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One of the trademarks of healthy skin is a radiant complexion—and the best sunscreens for glowing skin are game-changers for achieving luminosity while protecting your skin from dangerous UV rays. ICYMI, sunscreen has made major strides over the years, ditching that annoying, chalky white cast of middle-school beach days and, instead, going for glow with formulas that value hydration as much as defending against burning, sun damage, and skin cancer. These formulas come in a range of SPF levels (though you’ll never catch us applying anything lower than SPF 30), skin-care benefits, and even tints, all to leave your skin safe and totally gleaming. After all, even the most involved skin-care routines, facials, and supplements don’t mean a thing if you’re skipping daily SPF. Read on for insight from board-certified dermatologists and editors about their favorites, and don’t forget to reapply every two hours. Wink emoji, sun emoji, heart emoji.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40, $38
- Best for Dry Skin: Then I Met You Essence Light Sunscreen SPF 50 PA +++, $36
- Best for Oily Skin: Saie Sunvisor, $38
- Best Lightweight: Thank You Farmer Sun Project Moisture Sun Cream SPF 40, $24
- Best Tinted: Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow, $50
- Best Mineral Sunscreen: Dr. Loretta Universal Glow Daily Defense SPF 40, $60
- Best Sheer: Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops, $46
- Best Chemical Sunscreen: Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50, $22
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes sunscreen glowy?
- How do I pick the right sunscreen?
- How much sunscreen should I apply?
- Meet the experts
- How we review and test products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Supergoop Glowscreen SPF 40
Why it's worth it: The lightweight, ever-blendable Supergoop Glowscreen first caught our attention in 2020 and promptly snagged a Best of Beauty Award. And years later, it's still a staple in our regimens. This pearlescent formula is available in four finishes—Sunrise, Pink Pearl, Bronze, and Deep Bronze—each infused with SPF 40 protection and ample skin-loving ingredients. Hyaluronic acid hydrates, vitamin B5 plumps, and niacinamide diminishes the look of hyperpigmentation over time. Beyond the radiance boost, Glowscreen is a lovely base for your makeup, which is extra motivation to rub it on. Keep in mind that this stuff is on the more shimmery side, so if you're after a more subdued glow, there are better options for you.
Glowscreen comes in several different iterations, like this one for your whole body, this one as serum-y drops, and this one as a stick (convenience for the win).
Tester feedback: "Truthfully, I fell in love with how this sunscreen looked on my skin alone. But to give a full review, I layered it on my everyday makeup routine and it totally worked," says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis. "The sunscreen meshed well with all of my base products like my concealer and blush, and they layered on flawlessly with no patchiness or pilling at all. I even found myself skipping foundation because I really just wanted all the glow this product gave."
SPF: 40 | Sunscreen type: chemical | Key Ingredients: avobenzone (3%), octisalate (5%), octocrylene (10%), hyaluronic acid, sea lavender, vitamin B5 | Fragrance-free: yes | Shades: 4
Best for Dry Skin: Then I Met You Essence Light Sunscreen SPF 50 PA +++
Why it’s worth it: Essences are huge in K-beauty, so it’s only logical that the Korean brand Then I Met You would bring some of that lightweight luminosity to its sunscreen. Usually, essences are defined by their watery, toner-like textures, but in the Essence Light Sunscreen, the perks are bundled into an airy lotion that blends, hydrates, and protects like a pro. Fermented sake supports this chemical-filter SPF, working alongside heavy hitters like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and provitamin B5 for a hydrated, radiant finish. As it shields your skin from UV rays, this sunscreen also helps soften dark spots and fine lines, which we can always get behind. Just a heads up: One tester noted it stings a bit around the eyes, so be mindful if you’re prone to irritation in those areas.
