This $25 Sunscreen Has Been on My Skin Every Day for a Year—Here’s Why It’s #1

This product also contains a bevy of active ingredients, including eight (yes, eight) types of hyaluronic acid—large, medium, and small molecules—which is why it feels so hydrating on my skin. “The larger a molecule’s size, the less it can penetrate into the skin, which limits its absorption,” Camp says. “Including hyaluronic acid of different sizes may help improve the penetration of the ingredient and therefore its ability to moisturize the skin.” 

There’s also astaxanthin, which Camp says is an antioxidant that “helps to protect the skin from free oxygen radicals that develop as a result of UV radiation and that can damage cellular structures like DNA.” Beyond that, there are ceramides, which support the skin barrier; fig-fruit extract, which is both an antioxidant and a hydrating ingredient; and centella asiatica, which is an extremely popular skincare ingredient known for its soothing properties. Camp says it “works to improve skin hydration and protect skin from oxidative stress.” 

There you have it—a long list of effective ingredients that explains why my skin has been loving this formula for more than a year straight. It’s worth noting that I have dehydrated, redness-prone skin that’s prone to moisture loss, so I love the sheer hydration I get from this SPF. If you have oily skin, though, you may find that it makes your complexion a little too shiny for your liking. If that’s the case, you can always add a little powder over top to dial it back. (That’s what I do if I know I’ll be wearing a dewy foundation.) Take it from Camp, who says, “This sunscreen may be a good option for those with dry skin. Those with more sensitive skin may want to use a mineral sunscreen, such as zinc, because they are thought to have less potential for irritation than chemical sunscreens.” 

This year, I’m welcoming the searing sun because I have one-too-many tubes of this sunscreen on hand. Come June, July, and August, you can catch me applying a coat of this SPF each and every morning (and then touching it up throughout the day of course). It’s official: I’m a daily sunscreen wearer and will be from here on out.