Don’t forget sunscreen on your neck and the back of your hands!

Let me start by saying something very important up front. I never intended to write this blog article about my top facial sunscreens in July — at the height of summer. I hate the idea of playing into the notion that summer is the only time to take sunscreen seriously — and that you don’t need to bother with it the rest of the year. Really. Please, if you’re reading this, listen to me when I say…

If you can see the sun, the sun can see you!

You need to be wearing sunscreen every single day of the year. It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny, partly sunny, partly cloudy, raining, snowing, whatever. Unless you’re running from a tornado and don’t have time to apply sunscreen. That’s the one exception! As we used to say in my days working at Kiehl’s — “wear sunscreen even on cloudy, seemingly sunless days.”

Okay, now that that’s out of the way.

I’m writing this on my birthday weekend. By the time you read this, I’ll be 54 years old. Pick your mouth up off the floor. I agree, I don’t look my age! Hey, I don’t say that to boast — though I’m quite proud of the fact that I look at least ten years younger than I actually am. How do I think I achieved that, though?

Good genes and sun screens!

I’ve been wearing a facial sunscreen pretty regularly every day since I moved to Los Angeles from the small Connecticut town of Cheshire in 1988. The importance of sunscreen in a good skincare regimen was instilled in me by this amazing group of women (all skincare experts with major beauty brands) who took me under their wings in my first job as a cosmetics department manager near downtown LA. Back then, it was enough to use a moisturizer with SPF 15. That’s all we had. Today, I never leave the apartment without at least an SPF 30 on my face.

“SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays, and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. So, the difference between 30 and 50 is about 1 percent.”

It’s not lost on me that all of my best facial sunscreen recommendations are mineral sunscreen formulas. I’m not one who ascribes to hysteria when it comes to skincare ingredients. To me, the choice between mineral and chemical sunscreens is similar to the choice between organic and inorganic fruit. I’m still going to eat fruit if it’s not labeled “organic” — but I’ll reach for a package of organic blueberries any day.

Two of my fave sunscreens, both boasting super lightweight textures that blend right in.

But, I do pay attention to scientific research as it comes out. One recent article on the use of chemical sunscreens peaked my interest — in a big way! It was titled, When You Wear Sunscreen, You’re Taking Part in a Safety Study and appeared in The New York Times about a week ago. The article, available here, described a study that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which published the results of a randomized trial, conducted by the F.D.A. The purpose of the study was to determine, “whether the chemicals in four commercially available sunscreens are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.”

In fact, trace amounts of the chemicals were found in the blood of the participants. Four times a day, subjects of the study applied a chemical sunscreen formulated with one of the chemical sunscreens commonly used in US sunscreen products. “All of the sunscreen chemicals were detected in concentrations that exceeded an F.D.A. threshold past which manufacturers are required to do further toxicology tests.” If that isn’t reason enough to switch to a mineral sunscreen (and organic blueberries!), I don’t know what is. Again, I don’t subscribe to hysteria; but there are so many well-formulated mineral sunscreen products available today, it seems wise to find one you like and use it.

The whole point of this blog about what I consider some of the best facial sunscreens on the market is to help you find a sunscreen that you love by sharing ones that I love. If you love your sunscreen product, you’re more likely to use it every day. And by using it every day, you’re maintaining your skin health — and slowing the look of skin aging. Remember, sunscreen is the most effective anti-aging product you’ve got. Use it!

With that, here are my top facial sunscreen picks…

MDSolarSciences | Mineral Crème 50

I’ve been aware of the MDSolarSciences brand for a while now. Based in Stamford, Connecticut, not far from where I grew up, it was founded by dermatologic oncologist Dr. Robert J. Friedman. Their sunscreen products are top-rated by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) — with four formulas receiving the coveted rating of “1”. Among the four is the brand’s workhorse, the Mineral Crème SPF 50.

The non-toxic, cruelty-free and reef-safe Mineral Crème 50 is a mineral sunscreen with a blend of 2% Titanium Dioxide and 17% Zinc Oxide — and leaves only a minimal grayish white cast on application that dissipates before I’m out the door. That’s when it works its mattifying magic that keeps my skin looking healthy and fresh, not greasy and slick. It’s earned its place as one of my sunscreen go-to’s.

