If applying sunscreen feels like a chore, the best moisturizers with SPF might be the solution you’ve been searching for. Simply put, a moisturizer with SPF is a face cream that provides broad-spectrum sun protection rated SPF 30 or higher. (We follow the guidelines set by the American Academy of Dermatology, and so should you!) It should go without saying that these moisturizers provide skin-plumping moisture and hydration via ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and peptides, with the added benefit of protecting your skin against harmful UV rays. Scroll on and shop these editor- and dermatologist-recommended facial moisturizers with SPF to ensure your skin is in tip-top health all year round.
Our Top Moisturizers with SPF
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Mineral Sunscreen: Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops
Why it’s worth it: Yes, Kate Somerville’s HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops are mineral-based, but they’re nothing like the chalkier lotions on the market (hence its 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award win). This totally clear formula absorbs immediately into the surface layer of the skin, leaving no white cast or ashy residue behind—especially key for darker skin tones. You can, however, count on a lingering dewy glow we think looks breathtaking. Though this formula contains non-nano zinc oxide (which means the particles of the sunblock are slightly larger), the trick to its transparent sheen is its sheer mineral-based pigments that neutralize any discoloration.
We also love this sunscreen’s soothing formula, thanks to the anti-inflammatory ectoin, a free radical-fighting skin-care ingredient derived from healthy bacteria. “It’s an extremolyte, which is extracted from extremophilic microorganisms,” says Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. According to Dr. Idriss, extremolytes like ectoin help protect cellular integrity in extreme weather conditions (bye, wintertime dryness and cold-induced eczema flare-ups).
“As a woman with brown skin, I usually run away from mineral sunscreen. Zinc? AHHHH! That’s a surefire way to look purple. This lightly tinted formula changed my mind. It’s got a watery consistency and blends seamlessly without leaving my skin looking dusty.”
- Sunscreen type: mineral
- Key ingredients: non-nano zinc oxide (24.5%), sheer mineral pigments, ectoin
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Chemical Sunscreen: Supergoop! Triple Prep Weightless Multitasking Moisturizer SPF 40
Why it’s worth it: Supergoop’s expertise lies in sunscreen, so, naturally, we trust the brand to masterfully incorporate sun protection into a moisturizer. That’s exactly what it did with the Triple Prep Weightless Multitasking Moisturizer SPF 40, the dolled-up sister of the brand’s Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40. This 2-in-1 formulation treats pores with a nourishing blend of the skin-plumping good stuff: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, and ectoin. Like many Supergoop products, this formula was made to play well under makeup. In fact, its mattifying properties and fast-absorbing texture make for one of the best hydrating makeup primers out there, Amanda Lam, a cosmetic chemist, noted to Allure.
Triple Prep works across all skin types. Take it from Calaor: “On my super dry skin, Supergoop’s Triple Prep Weightless Multitasking Moisturizer SPF 40 absorbs quickly and leaves me feeling as if I have slathered on a regular moisturizer. When it dries down, it has a silky finish that isn’t sticky or greasy. It leaves my skin looking radiant.”
- Sunscreen type: chemical
- Key ingredients: avobenzone (3%), homosalate (7%), octisalate (5%), octocrylene (6%), hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ectoin, niacinamide
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Combination Skin: Ultra Violette Supreme Screen SPF 50 PA++++
Why it’s worth it: Australian sunscreen brand Ultra Violette is giving the stateside stuff a run for its money. Case in point? The brand’s Supreme Screen SPF 50. The triple-threat SPF, moisturizer, and primer offers comprehensive coverage while addressing concerns such as dark spots, fine lines, and dryness. For that, you can thank plant-based pentavitin, a barrier-strengthening humectant, and squalane. Due to its non-oily nature, this is a solid choice for combination skin with a mind of its own.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“As a Korean sunscreen superfan, I’m not easily convinced any other country can beat their formulas, but Ultra Violette has me changing my tune. Supreme Screen SPF 50, in particular, has made its way into my regular rotation. It really packs a hydrating punch (the glow, you guys!), rubs in almost instantly, and wears under makeup so elegantly. My skin looks noticeably brighter and more radiant when I wear the SPF alone, so sometimes I skip makeup altogether. My only tiny gripe: I do wish you got a little more bang for your buck (sorry, K-beauty’s got you beat there).”
- Sunscreen type: chemical
- Key ingredients: avobenzone (3%), homosalate (7%), octisalate (5%), octocrylene (8%), plant-based pentavitin, squalane
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Dry Skin: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50 PA++++
Why it’s worth it: Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun SPF 50 has probably popped up on your FYP at some point, and trust us, it’s worth the hype. This gorgeous sunscreen has the feel of a lightweight moisturizer, and skips the sticky residue and white cast, instead opting for straight-up hydration. As for the formula, this sunscreen is infused with rice grain and fermented rice extracts to calm and condition your face—acne-prone skin, this goes out to you.
