The 8 Best Sunscreens for Men in 2023, Tested by Grooming Editors

After a year of comprehensively testing sunscreens, our editors and advisors landed on Supergoop's marquee lotion as the best for everyday use. Dr. Camp put our consensus succinctly. "It meets the American Academy of Dermatology's SPF requirements, is water resistant, and offers broad spectrum coverage," he says. "Plus it is not sticky or greasy, and it's hydrating and fast-absorbing."

Supergoop's Play Everyday lotion lives up to its name. We wore it to the beach, the office, and at the gym, and found that it stayed on our skin for hours, and had a pleasant, neutral smell that really made it ideal for every day use.

Though some of our testers with darker skin tones noticed a slight white cast after application, the residue wasn't visible enough to negate the lotion's other benefits. It's difficult to find one sunscreen that's ideal for every body, but we found that Supergoop's Play Everyday Sunscreen Lotion was the most effective on the most people we've tested this on.

If your face is especially sensitive, you'll probably need a separate sunscreen for your mug. Four of our grooming contributors and five dermatologists we've consulted with have all recommended Elta MD's UV Clear Broad-Spectrum sunscreen as a reliable facial sunscreen. Zinc Oxide is its key ingredient, which works as a physical barrier to deflect UVA and UVB rays from your skin.

"It's great for rosacea or acne-prone skin, because it contains ingredients that promote healthy-appearing skin, like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid," says Dr. Camp.

Plus, our grooming contributor Cristina Mayor loves that it barely leaves a white cast, and because of its oil-free formula, has a smooth, silk-like application. Yes, it's sweat resistant, though our testers found that the formula rubbed off during water sports, so it's best to invest in a true water-resistant sunscreen if you're beach or pool bound.

Read more: Best Facial Sunscreens

Come summer time, you'll probably want a low-cost, highly effective sunscreen that you can lather on at the beach. In that case, your best bet is grabbing Banana Boat's tried-and-true sunscreen spray, which has an impressive 50+ SPF, and is water and sweat resistant for up to 80 hours. Our testers have tried this at the beach, on hot summer hikes, and were impressed that Banana Boat's Ultra Sport spray held up under the hottest, sweatiest conditions. Plus, our editors noted that it won’t bleed down into your eyes when you're sweating up a storm.

And because it's a spray sunscreen, application is easy. But just make sure you apply evenly and liberally and rub in the spray for maximum effectiveness. Also some of our testers found that the Banana Boat's Ultra Sport Clear caused them to break out when using on their faces, so it's best to use this on your body if you're planning to be active outdoors for hours. But when it comes to value, this drugstore sunscreen is worth its weight in gold.

Read more: Best Drugstore Sunscreens

If the the classic, tried-and-true sunscreens aren't working out for your skin's needs, we recommend this gel-based formula from upstart Dune Suncare. Winner of our 2023 Men's Health Grooming Awards for best sunscreen, our editors loved its light, smooth formula that's also hydrating.

In short, our Grooming Editor Garrett Munce says of Dune, "This gel protects your skin from the sun without any white cast or greasiness, but also contains ingredients like antioxidant Vitamin E to help further protect your skin from sun damage and Hibiscus Extract to keep it hydrated."

Plus, it's water resistant for up to 40 minutes, which is enough protection time for a plunge at the pool or beach. Even though it's a chemical formula, The Bod Guard has a pleasant, sea salt scent.

Finding an affordable sunscreen that doesn't leave a white cast can be tough, since most of the best sunscreens we've tried for darker skin tones were also pretty expensive. Neutrogena's Hydro Boost sunscreen was a welcome exception. Our editors found that its lightweight, non-greasy formula left an invisible sheen on our skin, and absorbed almost immediately. Plus, it's water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, which makes this great for the beach.

Dermatologist Robert Finney, MD, also recommends the Hydro Boost sunscreen for patients with sensitive skin, since it contains hyaluronic acid to help keep your skin hydrated but still not greasy or sticky. We did find that it had a chemical smell, which could be off putting for some.

Read more: Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin Tones

Looking for an ultra portable sunscreen? We recommend Coola's new Hydration Stick, which looks and applies like a deodorant stick, and has SPF50 protection. It goes on easily, and has a dewy finish that's not sticky. Testers who had combination and oily skin found that the Water Hydration Stick didn't cause any breakouts, and it left a barely noticeable white cast.

Because of its slender design, it's easy to stick in your dopp kit, making it great for travels. Though we found that you can get through one stick pretty quickly, and given that it's $30 for .8 oz, Coola's hydration stick is pretty expensive. But because all of our positive testing notes, we think it's worth the price.

There are lots of reasons to use mineral sunscreens over their chemical counterparts. Since the former sits on your face, rather than being absorbed in your skin, it creates a thick layer that offers more protection and less irritation. However, it also tends to be thick, and can leave a nasty white cast.

Not so with Blue Lizard's mineral sunscreen, which has all the benefits of some of the best mineral sunscreens we've tested, but has a relatively lightweight formula that doesn't feel so goopy and sticky. Plus, while it does leave a slightly white cast, it isn't as noticeable as the other mineral sunscreens we've tested. Plus, this broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen is sweat and water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Oh, and the coolest part? The bottle changes color in UV rays to remind you to reapply sunscreen.

"This is one of the brand's best-selling SPF moisturizers for acne-prone skin," says Dr. Camp, "this oil-free sunscreen protects from the sun and absorbs excess oil that can clog pores."

In detail, according to Dr. Shirazi, the Anthelios is "formulated with ceramides to support the skin barrier, Niacinamide to help reduce inflammation and discoloration, glycerin to hydrate." Dr. Garshick also adds: "This lightweight sunscreen is easy to apply and fast-absorbing, making it a great option for daily use. It also contains Cell-Ox Shield Technology and antioxidants. It is broad-spectrum and can be used by all skin types."

In addition, the brand’s use of prebiotic thermal spring water also makes it a good choice for those with acne-prone skin. And at this price, it's a no-brainer.

Read more: Best Acne Sunscreen