The Receipt
- 01Broad spectrum, SPF 30+, and enough of it.
- 02Reapply outdoors.
- 03Prone to dark spots? Try tinted.
Education, not a diagnosis. If something changes quickly, hurts, bleeds, or worries you, see a dermatologist.
Skin Files · Sun protection
How to choose a sunscreen you’ll actually wear every day
How to choose the best sunscreen for your face: SPF 30+, broad spectrum, mineral vs chemical, tinted sunscreen for dark spots, and how much to apply.
- Sun protection
- Dark marks & tone
- Lines & firmness
01 · The short version
Sunscreen has some of the strongest evidence in skincare, and still the lowest daily use. The best one is the one you’ll put on generously every day.
02 · What to look for on the label
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.
- Broad spectrum: protects against UVA and UVB.
- SPF 30+: blocks about 97% of UVB when applied properly.
- Water resistant (40 or 80 minutes) if you’ll sweat or swim.
03 · How much and how often
Most people apply far less than was used in testing. For the face and neck, about two finger-lengths is a practical guide. Reapply about every two hours outdoors and after swimming or sweating.
04 · If you get dark spots
Visible light, not just UV, can deepen pigmentation in medium and deeper skin tones. Tinted sunscreens with iron oxides help block visible light.
05 · Texture and skin type
Oily skin: gel or fluid formulas. Dry skin: creamier formulas. Sensitive skin: mineral or fragrance-free. Deeper skin tones bothered by white cast: chemical, hybrid or tinted mineral formulas.
06 · The science
Randomized trials in Australia found that daily sunscreen use reduced skin cancers, including melanoma at long-term follow-up, and prevented detectable skin aging over four and a half years.
07 · What might help
- Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen to prevent sun-related skin aging.well-supported
- Regular sunscreen use to lower skin cancer risk.well-supported
- Tinted (iron oxide) sunscreens for visible-light-triggered pigmentation.limited evidence
08 · Insufficient evidence
- Makeup with SPF as your only protection (people apply too little).
- SPF 100 being meaningfully better than SPF 50 at real-world amounts.
Questions people ask
- Is SPF 30 enough?
- For daily use, yes, if you apply enough. The AAD recommends SPF 30 or higher.
- Do I need sunscreen indoors or on cloudy days?
- UVA passes through clouds and window glass. If you sit near windows or are prone to pigmentation, daily sunscreen helps.
- Do people with darker skin need sunscreen?
- Yes. Deeper skin has more natural protection but still burns, ages and develops pigmentation with sun, and visible light can worsen dark spots.
Sources (7)
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to select a sunscreen.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Sunscreen FAQs.
- Hughes MCB, et al. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2013.
- Green A, et al. Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 1999.
- Green AC, et al. Reduced melanoma after regular sunscreen use: randomized trial follow-up. J Clin Oncol. 2011.
- Mahmoud BH, et al. Impact of long-wavelength UVA and visible light on melanocompetent skin. J Invest Dermatol. 2010.
- U.S. FDA. Sunscreen: how to help protect your skin from the sun.