Best Sunscreens Summer 2019

Summer has unofficially started and here comes the battle of the sunscreens. Choosing the right sunscreen can be a painful experience because all brands usually claim that their sunscreens are: non-greasy, lightweight, mattifying, transparent, don’t leave a white cast, feel pleasant, serve as a makeup base etc. The truth is that brands need to sell you the products and sometimes claims can go way too far.

In fact very few sunscreens can live up to the expectations of a self-respecting beauty junkie. I’ve tested a lot of sunscreens since the beginning of this year and I’ve picked the ones that perform really good (in my opinion). My idea of a good sunscreen is: lightweight, doesn’t make my skin greasy, looks good on its own and under makeup, doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin.

Unfortunately, a lot of my Holy Grail sunscreens that I used to love have been reformulated (in a bad way) and don’t work for me anymore. So here are this year’s favorites:

Filorga UV Bronze SPF 50

Brilliant job Filorga! If you want anti-aging skincare and the highest possible sun protection, Filorga UV Bronze is the winner. It has skincare ingredients and this is the only sunscreen that actually works to improve the condition of your skin over time.

Pros:

Has a photoactivated technology and provides the skin with high UV + IR protection;

Anti-aging ingredients;

Contains Niacinamide – it helps to visibly improve the appearance of enlarged pores, even out the skin tone over time;

Anti-dark spot action;

Feels lightweight;

Invisible;

Cons:

Has fragrance

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Diisopropyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Homosalate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol [Nano], Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Silica, Beheneth-25 , Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyester-7, Niacinamide, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crossfol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate / Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, 1 , 2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Lysolecithin, Parfum (Fragrance), Glycerin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Citric Acid, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Polysorbate 60Sorbitan Isostearate, Xanthan Gum, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium Edta, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Tocopherol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene

Armani Maestro UV Primer SPF 50

If you hate the feel of sunscreens, you should try Armani Maestro UV Primer SPF 50. This product will change your mind.

Pros:

The most lightweight and transparent sunscreen;

Makes the skin super soft and silky;

Makeup looks gorgeous on top of this sunscreen;

Cons:

Pricey;

Has fragrance;

If you have oily skin you will have to use powder

Ingredients:

Alkyl Benzoate, Aqua / Water, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Vinyl Dimethicone/methiconesilsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Tocopherol, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Parfum / Fragrance, Tetrasodium Edta, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal.

Shiseido SPF 50 WetForce Expert Sun

This year the Iconic Shiseido WetForce sunscreen has been reformulated but it’s just as good as the old version. This time Shiseido WetForce Expert Sun is completely invisible. The old version used to leave some white cast which was quite unpleasant especially for people with more rich skin tone.

Pros:

Feels lightweight;

Looks invisible;

Makeup applies beautifully on top of this sunscreen;

Cons:

Fragrance (I personally don’t like);

If have oily skin you will need to use powder;

Ingredients:

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Purpose AVOBENZONE 2.5% ･････ Sunscreen OCTINOXATE 4.9% ･････ Sunscreen OCTOCRYLENE 5.0% ･････ Sunscreen OXYBENZONE 3.0% ･････ Sunscreen INACTIVE INGREDIENTS:WATER･DIMETHICONE･SD ALCOHOL 40-B･TALC･METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER･ISODODECANE･CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE･DIISOPROPYL SEBACATE･TRIETHYLHEXANOIN･LAURYL PEG-9 POLYDIMETHYLSILOXYETHYL DIMETHICONE･GLYCERIN･DEXTRIN PALMITATE･SUCROSE TETRASTEARATE TRIACETATE･POLYBUTYLENE GLYCOL/PPG-9/1 COPOLYMER･TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE･XYLITOL･SILICA･SODIUM CHLORIDE･PEG/PPG-14/7 DIMETHYL ETHER･SAXIFRAGA SARMENTOSA EXTRACT･SOPHORA ANGUSTIFOLIA ROOT EXTRACT･DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE･ISOSTEARIC ACID･CALCIUM STEARATE･TRISODIUM EDTA･VINYL DIMETHICONE/METHICONE SILSESQUIOXANE CROSSPOLYMER･ALCOHOL･BHT･BUTYLENE GLYCOL･STEARIC ACID･SODIUM METABISULFITE･SYZYGIUM JAMBOS LEAF EXTRACT･TOCOPHEROL･POLYSILICONE-2･METHYLPARABEN･FRAGRANCE･IRON OXIDES･

Clarins SPF 50 Dry Touch Sun Care Cream

The new Clarins Creme Solaire is a beautiful sunscreen but it’s not dry touch ?It claims to be matte but if you have normal to combination skin you will have to use powder.

