As a certified Pale Girl, I’ve been devoted to sunscreen my whole life. Dealing with a bad sunburn can be excruciating, embarrassing, and a huge cancer risk. A single, blistering sunburn more than doubles your risk of developing melanoma in your life, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. As I’ve gotten older and more interested in skincare, I’ve learned that the warm, gorgeous UV rays we bask in contribute to breaking down precious collagen in our skin, which are the proteins responsible for keeping our skin plump, elastic, and youthful. All of this damage is easily preventable with wearing sunscreen on the daily, but with so many options out there, where do we begin to choose? Our favorite brands (and some newbies!) are always coming out with new, innovative products, so I took it upon myself to test a few new releases for summer 2025.
Colorescience is an all-mineral SPF brand for those of you who prefer mineral over chemical sunscreens. Mineral sunscreen gets a bad rep for leaving a chalky white cast, even on fairskinned customers, but Colorescience has found a great solution. Their
Sunforgettable® Total Protection® Face Shield FLEX SPF 50 is available in 6 shades, with newly released shades Rich Deep and Light. It comes out white, and iron oxide pigments burst open to distribute color while you rub it in, creating a multi-purpose product with a demi-matte finish.
After applying Face Shield FLEX, top off your summer makeup look with the
Sunforgettable® Total Protection® Color Balm SPF 50, a multi-purpose balm stick to add color to cheeks, eyes, lips, or even a little bronze on your decolletage! The travel-friendly sticks are perfect to throw in your carry-on or purse for touch-ups, without compromising your SPF coverage. I’m loving the shades Savannah and Glow, the two newest additions to the line.
Speaking of mineral sunscreen, Tower 28 just released a brand new SPF to go with their trusted SOS collection,
SOS FaceGuard Broad Spectrum SPF 30; and if you know anything about their products, you know it’s going to be super gentle and love your skin right back. This is for the acne-prone, sensitive skin folks out there. As we expect from Tower 28, this SPF is clinically tested and dermatologist-approved, and holds three major seals: National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, National Psoriasis Foundation Seal of Recognition, and National Rosacea Society Seal of Acceptance. The formula is lightly tinted and blends in beautifully, even under makeup!
Prefer a silky, totally-sheer formula? Look no further than
Vacation® Crystal SPF 50 Face Gel. This formula is unscented and weightless (it feels even lighter than similar cult-favorite clear facial sunscreens, IMHO) while delivering that high sun protection you want for the delicate skin on your face. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, peptides, and ceramides keep your skin hydrated while doubling as a makeup primer, too!
Ultra Violette is new to the American market, but loved far and wide by Australians. FYI, Australia takes sunscreen seriously: they even banned tanning beds in the past decade.
Ultra Violette’s Vibrant Screen SPF 50 Sweat-safe Face and Body SKINSCREEN boasts UVA and UVB protection (those are the UV wavelengths that cause aging, and that cause burns and cancer,) water resistance, and healing ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E. I love that this light, non-sticky, non-smelly formula is comfortable on the face as well as the body!
Let’s finish off the SPF look with a little lip gloss, shall we? Trust me, you don’t want a sunburn on your lips, especially if you’re enjoying a sunny patio brunch with flowing margaritas (lime juice is notorious for causing phytophotodermatitis!) Most SPF-infused lip products have a weird taste, but the sweet flavors in
Supergoop! Glow Gloss SPF 40 Lip Balm actually makes me want to keep applying it! Shea Butter and peptides keep lips soft and plump, and the tints are so cute, too!
Tags:
Beauty,
skincare,
spf,
summer beauty,
sunscreen