The Sunscreens We Can't Do Summer Without
Whether you're landlocked or beachside, there's a simple truth you have to accept. The sun is out to get you. From dark spots and wrinkles to painful burns and literal cancer, the star at the center of our solar system can shine a bright light and cause all sorts of problems -- vanity related and otherwise.
Your best defense? That'd be sunscreen. And we have a few we refuse to brave summer -- or any season -- without.
Juice Beauty B.B. Cream
I hate foundation. So instead of torturing myself by hunting for the perfect formula in that hard-to-find shade of freshly dead, I've moved on. B.B. cream -- a.k.a. tinted moisturizer with some added skincare benefits -- is my new BFF. I love this one from all-organic brand Juice Beauty so much. Available at Whole Foods and through Amazon, this hydrating formula blends easily, evens out skin tone with a natural finish, and has an antioxidant-rich formula featuring hyaluronic acid and a zinc-based SPF 30. Becky Bartkowski
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
Don't let my Casper-esque complexion fool you: Occasionally, I go outside. And anytime I do, you can bet the non-existent wrinkles in my forehead that I'm wearing SPF. (Thanks, SPF!) A few months back, I ditched my standby Josie Maran to test out Drunk Elephant's sunscreen, which boasts a sun protection factor of 30. And I was not disappointed. Though its yogurt-like texture skeeves me out, the product blends easily, contains 20 percent zinc oxide, and is free of irritants like silicone and fragrance. B.B.
Coola Cucumber Matte Mineral Face SPF 30
Full disclosure: I didn't start wearing sunscreen until well into adulthood; partly because I don't burn much (doesn't matter, I know) and partly because most sunscreens tend to do one of two things: make me break out, or leave a ghostly white tint on my olive complexion. Fortunately, this organic cruelty-free SPF does neither. In fact, its mattifying effect actually works as a nice primer under daytime makeup. Katie Johnson
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen
You know who fucking loves the sun? Australians! Which is why I decided to trust them when I was looking for a heavy-duty sunscreen take on a recent ray-filled weekend in Palm Springs. Here's what I love about this formula: It's a mineral-based SPF 30 that's free of parabens, irritating fragrances, and oils. You'll need to give it a good shake and reapply frequently if you choose the face formulation (which I did and which is not waterproof). However, this version is noncomedogenic, costs less than $15, and can be used all over your body. And oh my entire god, I forgot to mention what might be the most fun part. The bottle turns blue in UV light. B.B.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral SPF 50
I pride myself on being a very thorough packer. So imagine how red my face was (pun obviously intended) when I got all the way to the Adriatic coast and realized I had brought literally zero sunscreen. Cut to me running to the nearest Croatian drugstore on day one in search of any bottle with the recognizable "SPF" -- or at the very least, a sun wearing sunglasses. I ended up with what has now become a favorite all-purpose sunscreen. It's lightweight, non-whitening, mineral-based, suitable for sensitive skin, and, despite having the cool French pharmacy status, it can be purchased virtually anywhere on the internet. K.J.