Tester feedback: "I'll admit: The first time I tested this sunscreen, I thought it was too glowy for my combo skin and often-shiny forehead. I know! I've since made peace, a.k.a. I'll usually skip moisturizer and apply this bad boy right after my a.m. antioxidant serum," says commerce editor Sarah Han. "The hyaluronic acid, galactomyces ferment filtrate (derived from fermented sake, hello SK-II vibes), and provitamin B5 provide plenty of hydration. The formula is very juicy and takes a beat to rub in, so don't be deterred by how white it comes out of the tube—it doesn't leave a hint of white cast once I've worked it in completely. All you see is radiance—you're welcome."
SPF: 50 | Sunscreen type: chemical | Key ingredients: avobenzone (3%), homosalate (9%), octisalate (4.5%), octocrylene (5%), ceramides, fermented sake, hyaluronic acid, provitamin B5 | Fragrance-free: yes | Shades: 1
Best for Oily Skin: Saie Sunvisor
Why it’s worth it: There’s a glowy finish, and then there’s Saie Sunvisor’s glowy finish. The This multitasker imparts comprehensive SPF protection with enough sheen to give that bare-faced-but-better look. Loaded with hydrators and brighteners like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, aloe vera, and encapsulated vitamin C, this formula uses a mineral filter to go easy on sensitive skin. The brand says to warm this sunscreen up between your fingers before applying—the longer you rub, the more transparent it will become once it hits your face. Our tester found that she didn't have any issues with blending, even on her mineral-tan complexion, and that it didn't leave her naturally oily skin looking extra shiny.
Tester feedback: “As an oily-skin girl, I don’t usually seek out a radiant finish—but this is the exception,” says contributing editor Deanna Pai. “The tint makes it suitable for my skin tone, which is a medium-tan with neutral undertones—and typically doesn’t mesh well with mineral sunscreens. I love that the finish makes my skin look fresh, not flat.”
SPF: 35 | Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (15%), hyaluronic acid, encapsulated vitamin C, vitamin E, aloe vera | Fragrance-free: yes | Shades: 1
Best Lightweight: Thank You Farmer Sun Project Moisture Sun Cream SPF 40
Why it's worth it: Nowhere does sunscreen quite like Korea—Thank You Farmer's Sun Project Moisture Sun Cream SPF 40 is proof. This formula is equal parts soothing, protecting, and hydrating, brimming with ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin B5, vitamin E, and vitamin K. "Centella asiatica extract and bamboo water are two key ingredients that soothe and hydrate the skin," notes Eunice Park, MD, a dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon based in Long Island, NY. As we've come to expect (and admire) with Korean SPFs, you won't need to sweat the threat of a white cast for a single second. Apply it generously for a brightening "bye-bye" to burning.
Tester feedback: "Thank You Farmer Sun Project Moisture Sun Cream SPF 40 encapsulates everything I love about Korean sunscreens, which are 100% more elite than US sunscreens (I said what I said.)," says Han. "It's supremely hydrating—so much so that I actually skip my daytime moisturizer—without feeling heavy or greasy and gives my skin a delightful but not over-the-top glow. This lightweight cream truly melts right in without the slightest bit of cast."
SPF: 40 | Sunscreen type: chemical | Key ingredients: homosalate (9%), octinoxate (6.8%), octisalate (4.5%), octocrylene (4%), and vitamins B5, B3, E, and K (panthenol, niacinamide, tocopherol, and menadione) | Fragrance-free: yes | Shades: 1
Best Tinted: Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow
Why it's worth it: Available in three shades (Universal, Warm Glow, and Bronze Glow), Iris & Romeo’s Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow is a brightening wunderkind with hardworking ingredients to back the beaming. Naturally, a hearty dose of vitamin C is at play, plus vitamin E (which helps stabilize the vitamin C), and niacinamide (which complements vitamin C’s brightening benefits). Some of our testers have found the formula to be a bit too tinted for their liking—in part because of its slightly thicker texture—and think it aligns more with a tinted moisturizer than lightweight sunscreen, but, per usual, preference is everything.
