A daily sunscreen only helps if you wear it, so the right one is the one you will reach for every morning. Knowing how to read the label makes that easier to find.
Reading the label
- SPF tells you how much UVB light a sunscreen can filter out. Choose SPF 30 or higher for daily wear; SPF 50 is common in the mineral formulas we carry.
- Broad spectrum means the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Water resistant (40 or 80 minutes) tells you how long the protection is designed to last while swimming or sweating. Reapply after that time.
- Directions tell you how much to apply and how often to reapply. Follow them; the general guidance is to reapply at least every two hours in the sun, and straight after swimming or sweating.
Mineral, chemical or both
Sunscreen filters are mineral (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) or chemical (such as octinoxate), and some formulas combine the two. Mineral filters are a common choice for skin that feels sensitive, and many mineral formulas, including No-Show, are designed to blend in without a white cast.
- Colorescience No-Show Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50: 12% zinc oxide, untinted, made to avoid a white cast.
Tinted or untinted
Tinted sunscreens use iron oxides to add a sheer-to-medium veil of color, so they can stand in for a light foundation.
- Colorescience Face Shield Flex SPF 50: 12% non-nano zinc oxide, with tone-adapting shades and buildable coverage.
- Colorescience Face Shield SPF 50: a weightless finish in Classic, Glow and Bronze.
Our sunscreens at a glance
| Sunscreen | SPF | Filters (as listed) | Tint | Water resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorescience Face Shield Flex | 50 | Zinc oxide 12%, non-nano | Fair, Medium, Tan | — |
| Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield | 50 | 100% mineral | Classic, Glow, Bronze | — |
| Colorescience Brush-On Shield | 50 | Zinc oxide | Fair, Medium, Tan | 80 minutes, water and sweat |
| Colorescience No-Show | 50 | Zinc oxide 12% | Untinted | — |
| Colorescience Even Up | 50 | Zinc oxide 11.5%, titanium dioxide 5.8% | Tinted | — |
| Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 | 35 | Zinc oxide 12% | Fair, Medium, Tan | — |
A dash means our product description does not list it; the label on the product is the final word.
How to apply and reapply
- Last step in the morning: after moisturizer and before makeup.
- Cover all exposed skin: every area that clothing won't cover, including the neck and ears.
- Reapply: at least every two hours in the sun, and after swimming or sweating.
Making reapplication easy
Reapplying over makeup is the hard part for many people. A mineral powder such as Colorescience Brush-On Shield SPF 50 sweeps on over makeup and is water- and sweat-resistant for 80 minutes. Twist the base to dispense powder into the brush, tap off the excess and sweep it over the face, neck and any exposed areas. Keep one in your bag, car or desk so reapplying is easy.
The eye area
Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Care combines SPF 35 with a sheer tint for the delicate skin around the eyes. In the morning, roll a small amount under the eye, then pat it in with your ring finger; wear it alone or under concealer.
Common questions
Can tinted sunscreen replace foundation?
It can stand in for a light foundation. Face Shield Flex gives medium, buildable coverage, and Face Shield gives a weightless finish in Classic, Glow and Bronze. Apply the amount the label directs; if you want more coverage, add makeup on top.
Is mineral sunscreen the only option for skin that feels sensitive?
Mineral filters are a common choice for skin that feels sensitive, but not the only one; some formulas pair a mineral filter with a chemical one. Check each product's description and label.
SPF 30 or SPF 50?
Both meet the SPF 30-or-higher guidance. The number tells you how much UVB light a sunscreen can filter out, so SPF 50 filters more. Whichever you choose, apply the amount the label directs and reapply at least every two hours in the sun.
What does water resistant mean for everyday wear?
It tells you how long the SPF is designed to hold up while you swim or sweat: 40 or 80 minutes. After that, reapply. On an ordinary day in the sun, reapply at least every two hours.
Do I need sunscreen if I use retinol or exfoliating acids?
Yes. The directions for the retinols and leave-on exfoliants we carry all ask for SPF every morning, most of them a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher.
What about the neck and chest?
Include them in your morning routine. The neck creams we carry ask for SPF on the neck and chest every morning, and Skinbetter Science TechNeck Perfecting Cream specifies a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher.
How to choose
- No tint, mineral only: No-Show Mineral Sunscreen.
- Coverage and SPF in one step: Face Shield Flex.
- A weightless or glowing finish: Face Shield in Classic, Glow or Bronze.
- Swimming or sweating: a water-resistant formula such as Brush-On Shield (80 minutes), reapplied after you towel off.
- Reapplying over makeup: Brush-On Shield.
See every sunscreen we carry, tinted sunscreens, the Colorescience range, or read how to layer skincare for where SPF sits in your routine. Apply and reapply each product as its label directs.
Related guides: Colorescience sunscreens compared.