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Last month, I talked to Los Angeles-based, board-certified dermatologist Asmi Berry, DO, FAAD, about wearing and shopping for affordable jewelry if you have sensitive skin. She was so helpful that I turned to her again to debunk some of our editors’ questions about wearing sunscreen. If you find that you avoid wearing SPF out of convenience, but want to integrate it into your skincare routine (you know you should), scroll on. Berry provides some accessible tips, along with some of her go-to sunscreens. Later, I’ll share some of my favorites, too. PS: Click here for our extensive sunscreen glossary.
I unknowingly put on expired SPF recently. Did I essentially put on zero SPF, or if it was SPF 50, was it really like putting SPF 20 on?
Expired sunscreen means the SPF may have broken down, so it likely offered less protection than labeled, but not zero. If it was labeled SPF 50, it could’ve dropped to SPF 15 or 20, depending on how expired it was and how it was stored. It’s always safer to toss it and use a fresh one.
If every sunscreen irritates your skin (like your skin actually hates it), do you have any recs?
If your skin reacts to every sunscreen, try a 100% mineral formula with zinc oxide only, no fragrance, and no essential oils. Vanicream, EltaMD, and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Gentle Lotion are made for ultra-sensitive skin. And don’t forget to patch test first. Sometimes it’s not the active ingredient, but the preservative or fragrance [that’s irritating].
How often do you really have to reapply? How should you reapply over makeup?
Reapply every two hours if you're in direct sun, sweating, or swimming. If you're indoors or commuting, once in the morning is often enough, but reapply if you're exposed again later. For reapplying over makeup, use powder SPF, a reapplying spray, or a tinted SPF compact and press it on with a sponge.
How much sunscreen do you need for your face?
Use about a nickel-sized amount or two full finger-lengths of sunscreen to fully cover your face. Most people underapply, which cuts the SPF protection down.
What’s the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens? How do you pick which to use?
Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to reflect UV rays and sit on top of the skin. These are great for sensitive skin or melasma. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and turn them into heat. They tend to be lighter and more blendable. I recommend mineral for reactive skin, and chemical if you want something sheer and invisible under makeup.
Dr. Berry’s go-to sunscreens
The facial sunscreen with a cult following…
“For sensitive skin, I love EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46. It’s lightweight, calming, and great for acne-prone skin,” says Berry. It won’t leave behind any residue and is packed with niacinamide to reduce the appearance of blemishes and discoloration. ($44, Amazon)
An option for those with existing sun damage…
“ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica is antioxidant-rich, and the proprietary DNA Repairsomes® in this formula have been clinically proven to repair existing sun damage,” Berry says. It’s a 100% mineral sunscreen with SPF 50+, and it’s fast-absorbing. While this one is more of a splurge, it’s worth it if you’re looking to further protect your skin post-damage. ($73, ISDIN)
A tinted moisturizer with a custom finish…
“Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50 is amazing if you want a tint that adapts to your skin tone,” says Berry. And she’s not wrong. We tested out the sunscreen last year and our team loved it for its gentle formulation, blendability, and notable coverage. Plus, the brand recently added two more shades. ($58, Amazon)
And some of my everyday SPF picks
A glowy sunscreen that’s going viral…
I’d been seeing the Australian-based SPF brand, Ultra Violette, pretty much everywhere on my social feeds, and I knew I had to give it a try. Its Future Screen is a mineral-based sunscreen with SPF 50. Its packaging touts that it’s “a super lightweight fluid with a natural skin-perfected finish,” and after months of testing, I can attest it lives up to that promise. It evens out any redness or discoloration, while providing natural luminosity that isn’t glittery. I’ve been telling everyone in my life to buy this — especially for everyday no makeup-makeup. ($40, Sephora)
A classic facial sunscreen that’s man-approved…
My fiancé didn’t understand why we needed a “fancy” sunscreen until he tried this (aka, stole it from my skincare stash). This watery-lotion sunscreen from Supergoop is a chemical sunscreen with SPF 50, and it has a lightweight, velvety texture that easily blends into your skin. We keep a bottle or two on hand all year round — it’s a staple we can’t live without. It’s also water- and sweat-resistant for up to 40 minutes and will even protect against blue light. ($34, Supergoop)
The spray that gets me through long beach days…
Every year, I head to the beach with my family, and this is the sunscreen we all work our way through. As someone prone to freckling, burning, and not tanning, I need a daily sunscreen that’ll keep my skin protected and that’s easy to reapply. I’ve been using this SPF 70 spray from Sun Bum for nearly a decade. It has a light coconut scent that doesn’t irritate my eczema-prone skin, and I love that it’s packed with vitamin E for added hydration. ($18.49, Ulta)
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