finish on the skin. It also contains a combination of chemical and physical sunscreen filters (the two sunscreens previously mentioned are all chemical). Due to the zinc oxide in the formula it does have a faint white cast upon initial application but it does disappear after a few minutes. I don’t think it would be very flattering on a deeper skin tone, though. It feels super lightweight and velvety on the skin, and I love to wear it on its own if I’m going out for a run outside. It’s both water and sweat resistant. Contains a bit of fragrance, it smells quite light and fresh. An honorable mention combination sunscreen that I also loved for its oil control and pore refining capabilities is the Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting SPF35.
Price: $35.00 USD
SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF50
The only 100% physical sunscreen of the bunch, and also the one I’ve been using/repurchasing the longest. It has an incredibly light texture and almost feels oily upon initial application. After a few minutes it settles down to a satin finish on the skin. Due to it being a physical sunscreen, it does have a tint to mitigate the white cast it can leave behind. The tint, however, is not going to be flattering on every skin tone. I’d say it is most suitable for light, light-medium and medium skin tones. Friends with deeper skin tones that have tried it said that it has the tendency to appear a bit grey on the skin. It works well on its own and maybe with a hint of concealer on beach days or underneath my lighter coverage foundations. The tint is sheer and neutral in tone - not too pink and not too yellow. The tint doesn’t offer any significant coverage, it just barely knocks back redness on my skin. One of my favorite summer base combinations has been this sunscreen with the Chanel Water Tint on top. Fragrance free.
Price: $35.00 USD