MDSolarSciences powered up their non-comedogenic formula with three of the most potent antioxidant botanical extracts — Green Tea Extract, Cranberry Fruit Extract and Pomegranate Extract. That’s some serious antioxidant power! Perhaps the most intriguing of the formula’s ingredients is Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate — a stable oil-soluble form of Vitamin C that is similar in potency to L-Ascorbic Acid, the purest form of Vitamin C. According to my skincare guru, Paula Begoun, “Some researchers believe this form of vitamin C has a greater affinity for skin because its fatty acid component helps aid penetration. It pairs well with other forms of vitamin C and retinol for enhanced effectiveness.”

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the MD Solar Sciences Mineral Crème 50 for $30 here.

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MDSolarSciences | Mineral Tinted Crème 30

I’ve only recently discovered the tinted baby sister of MDSolarSciences’ Mineral Crème 50 — the Mineral Tinted Crème 30. When I first dispensed it, I was certain that it wouldn’t blend into my skin well enough as it appeared a shade or three darker than my skin tone. It also seems quite thick. But, quite surprisingly, it blended just fine. Perfectly, in fact!

The formula of Mineral Tinted Crème 30 is very similar to big brother Mineral Crème 50 — with a powerful antioxidant complex that’s combined with a mineral sunscreen blend of 2% Titanium Dioxide and 17% Zinc Oxide.

Mineral Tinted Crème 30’s antioxidant defense matrix comprises the brand’s signature complex of Green Tea Extract, Cranberry Fruit Extract and Pomegranate Extract — along with Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, the same oil-soluble, stable form of Vitamin C. Interestingly, that’s the same vitamin derivative found in my fave Vitamin C product from The Ordinary, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F. Hmm…

The thicker texture of Mineral Tinted Crème 30 seems different to me than the SPF 50 version but blends just as well, feels comfortable on skin — and, of course, since it’s tinted, leaves no white cast.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème 30 for $32 here.

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Proude,.jpg — SHOP THE BLOG:

**MD Solar Sciences Mineral Crème 50**
**MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème 30**
**Dr. Dennis Gross Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50**
**NIOD Survival 30**
**Supergoop! 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist**
**Supergoop! 100% Mineral Smooth & Poreless Matte Screen SPF 40**
**The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants**
**Rohto Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk**
**SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50**

Dr. Dennis Gross | Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50

Dr. Gross’ Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 was the first mineral sunscreen I fell in love with. It’s been part of my arsenal of mineral sunscreen favorites for about five years now. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I reviewed this product — it’s been too long. I feel guilty for overlooking it so long and am happy to have the chance to shout it out again!

I have always loved that the first thing Dr. Gross wants you to know about his superior mineral sunscreen formula is that it’s an anti-aging product. He says, it’s an “anti-aging sunscreen cream with a state-of-the-art antioxidant complex to help prevent damage from UVA/UVB rays, protect against photo-aging, and even skin’s texture and tone.”

Dark Spot Sun Defense contains a Melatonin Defense Complex made up of melatonin, antioxidants, three forms of Vitamin C and Vitamin E to protect skin from free radical damage and pollution.

The use of melatonin is intriguing to me. Interestingly, my go-to Paula’s Choice ingredient glossary doesn’t even list it. But a little googling turned up this: “Melatonin is said to stimulate your skin’s antioxidant enzymes while you sleep. These enzymes will help defend against free radicals from pollution and UV exposure.”

Along with the three forms of Vitamin C — Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate — the formula also contains a nice mix of moisture-replenishing plant oils including Safflower Seed Oil and Olive Fruit Oil, both of which are in the top ten ingredients. The Dark Spot Sun Defense leaves a bit of a white cast, but it dissipates after a few minutes.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Dr. Dennis Gross Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 for $42 here.

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NIOD Survival 30

Contrary to the Dr. Gross sunscreen, I talk about this one all the time. In fact, I included it recently in my blog article, My Quick Summer Skincare Regimen. You can read it here if you missed it! If you caught it already, feel free to jump ahead to the next product.

