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3 Editor-Favorite Sunscreens
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As a beauty editor who resides in the United States, it would be easy to lament our lack of access to next-gen sunscreen filters—the same ones available in Europe, Asia, and Australia—and accept subpar formulas that pill, smudge, or leave ghostly white casts. It would also be easy to disregard American SPFs and recommend stocking up on
sunscreen
the next time you take an international trip. But I refuse because I'm a beauty journalist, dammit! What kind of editor and researcher would I be if I didn't offer expert-vetted recommendations?
Even though our Stateside sunscreen filters are often considered old news to the rest of the world, that doesn't mean there are zero options on the domestic market. Nay, there are some shockingly impressive ones. Certain beauty brands have done some fancy footwork and formulated intelligent SPFs—they're silky, featherlight, and offer additional skin benefits aside from simple (yet critical)
sun protection
. How did they do it? I don't know. Maybe it was luck, a magic spell, or the expertise of world-class cosmetic chemists (definitely the last one).
Some of these sunscreens are so good that I, along with my fellow WWW beauty editors, have officially classified them as elite. Yep, it's true. You just need to cut through the crowded marketplace to find the best ones. That, dear reader, is what I'm here for. Ahead, see WWW's guide to the best sunscreens for summer 2026.
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What's New and Now
Ron Robinson
is a cosmetic chemist and the founder and CEO of
BeautyStat Cosmetics
. He says the days of basic sunscreen lotions are gone. Now, people are curating personal collections of SPF in a variety of textures and formats. It seems as if sunscreen wardrobes are the way of the future. "Mists, sticks, gels, primers, serums, and milks continue to trend this year," he says. "And body-part specific sunscreens, such as for the scalp and lips."
While we wait for the next-gen chemical sunscreen filters to be approved for use in the U.S., Robinson says he's been seeing more and more mineral sunscreen launches. (Mineral and chemical sunscreens both protect skin from UV light, but they differ in
how
. Mineral sunscreens use ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to reflect UV rays. Meanwhile, chemical sunscreens use ingredients like avobenzone or oxybenzone to absorb UV and convert it to heat.) Robinson says the 2026 class of mineral SPFs is all about tinted formulas and sheer finishes.
Despite the wave of new mineral sunscreens hitting the market, Robinson says we might not have to wait long for the next-gen chemical filters to become available. "There is one new sunscreen that is supposed to get approved for use in the U.S. called Bemotrizol," he says. "This sunscreen has been used in other markets for years and provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. I am most excited about this new sunscreen because it’s easy to formulate with and plays nicely with other ingredients. It might be approved for use in the US as early as this summer."
I'll keep my fingers crossed. In the meantime, keep scrolling to shop a selection of elite sunscreen formulas to pack in your beach bag this summer...
Milky Sunscreen
Forget traditional creams and lotions. Right now, milky sunscreens are the most popular and preferred format for sun protection. They're fluid, featherlight, and sink into the skin for a smooth, hydrated finish. Tatcha's
The Milky Sunscreen SPF 50+
($22) might just be the breakout star of the summer, thanks to its transparent broad-spectrum sun filters that virtually disappear on the skin. Vitamin E and encapsulated ectoin (a gold-standard anti-inflammatory ingredient) hydrate the skin and strengthen its natural barrier, while Okinawa aloe soothes irritation with skin-quenching moisture.
Summer Fridays'
Shadedrops SPF 50 Daily Mineral Milk Sunscreen
($38) is the 100% mineral option. It uses a combination of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to shield the skin, preventing any possibility of a white cast with a slight peachy-nude hue. An antioxidant complex, ceramide NP, and glycerin deliver anti-aging and barrier-strengthening benefits.
The same goes for Good Weather Skin's
The One All-Over Sun Milk SPF 50
($54). The 100% mineral SPF is formulated for the face but is meant for the whole body. Its universal hue means you won't even see a whisper of a white cast, and super-hydrators squalane and sea buckthorn oil strengthen the skin.
TATCHA
The Milky Sunscreen SPF 50+
Summer Fridays
Shadedrops SPF 50 Mineral Milk
Good Weather Skin
The One All-Over Sun Milk SPF 50
Sunscreen Sticks
I just wrote an in-depth guide to
the best sunscreen s

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Source: https://www.whowhatwear.com/beauty/skin/new-sunscreens-2026