SPF product for daily use?
April 13, 2023 1:37 PM   Subscribe

Hi AxMe, I'm a mid-40s guy who, in the past few years, has become more assiduous about wearing sun protection routinely when out doing active stuff, and am looking to augment that with something I can use on my face / neck every morning. Can you recommend a non-greasy, non-bothersome, ideally barely-noticeable SPF product for everyday use?
posted by killdevil to Health & Fitness (39 answers total) 43 users marked this as a favorite
 
Going to be the first to recommend almost any Japanese or Korean sunscreen- for sale on Amazon or various specialty sites and the only kind of sunscreen I can tolerate wearing every day. I like Bioré Watery Essence.
posted by MadamM at 1:43 PM on April 13, 2023 [13 favorites]


Neutrogena Hydroboost. It's super light scent and texture-wise but effective and cheap enough that you won't feel bad using as much as you need to (this is why I avoid expensive sunscreens, you need to use a fair bit to have it work no matter what kind it is). The hyaluronic acid is also just nice for improving your skin texture a bit overtime. My whole family uses this and once I switched to it I never considered trying anything else. It's also readily available in drug stores.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 1:45 PM on April 13, 2023 [4 favorites]


I'm a big fan of CeraVe's products, this one might work for ya. Usually available in drugstores, too.
posted by sc114 at 1:47 PM on April 13, 2023 [4 favorites]


Cetaphil Daily Moisturize SPF 15 for every day and Cetaphil SPF 50 for when you're going to be outside. Cdetaphil also makes a 35 if the 50 seems too heavy.
posted by vunder at 1:48 PM on April 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


Trader Joe's daily facial sunscreen is a dupe for a super-popular expensive sunscreen. No smell, no white cast, not noticeable. Is full of silicones, so it will feel a bit weird on your hands, but leaves a really nice finish on the skin.

If I didn't find that, I'd probably be getting Biore Watery Essence, I just got tired of ordering in foreign sunscreens.
posted by momus_window at 1:49 PM on April 13, 2023 [10 favorites]


I recently switched to Differin Oil Absorbing SPF. I used to use the Jack Black Sun Guard (but it can have a slight white cast to it with the zinc). Both are fragrance free.
posted by Crystalinne at 1:49 PM on April 13, 2023


Etude House Sunprise is the bomb
posted by tristeza at 1:56 PM on April 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


Stunned to be the first person to mention Supergoop
posted by potrzebie at 2:00 PM on April 13, 2023 [4 favorites]


Whatever you get, you must reapply it at least every two hours while exposed to the sun, sometimes more often depending on water, wind, and sweat. Don't forget that being in your car counts as sun exposure. I like La Roche Posay Melt-in Sunscreen Milk SPF 60.
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 2:04 PM on April 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


As sc114 mentioned above, CeraVe makes a great facial sunscreen. I would add that one of the main benefits to this one, for me, is that it doesn't smell like sunscreen. It doesn't smell like anything!
posted by amanzi at 2:10 PM on April 13, 2023


supergoop's unseen sunscreen is pretty great.
posted by koroshiya at 2:13 PM on April 13, 2023 [5 favorites]




Seconding thirding Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen.

Sephora and Ulta both carry it, or you can order from Supergoop's site.

Others I like: Shiseido Urban Environment (significantly more expensive), Missha Soft Finish Sun Milk (more mattifying and oil absorbing, which is good for someone with skin like mine but might not be good for you), CeraVe Mineral (stands up to sweat better, feels much heavier, much more likely to show a white cast).
posted by box at 2:19 PM on April 13, 2023 [4 favorites]


I was just about to ask this same question.

CeraVe and Cetaphil both leave a white cast on my skin, and I am a pale person. They both also cake up in any stubble on my face, which means that for me re-applying halfway through the day is just not possible.

Stunned to be the first person to mention Supergoop

The Trader Joe's sunscreen mentioned above is supposed to be a dupe for Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen. I've used the TJ's version—it has no white cast and no shine (tho the texture is super weird to get used to) and it is my current go-to since it's like an order of magnitude less expensive. Supergoop Play Everyday (Wirecutter's pick for best sunscreen) has the same white cast problems as CeraVe and Cetaphil for me.

All of the sunscreens I've mentioned burn my eyes if I sweat even a tiny bit or touch my eyes with the back of my hand.

For a while the TikTok algorithm was serving me videos of a woman who was testing dozens of sunscreens with really particular criteria and logging them in a Google sheet but I seem to have lost track of her. I'll try and track it down, she was super methodical.
posted by bcwinters at 2:25 PM on April 13, 2023 [2 favorites]


I am also very very heartily recommending the Japanese Biore sunscreens.

Watery Essence is fine but has more alcohol in it than I'd like for daily wear. Though it's less white, and that can be useful if you're not as fair as I am.

Perfect Milk used to be my go to, but they seem to have discontinued it (or at least I can't find a reputable seller shipping to the US).

So I just tried a new-to me sunscreen just today, Biore Barrier Me. So far so good. It's a bit greasier than I'd like, but far less so than other non-Biore I've tried (like Neutrogena or Cetaphil).
posted by phunniemee at 2:41 PM on April 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


I like the cetaphil solid stick, because I can put it on without a whole hand-washing ritual. I keep several sticks around (bathroom, car, backpack) so I'll be more likely to reapply.
posted by Dashy at 2:50 PM on April 13, 2023


Fourthing Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen. It is the least obtrusive face sunscreen I’ve ever used. It goes on clear and disappears so completely that for a while I felt uncertain if I had actually put any on, even right after applying it.

