If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.

Not all sunscreens are created equal. Once upon a time, consumers were limited to suncare products that left a white residue, failed to protect against sun exposure and were packed with harsh chemicals that destroy coral reefs. Luckily, companies have since gotten smart about our (and the environment’s) needs, but experts say that U.S. sunscreens have room for improvement.

There are two types of sunscreens available in the U.S.: chemical and mineral sunscreens. New York-based dermatologist and author Dr. Amy Wechsler tells The Hollywood Reporter that although she recommends using mineral sunscreens, she prefers to use European chemical sunscreens because they have more effective ingredients. And while U.S. sunscreen regulations have undergone significant changes since speaking with Dr. Wechsler in May 2024 (when this story was first published), there are still a number of ingredients available outside of the U.S. that are currently pending FDA approval in the States.

Wechsler also notes that “some chemical sunscreen ingredients are toxic for coral reefs. You shouldn’t wear them if you’re swimming in the ocean. Obviously, it’s fine to swim with them in a pool or just wear them, but we’re destroying coral reefs so quickly that some states like Hawaii have banned certain sunscreen chemical [ingredients].”

So what are the best face sunscreens? “I often do a combination of sunscreens when I’m applying them to myself. I like to layer different ones and a lot of dermatologists do also. One does not have to do that,” Wechsler says. In addition to effective sunscreen, she recommends wearing UV-shielding clothing, sunglasses and hats for extra protection. Whether you’re looking for reef-safe products, the best clean sunscreens, moisturizers that double as sun protectants or safe options for your kiddos, we’ve rounded up some of the best face sunscreens recommended by skin care experts.

See the pros’ top picks below, and keep scrolling to find out the main differences between mineral and chemical sunscreens, what to know about broad spectrum vs. SPF protection and more.

Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreens: What’s the Difference?

“Mineral sunscreens have a bunch of bonuses to them — at least the ones that are approved in the U.S.,” says Dr. Amy Wechsler. Overall, she recommends mineral sunscreens, especially ones that contain at least 10 percent of zinc or titanium (or a combination of both).

Here, Wechsler explains the differences between mineral and chemical sunscreens.

What Are Chemical Sunscreens?

“Chemical sunscreens are molecules. Each molecule covers a narrow range of usually either UVA or UVB,” Wechsler says. “They need a half an hour to work and a lot of people don’t wait that half an hour. And the problem with a lot of the chemical sunscreens is that they can be very greasy and [potentially] clog people’s pores. They also absorb the sun’s UV rays … [which are then] broken down into useless molecules. That’s one of the reasons why chemical sunscreen doesn’t last that long. That’s why I think —and I don’t know if my dermatologist friends would agree with me — the [mineral] ones last longer.”

Dr. Craig Downs, executive director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, previously told THR that “chemical ingredients in sunscreens are taking an alarming toll on both the environment and our bodies … Thousands of tourists visit beach communities all over the world, all year long, and the chemicals in the sunscreen they’re wearing are detrimental to the reefs and marine life.”

What Are Mineral Sunscreens?

“Mineral sunscreens are two molecules: either zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Minerals are inert; they’re not chemicals. They do not get absorbed even to the upper layer of the epidermis. They just sit on the surface of the skin and what’s great about them is that they block almost the entire range of UVA and UVB rays,” explains Wechsler. “Mineral sunscreens work the instant you put them on. They’re out in the sun and then they put them on. They’re inert, so you can’t be allergic to minerals. You can totally be allergic to things that the minerals are mixed with — a fragrance, a preservative, a chemical. But the actual molecules themselves can’t induce an allergy and they also don’t clog pores. They’re inherently a little water-resistant and reef-safe.”

What to Consider When Shopping for Sunscreens

The Difference Between Broad Spectrum vs. SPF

Wechsler recommends always getting a broad spectrum sunscreen, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Sun protection factor (SPF) only refers to the strength of a sunscreen to protect against UVB. “If it doesn’t say broad spectrum or UVA blocking, and just has an SPF number, then you can’t assume it does anything to block UVA — and you’re only blocking half the rays and you’re only half protected.”

“UVA and UVB rays damage our skin the most. UVB is the one we’re all used to — it’s the one that gives us an immediate tan and an immediate burn — and is blocked by glass. So if you’re in a car, an airplane, or an office by a window, you’re protected by UVB. You’re not going to get a tan or a sunburn,” she says.

“However, I call UVA the ‘silent wrinkle’ because you don’t know you got any of it. It doesn’t give you a tan or a burn, and it penetrates deep. Just like UVB, it damages DNA and causes skin cancer and wrinkles and sun spots and all that bad spot, but you don’t know you’re getting it and it goes through glass. The good news is that there are windows now that can block the UVA rays. So anytime I get a new car, there are clear films that go on the side windows. People are like, ‘Why are you putting sunscreen on before you’re getting on an airplane? That’s weird.’ There are a lot of UVA rays up there. The UVA-protected windows were created to protect art, but they protect our skin really well too.”

Percent of Zinc and Titanium

Sunscreens that contain zinc and titanium protect against UVA and UVB, but Wechsler suggests getting a product with 10 percent of either one or a combination of both. She also recommends testing it on your skin for a white residue.

“Sometimes they’re super white and don’t rub in, and other times they’re more cosmetically elegant if they’re micronized zinc. Sometimes I’ll see one and it’ll advertise as purely mineral or they call themselves mineral sunscreen or sheer zinc […] but then it’s mostly chemicals, and it’s like 2 percent zinc — that’s not doing anything. I always look at the percentage in addition to the ingredients. But you only need the percentages for zinc and titanium.

The chemical sunscreens’ percentages don’t matter — that’s more about the UVB and the broad spectrum. You might apply your zinc and titanium ones every four hours, but your chemical ones every two hours. But there are some chemical sunscreens that are literally gone in an hour and you don’t know. You think you put on sunscreen and then an hour and a half later, you’re getting sunburnt,” adds Wechsler.