Dr Dray has reviewed at least 170 sunscreens and approved most of them. Her approval rate for this category is 64%, and she named several outright winners. What sets those winners apart, in her view, almost always comes down to how a formula feels on skin.
What does Dr Dray recommend in sunscreen?
She keeps coming back to sunscreens that hydrate without being greasy, don't sting around the eyes, and feel light enough to actually reapply during the day. When a formula uses iron oxides for its tint, she tends to flag that as a bonus. Those pigments may help protect against visible light, which matters most for people with medium to deep skin tones who are managing hyperpigmentation. For oily skin, she consistently points to matte but moisturizing options like EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, praising it for giving hydration with no shine.
In her words
"One of my all-time favorite sunscreens for both face and body is this one from Bondi Sands. I recommend it all the time because it's fragrance-free. It's pretty affordable. It's deeply hydrating. It doesn't burn or sting around the eyes. It's comfortable to wear. It's comfortable to reapply. And it's also moisturizing without being greasy or heavy. It claims to offer 72 hours of hydration. And I believe that it is like a really nice moisturizer."
"Black Girl Sunscreen came out with a hybrid sunscreen and their sunscreens are really, I really like them. This one has got zinc and then it's got some chemical filters in it to protect against UVB. The Make It Matte gel is really nice, it has a nice kind of pore blurring effect, colorless, zero cast, all chemical sunscreen."
"Now this is one I really love, this is a Skin1004 SPF50 sunscreen. This one's not water resistant either, this is a chemical sunscreen. It [...] also has centella asiatica extract in it, which has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, may be helpful for the skin barrier, and it also has tea leaf extract."
"Altruist came out with a facial moisturizer that has shea butter and urea in it, and it's very good, I highly recommend it. [...] It's free of fragrance, and this brand gives a portion of their proceeds to a charity that supports people living with albinism. [...] Everything this brand has made has been top-notch. [...] It's lightweight, and the consistency is not heavy or greasy, though if you have very sensitive skin, the urea might sting a little bit."
"This SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50 water resistant lightweight fluid is good, it's one not to sleep on. [...] The tint is kind of similar to the Sun Bum one but the consistency is a liquid, it's got really good spread on the skin, no cast for me. It's even thinner in consistency than the Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Face Shield, it spreads very quickly on the skin, and it doesn't do any kind of peeling."
"Also Trader Joe's has a great dupe as well and so if you have a Trader Joe's in your area do look there."
How many sunscreens has Dr Dray reviewed?
Dr Dray has reviewed 170 sunscreens, for an approval rate of 64%. 108 approved, 27 mixed, and 35 skipped.
What has Dr Dray skipped in sunscreen?
Many of the sunscreens Dr Dray skipped failed on feel. An oily or heavy finish was the most common reason. She was particularly surprised by The Ordinary UV Filters SPF 45 Serum, which she described as leaving her looking like a glazed donut, despite being a lightweight liquid. She also skipped Vacation Sunscreen after it stung her eyes and felt greasy, and said she could not understand the appeal of a sunscreen oil.
"The Ordinary's newest sunscreen is super dewy and shiny, and if a sunscreen is like that, I won't use it. [...] What a flop."
"This Coppertone 30 spray I would skip, because it's difficult to get enough sunscreen on the skin in these sprays, they're susceptible to under application. [...] Practically speaking they're not that great of a value."
"I've heard from a lot of you that these CC creams from IT Cosmetics end up aggravating rosacea and sensitive skin, so I say skip these. This new version does have snail filtrate in it, which [...] in my opinion is a good ingredient, rich in humectants and shown to be beneficial for healing radiation dermatitis, but I'd still skip this one."
"This particular sunscreen aggravates my skin. It's too matte for me and it aggravates my skin. I have eczema and it triggers eczema flares, I get irritation from it, I cannot use it. Part of me also thinks it may be related to the kakadu plum in the formula, I'm not entirely sure, but I've tried it numerous times over the years and it does not work for me."
What should you take from Dr Dray's picks?
Dr Dray is generous with her sunscreen approvals, and that generosity has a shape. A formula has to feel comfortable on skin, sit light through the day, and not sting around the eyes. She named several outright winners across her reviews. Many of the sunscreens she skipped failed for the same reason. They felt wrong on skin.
Watch Dr Dray say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40Named a winnerWatch at 8:23
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Sunscreen SPF 60Named a winnerWatch at 8:11
- Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30Named a winnerWatch at 6:37
- Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50Named a winnerWatch at 1:41
- Anua Zero Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen SPF 50Named a winnerWatch at 12:04
- Eucerin Sensitive Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 35Named a winnerWatch at 10:39
- Bondi Sands SPF 50 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen LotionNamed a winnerWatch at 2:39
- Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50Named a winnerWatch at 5:16
- The Ordinary SunscreenSkipped itWatch at 7:31
- Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 30Skipped itWatch at 21:28
- IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination SPF 50Skipped itWatch at 14:37
- Australian Gold Botanical Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50Skipped itWatch at 10:34
- The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30Skipped itWatch at 4:57
- Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50Skipped itWatch at 2:07
- Bubble Plus One Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40Skipped itWatch at 9:19
- Tula Radiant Skin Brightening Serum Skin Tint SPF 30Skipped itWatch at 10:29
- Clinique Moisture Surge Broad Spectrum SPF 25 Tinted MoisturizerSkipped itWatch at 20:11
- MERIT Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Broadspectrum SPF 45Skipped itWatch at 2:04
- Supergoop Play Body Mousse SPFSkipped itWatch at 0:11
- Olay Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30Skipped itWatch at 6:25
- Sun Bum Premium Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 70Skipped itWatch at 1:34
- Sun Bum Face Mist SPF 45Skipped itWatch at 10:46
- Vacation Super Spritz SPF 50 Face MistSkipped itWatch at 8:07
- Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Mineral SunscreenSkipped itWatch at 7:58
About this expert
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This guide reflects what Dr Dray said across her videos about 170 products in sunscreen, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.