The Best Sunscreen Options for Fall 2024 Are Here to Save Your Face

The Best Sunscreen Options for Fall 2024 Are Here to Save Your Face

A father and his teenage daughter apply sunscreen before a fall hike

ASIFE / Getty Images


Did you know that dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen every day, even if the weather isn’t great? Slathering on a good sunscreen, like the ones below, can help protect you and your skin from the elements during every season of the year, not just in the summer.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, when choosing a sunscreen, you want to choose one that is broad-spectrum. You want a sunscreen that offers protection against both UVA rays that cause wrinkles and UVB rays that cause sunburn. The sunscreen should have an SPF of 30 or higher and be water-resistant. (SPF, FYI, stands for sun protection factor.)

We’ve rounded up some of the best sunscreens for 2024, including ones from Supergoop, SunBum, and CeraVe. There’s a sunscreen option on our list that’ll work for just about everyone, from athletes to kids. They’re all smart choices for protecting your skin year-round.


The best sunscreens for the face

Sunscreen isn’t just for summer. Formulated specifically for the face, these sunscreens offer enough protection for everyday use this fall.

Tula Protect + Glow Sunscreen, SPF 30 (1.7 oz)

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Toula


Looking for a non-greasy, pleasantly scented sunscreen? Tula, a skincare brand that counts Jenna Dewan and Mandy Moore among its fans, offers a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen in gel form. It’s perfect for wearing under makeup or on its own.

The Tula Protect + Glow has a 4.7-star rating on the brand’s website. One reviewer wrote, “I’m someone who usually hates the feeling of sunscreen on my face, but this one leaves my skin feeling hydrated (but not greasy) and leaves a really nice natural glow.”

“Its texture is also very light and does not give a feeling of heaviness throughout the day.”


Supergoop Play Daily Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 (5.5 oz)

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Supergoop


Formulated for all skin types, Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion provides broad spectrum SPF 50 coverage and water resistance. Supergoop Play Everyday is a chemical sunscreen that absorbs rays, although it is made without two ingredients commonly associated with chemical sunscreens, oxybenzone and octinoxate. The non-greasy formula absorbs into the skin and hydrates it.

Supergoop’s Play has a rating of about 4.5 stars on the brand’s website. One reviewer wrote, “I’ve tried a lot of different sunscreens over the years and there were a lot of things I didn’t like about a lot of them. I don’t know why it took me so long to try Supergoop, this is by far my favorite. As of now, it’s my go-to choice, it works so well.”

“What I like most is that it applies smoothly and doesn’t bother my eyes when I apply it. [it] on my face, and it smells great. But the best part is that it’s so easy to apply, especially on a toddler on the move!


Tower 28 Sunny Days Tinted Sunscreen, SPF 30 (1 oz)

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Round 28


Most tinted sunscreens offer a slight tint to avoid the white residue that formulas tend to leave on your skin. Tower 28 Sunny Days, on the other hand, saves you the hassle of applying foundation.

Tinted sunscreen comes in 14 shades for a variety of skin tones. Designed for sensitive skin, Sunny Days has been approved by the National Eczema Association as gentle enough for people with the condition.

Tower 28 Sunny Days Tinted Sunscreen has a 4.7-star rating on the brand’s website. One reviewer wrote, “I love this. The shade match they got from the questionnaire on their website is amazing. I was a little hesitant because it looked different than what I was looking for myself in the photos. And the match the website picked for me is perfect.”

“It covers so well and honestly looks so even and exactly like my normal skin tone while making my skin look so beautiful and smooth.”


Banana Boat Protection + Vitamins, SPF 50 (4.5 oz.)

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Banana boat


Hydrate and protect your skin with this new daily facial sunscreen, enriched with vitamins C and B3. Lightweight and non-greasy, its matte, water-resistant formula can be applied under makeup for a flawless finish. It offers up to 80 minutes of water resistance. Plus, for a limited time, you can get it with a 40% discount.

Banana Boat Protection + Vitamins Sunscreen has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon. One verified customer wrote, “I love this sunscreen. It glides on smoothly and almost silky. Lightweight, great sun protection. I just wish I could have bought a bigger bottle.”


TruSkin Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C, SPF 30 (1.7 oz)

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TruSkin


Clean, natural, and plant-based, this Amazon-favorite sunscreen from TruSkin contains 100% non-nano zinc oxide in a lightweight, non-greasy formula that goes on clear without leaving a white cast. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free.

