You need sunscreen regardless of skin tone or location. Of course, when the sun is beaming and we’re spending more time outdoors, it’s the perfect reminder to re-up and refresh your supply. Always check your beauty products’ expiration dates, folks!
However, we understand how tedious sunscreen application (and reapplication) can be, considering the recommended amount of sunscreen to use daily is a lot — the equivalent of two finger lengths to the face and neck combined. Not to mention factoring in types of sunscreen, like chemical, mineral, or physical, and whether they will burn your eyes or not, adds to the difficulty.
The biggest issue for many sunscreen users is a white cast.
However, good sun protection is really about finding what works for your skin and lifestyle, and that’s exactly what we were on the hunt for. Along with getting amazing (and affordable) recommendations from board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic and reconstructive Mohs surgeon Dr. Sheila Farhang, we’ve put more than 40 sunscreens to the test. We slathered on sunscreen in the morning before Zoom meetings and before weekend outings and reapplied it throughout the day. The criteria?
- It had to be lightweight.
- The formula had to be comfortable (meaning it didn’t burn our eyes).
- It wouldn’t leave me looking like an oil stick.
Updated on March 10, 2026: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
So what are THE BEST SUNSCREENS without a white cast?
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Our top picks
The Best Overall
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Dewy | SPF: 50 | Water resistant: No
I’ve seen Tatcha through many sunscreen formulations, and this is my favorite. Its lightweight milky texture melts into the skin. No white cast whatsoever.
The Runner-up
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Dewy | SPF: 50 | Water resistant: No
This is another formula that feels completely weightless on my skin. It’s so hydrating it feels like a serum, and it leaves my skin with a dewy finish that I love.
The Best for Sensitive Skin
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Natural | SPF: 30 | Water resistant: No
Pavitt’s line is a Cut Shop favorite thanks to its sensitive-skin-friendly formulation, and this sunscreen is no different. It’s noncomedogenic, so you don’t have to worry about it causing clogged pores and breakouts. Plus it’s extremely hydrating if you have dry or combination skin.
The Best Shimmer Sunscreen
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Glowy | SPF: 50 | Water resistant: No
This is the sunscreen I’ll be putting on when I want a sun-kissed glow without all the extra product. It has a hydrating finish with minimal shimmer and doubles as a great primer.
The Best New Sunscreen
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Type: Organic chemical sunscreen | Finish: Natural | SPF: 50 | Water resistant: Up to 40 mins
Buzzy brand Naturium has recently expanded into the category with this sheer sunscreen, and it’s quickly becoming a favorite. Cut beauty editor Asia Milia Ware also recommends this lightweight formula, which is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, in case you have a pool trip planned. I tend to prefer glow-y sunscreens, but there’s definitely a time and place for this matte formula that has what the brand describes as a “velvety, soft-focus finish.”
The Best Hydrating Sunscreen
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Radiant | SPF: 36 | Water resistant: No
A lot of sunscreens tend to feel like they’re just sitting on top of the skin, but this one absorbs quickly and easily. This is perfect if you want sunscreen that doesn’t feel like sunscreen — it’s so moisturizing and hydrating, you’ll feel like you just did an intense skin-care routine. The finish is not too shiny but not too matte, either.
The Best Sunscreen for Makeup Prep
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Type: Mineral sunscreen | Finish: Radiant | SPF: 40 | Water resistant: Up to 80 mins
I usually wear this sunscreen on its own, but it works well under makeup because it’s moisturizing and gives a little bit of a glow without adding extra shine. The texture is extremely lightweight and so hydrating that it feels like a moisturizer.
The Best Affordable Gel Formula
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Dewy | SPF: 50 | Water resistant: No
I love gel formulas, especially in the winter when I still need sunscreen but also need extra hydration. Boosted with ceramides, this gel formula hydrates and helps repair the skin barrier while leaving your skin looking extra dewy but not feeling greasy.
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More tried-and-true options:
A Good Drugstore Option
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Natural | SPF: 50 | Water resistant: No
At just under $20, this is a solid option if you don’t want to spend a lot. It hits all my sunscreen criteria: It doesn’t burn my eyes or leave my skin oily, and it doesn’t feel weird on my skin. The lightweight, almost liquid formula adds a layer of hydration without feeling greasy. It has a slightly stronger sunscreen smell, but that goes away after a while.
