Sarah Mitroff/CNET

This sunscreen is for people who hate thick, pasty sunscreens on their skin. It has the look and feel of a facial moisturizer, blends in incredibly quickly and made my skin feel nice. Honestly, I kept touching my face after it sank in because it felt remarkably soft.

This is completely unscented, which is good for people who are sensitive to fragrance. But you can also buy a version that has a white tea scent. Coola’s Classic Face Sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, but doesn’t feel heavy at all, unlike the other water-resistant options I tried. Bonus: It also contains ingredients that are reef-safe under Hawaii’s sunscreen regulations.

Out of every product I tested, I liked Coola’s the best as a daily sunscreen, either under makeup or on its own.

Sarah Mitroff/CNET

This chemical sunscreen formula is ultralight and has an unmistakable sunscreen scent. The formula is white, but blends in nicely, so there isn’t much of a white cast — though it might leave one on darker skin. The sunscreen cream dries down matte with a powdery finish, but it creates a detectable film that feels more like a sunscreen you’d use on your body.

Because of that film, it didn’t feel light on my skin, and I wouldn’t necessarily pick up this sunscreen for wearing under makeup on a workday. However, because it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, I would wear it to the beach, pool or on a hike. The sunscreen seems to stay put all day and feels like it can hold up under sweaty or wet conditions. 

If you prefer a mineral-based sunscreen, a bottle of La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50 is also a good choice. It’s just like the Ultra Light Sunscreen, but the formula uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to protect your skin against UV and UVB rays. Mineral sunscreens are often good for those with sensitive skin because they are less likely to cause irritation.

Sarah Mitroff/CNET

Supergoop’s sunscreen formulas are meant to not feel like sunscreen at all. Unseen is a thick clear gel that dries down to a soft matte finish, creating a great base for applying makeup over. And because it’s clear, it works for any and all skin tones — many other sunscreens on this list can leave behind a white film or have a tint that’s too light for darker complexions. 

There’s a hint of sunscreen smell, but it’s not overpowering in the slightest. The formula didn’t feel as hydrating on my skin as the Coola sunscreen did, so I wouldn’t wear it by itself. But if you already use a face moisturizer and you wear makeup daily, Unseen will serve you well. 

If you prefer a glowy, dewy finish instead of a matte finish for your primer, Supergoop recently launched Glowscreen, which is similar to Unseen except for the finish. Instead of a clear gel, the Glowscreen is more of a sheer liquid that adds some moisture and a glow, but without too much shimmer or glitter, according to the brand.

While I received a sample of Unseen courtesy of Supergoop, I actually purchased products from the company long before I wrote this story. I can vouch for the brand’s Smooth & Poreless matte formula that applies like makeup primer and has a “universal” tint that would work for most fair-skinned people. The only downside I’ve noticed is that it can make your skin feel dry, so be sure to moisturize before applying it.

I’m also a huge fan of Supergoop’s Mineral (Re)setting powder, which allows you to set your makeup while adding extra sun protection. It’s also great for reapplying during the day to get rid of shine and boost your sunscreen.

Sarah Mitroff/CNET

Despite its name, this sunscreen isn’t clear out of the pump. However, this mineral sunscreen rubs in without any white cast (a white film that titanium dioxide or zinc oxide can leave on the skin). It’s designed for those with acne, rosacea and hyperpigmentation and includes niacinamide, an ingredient that can soothe inflammation and reduce redness.

This formula is neither thick nor thin, and there’s no smell. It takes a bit of rubbing to get the formula to sink in and there’s a very thin but detectable clear film that it leaves behind. 

EltaMD’s UV Daily Moisturizing Facial Sunscreen has a similar consistency and finish on the skin, though it did leave a little bit of a white cast after I rubbed it in. If you’re opposed to the white hue, EltaMD also makes a tinted sunscreen. This formula has hyaluronic acid to moisturize and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and EltaMD says it’s gentle enough to apply after a chemical peel or microdermabrasion.

I didn’t fall in love with either formula, but I do think they are good if you have a specific skin concern like rosacea or sensitivity. Both are formulated with various skin conditions in mind.

Sarah Mitroff/CNET

Aveeno’s facial sunscreen feels more like a body sunscreen than any of the products on this list. Though it goes on thick, it does sink in nicely and leaves a soft, matte finish. The scent is also reminiscent of the typical sunscreen you’d grab when you head to the beach, albeit not as strong.

The formula is water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes and the formula is meant to be moisturizing like Aveeno’s other lotions and creams. Given its hydrating ingredients and the consistency of the formula, it’s probably a better choice if you have normal or dry skin, as opposed to oily or combination.

Update: The 50 SPF version has now been discontinued, but you can get the same product with 60 SPF for less than $10, which we have linked below.

Sarah Mitroff/CNET

There’s a lot to like about this Skinceuticals sunscreen, which offers broad-spectrum protection. The UVA and UVB protection skin care formula felt hydrating on my skin. It glides on easily and sinks in quickly, drying down to a matte finish. There’s a faint “universal” tint that evens out your skin tone (though I suspect it would be too light for dark complexions), providing a blurring effect to soften the look of pores and dark spots. That makes it good to wear under makeup or on its own.

I loved how light the formula felt on my skin — almost as if I wasn’t wearing anything. Another bonus is that there is no fragrance, which is good for sensitive skin. 

Between this sunscreen and the Supergoop Unseen, I had a hard time picking which was better for wearing under makeup. Ultimately Supergoop won because the clear formula works on any skin tone, but if the “universal” tint of this Skinceutical sunscreen works for your skin, it’s also a worthy choice.

Update: This product has been discontinued. 

Sarah Mitroff/CNET

Algenist has made a name for itself using alguronic acid derived from algae to promote antiaging. As for the Sublime Defense sunscreen, I thought it was just fine. While I can’t evaluate the antiaging properties of the product (that would take years of testing and detailed reports of my skin’s wrinkles and other signs of aging), as a daily sunscreen, it’s OK, but doesn’t blow me away.

It has a very faint baby powder scent and, for me, didn’t dry down to a matte finish, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you have oily skin. I will praise it for not leaving any kind of white cast even though it does have titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Sarah Mitroff/CNET

Neutrogena, I wanted to love you, but I didn’t. The formula just feels so old-school compared with the other formulas I tested, and it leaves a filmy finish on the skin. It’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and has a very light scent, but there was just nothing special about this sunscreen. The best quality of this sunscreen is that it dries down matte, but there are plenty of better formulas out there that do too.

I’ve also used Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunscreen in the past and didn’t like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer for the same reasons as the Age Shield.

Sephora/Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte is a tinted sunscreen (not a moisturizer) that contains antioxidants that help protect you from free radicals and provides SPF 30 UVA/UVB protection. The good news is that because of the tint, the zinc-based sunscreen doesn’t leave a white residue. The bad news is that the tint won’t work for all skin tones — even on my lighter skin it’s a bit dark and for dark skin tones, it could be too light. (The brand does make the same product in a sheer tint.) 

Even though it’s not a moisturizer, when I applied it over my moisturizer my skin felt more hydrated than with a moisturizer alone. Sometimes I’ll wear this without any makeup and I like that the tint gives me some color that is still natural-looking. – Mercey

Sarah Mitroff/CNET

Shiseido’s thin, watery formula takes a little effort to rub in and leaves a bit of a white cast. Given the small container size and price, I’m not thrilled with it. However, I do appreciate that it dries matte and feels like a good base for makeup.