Tester feedback: “It may be called ‘weekend skin,’ but I use this beauty every single day. This moisturizer hydrates, provides impressive SPF 50 coverage, and leaves me with a natural radiance that’s glowy, not glittery,” says shopping director Shanna Shipin. “I have acne scars, flakiness, and fine lines; still, Weekend Skin leaves me looking airbrushed, well-rested, and, frankly, I'm flabbergasted at how it does all I need it to do so elegantly and effectively.”
SPF: 50 | Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: non-nano zinc oxide (10%), vitamin C, vitamin E, and niacinamide | Fragrance-free: yes | Shades: 3
Best Sheer: Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops
Why it's worth it: A lightweight SPF 50+ is always appealing, and Kate Somerville's HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops go the extra mile. Ectoin (yet again) steals this Best of Beauty-winning show, bringing with it soothing, free-radical-fighting talents by "[surrounding] cells, enzymes, proteins, and other biomolecules by forming protective, nourishing, and stabilizing hydration shells around them," according to cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline. "If it didn't say sunscreen on the label, I'd swear this was just a great daytime moisturizer," says content director Kara McGrath. “It has a lightweight texture that blends quickly and leaves your skin looking and feeling hydrated.”
Tester feedback: "As a woman with brown skin, I usually run away from mineral sunscreen. Zinc? Ahhh! That's a surefire way to look purple," says editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel. "This lightly tinted formula changed my mind. It's got a watery consistency and blends seamlessly without leaving my skin looking dusty." Enough said.
SPF: 50 | Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: non-nano zinc oxide (24.5%), ectoin | Fragrance-free: no | Shades: 1
Best Mineral Sunscreen: Dr. Loretta Universal Glow Daily Defense SPF 40
Why it's worth it: Blessing our faces with a perfectly "lit from within" glow, Dr. Loretta's Universal Glow Daily Defense SPF 40 doubles as a hydrating, barrier-protecting moisturizer and features a pinky tint for all the radiance. Thanks to ectoin, an amino acid, and the brand's proprietary antioxidant Lipochrome, this formula fights free radicals from environmental stressors like blue light and pollution. "[Ectoin] it's an extremolyte, which is extracted from extremophilic microorganisms, and helps protect cellular integrity in extreme weather conditions," board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD, told Allure. The whole operation is smooth as hell, absorbs quickly, and leaves behind a serious glow. Bonus points for the support from soothing botanicals like frankincense, gotu kola, white birch bark, and knotweed.
Tester feedback: "I've been a long-time user of mineral sunscreen, but no formula is as elegant as this," says Shipin, who's been using Dr. Loretta's Universal Glow since it launched in 2023. "It has an amazing light-reflecting luminosity that blurs the skin while providing straightforward zinc oxide protection," she adds. Initially, Shipin was worried the peachy-pink hue wouldn't match her skin. "I was so wrong; it melts in instantly, leaving nothing but a beautiful veil of glow behind," she attests.
SPF: 40 | Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (17%), lipochrome, ectoin | Fragrance-free: yes | Shades: 1
More Glowy Sunscreens We Love:
Best Chemical Sunscreen: Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 SPF 43 PA +++
Why it's worth it: Naturium's Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 doesn't skimp on either the sun protection or the silkiness, and with a PA++++ rating (a metric standard for Korean sunscreens) to show for it. PA ranges from PA+ to PA++++, and "the greater the number of plus signs, the better the level of protection against UVA rays (which visibly age us)," Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic and clinical research of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, previously told Allure. It never leaves behind a white cast and works wonders under makeup.
In Dew-Glow, you'll find heavy hitters like squalane, niacinamide, and vitamin C to help brighten and fend off free radicals. Fun fact: The cap can be used to measure 0.25 teaspoons of product, which is the dermatologist-recommended amount for the face. (If you're also covering your neck, double that to 0.5 teaspoons or two capfuls.)
Tester feedback: Han often recommends this relatively affordable chemical sunscreen to friends who want a nourishing, dewy formula that feels weightless and wears well underneath makeup—what she views as the whole package. "It gives my skin an instant brightening boost and acts as an illuminating primer if I choose to wear makeup," she attests.
