We Tested Over 80 New Sunscreens—These 10 Are Worth Your Money

2025’s SPFs are in a league of their own.

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I used to treat sunscreen application like a chore—the beauty equivalent of doing taxes or taking out the garbage. Necessary, yes, but tedious and unrewarding. Now? That narrative has flipped. Not because I suddenly accepted it, but because sunscreen got smarter. The formulas feel better, look better, and blend better than ever. I don't have to remind myself to wear SPF—I actually want to.

In 2025, sunscreen is as essential as it is enjoyable. It's no longer enough for a formula to simply "not leave a white cast" or "not clog pores." That's the baseline. As board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, of Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut, puts it: "Sunscreens have gone from chalky to chic,” thanks to more advanced ingredient delivery systems, sheer mineral blends, and new technologies that make the textures feel lighter and more elegant.

Unfortunately, the U.S. hasn't approved new UV filters in decades, which makes it more difficult to design an elegant formula. (There is some hope: for the first time in over 20 years, new filters are under review at the FDA.) Still, brands are finding ways to improve on their past offerings, like including skincare-first ingredients and extending shade ranges.

The Marie Claire beauty team has spent the last six months swatching, testing, reapplying, and debating every new launch worth your attention. From mineral and chemical options to glow-boosters with tinted coverage, and even formulas that turn the application process into a sensorial experience, these are the standout sunscreens of 2025, handpicked by Team Marie Claire Beauty and vetted by the experts.

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Siena Gagliano

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Ariel Baker

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Hannah Baxter

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Ariel Baker

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Samantha Holender

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Siena Gagliano

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Samantha Holender

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Brooke Knappenberger

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What is the Difference Between UVA and UVB Rays?

Two types of UV rays come from the sun: UVA and UVB. Dr. Gohara says to think of UVB as the "burning" rays and UVA as the "aging" and "always-present" rays.

  • UVB Rays (the "burning" rays): These rays are responsible for sunburns and are measured by SPF. They fluctuate based on the time of day and season.
  • UVA Rays (the "aging" rays): These rays are present all day, every day, and penetrate deeper into the skin. This accelerates aging and leads to wrinkles and dark spots.

While SPF measures UVB rays and results in sunburn, UVA rays are harder to measure. These rays result in long-term damage—think wrinkles, inflammation, age spots—meaning their effects are not immediately visible. There is also no universal standard for how well a sunscreen blocks UVA rays over time. That's why countries like Japan use the PA system, which ranks UVA protection with plus signs (PA+ to PA++++). Today, you'll often see U.S. brands adopting this system (indicated by PA labeling on the bottle), and while it's not perfect, it's a more helpful gauge than what brands used, or lack thereof, in the past.

As a rule of thumb, look for sunscreens labeled with "broad-spectrum" protection to ensure you're blocking both UVA and UVB rays. "Both types of UV rays are carcinogenic and can lead to skin cancer," says Dr. Gohara.

What Does SPF Mean?

There's a lot of misconception around SPF numbers—and honestly, I used to be confused too. Before I became a beauty editor and talked to dermatologists and cosmetic chemists daily, I assumed SPF 30 meant twice the protection of SPF 15. Same with 50 and 100. It seems logical, right? But that's not how SPF works.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and it measures how much longer your skin is protected from UVB-induced redness and sunburn compared to no protection, says Dr. Gohara. For example, if you usually burn in 10 minutes, an SPF 30 would, in theory, let you stay in the sun 30 times longer without burning than you would without protection—that buys you 300 minutes (30 times 10).

What really matters, though, is how much UVB radiation is blocked from your skin. SPF 15 filters out around 93 percent of rays, SPF 30 filters 95 percent, and SPF 50 filters 98 percent. And while those few percentage points may seem small, "cumulatively, they make a big difference, especially if you're frequently outdoors or have skin that is more vulnerable to sun damage," says Dr. Gohara.

Across the board, dermatologists widely agree that SPF 30 is the minimum requirement for adequate protection—so long as you're applying it properly, says Dr. Gohara (think: a golf ball-sized amount for the full body and reapply every two hours). Also, make sure the formula says "broad spectrum" on the label to ensure you're shielded from both UVA and UVB rays.

Chemical vs. Mineral:

Most sunscreen products contain a series of ingredients to offer protection against UV damage while maintaining a cosmetically pleasant formulation (think: smooth feeling, no white cast, won’t pill). While added emollients and humectants work towards a pleasant texture and moisture, the main source of protection comes from the UV filters. There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and mineral. Dr. Gohara breaks them down.