PSA: While you can buy the original formula from reputable, Asia-based retailers listed above, the version on Amazon is a slightly different, FDA-approved formula called Daily Relief Sunscreen. One notable difference: Daily Relief doesn’t have a PA rating, a scale of + to ++++, that’s standard among Asian sunscreens to measure protection against UVA rays. (This tweaked formula is still worth a buy, but we want you to stay informed!)
“Quite frankly, I might never go for another sunscreen again after the torrid affair I’m currently having with Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun SPF 50. On TikTok’s recommendation, I bought an entire four-pack of this K-beauty staple and have been tearing through it—which is all too easy to do, given the way it melts into skin like butter and leaves a highlighter-level glow behind.”
“For my combo skin, since it’s so hydrating, I skip my standalone moisturizer and go straight to this after my morning serum. Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50 PA++++ is a prime example of what Korean sunscreens can do: pack ample UVA and UVB protection into a weightless, nourishing, softening, and brightening formula that leaves white cast out of the equation. If you have yet to try a Korean sunscreen, this is a most excellent first foray.”
- Type: chemical
- Key ingredients: chemical sunscreen filters (diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, ethylhexyl triazone, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol), rice grain extract, rice ferment extract, glycerin
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Under Makeup: Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 PA++++
Why it’s worth it: If you find yourself fretting that your sunscreen is going to ruin your makeup, Naturium’s Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 will put your worries to bed. This silky formula wears beautifully under bases, blushes, and everything in between, and boasts a PA++++ rating (a standard metric for Korean sunscreens). The gist? “The greater the number of plus signs [the max being four], the better the level of protection against UVA rays (which visibly age us),” Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, explains. The standard measurement of sunscreen strength (the SPF number) measures UVB rays, a.k.a. the ones with shorter wavelengths that cause sunburns.
You’ll also get a nice dose of squalane, niacinamide, and vitamin C and, JSYK, the cap can be used to measure out the dermatologist-recommended amount of product for the face.
“This lotion is just so yummy. The lightweight formula absorbs very quickly, but leaves my skin feeling hydrated and looking dewy for the entire day. It’s great for layering under makeup; I have yet to experience any pilling. Also, you can’t really beat a $22 price point.”
- Sunscreen type: chemical
- Key ingredients: avobenzone (3%), homosalate (10%), octisalate (5%), squalane, niacinamide, vitamin C
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Brightening: Olay Super Cream with Sunscreen SPF 30
Why it’s worth it: Olay’s Super Cream Sunscreen SPF 30 is an instant classic whose formula juggles five different benefits in every application. It starts strong with chemical-filter UV defense and moves along to hydrating, smoothing, firming, and brightening. Heavy hitters like vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and collagen peptides are at play to enhance the skin-care vibes in this SPF, while skipping any white cast or greasiness in the process. This formula draws inspiration from the brand’s beloved Super Serum, which offers many of the same perks but without the sunscreen.
- Type: chemical
- Key ingredients: avobenzone (3.0%), homosalate (9.0%), octisalate (4.5%), octocrylene (6.0%), hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, collagen peptides, vitamin C, vitamin E
- Fragrance-free: no
More moisturizers with SPF to consider:
- For a lightweight moisturizer spiked with sun protection and prebiotics that support and strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier, La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30 is a go-to. Just ask Connecticut-based, board-certified dermatologist, Mona Gohara, MD. “Super-hydrating ceramides and niacinamide bring down inflammation,” she says.
- A great daytime moisturizer for anyone looking to address the appearance of wrinkles, grab a tub of Philosophy’s Hope In A Jar Smooth-Glow Multi-Tasking Moisturizer SPF 30. Mina Amin, MD, a Los Angeles–based dermatologist, says she “loves that this moisturizer is so hydrating and blends seamlessly into the skin.
- ”One of the internet’s favorite affordable sunscreens for its totally transparent, barely-there formulation, Bioré’s UV Aqua Rich SPF 50 is an essence-textured pick that has a thinner, more watery feel than traditional sunscreen lotions. It instantly hydrates skin with the help of hyaluronic acid. Did we mention it’s a 2024 Best of Beauty winner? Yup, yup, and yup.
- Because of its hydrating formula, free-radical defense, and sheer coverage, dermatologists adore EltaMD’s UV Daily SPF 40. Dr. Gohara especially recommends it to her patients looking to improve signs of aging, she says.
- If you’re looking for an option that won’t exacerbate greasiness, Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Fort Wayne, Indiana, recommends applying SkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30. Its lightweight hydration comes from glycerin, a humectant that binds water onto the surface layer of the skin for a smooth, velvety texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ingredients to look for in a moisturizer with SPF?
Like all sunscreens, a moisturizer with SPF will contain some form of chemical or mineral UV filters to protect your skin against the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays, which can lead to signs of aging, such as fine lines, and, on a larger scale, skin cancer. We adhere to the AAD’s guidelines and only recommend sunscreens with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. However, your sunscreen-day cream hybrid will contain at least one of the following ingredients for long-lasting hydration: