Best Sunscreen for Face: 5 Dermatologist-Ranked Brands 2025 | U.S. News (2025)

Sunscreen for Your Face

When it comes to your skin, one of the most important skin care products you should always wear is sunscreen. Rain or shine, sunscreen is an absolute must.

Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation:

Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your face daily can help avoid irritating sunburns, slow down the appearance of aging – including wrinkles, dark spots and fine lines – and protect against skin cancer.

You can find a wide range of options over the counter with various formulas. Here’s what you should consider when selecting a sunscreen for your face.

Types of Sunscreen

There are two main types of sunscreen: chemical and mineral (also called physical) sunscreens. Both offer protection, but the way they work and their ingredients differ.

Chemical sunscreens

Chemical sunscreens use active ingredients like avobenzone, octinoxate and oxybenzone to absorb UV rays. These sunscreens typically blend easily into skin and can be used by most skin types. However, for people with more sensitive skin, eczema or other skin conditions, ingredients in chemical sunscreens could potentially cause irritation.

Mineral sunscreens

Mineral sunscreens, also referred to as physical sunscreens, use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as their active ingredients to physically block and reflect UV rays from your skin.

These ingredients are less likely to irritate the skin, making them a great option for more sensitive skin types.

You can find mineral sunscreens over the counter in both non-tinted and tinted formulas. Tinted mineral sunscreens offer added protection from visible light and help reduce the risk of skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation. This is especially helpful for people with the skin condition melasma or people with deeper skin tones who might be prone to pigmentation changes from sun exposure.

What to Consider for Face Sunscreen

The same sunscreen you use for your body can also be used on your face. However, the primary difference between body sunscreen and face sunscreen is their formulation. Body sunscreens tend to feel heavier on the skin, face sunscreens are formulated to be more "cosmetically elegant," meaning it has a nice consistency, absorbs quickly into the skin and, generally, feels nice on the skin without any thick residue.

When choosing sunscreen for your face, there are a few factors to keep in mind:

When (and How) to Apply Sunscreen to Your Face

Generally, sunscreens can be applied as the last step of the morning skin care routine, before putting on makeup. When applying sunscreen to your face, dermatologists recommend using about a nickel-sized amount to cover your entire face and neck. This is generally enough to ensure that you get proper protection without overapplying.

Don’t forget commonly missed areas like your scalp, ears and lips. And remember, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, especially if you’ve been sweating or in water.

Side Effects of Face Sunscreen

Certain sunscreens may cause skin sensitivity, redness or irritation. For people with sensitive skin, using a fragrance-free, mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide is preferred.

Using Face Sunscreen on Babies and Kids

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends not applying sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months. Instead, caregivers should avoid exposing babies under 6 months to direct sunlight and keep them shaded as much as possible. If shade and protective clothing are not available, AAD states a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher can be applied. The sunscreen should be washed off the baby once inside.

For babies 6 months and older, as well as children, use broad-spectrum, water-resistant mineral sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours or as directed.

Tips to Prevent Sunburn on Your Face

Sunburns can cause redness, peeling, premature aging and increase the risk of skin cancer – all of which you can potentially avoid by using sunscreen regularly and following these tips.

When to See a Doctor about Sunburn

See a doctor if you experience a severe sunburn, with blistering, intense pain or drainage.

It’s also important to seek medical attention if the sunburn involves a large area of skin that causes significant discomfort.

The Best OTC Medicine & Health Products are based on the reviews of nearly 500 independent pharmacists and dermatologists.

U.S. News partnered with The Harris Poll, a global market research and consulting firm with more than 65 years of experience conducting surveys. For the 2025 rankings, The Harris Poll randomly assigned 133 over-the-counter categories of health or personal care products to 357 pharmacists and 134 dermatologists who practice in the U.S. and asked them to rank their top three brands for each category based on what products they would most recommend to consumers.

Independence and transparency

Across the 133 categories that were evaluated, each category included between five and 10 products representing their respective brands that could be ranked. More than 1,100 products were included in the survey. The products included in each category were selected to represent their respective brands based on input by several independent pharmacists and dermatologists on our

. The list of products were finalized by the health editorial team to ensure all products can be purchased without a prescription and are readily available at most pharmacies or pharmacy sections of grocery stores in the U.S.

We independently evaluate the products we recommend. Brands do not pay to be included or ranked in our survey. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. The dermatologists and pharmacists who participated in the survey were paid a small honorarium by The Harris Poll for their time.

OTC category winners

Pharmacists and dermatologists selected their top three brands from representative products in each OTC category assigned to them. At least 112 dermatologists evaluated each skincare-related category and at least 108 pharmacists evaluated each of the other categories. For each evaluation, the top-ranked brand received 5 points, the second-place brand was awarded 3 points and the third-place brand earned 1 point. All unranked brands were given 0 points. Points were averaged for each brand. The results were then rescaled so the winner in each category scored 100 points, and the scores for other brands were expressed as percentages of the top score. Brands were then ranked according to their rescaled scores. Scores were rounded to the nearest whole number.

Category winners and brands that scored within the margin of error of the category winner and achieved a score of 80 or higher were given a Gold Badge in that category. The results: 196 brands received a Gold Badge. In total, 849 products are displayed. Brands that received a score of less than 10 were not included in the final display list. See our full methodology here.