I know that sunscreen is important. It is preventive. That the science behind it is real and that dermatologists say you should. But sometimes it sounds a bit … illogical. If I sit inside all winter, bundled from head to toe and the sun goes down at 4 p.m. anyway, do I still need it? Winter sunscreen sounds wrong, but OK.
Much of this resistance is due to the fact that you can't really see your sunscreen working. During the season of ordering, skipping workouts, and dealing with unwanted body hair by covering them with sweaters and cozy pants, my MO is practical and sun protection is an extra step. And I'll be the first to admit that I usually skip it. Except this winter I have not! I became a hard-working SPF wearer in winter, all because I finally found a few sunscreens that can be wonderfully applied to my face every morning.
It started with a list of pretty specific requirements: I wanted it to be mineral, not chemical, because if I use something every day, I want a skin care benefit that I can actually see. (Zinc, the main ingredient in mineral sunscreen, is super soothing and also my number one trick if it doesn't break out on airplanes.) The sunscreen of my dreams would be moisturizing and moist, and additional points go to those who have been balancing my complexion. I should be able to use a lot of it (the recommended half teaspoon for my face and neck) without feeling like much. And when we really get involved, I wanted to see if there are any out there that I didn't know about. (Honorable mention of Josh Rosebrook and Unsun's objectively great mineral formulas.) The bar has been raised, but after months of testing, I'm here by summer.
Ever heard of koa? Neither do I, before this SPF. It's tinted and untinted, but I like the tinted version better – not because of the cover (it's super sleek) but because I think you're always better off starting from a place that doesn't know mineral Is sunscreen. It is viscous and melts on the skin so I can really wrap it up without feeling like I am wearing a lot of sunscreen. The finish is damp and balances me out a little, good for days when I don't wear complexion makeup, which is the case most days. My skin just looks good when I wear it, which makes me wear it, which makes my skin look even better over time. It's a positive feedback loop and I'm here for it.
When I mentioned to Ashley that I was looking for new zinc sunscreens, she suggested it – and it doesn't disappoint. The little bit of mica and the conditioning vitamin E make it almost like a facial oil, with a similar shine that lasts. It's also the option that I find that covers me the most – it can add some shine under tinted moisturizers, but it brightens and balances itself out well. (Its peach tint is more universal than true-to-skin tones – it brightens pale tones across the board.) If you want to get on the Supergoop train but prefer a physical sunscreen factor, you should try this.
Everyone is talking about EltaMD's UV-Clear sun protection and I understand. But this purely mineral version, which my dermatologist made available to me immediately after laser treatment, is similarly great and does not get nearly enough shine. It's the only formula on this list that contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which is often the culprit behind a white cast, but the light tint makes this a problem. To be honest, I'm pretty fair (especially now that I wear SPF every day) and when I first pressed this into my hand, I was afraid that it would get too dark. Miraculously, as soon as I spread it over my face, it melted perfectly and almost disappeared, taking away my pores and all the redness. It's also by far the largest bottle (three ounces!), So you won't feel bad if you use it generously.
Would you like to improve the skin care functions of your sunscreen? Add probiotics and a number of moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and shea butter. This sunscreen has a whipped texture that feels most like a cream and least like sunscreen. It has a slight tinge of beige, but when you start rubbing it in, does it almost foam up? I can't really explain this phenomenon, but I'll tell you: enforce. After a few seconds of massage, all white stripes melt to a perfect, moist, radiant and completely clear finish. And the scent! Many thanks to Emily Ferber, who found this guy on Instagram, and to Kinship, who knew that my sunscreen should smell like cupcake.
– Ali Oshinsky
Photo via ITG