SPF: 50 | Sunscreen type: chemical | Key Ingredients: avobenzone (3%), homosalate (10%), octisalate (5%), squalane, niacinamide, vitamin C | Fragrance-free: yes | Shades: 1
Best Water-Resistant Sunscreen: Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Glow SPF 50
Why it's worth it: Colorescience's Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Glow SPF 50 delivers on its promise of adaptable glowiness, no white cast, and hardcore protection. The champagne shimmer works on fair and melanated skin alike, and its broad-spectrum SPF 50 PA++++ filters effectively ward off sun damage and blue light-related concerns. This face SPF also contains hydrating and nourishing ingredients like silver ear mushroom extract and bisabolol. Make sure to shake the bottle well before applying because the formula tends to separate slightly. P.S., if you want a bit more coverage, Shipin loves Iris & Romeo Best Skin Days SPF 30, which she calls "her happiest medium" between foundation and SPF.
SPF: 50 | Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (12%), bisabolol, niacinamide, silver ear mushroom extract | Fragrance-free: yes | Shades: 4
Best Flexible Shades: Innbeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow SPF 43 PA +++
Why it's worth it: The chemists behind Innbeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow SPF 43 PA +++ spent three years developing this lightweight mineral formula, complete with advanced PA+++ broad-spectrum filters that instantly absorb into the skin—and those three years paid off, with a 2024 Best of Beauty Award to show for it. This glowy sunscreen comes in three shades, Medium, Fair-Medium and Medium-Deep, each of which blends into a beautiful, luminous wash of color. With vitamin C, a plumping peptide complex, rice extract, and a proprietary moisturizing complex called Hydroviton 24, your bases are covered. Some testers find the scent to be a little unpleasant, which is a typical risk run when a formula has no added fragrance.
SPF: 43 | Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (14.2%), rice extracts, vitamin C, resveratrol | Fragrance-free: yes | Shades: 3
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a sunscreen glowy?
"The main ingredients that give the sparkly glow effect are silica and mica," says David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. He notes that for added dewiness, hydrating ingredients like squalane and glycerin help, too.
How do I pick the right sunscreen?
Above all, your sunscreen of choice must have broad-spectrum protection that meets the recommended minimum rating of SPF 30, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Thankfully, protection and glow aren’t mutually exclusive, and there’s a lot of variety. Consider whether you want a chemical or mineral option (mineral sunscreens tend to be better for sensitive skin, while chemical sunscreens blend in easily), your skin-care goals and concerns, and the texture and finish you prefer.
How much sunscreen should I apply?
"A good sunscreen is designed so that half a teaspoon of product can be applied to the face and neck without cakiness or greasiness," explains Elyse Love, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Squeeze out an extra teaspoon, however, if you're applying larger areas like arms, legs, chest, and back. And remember: UV protection doesn't end with the first application. "Reapply every two hours at a minimum but more often if sweating or emersed in water," Miam-based board-certified dermatologist Roberta Del Campo, MD, previously explained.
Sunscreen best practices apply whether you're staying indoors or venturing outside. "There is a bit of a trade-off working from home as you may now be getting more blue light exposure," says Shari Marchbein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. "UV light, especially UVA, can travel through windows, so unless you have zero windows in your home, you are still susceptible to UV damage." Make sure you're adhering to the dermatologist-recommended amounts of sunscreen if you have direct sun exposure, period.
Meet the experts
- Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and founder of skin-care brand Dr. Idriss
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic and clinical research of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City
- David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Roberta Del Campo, MD, a based board-certified dermatologist based in Miami
- Elyse Love, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Shari Marchbein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best sunscreens for glowing skin, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Want more product recs for glowing skin? Keep reading:
- 14 Best Moisturizers With SPF That'll Plump and Protect Skin
- 18 Best Peptide Serums & Moisturizers for Smoother, Plumper Skin
- 11 Best Self-Tanners for a UV-Free Glow All Year Round
Now, watch Rachel Zegler's 10-minute beauty routine:
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