Even at the price I have to pay, the Supergoop is worth it to me. But if the Trader Joe’s stuff is actually identical, just get that.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:50 PM on April 13, 2023 [3 favorites]


For everyday use, I use the Japanese Nivea Sun Water Gel, which has a very similar texture to the Japanese Biore Watery Essence, but less alcohol-y. So basically not noticeable at all; not greasy (the "water" in the name is descriptive), no white cast, absorbs quickly. They have SPF 35 and SPF 50 (I haven't used the SPF 50 yet). It's also cheaper than the Biore.
posted by odin53 at 2:57 PM on April 13, 2023


Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF50. I use it every day. It's cheap as chips, unscented and doesn't irritate my skin at all, even around the eyes.
posted by essexjan at 3:05 PM on April 13, 2023


Trader Joe's Daily Sunscreen is an exact dupe of the Supergoop Unseen Suncreen at 1/4th the price. It's terrific. If you can find it in store, it's only $9

And if you have to buy an expensive sunscreen, remember you can use your Flex Savings Account for it!
posted by mcgsa at 3:08 PM on April 13, 2023 [3 favorites]


I found the reviewer from TikTok that I mentioned in my previous comment; she is Dwi Choong and her review spreadsheet of about a hundred products is at Strait Faces.

Dwi's application videos are some of the very few that I've found to be accurate and not sponsored. I find that I need a bit more than 1ml of any product for my face and ears so I use that when working out the price per application. "Good" sunscreen is really expensive to experiment with!

As a non-makeup-wearing/stubble-having person the "Clear Sunscreens - Would Buy" portion of her Airtable is most useful to me and possibly the OP.
posted by bcwinters at 3:14 PM on April 13, 2023 [5 favorites]


If you're worried about sunscreen stinging your eyes, my beardy 40-something friend likes Neutrogena ClearFace or SportFace sunscreen.

I used to use Neutrogena DryTouch because it didn't break me out like the face ones did, but I had multiple tubes separate a month in, and once that happened shaking couldn't make it right again.
posted by momus_window at 3:37 PM on April 13, 2023


Seconding thirding and fourthing Korean sunscreens. You can get a non-greasy and non-titanium dioxide SPF 50 that lasts longer than American sunscreens without showing or requiring frequent re-application.

I've tried and liked Neogenlab's Dermology and Suntique's I'm Pure.
posted by zippy at 3:54 PM on April 13, 2023


Nthing the supergoop & Trader Joe’s. Check the comparison of these two
posted by SunPower at 4:00 PM on April 13, 2023


A question: how do you tell that a sunscreen is Korean or Japanese?
posted by wenestvedt at 4:22 PM on April 13, 2023


As an aside, you might want to check to see if your FSA covers the cost of sunscreen. Mine does and it's a nice little perk. I'm Team Watery Essence.
posted by XtineHutch at 5:07 PM on April 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


A question: how do you tell that a sunscreen is Korean or Japanese?

In the US, by looking for them online by name or manufacturer. They use sunblocks not yet approved by the FDA, so you won't see them in pharmacies and stores.
posted by zippy at 7:22 PM on April 13, 2023 [3 favorites]


My male dermatologist uses Cera Ve daily. He told me it's cheap, good quality, and he likes that it rubs in well and feels like "nothing" while offering good protection. I typically use neutrogena - I like that it is absorbed immediately - and he said "that's good, too."
posted by citygirl at 8:01 PM on April 13, 2023


I should have said non-chalky instead of "no titanium dioxide" because the Suntique one I mentioned has titanium dioxide but not to the level that I notice it.
posted by zippy at 8:14 PM on April 13, 2023


Rushed in to share the Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen and see I am not alone. Word of warning, it seems to go in and out of stock so you might want to buy multiples.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:45 PM on April 13, 2023


EltaMD UV Clear Is super lightweight, non-greasy, and non-irritating. Or any Japanese sunscreen, but they tend to come in smaller containers and I don’t like the amount of plastic that generates over time.
posted by music for skeletons at 9:00 PM on April 13, 2023


If you want to try a bunch of different ones to see if you like them, Sephora has a sampler (currently out of stock, was in stock a few days ago).
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:17 PM on April 13, 2023


I am overly sensitive to both scent and and texture, and also VERY fair-skinned and sensitive to sun exposure skin irritation. I have tried almost everything mentioned in this thread, and the only daily sunscreen I can handle is (Korean) Biore Watery Essence.
posted by desuetude at 10:43 PM on April 13, 2023


If you've got access to European sunscreens both Nivea and Ambre Solaire have high SPF facial sunscreens that are cosmetically pleasing (non ashy, play well with any other products in your skin care routine or make up, don't look awfully greasy) and are very reasonably priced.
posted by koahiatamadl at 12:47 AM on April 14, 2023


I love Thank You Farmer sunscreens - it's one of the few I can't really feel on my face at all. I also like SunSense's face sunscreens, but they're a little less pleasing to wear for me.
posted by In Your Shell Like at 1:57 AM on April 14, 2023


I love the Instree Watery Sun Gel with Hylauranic Acid. Korean skincare, lightweight, non greasy, completely clear when absorbed.
posted by ellieBOA at 4:02 AM on April 14, 2023


I like the Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream. It's Korean and supposedly vegan and cruelty-free. I use it as a two-in-one moisturizer and sunscreen. I've heard that if a product claims to do two things, it probably doesn't do either very well. However, I'm quite satisifed with it and have used at least 30 tubes since 2019.
posted by Warm Summer Night at 11:59 AM on April 14, 2023


I've been using La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid for the last year or so and I'm happy with it. It absorbs into my skin really well and I haven't had any sun burns or skin issues yet.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:17 PM on April 14, 2023 [1 favorite]


Biore Watery Essence is my one true sunscreen and I have tried A LOT.
posted by exceptinsects at 10:01 PM on April 19, 2023


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