Sunscreen is an often forgotten step in many people’s skin-care routines, but any dermatologist will tell you that wearing it is vital to your skin’s health. Why? Because it keeps your face, neck, and body protected from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. Even on overcast and rainy days — or days spent inside when sunscreen feels like an unnecessary addition to your morning routine — it is important to slather it on.
It can be difficult to find the perfect sunscreen formula for your skin type, especially when it doubles as a base for your makeup. If you’re like most people, you don’t want an SPF moisturizer that is sticky, heavy, or greasy. There are also a lot of options to consider for chemical vs. physical sunscreens. Whether you want a drugstore sunscreen for sensitive skin, a water-based sunscreen, or a reliable noncomedogenic sunscreen from the drugstore, there are plenty of products to shop for.
With affordability in mind, we asked a handful of board-certified dermatologists to share their favorite drugstore SPF. This list features quality formulas that won’t break the bank, including picks from brands like CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena, and more. So, here are some of the best drugstore sunscreens they recommend to fit every budget.
Experts Featured in This Article
Kunal Malik, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist and assistant professor at Mount Sinai based in New York City.
Jessica Krant, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist certified in lifestyle medicine based in New York City.
Sarika Snell, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist at Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street in Washington D.C.
Claire Chang, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist at UnionDerm based in New York City.
Tiffany J. Libby, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in Rhode Island.
Shari Sperling, DO, is a dermatologist and the founder of Sperling Dermatology, with locations in the greater New York area.
Elizabeth Mullans, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist and founder of Uptown Dermatology in Houston, Texas.
Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist and the founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL.
Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist based in New York City and a clinical assistant professor at Cornell.