Now that it's August you should have your SPF game nailed down, but there are SPFs, and then there are SPFs. Sure, your #1 priority when it comes to an SPF is sun protection. But after all it is summer, the season of creamsicles, fireworks, and general fun. So why shouldn't you indulge in a sunscreen brand that's both an SPF and all-around luxurious product? Here are our favorite SPFs that protect the skin and make you look good while doing it.
$65, SkinMedica.com
So many products either offer great UV ray protection or a product that feels sumptuous on. But what about the smart girls who want both? Well, they should obviously turn to SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair! This product is designed for all skin types, and goes beyond your typical UV ray protection to offer total safety from harmful infrared rays, which can wreak shocking havoc on your skin. Just providing infrared ray protection would be good enough, but SkinMedica didn't stop there. It's designed to reduce the signs of aging due to sun damage, and a whopping 91% of users reported healthier looking and feeling skin within just 8 weeks. That means you'll have smoother, tighter, more elastic skin by September...just in time for the Indian Summer we're predicted to have.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Apply to the face and neck after cleansing and applying any treatment products you may use, but before makeup.
SkinCeuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50
$34, SkinCeuticals.com
Maybe you're a dedicated SPF'er, determined to protect your skin even if high-functioning sunscreens can feel heavy and clogging on your face. If you are (we're impressed at your tenacity, but) now you don't have to sacrifice comfort for protection. SkinCeuticals is designed for the humid days of summer when heavy sunscreen feels like a (necessary) nightmare. This product has a weightless texture that's able to absorb 15x of its weight in oil to even out your skin tone even on the hottest of days.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming, excessive perspiring, or towel-drying.
Laura Mercier Repair Oil Free Day Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 15
$98, LauraMercier.com
Cool ingredient alert: this anti-aging daily moisturizer is oil free and made of Green Tea extract and Refined Deep Sea Water. That means your skin will get hydrated through an oil-free, light-weight formula that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Too much sun exposure directly correlates to premature aging, so it makes sense that you should invest in this two-and-one product that fights both battles. Plus it's dermatologist-tested to minimize the risk of allergy and infection. You multitask all day everyday; you need a beauty product that picks up some slack.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Apply every morning post-serum.
Dark Spot Sun Defense SPF 50
$42, Sephora
Like your skincare high-tech? Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare has created a state-of-the-art formula packed with antioxidants that offers sun protection and dark spot prevention. The area around your eyes is sensitive, so this product's blend of melatonin and vitamins works to inhibit photo-aging damage. If you're sensitive to chemical sunscreens then this is your ticket, as it's non-greasy or scented, and won't feel heavy underneath your makeup. Say goodbye to the tell-tale, classic white streaks of sunscreen, as this lotion smooths on clear and also has mattifying properties.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Use daily as part of your skincare routine.
Supergoop! Sun-Defying Sunscreen Oil With Meadowfoam SPF 50
$12-34, SUPERGOOP.COM
Dry skin in the summer is no picnic, so don't spend another minute standing for it. This SPF is probably the most-hydrating of this list, as it's made with meadowfoam seed oil, which helps prevent moisture loss through fortifying skin's natural lipid barrier. Quick Biology 101 refresher course: lipids form the water barrier at the surface of your skin. The struggle is real for lipids, who have to undergo brutal daily assault from pollution, sunlight, and UV rays. When this happens, your skin cells get dehydrated, and, just like you on a hot day, get woozy and can't keep it together. That's what makes your skin look and feel dry and peeling. So to rehydrate your skin, you've got to give your lipid barrier some TLC.
Anti-Aging Moisturizer Broad Spectrum
$48, MURAD.COM
Blemish prone? We know the feeling. Thankfully, Dr. Murad's formula perfectly straddles the line between offering a hydrating sensation without forming blemishes. It's Oil Control Complex keeps your pores at bay and stops them from clogging, and it's packed with a Kombucha Collagen Defense that fills in fine lines and wrinkles. This light formula works best for the younger crowd who are currently fighting off the remnants of their acne and wanting to make their next battle against signs of aging a little easier.
