Stop sun damage before it starts. The most important part of everyone’s skincare routine should be what goes on BEFORE your makeup. Every day. Summer, Winter, Fall and Spring. But Summer is the most important time to bring the SPF.
Here are some lightweight, clean-feeling, non-comediogenic sunscreens that not only protect your skin from the sun, but have some extra benefits (vitamins, antioxidants, collagen builders and other goodies) for your skin.
MURAD Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30
Cost: $60
Essential-C is a lightweight, citrus-scented moisturizer that is part of MURAD’s Sun Undone series. Vitamin C is important to help break down melanin in your skin and build collagen. This is our go-to moisturizer for daytime and makes adding sunscreen to our daily routine much easier.
Here is some more details about the sunscreen from Murad’s website:
Increased Vitamin C power and SPF in Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30 provide powerful protection against environmental damage. Next generation Vitamin C and the patented Skin Repair System improve radiance, firmness and elasticity.
Additional features and ingredients:
- Phospholipids and conditioners provide optimal hydration
for environmentally stressed skin - Ectoin preserves hydration to optimize skin’s appearance and
barrier function by reducing transepidermal water loss
LA MER The SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid
Cost: $70
La Mer never fails to add a littler luxury to every day life. Created with La Mer’s patented “Miracle Broth,” this SPF Protecting Fluid not only heals the skin from the inside out, but protects from outside elements. With a silky, lightweight feel, a heavenly smell and a matte finish, this sunscreen will not irritate skin or cause breakouts. Light enough to be a primer, it moisturizes, protects and makes your skin glow. An extravagant purchase that is worth the price. (Also available in a 3 tinted shades with SPF 18.)
Here’s some info from the La Mer website:
A treatment that is light years ahead of its time.
Ideal for all skin types, this weightless, high-powered fluid keeps skin soft, comfortable and hydrated as it helps protect skin against UVA/UVB rays and prevent the appearance of discolorations. Transparent on skin, it gives skin a radiant glow and is ideal as a makeup primer.
LUZERN Laboratories La Defense SPF 30
Cost: $45
This lightweight, non-greasy, organic sunscreen is great to wear under make-up. Because it is all-natural, it will not cause you to break out. And it has the all-important Zinc Oxide (a must for sunscreens), but has the bonus of rice peptides, minerals, green tea and beta-carotene — all without preservatives, synthetics, petrochemicals, sulfates and parabens. Not only does it protect your skin from the sun, but it gets to work on your skin, delivering wrinkle busting minerals all while neutralizing pollution & ozone generated free radicals. Great for sensitive skin!
Here is some more information about this organic sunscreen from the Luzern website:
FIVE STAR UVA Protection + MMP Inhibitors
Shield your skin from UV-light, pollution and free radicals with 100% micronized, microdispersed mineral filters. Our powerful new peptide technology prevents the sun-induced breakdown of the collagen matrix – known as matrix metalloprotease (MMP) – one of the primary causes in the development of lines and wrinkles. This lightweight, transparent formula minimizes signs of premature aging and the formation of dark spots. Suitable for even the most delicate skin. So gentle it can be used to protect the delicate eye area and skin after aesthetic/clinical procedures. FORMULATED WITHOUT: – Preservatives – Parabens – Sulfates – Propylene Glycol – Synthetic Fragrances – Synthetic Dyes – Petro-Chemicals – Phthalates
Key Benefits:
Anti-UVA/UVB protection helps delay early skin aging such as wrinkle formation, reduced elasticity, skin dryness and age spots 5 STAR UVA Rated – to block the #1 cause of wrinkles: UVA light Anti-MMP (sun-induced collagen damage) Potent antioxidant, anti-pollution and strong anti-inflammatory For all skin types, including sensitive or rosacea-prone skin.Key Ingredients:
Zinc Oxide provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB/UVC protection Advanced Rice Peptides prevent MMP (UV-light breakdown of the collagen matrix), one of the primary causes in the development of lines and wrinkles Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Green Tea and Beta-Carotene neutralize pollution & ozone generated free radicalsA BONUS budget friendly pick:
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sun Protection SPF 55
Cost: $11.99
- Helioplex® Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB SPF 55 protection
- Waterproof, sweatproof
- Non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores)
- Oil-free, PABA free