The Best Invisible Mineral Formula
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Type: Mineral sunscreen | Finish: Natural | SPF: 30 | Water resistant: No
“Their big thing is about not leaving a white cast,” Farhang tells us. Not only is it cast-free and lightweight, she loves the added anti-oxidant benefits. It includes “açai and green tea, which also help to decrease free radicals from UV exposure, as well as Rosa Canina fruit oil, which helps minimize the appearance of large pores and excess oil.”
The Best Sunscreen Oil
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Dewy | SPF: 30 | Water resistant: Up to 80 mins
We have serums, we have tints, and now we have an oil. “I have oily skin and often don’t gravitate toward oils, but this nourishing blend from Undefined Beauty quickly absorbs into my skin and leaves me with a radiant glow,” Ware says. “I also love applying it to my décolleté for a luminous glow that reflects off of my body.”
The K-Beauty Favorite
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Dewy | SPF: 50 | Water resistant: No
Yes, the viral sunscreen you’ve seen everywhere really is that good. “I bought it for the first time in Seoul and have had multiple friends try it,” deputy style editor Joanna Nikas says. “Everyone loved it. It didn’t leave a white cast and melted nicely into the skin. Plus Korea has much better UV filters than the U.S., so it will keep your skin protected.”
The Best Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin
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Type: Mineral sunscreen | Finish: Natural | SPF: 44 | Water resistant: Up to 40 mins
“I love this for my patients who have sensitive skin types. I use this after procedures at my office,” says Farhang. “This formulation also has hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin.”
The Best Priming Sunscreen
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Dewy | SPF: 50 | Water resistant: No
The Unseen Sunscreen seems to be the general favorite, with a silky-smooth, almost primer-like finish. This was my second-favorite from the brand; the gel-like formula goes on clear and dries with a semi-matte finish.
The Best Sunscreen Tint
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Type: Mineral sunscreen | Finish: Dewy | SPF: 40 | Water resistant: No
Deputy editor Jen Ortiz is loyal to Ilia’s serum tint formula. Available in over 30 shades, the SPF has dewy buildable coverage so you can skip one part of your makeup and your skin-care routine.
The Best Affordable Sunscreen
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Type: Mineral sunscreen | Finish: Radiant | SPF: 30 | Water resistant: Up to 80 mins
Here’s another under-$20 recommendation to add to your cart. Ware also recommends this oil-free and radiant sunscreen. If you want the added skin-care benefits at a fraction of the cost, this sheer serum formula features hyaluronic acid and leaves you with a radiant finish. It’s lightly scented, if that’s your thing, and available at most drugstores, so you can even grab this last-minute before your flight.
The Fan-Favorite Sunscreen
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Natural | SPF: 40 | Water resistant: No
Another favorite from Ware is this buzzy formula featuring beetroot, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E for hydrated skin and barrier protection along with sun protection. After being reformulated, the sunscreen is back and better and still cast free. Reviewers love the dewy finish and lightweight feel.
The Best Gel Sunscreen
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Type: Chemical sunscreen | Finish: Dewy | SPF: 50 | Water resistant: Up to 40 mins
The recommended amount of sunscreen can feel heavy on your skin and, depending on the formula, might take forever for your skin to absorb. However, this gel formula from Dune absorbs quickly no matter how much you use and leaves your skin feeling hydrated.
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FAQs
What causes white cast in sunscreens?
The culprit for the unwanted, ghostly glow? The zinc oxide and titanium dioxide ingredients you find in most physical or mineral sunscreens that deflect the damaging rays, according to board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic and reconstructive Mohs surgeon Dr. Sheila Farhang.
What are the best sunscreen formulas to avoid white cast?
To avoid white cast, Farhang recommends chemical sunscreens that absorb “the UV rays before they get absorbed into the skin.” She also suggests finding sunscreens that are a blend of chemical and physical sun protection. Luckily, plenty of brands have improved their mineral formulas, so they’re just as clear as chemical formulas.
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Our experts:
- Dr. Sheila Farhang, board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic and reconstructive Mohs surgeon
- Chinea Rodriguez, Cut Shop fashion and beauty shopping writer
- Asia Milia Ware, beauty editor at The Cut
