Celebrities’ 10 favorite sunscreens for skin protection in 2024
While plenty of trendy beauty buys have their day in the sun, SPF is a staple stars forever swear by.
After all, practically every celebrity has espoused the importance of sunscreen over the years — from Jennifer Lopez saying she uses it “every single day” to Nicole Kidman once telling Allure she reapplies SPF 100+ “every 90 minutes, every single day.”
Experts echo the significance of sun protection, including board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman, who previously told Page Six Style that “wearing sunscreen daily” is “crucial in order to prevent accumulated sun damage.”
- Best Overall: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum
- Best Dermatologist Recommended: ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Sunscreen
- Best Lightweight: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
- Best Mineral: Epicuren X-treme Cream Propolis
With summer on the way, we’ve broken down all the sunscreens stars have praised over the years — plus more tips from Dr. Engelman on how to use them.
Best Overall: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
Pros:
- Good for those with sensitive skin, acne or hyperpigmentation
- More than 34,000 five-star ratings on Amazon
- Lightweight formula that blends in seamlessly
- Also comes in tinted versions
Cons:
- A bit pricier than others on this list
- Some Amazon reviewers mentioned it can pill
While stars may have access to every skincare product under the sun, EltaMD’s formulas are a repeat favorite. Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner have both praised the product — which the latter star mixes with her SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum — while Brooke Shields told Elle she applies it “every day – even in the winter.”
Hailey Bieber, meanwhile, prefers the EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40, telling the same outlet, “A lot of sunscreens make my skin break out, and this one has been my holy grail.”
Page Six Style’s review: Several staffers swear by the star-approved formula, including editor Elana Fishman. “It provides stellar protection, plays well under makeup and doesn’t break me out. That’s pretty much all I could ask for in a sunscreen!” she raves.
Best Dermatologist-Recommended: ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Sunscreen
Pros:
- Packed with peptides
- Water-resistant formula
Cons:
- Contains fragrance
Engelman’s favorite sunscreens include ISDIN’s Eryfotona Ageless Sunscreen — a pick she says “not only protects the skin from sun damage, [but] also helps repair existing damage and combat signs of aging” — and the Skinbetter Tone Smart 68 Sunscreen Compact for a sheer tint.
Best Lightweight: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Pros:
- Fragrance-, sulfate- and paraben-free
- Also filters blue light
- Hydrating
Cons:
- Some reviewers complain that the bottle size is too small for the price
Supergoop! and superstars just might be a match made in Hollywood. Everyone from Lady Gaga to Mindy Kaling has name-dropped the brand’s invisible broad-spectrum sunscreen, which is billed as both weightless and antioxidant-rich.
Beauty pros are equally obsessed, as celebrity facialist Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine recommended the sunscreen to Page Six Style in 2022.
Page Six Style’s review: “I’ve been using Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen for years and have convinced so many people to buy it. Its silicone-like texture doesn’t feel goopy or sticky at all and is truly weightless!” writer and reporter Kristin Contino once raved.
Best Tinted: Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Sunscreen
Pros:
- Fragrance-free
- Suitable for all skin types
- Offers protection against IR rays, UVA/UVB rays, blue light and pollution
- Evens and brightens skin with a glowing tint
Cons:
- Expensive
When Martha Stewart isn’t snapping thirst traps or posing in swimsuits for Sports Illustrated, she’s taking her skincare regimen seriously. The star, who counts this water-resistant formula as a favorite, previously told Page Six Style her skincare rules include “never leave the house without a good sunscreen.”
Alix Earle is also a fan, praising it as “really, really nice” in a recent Elle video.
Best for Multiple Skin Tones: Epicuren X-Treme Cream Propolis Sunscreen SPF 45+
Pros:
- Silky texture
- No white cast
- Contains vitamin C
Cons:
- Not recommended for those with allergies to bee products, including honey
Tracee Ellis Ross’ beauty bag includes this mineral sunscreen. “It looks natural. Some sunscreens are not great if you’re a person of color,” she told Harper’s Bazaar in 2017.
