5 Sunscreens to Protect Your Skin at Festivals & Beyond, According to an Expert
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National Sunscreen Day is Saturday (May 27) but even outside of SPF’s special day, it’s important to lather on sunscreen — especially if you plan on attending outdoor festivals and tours. It may feel good soaking up that vitamin D, but too much exposure will turn that summer tan into a red hot sunburn.
No matter if it’s rain, shine, overcast or even partly cloudy, wearing a solid sunscreen will help keep your skin looking smooth and healthy. The last thing you want to deal with is sped up signs of aging or, in worst cases, skin cancer. That’s why Billboard spoke with with Dr. Angela J. Lamb, a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor of Dermatology to discover the best sunscreens (and even added a few of ours and celebrity favorites in there, too).
Before you go and stock your cart, Lamb gave some tips to keep in mind including how to know if the one you’re using is truly “the best.”
“I recommend something that will go on easily, feel good on people’s skin and permit them to wear make up on top if desired,” she said. Lamb added that you should also look for ingredients like oxide and titanium dioxide as “those ingredients are going to help the sunscreen work immediately when applied to your skin.”
And in terms of how often you should reapply sunscreen, that’ll depend on what you’re doing.
“If you are outside sweating or doing any sports, your sunscreen really needs to be reapplied approximately every 80 to 90 minutes,” she said. “If you really only spend a little bit of time outside — maybe to or from work during your commute — you can put on sunscreen in the morning, and maybe, if the sun is still out when you leave to go home, reapply or use [a] powder [sunscreen] to touch it up.”
Memorial Day beauty deals are already happening meaning you can score quality formulas at discounted prices. To help you upgrade your beauty routine and pack up essential festival gear, check below for the best sunscreens, according to a dermatologist as well as ours and celebrity favorites.
Buy: Neutrogena Purescreen+ Tinted Sunscreen for Face with SPF 30 $9.99-$18.06
Lamb loves this Neutrogena’s Mineral UV Tint formula so much she even uses it herself daily. It comes in four shades and adds a hint of tint to your skin once it’s applied.
Buy: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 $38.00
For another Lamb pick, this Unseen Sunscreen from Supergoop is a lightweight formula that’ both water- and sweat-resistant for up to 40 minutes once applied. The texture is also clear allowing you to put it on without worry of leaving behind white streaks.
Black Girl Sunscreen has garnered much earned attention for creating a quality SPF that’s fragrance free and long-lasting (like up to 80 minutes!). It’s even water resistant, allowing you to take a dip or sweat without needing to constantly reapply.
The previous Billboard Hot 100 Chart topper Selena Gomez has been known to love Drunk Elephant’s Umbra Sheer Physical Defense SPF and we totally get why. Not only does it come with the dermatologist-approved ingredient oxide, but it features a fragrance- and essential oil-free formula that’s gentle on skin without leaving it feeling oily.
Buy: Lancôme UV Expert Primer & Moisturizer With SPF 50 $48.00
Euphoria‘s Zendaya has previously stated her love of Lancôme’s UV Expert Primer & Moisturizer SPF, which not only provides protection against damaging UV rays, but smooths and hydrates skin — and did we mention it’s made with nourishing vitamin E?
And for more product recommendations, check out our roundups of AAPI beauty and skincare brands, refillable lipsticks and the best TikTok beauty alternatives.
