With summer around the corner, the sun’s pulsing rays are starting to creep their way onto your skin. You have two options: gear up with some SPF or start competing with your leather jackets for who’s got the best complexion. 

When you think of sunscreen, the first image that comes to mind is likely that super chalky, runny goop that your parents used to smear on your face as a child. Claustrophobically clumpy and reminiscent of white-out, that stuff would leave you looking a clown—on a good day. If that’s the case, you’ve probably felt safe to eliminate sunscreen entirely from your regime since then, right? 

Wrong. What you don’t know can—and will—hurt you. Sun exposure leads to scorching sunburns, scarring, premature aging, cancer—the list goes on. So, the question remains, how can you protect yourself from the sun’s whiplash while not drowning in a sea of SPF? 

That’s where we come in. We’ve compiled a list of some wicked sunscreens that’ll keep your skin safe and smooth—goop-free. Nobody’s skin is the same. That’s why we’ve broken down our top picks by skin type—oily, combination, sensitive, and dry—to make this as mess-free as possible. We even have a few options for those looking for some extra coverage. Here are our favorite picks. 

OILY

La Roche-Posay 

Anthelios Clear Skin Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 60

$19.99, La Roche-Posay

As the globe continues to battle harmful pollutants and toxic matter, so does your skin. Just your luck—La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Clear Skin Oil Free Sunscreen plays no games when protecting against harmful rays. Cell-Ox Shield technology fuses UVA/UVB protection while a potent concoction of antioxidants protects the skin’s surface from environmental aggressors. This sunscreen soaks up that shine with a gel base, leaving your skin matte and baby smooth. Lightweight and free of a white cast, La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Clear Skin Oil Free Sunscreen is undetectable from the moment you blend it in. 

Jan Marini

Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 33

$57, Jan Marini

What do you get when you combine plumping Hyaluronic Acid, a state-of-the-art oil capture system, and UVA/UVB protection? Jan Marini’s knockout Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant. Glow up with this sunscreen as it protects, hydrates, and replenishes your skin so that it feels as good as it looks. 

COMBINATION

Shiseido

Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+

$30, Shiseido

If you’re tired of making a mess every time you re-apply sunscreen and getting powdery stains all over your clothes and bag, it’d be wise to check out Shiseido’s Clear Sunscreen Stick. It makes reapplication as easy as a swipe to ditch the spills and the downtime of blending. With WetForce x HeatForce technology, the Sunscreen Stick sticks it to the elements as it becomes more effective in water and heat. If you’re looking for something new to try in your quest for the dream sunscreen, you might want to add this to your list, as it offers a promising solution to the runny lotions of the past. 

Dermalogica

Protection 50 Sport SPF 50

$38, Dermalogica

Dermalogica’s Protection 50 Sport sunscreen has no frills such as exotic ingredients or lush fragrances; instead, it focuses on minimizing ingredients to deliver rapidly absorbing SPF while quenching the skin with essential moisturizers—minus the grease. That’s not all. This sunscreen even fights uneven skin tone, fine lines, and wrinkles. 

SENSITIVE

Supergoop!

Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

$38, Supergoop!

Apply a light layer for daily use or lay it on thick for a beach-bound holiday. However you spin it, this isn’t your average goop. Velvety to the touch and transparent as glass, Supergoop! ‘s Unseen Sunscreen takes on the heat with a cool head. It’s scentless, oil-free, and filters blue light for those constantly behind a screen. If you have sensitive skin, this sunscreen might be right up your alley. 

Dr. Jart+

EVERY SUN DAY™ Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+

$40, Dr. Jart+

Don’t panic; it’s inorganic. 

What’s that supposed to mean, you ask? 

Organic, or chemical, and inorganic, or physical, sunscreens vary in how they protect your skin. Whereas organic sunscreen absorbs UV rays, inorganic sunscreen bounces them off the skin. We won’t make you dizzy with the scientific jargon, but if your skin tends to get irritated with sunscreen, inorganic is the way to go (it’s hypoallergenic). You might want to test the waters with Dr. Jart’s EVERY SUN DAY™ Mineral Sunscreen. It offers a matte-finish sunscreen targeting sensitive/combination skin to help control excess Sebum without leaving your skin cracking.

DRY

Paula’s Choice 

Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50

$37, Paula’s Choice 

Who says dewy skin can only exist in filtered photos? Flooded with antioxidants and boasting an A-list set of ingredients, such as niacinamide, shea butter, and licorice, Paula’s Choice argues otherwise with its Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50. Licorice extract eases redness, while aloe and oat extracts soothe sensitive skin. Slap it on as the last step of your morning skincare regime and bid farewell to tomato-faced summer selfies.  

Origins 

A PERFECT WORLD™ SPF 40 Age-Defense Moisturizer with White Tea

$52, Origins 

Let’s spill the tea. The world has looked to white tea for anti-aging due to its mighty antioxidant healing powers since its dawn in the early 18th century. Origins knows this. That’s why they’ve use it as the key ingredient in their Age-Defense Moisturizer with White Tea. It protects your skin from free radicals and reduces harm from pollutants– all while shielding it from harmful solar rays. 

TINTED 

EltaMD

UV Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 44

$40, EltaMD

While some prefer crystal clear sunscreen, others like to opt for a bit of coverage. Whether that’s to smooth over acne scars, sunspots, freckles, or just to give your skin an extra boost, feats your eyes on EltaMD’s UV Elements Broad-Spectrum. Chemical, oil, fragrance, paraben, dye, and gluten-free ingredients allow for wear on sensitive skin, while Hyaluronic Acid aids in plumping up the complexion. 

Dr. Jart+

Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30

$52, Dr. Jart+

If you’re struggling with rosacea, acne, or redness, Dr. Jart+’s Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 is worth a second glance. With a green-to-beige formula that neutralizes redness while protecting skin from the sun, the Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment offers a solution to those who have suffered at the hands of blushing. Keep it cool while the sun begins to heat up.