The Best SPF

"What is the best SPF?” This is a query directed at me year round. And my reply is, and always will be, the best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually wear. I can’t say there are a lot of people who enjoy the feeling of sunscreen on their skin, it’s often sticky or thick, leaves a white cast or is made with some questionable ingredients. The conversation around it is peppered with ethical and ecological landmines. Does it have Oxybenzone? Avobenzone? Is it reef safe? Can I use it on my kids? I think between the questions and all of the choices, people just throw their hands up and don’t bother wearing it. And I kind of don’t blame them because it’s pretty easy to get overwhelmed with this stuff. Personally, I refuse to step outside without slathering every part of my exposed skin, in fact I like to say I won’t turn on a light switch without applying sunscreen first. I mean it’s sunny in LA somewhere around 723 days a year so I think I’m a pretty good judge here. But while I’ve always avoided the sun as much as I can, I wasn’t always as diligent, which I do regret. So don’t be full of regret, instead embrace the SPF and face the day, sunny or cloudy, with a proper coating of sun protection (oh and don’t forget to do your neck and chest, because neck and décolletage creams don’t really do anything, so do the work now and avoid doing damage control later.)

Here are my favorite SPFs...

A hybrid of chemical and mineral sunscreen, it’s thinner than a zinc based SPF and feels lighter on the skin. It’s also loaded with skincare ingredients so it feels and acts like a serum. This is what I reach for when I’m going to be running errands or headed to work, it’s light and feels great under makeup and applies like a dream.

An emollient-rich SPF15 hand cream that’s easily absorbed, and nourishing to your skin.