I first reviewed NIOD’s Survival 30 mineral sunscreen several months ago in a blog article titled, My Favorite Facial Sunscreen Product: NIOD Survival 30. You’re welcome to read it here.

In it, I fessed up that because the brand’s Survival sunscreen formulas haven’t been validated by the US FDA, I order it illegally online from the UK-based site Cult Beauty.

I usually buy a six-month supply for fear of a crackdown! And I just discovered that I’m on my last bottle of it. Ugh…

Here’s the thing that makes it next-level: Survival 30 is much more than a sunscreen. There are actually four Survival formulas — sunscreen-free Survival 0 and three with sun protection.

Like all of the Survival formulas in the NIOD Survival series, Survival 30 is antioxidant-powered to reinforce the skin’s defenses against both environmental and lifestyle assaults. Survival 30 is formulated to target the effects of multiple daily aggressors including a range of free "oxygen" radicals including the superoxide radical, nitrogen radicals and carbonyl radicals.

If antioxidant protection were measured like sunscreen is with a “broad-spectrum” designation, this would be classified as broad-spectrum antioxidant protection.

“Survival is a range of four networked protection systems with technologies that help support healthy skin defences against environmental and lifestyle-related assaults.” - NIOD

The texture of Survival 30 is amazing. It’s got a super-spreadable, liquid viscosity that’s more like a serum than a lotion. It applies quickly and I’ve found it effective in the eye area with no migration into the eyes.

There’s a whole lot more to the Survival formulas that boosts their defensive efficacy, including purified Lutein, yeast-derived Superoxide Dismutase, Pycnogenol and Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol — a potent free-radical scavenger.

NIOD’s Survival 30 is one of the most well-formulated pro-skin health treatments I’ve ever come across. It’s worth the effort — and certainly worth getting your hands on it illegally if that’s what you have to do!

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the NIOD Survival 30 for $30 here.

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Supergoop! | 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist

This brings me to perhaps one of the most interesting sunscreen products that I consider key to my daily UV defense. It’s so unusual because it fulfills a real gap in my sun protection — and because I don’t use it as directed!

I work from home a lot and by mid- to late-afternoon, I want to wipe the palette clean and throw on a soothing sheet mask. So, I do a double cleanse and remove all traces of sunscreen and whatever else has accumulated on my skin — like city grime and damaging, free-radicalized pollutants.

You can’t imagine what it’s like standing on the subway platform. If you haven’t experienced the filthy rush of wind that envelopes you ahead of an oncoming train, you haven’t lived.

Though I’ve washed it all off, several times a week I find myself popping back out while the summer sun is still shining brightly — and that means I’m still susceptible to UV damage.

I’d feel guilty and like a total hypocrite if I went outside for 20 minutes or longer without sunscreen. But while I’m hesitant to go out without any sun protection, I also don’t really want to apply a heavy, all-day sunscreen moisturizer either.

I just need something quick, something effective, something I can wash off with a light cleansing foam!

Like a mist.

Like the Supergoop! 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist! This stuff is pure perfection. It’s funny, though, Supergoop! markets this spray as a sunscreen for the body. It comes in a huge 6 oz. / 177ml can for the price of a body product, just $34 on Sephora.com. And this is why it’s so beneficial to know your ingredients.

The 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist is an excellent formula for skin anywhere on your body — including your face. Antioxidant rich, skin-replenishing marigold, safflower, and sunflower extracts are ingredients I love in my facial skin care. As well as soothing Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Jojoba Esters and Calendula Flower Extract.

I mist it on and go! When I get back after an hour or so, it washes right off. It does the job of preventing incidental exposure to UV and I've taken the important step of protecting my skin from the aging effects of even a small amount of sun exposure.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Supergoop! 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist for $34 here.

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Supergoop! | 100% Mineral Smooth & Poreless Matte Screen SPF 40

The Supergoop! 100% Mineral Smooth & Poreless Matte Screen SPF 40 is a super lightweight, slightly tinted formula that leaves no white cast (again, it’s tinted, how could it?!). Awarded the Clean at Sephora seal, it’s an excellent product that contains an ideal blend of 17% Zinc Oxide and 0.7% Titanium Dioxide.

In addition, there are several moisture replenishing non-fragrant plant oils, Vitamin E, peptides, and my favorite natural calming extract Bisabolol — the active component of chamomile that’s a superb soother of skin irritation.

It’s not exactly an antioxidant powerhouse — certainly not at the level of the NIOD Survival 30 — but the high level of Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) does deliver a solid antioxidant benefit while nourishing the skin.

Smooth & Poreless does contain a small amount of antioxidant botanicals, though they’re way down the ingredient list — and very likely insignificant.

I think the most intriguing ingredient in the formula may be Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract or “butterfly bush extract.” Supergoop! claims that it “helps protect against blue light that’s emitted from electronic devices like your smartphone or computer.”

Over the past year, more and more brands are paying attention to the effects that our devices are having on our skin — and on our health. While I think that beauty brands are jumping the gun somewhat, studies are assessing the effects on our skin of the blue light emanating from our smartphones.

As for whether or not Smooth & Poreless actually leaves your complexion “poreless,” I guess that depends on how large your pores are. It does blend in nicely and I like the mattifying benefit, particularly during hot, humid summer days!

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Supergoop! 100% Mineral Smooth & Poreless Matte Screen SPF 40 for $38 here.

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““Daily SPF is the most important thing you can do for your skin. No moisturizer or miracle serum in the world is as beneficial as basic sun protection.” - Supergoop! ”

SHOP THE BLOG:

**MD Solar Sciences Mineral Crème 50**
**MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Crème 30**
**Dr. Dennis Gross Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50**
**NIOD Survival 30**
**Supergoop! 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist**
**Supergoop! 100% Mineral Smooth & Poreless Matte Screen SPF 40**
**The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants**
**Rohto Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk**
**SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50**

The Ordinary | Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants

When this first came out last summer, I had been eagerly anticipating the launch of The Ordinary’s Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants for more than a year. It had been rumored and I remember the day it was announced. I went crazy and bought 6 tubes of it. Who’s that enthusiastic about a sunscreen? Me, me and me!

What I loved about it is that I knew it would be a great formula and knew that it would be inexpensive, making a terrific sunscreen product accessible to more people than ever. I was right about that.

At just under $10 on The Ordinary’s website, you can’t go wrong.

The Mineral UV Filters formula is everything I imagined it would be, with a few surprises thrown in that seriously step up the formula’s obvious efficacy.

If it were just an effective enough sunscreen and antioxidant blend, I’d have been satisfied. But the Deciem chemists achieved that no white cast mandatory without the use of scary nanoparticles.

How? Well, they claim that “instead, a refined dispersion of micronized ZnO and TiO2 in flexible, high-volatility, non-comedogenic silicones allows the formulations to remain extremely lightweight by optimizing the amount of the blocking agents.”

As David in Schitt’s Creek would say, “I don’t know what that means!” I just know that it blends perfectly well into my skin, though I’ve heard others share that it doesn’t blend as well for them. At $9.70, it’s worth a try. If it doesn’t blend well enough for you, pay it forward and give it to a friend, a sibling, your mother.

The incredibly robust blend of hydrators, humectants, amino acids, moisturizers — and real skin soothers make this a next-level product that goes beyond just being a sunscreen. It’s an excellent pro-health skincare product! The Ordinary formula contains something the brand describes as a Bio-Active Antioxidant Network: “a potent combination that helps protect skin from environmental stressors, visibly protects the body’s biological membranes, and supports the skin’s natural response to UV exposure.”

But I think the most interesting ingredient in the formula is Isochrysis Galbana Extract — an extract obtained from microalgae that has powerful soothing action to alleviate redness and sensitivity.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants for $9.70 here.

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**WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF MY TOP FACIAL SUNSCREEN PRODUCT PICKS ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**

Full disclosure: The Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk formula contains a combination of both a mineral and a chemical sunscreen filter.

Rohto | Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk (SPF50 PA ++++)

I definitely saved the best for last. But I have a confession to make. The Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk formula does contain a combination of both a mineral and a chemical sunscreen filter. In addition to Zinc Oxide, this super (and I mean suuuuuper!) fluid milk also contains Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate — a chemical sunscreen active more commonly known as Octinoxate, the oldest and most common sunscreen used to protect skin against UVB rays.