  • Mineral

Mineral sunscreens (also known as physical) sit on top of the skin and reflect and scatter harmful UV rays—think: like a shield. Zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide are the mineral sunscreen filters responsible for the deflection. These are often ideal for sensitive, acne-prone, or post-procedure skin since they’re less likely to irritate.

  • Chemical

Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and convert them to heat—think: like a sponge. In chemical sunscreens, one or more of the common U.S. ingredients can be found: avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, octinoxate, and homosalate. These filters tend to be sheerer, smoother, and lighter in texture than minerals, and a better option for deeper skin tones (no white cast to be found), but they're more regulated in the U.S.

UV Filter Development in the US

Even with the influx of new SPF launches, there's still one major catch: The United States is way behind. Dr. Gohara explains that thanks to outdated FDA rules and sunscreen companies not providing enough safety data, newer, more advanced UV filters—already widely used in Europe and parts of Asia—are still not approved stateside. This means that many of your favorite U.S. brands are still working with a limited toolbox.

The situation is complicated by how sunscreen filters are regulated in the U.S. Unlike in Europe and Asia, where sunscreen filters are considered cosmetic ingredients, in the U.S., they’re classified as over-the-counter drugs. That distinction, says David Andrews, Chief Science Officer at the Environmental Working Group, "creates a standoff where the public is barred from using modern products."

The FDA proposed updated regulations in 2019 and again in 2021 to improve UVA protection, cap SPF values, and remove ingredients lacking safety data, but Andrews says this nearly six-year-old proposal has yet to be finalized. "The best available sunscreen products should be available to consumers," he says, noting that it's "extremely concerning that this is not happening." Dermatologists are also concerned: "The U.S. sunscreen market is gradually improving, but it still lags behind many international markets," says Dr. Gohara. "Countries in Europe and parts of Asia have access to a broader array of advanced UVA filters, allowing for more cosmetically elegant, high-protection formulas." The more advanced filters used internationally? Tinosorb S or Uvinul A Plus, she says.

All this to be said, just remember, at the end of the day, "a good sunscreen is one you’ll actually use, daily, generously, and without hesitation," says Dr. Gohara. Because any protection is better than none at all.

Why Trust Marie Claire?

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

How We Tested

For this story, the beauty editors of Marie Claire rigorously reviewed dozens of new SPF formulas that dropped in 2025. After determining the top picks alongside dermatologists and experts, we tested each SPF for its UV protection, ingredient profile, finish, texture, formulation, and feel to determine this list of the 10 all-time best new sunscreens in 2025. We also evaluated customer reviews and best-selling products across our favorite retailers.

Sun Care Summer

Meet the Experts

Board-certified dermatologist, Mona Gohara
Dr. Mona Gohara

Dr. Mona Gohara, a Yale-trained board-certified dermatologist and former chief resident at Yale New Haven Hospital, is an associate clinical professor at Yale, where she continues to teach and mentor. As President of the Women's Dermatologic Society and chair of several committees for the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Dr. Gohara is a recognized leader in her field. A trusted medical expert, she frequently contributes to Marie Claire, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and more, and serves on the advisory board for Women's Health. Her clinical focus and interests include skin of color and both medical and surgical dermatology.

Jane Tsui, cosmetic chemist
Jane Tsui

After graduating with a chemistry degree from UCI, Jane Tsui worked extensively in the cosmetic chemistry space as a formulator, from contract manufacturers to big pharma. Jane has grown an immense passion for skincare and makeup and enjoys bringing her knowledge to her audience via easy-to-digest daily content.

David Andrews headshot
David Andrews

David Andrews uses his background in chemistry to lead the Environmental Working Group's research efforts on public and environmental health issues. His work focuses on protecting public health by educating consumers and driving change to government policies and regulations. His research has focused on consumer products, cosmetics, drinking water contaminants, food additives, nanomaterials, and industrial chemicals. While working at EWG over the past decade, David has conducted hundreds of media interviews and contributed to more than a dozen scientific publications.

Siena Gagliano
Siena Gagliano
Beauty Editor

Siena Gagliano is the Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she writes and edits reported features, trend stories, and expert-backed shopping roundups. Before joining the team full-time, she was an editor at Cosmopolitan, where she specialized in SEO-first beauty content and commerce strategy. Her bylines have also appeared in Allure, ELLE, Bustle, Well+Good, Popsugar, and Women's Health, covering everything from the best products for brighter, glowier skin to the science behind face mapping. Curious about the behind-the-scenes magazine life and her go-to beauty picks? Follow her on Instagram at @sienagagliano.