Surely we all know by now that SPF is one of the most crucial steps in a skin-care routine. But for anyone with drier skin—or anyone who just loves a dewy finish—opting for the best glowy sunscreens might be a better choice to help you achieve both protected and radiant skin. It’s a win-win! But glowy sunscreens are not one-size-fits-all; different formulations can actually give you varying types and levels of glow. Some formulas use shimmery pigments for a pearlescent, reflective glow. Others use emollients or bronzy tints to create a glazed, shiny effect.
Common emollients, which strengthen your barrier and minimize transepidermal water loss (also known as TEWL), include glycerin, ceramides, and squalane. On the other hand, “optical pigments, such as mica and synthetic fluorphlogopite, which reflect light upon light application,” give off that instant sun-kissed glow, says Arizona-based dermatologist Karan Lal, DO.
Best Chemical Overall: Innisfree Daily Defense UV Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++, $18
Best Mineral Overall: Ranavat Daily Brightening Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 50+, $65
Best Lightweight: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVAir Sunscreen SPF 50, $40
Best for Dry Skin: Then I Met You Essence Light Sunscreen SPF 50 PA +++, $36
Best for Oily Skin: Saie Sunvisor SPF 35, $38
Best for Discoloration: Eucerin Radiant Tone Daily Lotion SPF 30, $35
From chemical to mineral formulas and creamy textures to portable sticks and facial sprays, you are bound to find a glowy formula that suits your preference and lifestyle. Below, we gathered our favorites.
Why it’s worth it: When you’re looking for a sunscreen that’s pretty much guaranteed to not leave behind a white cast, chemical SPFs are a good place to start. They are formulated without mineral zinc filters found in mineral sunscreens, allowing them to blend more invisibly. The Innisfree Daily Defense UV sunscreen uses cica, a soothing ingredient rich in amino and fatty acids that helps to calm redness and is even known to treat minor burns and skin conditions like eczema. It also uses green tea and sunflower oil to hydrate the skin.
Why it’s worth it: If you prefer mineral sunscreens, there are many options out there that won’t leave you with the dreaded chalky white cast. Ranavat’s Best of Beauty Award-winning Daily Brightening Mineral Face Sunscreen not only blends smoothly, but it also uses saffron to brighten the skin, helping to fade the appearance of dark spots and fine lines. It also moisturizes the skin using squalane, and though it does use zinc oxide to protect from harmful UV rays, the formula is still lightweight with a luminous finish.
Why it’s worth it: This formula uses the brand’s patented Cell-Ox B3 Shield Technology, a combination of UVA/UVB filters and Senna Alata leaf extract, a botanical derived from a tropical flowering shrub native to Africa and Southeast Asia, known to defend the skin’s top layer against sun damage. La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVAir also uses thermal spring water to soothe the skin, along with niacinamide and glycerin to give it its glowy finish.
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.
Why it’s worth it: There’s a glowy finish, and then there’s Saie Sunvisor’s glowy finish. 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.
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).
Why it’s worth it: It’s one thing for sunscreen to shield against sun damage; it’s another thing for a sunscreen to actively treat the dark spots that pop up as a result of it. That’s where the Eucerin Radiant Tone Daily Lotion SPF 30 comes in. “It contains Thiamidol to help visibly reduce dark spots over time, alongside broad-spectrum sunscreen to help prevent their reappearance when used as directed,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut. Because of its skin-care properties, this sunscreen helps to even skin tone to offer a natural radiance instead of a dewy or shimmery glow.
Why it’s worth it: Some may think that to get a dewy finish out of a sunscreen you have to pile on the product. This sunscreen is weightless and applies with a pillow-soft feeling, thanks to the brand’s aptly titled Cloud-Tech technology. According to Dr. Gohara, the glow, on the other hand, comes from “micro-peptides and antioxidants that help defend against sun-induced collagen loss and support smoother-looking skin.” The patented micro-peptides are two times smaller than traditional peptides, allowing them to travel up to 10 surface layers deeper into the skin to support collagen production and elasticity.
Why it’s worth it: For sunscreen to be most effective, it’s important to reapply—according to experts, every two hours is ideal. Anua’s Invisible Glow Finish Sunstick comes in a stick formula that makes it easy to toss in your bag for easy application without the mess or the risk that it will spill all over your purse. According to Dr. Gohara, this sunscreen “has panthenol, ceramide NP, and hyaluronic acid, which help to add a little glowy cheekbone contour. It’s more of a pocket-size touch-up than generous, even sunscreen coverage.”
Why it’s worth it: While many sunscreens have a creamier texture, Versed Skin’s Good Daily Defense has a lightweight gel-cream formula that leaves skin moisturized and bouncy while still wearing well under makeup. It uses Shorea stenoptera seed butter, more commonly known as ilipe butter, a vegetable fat extracted from the nuts of the Shorea stenoptera tree that is known to lock in moisture, soften the skin, and leave behind a natural dew. According to California-based cosmetic chemist Amanda Lam, this formula doesn’t utilize any color additives, but it leaves my skin super glowy and dewy-looking.”
Still on the lookout for glowing skin? Keep reading:
9 Best Face Exfoliators to Reveal Smoother, Brighter Skin
Dry, Flaky Skin Season Is Here—These AHAs Can Help
6 Best Moisturizing Face Washes to Get the Best of Both Worlds
Now, watch our favorite 10-minute beauty routines:
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