I Tried All the Hype SPFs So You Don’t Have To — And I Finally Found The One
- mia3377
- May 7
- 3 min read
By: Dèlia Rubio
Okay, let’s be honest: I’ve probably bought more sunscreens in the past two years than
I’ve bought jeans in my entire life. One for every day, one with a tint, one for the beach,
one that works under makeup, one “for sensitive skin days”… and yet, I still feel like I
haven’t found “the one.”
If you’ve also found yourself caught in this weird loop of constantly looking for the
perfect sunscreen, welcome. While we all know SPF is essential and
non-negotiable, it also feels like the skincare world has convinced us that we need an
entire collection of sunscreens just to survive the sun.
Do we really need that many?
Let’s not get it twisted, sunscreen is 100% important. It protects us from sun damage,
dark spots, premature aging, and all that good stuff. But I also think we’re being low-key played. Every week, there’s a new “holy grail” SPF all over TikTok, with influencers
swearing it changed their life. Suddenly, the one we were using last month is “not
enough.”
And yeah, it’s true that not every sunscreen works for every skin type, especially if you
have oily, acne-prone, or sensitive skin. But it also feels like brands are constantly
creating nonexistent needs just to get us to buy more.
So here’s the idea: maybe you don’t need five. Maybe you just need one that works
for you, that you actually like applying, and that you’ll actually use every day.
But if you're curious… here are the sunscreens Vogue recommends
1. Ultra Violette Supreme Screen SPF50+ – For dry or combo skin
2. Beauty Pie Ultralight Daily SPF50 – For lightweight protection
3. Dr Sam’s Flawless Daily Sunscreen SPF50 – For sensitive, breakout-prone skin
4. La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ – For sensitive
skin
5. Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF50+ – For oily skin & matte finish
6. Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF50 – For pollution + city life
7. Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF50+ – For skin repair
8. Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar SPF50 – Best stick format
9. Grown Alchemist Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 – Best hydrating mineral
10. Shiseido Urban Oil-Free Emulsion SPF30 – Best for oily skin
11. La Mer UV Protecting Fluid SPF50 – Luxe & gentle on skin
12. Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor SPF30 – Best for dark skin tones
13. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted SPF50+ – My personal fave for acne-prone
skin
14. Augustinus Bader The Sunscreen SPF50 – For skin rejuvenation
15. Chanel UV Essentiel SPF50 – Luxe chemical sunscreen
16. Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF40 – Invisible & makeup-friendly
17. Paula’s Choice Youth-Extending Fluid SPF50 – For oily skin
18. SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion SPF50 – Best mineral formula
19. EltaMD UV Clear SPF46 – Dermatologist-approved classic
20. La Roche-Posay Milk SPF100 – Best high-protection drugstore
21. Isdin Eryfotona Actinica SPF50+ – For mature skin
22. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF40 – Best tinted + skincare combo
23. Dr Dennis Gross Wrinkle Defense SPF30 – For anti-aging care
24. DreamBeam Tinted SPF40 – For sensitive skin with a glow
My Holy Grail for Acne-Prone Skin:
If your skin is oily or breaks out easily, this is the one I swear by. It’s lightweight,
fragrance-free, doesn’t clog pores, and has the perfect natural tint that replaces
foundation on lazy days. It’s also not greasy at all, which, if you’ve ever tried a
sunscreen that made you feel like a frying pan, you’ll know is a big deal.
It gives a subtle glow without making you shiny and evens out your skin tone just
enough to feel confident going barefaced. If you’re like me and struggle with breakouts,
this is your go-to.
I know the list looks long, but don’t stress. Pick one that fits your skin and stick with it.
For more details on each product, you can refer to the original Vogue article here.
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