The best sunscreens for daily use this season
I scream, you scream, we all scream for sunscreen! We’ve sourced the top sunscreens for various uses to keep you protected.
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The Canadian Dermatology Association recommends sun safety every day to help prevent the long-term consequences of too many harmful rays. It’s especially important to remember to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher before you step outside. With sunnier, longer days upon us, these options will cover whatever plans you have!
We selected these sunscreens based on their SPF rating, water resistant protection (when applicable for full body coverage), application, and online customer reviews. Scroll down for more information about our criteria.
Kids Sunscreen
Our pick: Thinksport Kids Sunscreen
Amazon.ca
SPF: 50+
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Application: Zinc-based lotion that does not leave a chalky white residue
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Thinksport for kids is a mineral-based sunscreen, which means it’s composed of natural ingredients making it a better option to use on kids’ sensitive skin. The founder of this brand brought his interest in health and preservative medicine together with his background in biotechnology to create functional alternative products for little ones (and adults too!).
Sunscreen for the Face
Our pick: Garnier Ombrelle Sunscreen Ultra-Light Face
Amazon.ca
SPF: 60
Water Resistant: n/a
Application: Lightweight, non-greasy cream
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
This sunscreen for the face is recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association. It’s hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, colorant-free, and contains both vitamin E antioxidant for hydration and Ombrelle’s patented Mexoryl Technology for filtering the sun. Since this cream is formulated specifically for your face, it absorbs quickly for use under makeup.
Sunscreen for the Body
Our pick: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Face & Body Sunscreen
Amazon.ca
SPF: 30
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Application: Water-light, refreshing gel
Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
The Hydro Boost gel is light enough to wear on your face and ideal for your body. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, which is known for its benefit of alleviating dry skin, claiming to hydrate for eight hours after application. This sunscreen also uses HLEIOPLEX technology to stabilize the filters that protect against harmful rays. This invisible gel wears lightly and does not easily transfer onto swimwear or clothing.
Like what you see? Check out our Shop the Weather articles for more must-have product recommendations.
Spray Sunscreen
Our pick: Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless Sunscreen Spray
Amazon.ca
SPF: 30
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Application: Moisturizing spray
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Hawaiian Tropic is known for its light island botanical scent! Beyond that, they’ve packaged their unique breathable formula that offers 12 hours of moisturization into a convenient no-mess spray bottle. Spray sunscreens can help cover hard-to-reach areas for better overall protection. If you’re not sure which is the best type for you, you can always start your day by applying a lotion and bring this spray with you for quick re-application while you’re on the go.
Sport Sunscreen
Our pick: Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen Spray, Value Pack
Amazon.ca
SPF: 30
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Application: High endurance sport spray
Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
This sunscreen is formulated specifically for active lifestyles and outdoor sports. It offers superior endurance against both sweat and water, claiming that it won’t run into your eyes to affect your performance. We also chose a spray as the best option in this category because of the ease of reapplication when you’re on the move.
Sunscreen for Water Sports
Our pick: SolRX SPORT SPF 50 Sunscreen with WATERBLOCK®
SolRX
SPF: 50
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Application: Non-greasy lotion
Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 on Solrx.com
Touted by water sports athletes, long-distance leisure swimmers, and pool sharks alike, this SolRX sunscreen is clinically formulated with its patented WATERBLOCK® system. They ensure the highest level of performance through water, waves, and sweat as their formula bonds with the skin’s surface creating a water and sweat barrier that stays in place while allowing your skin to breathe freely and stay cool at the same time.
Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin
Our pick: La Roche-Posay
Amazon.ca
SPF: 50
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Application: Lightweight lotion
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
The La Roche-Posay sunscreen is a little more luxe and higher-priced, but it’s worth every nickel if you have sensitive skin. It’s everything it says it is: hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, quick-absorbing, oil-free, and recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association. This invisible yet ultra-resistant protection is also available in an SPF 60 stick for the face.
Natural Sunscreen
Our pick: Green Beaver Natural Mineral Sunscreen
Well.ca
SPF: 40
Water Resistant: 40 minutes
Application: Mineral lotion
Customer Rating: 4.2 out of 5 on Well.ca
The Green Beaver sunscreen is certified organic and developed for all skin types. Their long-lasting protection will also moisturize your skin. The features include certified Ecocert, gluten-free, Health Canada-approved, hypoallergenic, non-nano, non-silicone coated, and biodegradable with natural ingredients like zinc, jojoba, and raspberry seed oil.
Sunscreen for the Lips
Our pick: Sun Bum Sunscreen Lip Balm, Coconut
Amazon.ca
SPF: 30
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Application: Moisturizing lip balm
Customer Rating: 4.1 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
It’s easy to forget about protecting your lips from the sun resulting in crispy burns and chapped skin. Bring this Sun Bum lip balm with you wherever you go to protect against harmful rays, wind, and salty sea. It’s hypoallergenic and free of irritating ingredients with a hard-to-resist, delicious coconut flavour.
Like what you see? Check out our Shop the Weather articles for more must-have product recommendations.
Here’s what we kept in mind while researching top-reviewed brands:
SPF: As mentioned above, we aligned with the recommendations from the Canadian Dermatology Association, which are to look for a product with a minimum SPF of 30 to protect against UVB rays and contain ingredients that protect against UVA rays - which contribute to premature aging and the development of skin cancer. All of the sunscreens we are listing are considered to be broad-spectrum, meaning they help protect against both.
Water Resistant Protection: We looked for sunscreens that offer water resistant properties, especially for the sports category. It’s important for consumers to note that sunscreen should always be reapplied after swimming, sweating, towel drying, or at least every two hours.
Application: Not all sunscreens are created with the same ingredients, so we were careful to read through online reviews and draw from personal experiences to recommend ones that apply well to the skin. Criteria we considered included being non-greasy, non-oily, lightweight, and does not leave a white residue even when zinc is listed as an ingredient.
Customer Rating: We rely on customer reviews and ratings to determine the top-quality products that make the list. Our product specialists read through multiple online sources and carefully cross-reference what customers are saying to provide the best options of sunscreen on the market.
Our trusted Product Specialists recommend high-quality items that we think will enhance your experience with Canadian weather conditions. Prices and availability of items are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Thumbnail image courtesy John Labelette/Unsplash
