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We get it — applying sunscreen on your face is tricky. You should be reapplying every two hours while outdoors per the Skin Cancer Foundation’s suggestion, which doesn’t sound ideal if you already have a full face of makeup on. However, you don’t need to melt off your foundation to protect yourself from the sun: maintain your makeup, as well as the elasticity in your face (which UV rays can damage), with the best face sunscreen sprays. To reiterate, these sunscreens are designed for your FACE, meaning that they’re not as greasy and heavy as body sunscreen sprays!
1. Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Mist — SPF 50
We of course have to start the list with Neutrogena, which is one of the most sought-out brands when it comes to sun protection (since it’s also the No. 1 sun care brands recommended by dermatologists). We love Neutrogena’s Invisible Daily Defense face mist because it has one of the highest SPFs on the list (a sun protection factor of 50), and truly delivers on the “invisible” aspect of its name. Target shoppers reported that the spray didn’t leave a “white cast” that many sunscreens are guilty of, and noted that it wasn’t greasy as well. Neutrogena also says this sunscreen spray — which is free of oxybenzone, parabens, and mineral oil — is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. $15, target.com
2. Sun Bum Face Mist — SPF 45
Here’s another face mist from a leading sun care brand: Sun Bum! This sunscreen face spray also has one of the highest SPF’s on the list, with a rating of 45, and is truly safe for face application. Not only is it non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t block your pores — important for our acne-prone readers), but is also dermatologist tested. This is also a great suncare investment since it’s formulated with Vitamin E, an antioxidant that “may be effective at reducing UV damage in skin,” according to Healthline. Like the Neutrogena face mist above, this spray is also water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. $15, target.com
3. KINeSYS Performance Sunscreen — SPF 30
Not all face sunscreen sprays have to smell like…well, sunscreen. Here’s an option from KINeSYS that has a refreshing and sweet vanilla-green tea scent, which many Amazon reviewers found “amazing,” “nice” and so forth. Customers were also happy to find that this oil-free and clear spray “glides onto your skin without feeling super oily” and “absorbs well,” as some shoppers wrote. This SPF 30 face sunscreen spray is also free of many harsh/acne-causing ingredients: alcohol, preservatives, PABA, parabens, gluten, oxybenzone, dairy, sulfites and colorants. Instead, also non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and vegan! $20, amazon.com
4. COOLA Organic Refreshing Water Mist Face Sunscreen
Did you know that face sunscreen sprays come in the form of setting sprays, too? This setting spray from the brand COOLA has an SPF of 30 that protects both your makeup and face. If you already wear lotion sunscreen underneath under your face and just want an extra barrier of sun protection, this is an ideal — and very refreshing — option with more than 70 percent of the spray being made of certified organic ingredients. Standout ingredients include hyaluronic acid (known to help combat tell-tale signs of aging like rough skin texture) and algae extract (which hydrates the skin while delivering vitamins and minerals), as well as cucumber and aloe vera. This is also a great suncare product for our socially responsible shoppers; it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and reef-friendly. $36, amazon.com
5. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Sunscreen Lotion Spray
This alcohol-free lotion spray is perfect for sensitive skin. It’s super lightweight, is oil-free, and has a non-greasy formula, plus it has both UVA/UVB filters that provide you with SPF 60. The best part is, it is safe enough for you to use on both your face and body and it’s water-resistant for 80 minutes. Over 600 people gave this sunscreen positive reviews and one customer even gushed, “I needed the best sunscreen I could get because we were going to the desert in the summer for a week. I knew I would burn and needed help. Then I read about this sunscreen. It is from Europe and you cannot find it here in the states. I went to the desert, hiked, swam in the river and the lakes, had a blast with my hubby and friends and DID NOT BURN. I am blond with freckles, blue eyes, and I totally burn so easily. I spent hours in the sun, yeah with a hat on, and this sunscreen. I came home with golden skin, but not burned. Love this stuff.” $25, amazon.com