TruSkin Mineral Sunscreen has a 4.3-star rating on Amazon. One reviewer wrote, “My friend, a park ranger in Everglades National Park, loves this sunscreen.”

Another verified customer said: “This is a really good product. Regular sunscreen usually feels heavy and sticky to me, but this product was very different. It felt like a moisturizer when applied. It has this white texture, like sunscreen, but it fades afterward.

“I have oily skin, so after a long day my face feels very oily. This actually left my face oil-free for the entire day. I didn’t need to blot anything. Amazing! I recommend it.”


Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum, SPF 46 (1.7 oz)

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Elta MD


Elta MD UV Clear Sunscreen is a broad spectrum sunscreen with zinc oxide that provides extra gentle protection for sensitive, oily or acne-prone skin.

This sunscreen has a 4.6 star rating from over 49,500 reviews on Amazon.

One reviewer called it “the best sunscreen for sensitive skin,” adding, “This sunscreen was recommended by a dermatologist 10 years ago and I’ve been a loyal customer ever since. I’m prone to breakouts when I use heavy/oily products. This is the only sunscreen I’ve ever used.” [that] “Does not cause breakouts or make skin look greasy. Highly recommend.”


CeraVe Tinted Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30 (1.7 oz)

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CeraVe


Looking for a tinted sunscreen for your face at a low price? CeraVe has a great product that offers lightweight, grease-free protection. According to CeraVe, its products were developed with the help of dermatologists.

CeraVe Tinted Moisturizing Mineral Sunscreen has a 4.4-star rating out of over 54,100 reviews on Amazon. One reviewer wrote, “As an older woman with fair, sensitive skin, I am very pleased with this CeraVe product. Not only does it protect my skin, but the tint blends naturally into my face.”

“It moisturizes my face and feels wonderful. I will definitely buy it again.”


The Best Sunscreens for Your Body

Slather yourself with these sunscreens formulated for the body.

Vacation Chardonnay Oil, SPF 30 (3.4 oz.)

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Vacation


Vacation, a sunscreen that smells so good the brand bottled the scent as a perfume, formulated this lightweight sunscreen with grapeseed oil to provide protection while nourishing skin and leaving behind a shimmering glow and shine.

Vacation Chardonnay Oil has a 4.8-star rating on Nordstrom. One verified customer wrote, “Okay, I was a little skeptical, I put on an oil and expected sun protection. The first time I used this product, I went tubing with friends. I was the only one who didn’t get fried.”

“My friends all used regular sunscreen and thought I was crazy for using oil. Sold!”


Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Moisturizing Cream, SPF 30 (8 oz)

Sheer Touch Tropical Hawaiian Cream SPF 30

Hawaiian Tropic


Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch is a chemical sunscreen that provides broad spectrum SPF 30 protection.

It’s an economical option that hydrates the skin and offers a scent that transports you to the tropics.

This sunscreen has a 4.8 star rating from over 10,500 reviews on Amazon.

One reviewer wrote: “I took this product on a trip to Mexico and used it every day in the sun. I’m blonde with extremely fair skin and never got sunburned. Instead, I got a beautiful tan! And it smells great too!”


Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 50+ (5 oz.)

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Blue Lizard


Amazon reviewers love this unscented mineral sunscreen formulated for sensitive skin from Australian brand Blue Lizard.

Not only does it offer ample protection, SPF 50+, sweat- and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, but it does so without using ingredients that can be harmful to coral reefs.

Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen has a 4.7 star rating from over 16,400 reviews on Amazon.

One reviewer wrote: “I am a full time fishing guide. I spend a lot of time in the sun in SW Florida. This is the only product I trust. I have been using it for over 10 years!”


Project Reef Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30 or 50 (3.4 oz)

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Reef Project


Project Reef is another coral reef-friendly sunscreen brand that is committed to making products that are as safe for the environment as they are for humans. They make sunscreens with SPF 30 and SPF 50.

Both are infused with hydrating and soothing botanical ingredients including organic aloe vera, coconut, sea buckthorn oil, green tea, pomegranate and raspberry extract, and non-nano zinc oxide.

Pick up a 3.4-ounce bottle (perfect for travel) of the SPF 30 formula for $24 at Project Reef.

Upgrade your sun protection with SPF 50. A 3.4-ounce bottle of Project Reef Mineral Sunscreen costs $26.


Can you take a bottle of sunscreen on a plane?

Sunscreens are subject to TSA rules regarding aerosols, gels and liquids. You can bring sunscreen with you, as long as it is in a bottle of 100 milliliters or less. You are limited to one one-liter carry-on bag per passenger.