Best for Oily Skin: ShadeDrops Mineral Milk Sunscreen SPF 30
Pros:
- Contains moisturizing squalane and soothing chamomile
- Serum-like texture
Cons:
- A few Amazon customers reported skin irritation after use
When dropping their skincare routines, stars like Pamela Anderson shout out these drops. The “Baywatch” actress pulled the SPF 30 formula out of her purse during an “In the Bag” interview with Vogue, while Hailey Bieber once posted a photo of an empty bottle on her Instagram Stories.
Best Clean: Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30
Pros:
- Clean ingredients
- Includes antioxidant-rich sunflower shoot and algae extracts, along with raspberry seed oil
Cons:
- Some Sephora reviewers found the texture to be a bit greasy
Selena Gomez knows sun protection is “Good for You.” The star slathered on this SPF — from a brand Kaia Gerber, and Khloé Kardashian also love — in a Vogue video showcasing her daily makeup routine.
Best Whipped: Vacation Classic Whip SPF 30
Pros:
- Water-resistant up to 80 minutes
- Unique foamy formula
- Billed as streak-free for all skin tones
Cons:
- Lower SPF than others on this list
- Has a fragrance, so might not be the best choice for those sensitive to strong scents
Who said functional skincare can’t be fun? In summer 2023, Kim Kardashian shared a snap of Vacation’s whipped sunscreen, which dispenses from an aerosol can and looks just like whipped cream.
“Actually obsessed,” the reality star raved of the “insane” formula at the time.
Described by the brand as “dessert for your skin,” the “lighter-than-air” formula comes complete with retro-inspired branding and smells of coconuts and bananas.
Best Spray: Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture Sun Spray
Pros:
- Water-resistant
- Contains moisturizing vitamin C
Cons:
- Spray comes out as a lotion instead of a mist
Meghan Markle was spotted with this blue bottle in 2019 when she attended a polo match with baby Archie. It makes sense that the star would turn to Nivea for sunscreen, as she reportedly told Beauty Banter she uses the brand’s Skin Firming Hydrating Body Lotion ($9) “religiously.”
Best Reef-Safe: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense Sunscreen
Pros:
- Good for all skin types
- High SPF
- Non-sticky formula
Cons:
- Some customer reviews report pilling
Looking for a supermodel staple? Kaia Gerber loves this formula, which offers a “universal tint” the product description claims “enhances your skin tone and boosts radiance.”
“My mom’s advice was always to take care of your skin but to not overdo it,” the star wrote of mom Cindy Crawford in a 2017 Glamour essay, adding, “I love everything by SkinCeuticals but especially their tinted sunscreen.”
Best Luxury: Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops
Pros:
- High SPF and lightweight formula
- Active complex to fight oxidative damage
Cons:
- Expensive
Dr. Barbara Sturm consistently ranks among celebrities’ favorite skincare brands, and the brand’s SPF is no exception. Emma Roberts applied some in a Vogue video showcasing her night-out routine, while January Jones keeps the product stocked in her bathroom cabinet.
How to pick a sunscreen
When it comes to selecting the right protection, Engelman recommends sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for daily use and 50 or higher if you’ll be spending more time exposed to UV rays.
Either way, she insists on broad-spectrum formulas to protect against both UVA and UVB rays and seeks out “skin-friendly,” non-comedogenic products with hydrating benefits and ingredients like antioxidants — plus, when it comes to environmental considerations, “formulations that are legitimately reef-safe.”
How to apply sunscreen
Engelman advises applying sunscreen as the last step of your morning routine — either after a moisturizer or in place of it, depending on your skin type and “whether the sunscreen formula is hydrating enough.”
She recommends a nickel-sized amount for the face and a quarter-sized amount for the neck and décolletage. (Plus “about 1 ounce of product” for the body if you’ll be exposed to the sun.)
The same advice applies even on cloudy days or when you’re not spending a significant amount of time outside.
Warns Engelman, “We are constantly exposed to UV rays and environmental aggressors in all weather conditions and seasons.”
Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping
This article was written by Hannah Southwick, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Page Six Style. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable celebrity-worn styles, puts Hollywood’s favorite labels to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carpet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.
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