Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom

Experience this story and others in HIGHEnergy, a print magazine by Highsnobiety, available from retailers around the world and our online store

When it comes to summer essentials, they don't get much more so than sunscreen. You've likely heard the list of benefits but they're that important, we'll repeat some of them again. Using SPF daily, even when it's cloudy, helps protect your skin from harmful sun rays that can lead to skin cancer. No one likes to get burnt, either. It hurts.

Visions of that cheap, impossible-to-rub-in sunscreen may lead you to think otherwise, but buying into SPF is about looking good, too. This powerful stuff can prevent wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots caused by sun damage and help maintain an even skin tone.

Ok, that's enough convincing. Now that you're on board, it's about picking the right product for you, whether in the form of sunscreen sticks or SPF for your lips. Below, we've picked out some of the best SPF products around right now, to add to your summer tote lineup.

Protect yourself with some of the best sunscreen options around.

Shisedo Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+

Image on Highsnobiety
SHISEIDOClear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+
$29
Buy at Shiseido

Shaped like a mini deodorant, Shiseido’s sunscreen stick is designed to be swiped liberally across your face and neck. It’s clear, waterproof formula plays well with makeup and is designated “ocean safe,” so you can take “personally destroying the coral reefs” off your anxiety doom-list.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+

Image on Highsnobiety
BioréUV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ (x2)
$28
Buy at Stylevana

Surprisingly, this cult Japanese sunscreen is from the same company that made those cursed acne products from your tween years but don’t let that deter you. True to its name, the Watery Essence is one of the few sunscreens out there that is so light, you forget you’re wearing it.

Sachajuan Hair In The Sun

Image on Highsnobiety
SachajuanHair In The Sun
$32
Buy at Sachajuan

Made from an edible-sounding array of ingredients, including coconut oil, sea algae, and cinnamon, this serum will protect your hair from UV rays while also acting as a lightweight styling gel. Use it on damp hair straight out of the shower, and the protection will last until you shampoo it out — much more lowkey than reapplying every two hours.

Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen In "Medium/Dark"

Image on Highsnobiety
UnsunMineral Tinted Face Sunscreen In "Medium/Dark"
$29
Buy at Unsun

While sunscreen is perennially associated with nagging moms at the beach, in the case of Frank Ocean and his eternally youthful complexion, things clearly turned out for the best. Founded by his mom, Katonya Breaux, Unsun is a mineral sunscreen specifically designed for darker skin tones — no white casts here. It’s also been described as “dewy,” which, if you’ve ever used a mineral sunscreen before, is not the first adjective that comes to mind.

Aesop Protective Lip Balm

Image on Highsnobiety
AesopProtective Lip Balm SPF 30
from $15
(Available at 3 Merchants)

Not only is the skin on your lips really thin, sun exposure actually breaks down collagen, aka what makes your lips plump. So keeping them protected is essential. This vegan lip balm (read, no beeswax) is formulated with castor seed, Aesop’s signature scent.

Chanel UV Essentiel

Image on Highsnobiety
ChanelUV Essentiel Sunscreen SPF 50
$55
Buy at Chanel

Forgoing drugstore SPF for one encased in a Chanel logo is so extra that the sheer act of applying it will feel hedonistic. Add in antioxidants that are designed to improve your skin with each use, this sunscreen is more than worth its price tag.

Dr. Barbara Sun Drops

Image on Highsnobiety
Dr. Barbara SturmSun Drops SPF 50
$145
Buy at SEPHORA

You know a skincare brand isn’t playing when there’s an actual medical doctor behind it. Dropped into moisturizer or used alone, these Sun Drops are packed with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and green tea leaf extract to actually counter the effects of the sun while simultaneously preventing future damage.

Want to keep browsing? Head to the Highsnobiety Shop for more products that we love. Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.

We Recommend
  • The Best Sneakers of 2024... So Far
    • Sneakers
  • Bigger is Better: The Best Oversized Shirts to Wear this Fall
    • Style
  • Hate Shorts? We've Got Summer Pants For You
    • Style
  • The Battle Of The Inseams, Our Guide To The Best Shorts Lengths
    • Style
  • We Found the Best Outdoor Speakers for Summer So You Don’t Have To
    • Lifestyle
What To Read Next
  • As Techy as Ever, ASICS' 2010s Running Shoe Grows in Beauty
    • Sneakers
  • Needles Brings The Elevated Workwear, NOMA t.d. Brings The Artisanal Craft
    • Style
  • An adidas Samba Sneaker Dressy Enough for a Black-Tie Event
    • Sneakers
  • Take It or Leave It: What Highsnobs Are Bringing Into 2025 (& Leaving Behind)
    • Style
  • Nike Finally Unleashes a Gorgeous & Once-Super-Exclusive Jordan 1 Sneaker
    • Sneakers
  • The Extreme Craftsmanship of a Swiss Watch In a GORE-TEX Boot
    • Footwear