Pros:

Lightweight and silky;

Invisible;

Contains plant extracts:  Senna; Plane tree; Baobab; Pea; Aloe Vera;

Cons:

Very strong fragrance;

Ingredients:

AQUA/WATER/EAU. DIBUTYL ADIPATE. DIETHYLAMINO HYDROXYBENZOYL HEXYL BENZOATE. DIISOPROPYL SEBACATE. HOMOSALATE. BUTYLOCTYL SALICYLATE. ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE. ETHYLHEXYL TRIAZONE. C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE. POLYSILICONE-15. BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE. POLYGLYCERYL-6 STEARATE. CELLULOSE. METHYLENE BIS-BENZOTRIAZOLYL TETRAMETHYLBUTYLPHENOL [NANO]. DIMETHICONE. PARFUM/FRAGRANCE. SILICA. TRIACONTANYL PVP. ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE. MANNITOL. POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE. CAPRYLYL GLYCOL. POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6. DECYL GLUCOSIDE. BUTYLENE GLYCOL. GLYCERIN. POLYSILICONE-11. POLYGLYCERYL-6 BEHENATE. TOCOPHERYL ACETATE. DISODIUM EDTA. TOCOPHEROL. CYCLODEXTRIN. PISUM SATIVUM (PEA) EXTRACT. CASSIA ALATA LEAF EXTRACT. FAEX EXTRACT/YEAST EXTRACT/EXTRAIT DE LEVURE. PROPYLENE GLYCOL. XANTHAN GUM. DEXTRIN. HYDROLYZED ADANSONIA DIGITATA EXTRACT. PHENOXYETHANOL. T-BUTYL ALCOHOL. OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) LEAF EXTRACT. PLATANUS OCCIDENTALIS BARK EXTRACT. CITRIC ACID. POTASSIUM SORBATE. SODIUM BENZOATE. [S3342B]

La Roche Posay Anthelios BB blur/ Smooting Optical Blur SPF 50

La Roche Posay Anthelios Blur

Pros:

Gorgeous as a makeup base or used alone;

Blurs imperfections and pores;

Feels lightweight;

Mattifies the skin;

No fragrance;

Cons:

Only two shades available and most people will not be able to use it;

Ingredients:

DIMETHICONE, TALC, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE [NANO] / TITANIUM DIOXIDE, OCTOCRYLENE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE, DROMETRIZOLE TRISILOXANE, BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE [NANO] / SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, SILICA, POLY C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE, AQUA / WATER, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES, TOCOPHEROL

Dior Bronze SPF 50 (New Reformulated)

Pros:

Dior Bronze SPF 50 gives the most beautiful glow without making the skin greasy. Even if you have normal to combination skin, if you like glowy skin, you may skip the powder;

Makes the skin soft;

Invisible;

Feels very pleasant once it sets;

Cons:

It doesn’t layer well with some skincare products so you will have to test it first to see if it works with your skincare products;

Fragrance (for me this is an advantage because the fragrance is absolutely gorgeous and makes me wat to use the product even more);

Ingredients:

#13663/F AQUA (WATER) ● PROPANEDIOL ● ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE ● DIETHYLAMINO HYDROXYBENZOYL HEXYL BENZOATE ● DIISOPROPYL SEBACATE ● ALCOHOL ● ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE ● GLYCERIN ● METHYLENE BIS-BENZOTRIAZOLYL TETRAMETHYLBUTYLPHENOL [NANO] ● BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE ● PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONIC ACID ● POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE ● C14-22 ALCOHOLS ● TROMETHAMINE ● AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER ● CETYL ALCOHOL ● DIMETHICONE ● PHENOXYETHANOL ● COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL ● POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6 ● SQUALANE ● DECYL GLUCOSIDE ● SILICA ● PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) ● C12-20 ALKYL GLUCOSIDE ● CAPRYLYL GLYCOL ● SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE ● TOCOPHERYL ACETATE ● DISODIUM EDTA ● CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) ● FAGRAEA BERTEROANA FLOWER EXTRACT ● INOSITOL ● LINALOOL ● BENZYL SALICYLATE ● PLECTRANTHUS BARBATUS ROOT EXTRACT ● PROPYLENE GLYCOL ● GARDENIA TAHITENSIS FLOWER EXTRACT ● CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES) ● XANTHAN GUM ● BHT ● TOCOPHEROL ● CI 14700 (RED 4)

You can see the consistency of all sunscreens mentioned above in my latest YouTube video HERE

Share your favorite sunscreen? ?

You might enjoy reading: Foundations with SPF vs Sunscreen