208SkinDoc is a dermatologist who has tested more than 30 sunscreens, and his record is about as positive as it gets. He approved the vast majority of what he tried, with only a handful of mixed takes and barely a single skip. His approval rate sits at 86%, which tells you he is not looking for reasons to say no.
What does 208SkinDoc recommend in sunscreen?
When he keeps coming back to a sunscreen, it tends to check a few boxes. He prizes formulas that protect without leaving a white cast, that stay put during exercise, and that work especially well for skin with redness or a damaged barrier. He has a lot of time for EltaMD, naming both EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 and EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Sunscreen Green Tinted as category winners. He also recommends EltaMD UV Skin Recovery SPF 50 to his own rosacea patients and uses it on himself after laser treatments. Korean sunscreens also get warm treatment from him. He took Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ to Hawaii because he wanted something lightweight in heat and humidity, and he says Korean filters tend to offer better UVA protection than many US options. A green tint is a recurring theme too. He recommends Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 for anyone with visible redness, because a small amount of green pigment neutralises that redness without looking odd.
In his words
"The EltaMD UV Skin Recovery sunscreen is my favorite one to recommend for patients who have rosacea because it has many ingredients to help repair the skin barrier. It also comes with a little bit of a green tint, not enough [...] to look strange, but enough to help mask redness [...] and give you a more even skin tone."
"UV Sport, I love that one for when I'm out mountain biking or playing pickleball outside. It doesn't get in my eyes, it doesn't sweat off, and it doesn't leave white streaks on my face."
"The Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel is another Korean sunscreen, and I find that Korean sunscreens are a lot better than a lot of the ones we have available in the US. They have better filters and better UVA protection. This is a really great option for your skin. It's the one I took to Hawaii last year because it was really hot and humid and I wanted a lightweight sunscreen that would protect my skin, and this one did an excellent job."
"It feels great on the skin and I love the way it looks and feels. [...] If you're looking for a new sunscreen I do highly recommend the EltaMD UV Skin Recovery. It's been one I've been recommending frequently to my rosacea patients, and I've been using it myself after lasering my face a couple months ago and [...] loved the results even for myself."
"I got a link for it through the Air Skin Store where you can buy my favorite Ulta MD sunscreen at a discount, not just the first time you buy it, but every time you go back to repurchase it."
"If you need a moisturizer for the daytime, or a moisturizer and sunscreen, I strongly recommend Cicapair from Dr. Jart. It's a moisturizer, or a moisturizer and sunscreen, that's specifically made for individuals with redness on the skin because it has a little bit of color correction in it. If you have excess redness in the skin, getting something with a little bit of a green tint helps to neutralize the appearance of that redness."
How many sunscreens has 208SkinDoc reviewed?
208SkinDoc has reviewed 37 sunscreens, for an approval rate of 86%. 32 approved, 4 mixed, and 1 skipped.
What has 208SkinDoc skipped in sunscreen?
His skips are rare, but when he does pass on something, texture is usually the reason. Smart Care Mineral Enhanced Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 was one he could not get behind. He found it too thick, compared the consistency to diaper rash ointment, and noted it left obvious white residue around the ears. He also pointed out that anyone with a deeper skin tone would find the white cast a real problem. That is the kind of honest, practical note that makes his rejections worth paying attention to.
"This is the Smart Care mineral enhanced sunscreen lotion, SPF 50 with 19% zinc oxide. It's thick, like diaper rash ointment, and you have to rub it in a lot more than your average sunscreen. It has kind of a baby powder scent. Looking in the mirror I don't see a terrible white cast, but there are gobs on my ears, and looking at the camera it looks a lot more white. I'm not super impressed with the sunscreen. If you had a darker skin tone this wouldn't look very good."
What should you take from 208SkinDoc's picks?
His record suggests that most well-formulated sunscreens will earn his approval, but the ones he returns to most often are the EltaMD range and lightweight Korean options. If you have rosacea or reactive skin, those are the two areas he points to most directly, and his reasoning is always grounded in barrier repair and how the product actually looks on the skin.
Watch 208SkinDoc say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46Named a winnerWatch at 0:08
- EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Sunscreen Green TintedNamed a winnerWatch at 10:59
- Smart Care Mineral Enhanced Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50Skipped itWatch at 12:11
- EltaMD UV Sport SPF 50Rated itWatch at 11:32
- Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF 50+ PA++++Rated itWatch at 11:34
- EltaMD UV Skin Recovery SPF 50Rated itWatch at 8:39
- Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30Rated itWatch at 8:26
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Sunscreen SPF 60Rated itWatch at 22:59
- Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen FoundationRated itWatch at 8:34
- EltaMD UV Clear Tinted SPF 46Rated itWatch at 4:23
- EltaMD UV StickRated itWatch at 29:31
- ISDIN Fusion Water Magic SPF 40Rated itWatch at 10:00
- BYOMA Ultra Light Face Fluid SPF 30Rated itWatch at 6:59
- Badger Mineral SPF 35 StickRated itWatch at 2:34
- Youth to the People Youth Screen SPF 60 Daily Hydrate Plus Pollution Defense FluidRated itWatch at 11:08
- EltaMD UV DailyRated itWatch at 4:23
- EltaMD UV Restore Broad-Spectrum SPF 40Rated itWatch at 12:53
- Eucerin Radiant Tone Sunscreen SPF 30Rated itWatch at 6:06
- Eucerin Sensitive Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 35Rated itWatch at 11:55
- Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Glow Sun Ampoule SPF 50+ PA++++Rated itWatch at 12:36
- Sun Bum Premium Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 70Rated itWatch at 10:56
- Neutrogena Collagen Bank SPF 30 Facial MoisturizerRated itWatch at 7:23
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Serum SPF 60Rated itWatch at 1:27
- Bliss Block Star Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30Rated itWatch at 5:49
About this expert
See everything 208SkinDoc has reviewed
Related guides
This guide reflects what 208SkinDoc said across his videos about 37 products in sunscreen, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products he approved. It is general information, not medical advice.