But, this iconic J-Beauty formula doesn’t contain what you’d expect in a Japanese sunscreen formulation: denatured alcohol!

Those Japanese formulators love their alcohol. I have no idea why, but it’s the one thing that prevents me from trying very many J-Beauty products.

For some reason, Rhoto avoided it and I’m thankful. The Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk is a whole new level of awesome. I have never experienced a sunscreen like this one, having come across it about a year or so ago.

Psst…the original bright yellow bottle has been replaced with this two-toned aqua blue one. As far as I can tell, it’s the same formula.

This Skin Aqua sunscreen is, as the name implies, as light as water. It’s literally the most watery sunscreen I’ve ever used — with a texture like a lightweight serum. Let’s just call it runny. Because it’s so super light, it’s really easy to spread over the skin.

With an SPF 50+ and PA ++++, it’s also loaded up with what Rhoto refers to as “super hyaluronic acid”. I believe they mean Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate. No matter, the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk is powered by two forms of humectant Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin — as well as replenishing amino acids and collagen.

It goes on like magic and just feels like it was made in some off-planet laboratory.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Rohto Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk for $13.21 on YESSTYLE here.

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SkinCeuticals | Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50

I’ve referred to this as my favorite sunscreen for the eye area about a thousand times. But since this article is dedicated to all-things sunscreen, it would be insane for me not to mention the SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50! I dedicated an entire blog article to it titled, Eye SPF and the Best Product for Dark Circles. If you didn’t catch it, I invite you to read it here.

But what makes it such a special formula is that the innovative SkinCeuticals formula contains a 100% mineral sunscreen complex, a slight color-correcting tint, and nourishing ceramides — and it’s simply perfect for the eye area.

The texture of the Physical Eye UV Defense is more like a light paste so it goes where you put it and will not migrate into your eyes. Seriously, if you have a concern for dark circles, this is the best product for treating them — it instantly conceals and even prevents dark circles from happening in the first place.

In addition to two microfine mineral sun filters (Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide), the formula contains something that SkinCeuticals calls “translucent color spheres.” They’re essentially iron oxide molecules that contain “a color-infused technology that enhances natural skin tone and boosts radiance while providing a universal tint for most skin tones.” I have fairly light skin — a few degrees lighter than the hue of Physical Eye UV Defense and I have no problems blending it into my skin well. So whatever those spheres are, they do work. The addition of ceramides is an added benefit that helps to nourish and plump the delicate eye area skin. It spreads easily and takes 10 seconds to apply to both eyes.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50 for $34 here.

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“No Skincarma blog review about the importance of sun protection would be complete without mention of Jeanne and Susan, identical twin sisters.”

Be a Jeanne, not a Susan.

Seriously, I can’t imagine a Skincarma blog article about my top sunscreen products protection without an introduction to my friends Jeanne and Susan — identical twin sisters.

No, they're not my actual friends; in fact, we’ve never met. But I feel like I know them. As good friends would, they inspire me to be better — and to wear sunscreen. If you need proof of the very real effects of sun damage on your skin, look no further than these two ladies. The sisters looked exactly alike growing up. But Susan has spent her life in Florida worshiping the sun (she’s also a heavy smoker!) while sister Jeanne lives in Ohio and has generally avoided overexposure to the sun (and smoking) throughout her life. While both were 61 when the photo was taken, a scientific study of Susan’s skin at Case Western Reserve University showed an 11-year age difference — Susan has extreme hyperpigmentation (sun spots), deeper wrinkles and degradation in skin elasticity.

Be a Jeanne, not a Susan!

That’s it, guys! Please, don’t forget your sunscreen — even on cloudy, seemingly sunless days. Find one you love. Don’t get to 61 looking like poor ole Susan.

🖤 SKINCARMA

**WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF MY TOP FACIAL SUNSCREEN PRODUCT PICKS ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.**

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**EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT FOR SKINCARMA FOLLOWERS**

Use code SKINCARMA20 to receive 20% off all MDSolarSciences sunscreen products! Follow the link below to the Amperna site and use my exclusive code on all Amperna purchases.

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