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Sunscreen 101: SPF 30 & Higher

Skincare
Christine |

SPF30+ | These are products currently available that offer SPF 30 or higher but do not fall into the category of water-resistant or moisturizing (at least not marketed as such).

Prescriptives ‘All-Weather Friend’ Daily Sun Protection SPF 40 ($26.50) contains:

  • Octinoxate 7.5% (UVB)
  • Titanium dioxide 5.0% (UVB/UVA)*

Elemis ‘Liquid Layer’ Sunblock SPF 30 ($39.00) contains:

  • Titanium dioxide 7.0% (UVB/UVA)*

Osmotics Age Prevention Protection Extreme SPF 40 ($45.00) contains:

  • Zinc Oxide (UVA)
  • Octinoxate (UVB)
  • Octisalate (UVB)

Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40 ($16.50) contains:

  • Titanium dioxide 6.0% (UVB/s-UVA)*
  • Zinc Oxide 8.0% (UVA)

Clarins UV Plus ($39.00) contains:

  • Titanium dioxide (UVB/UVA)*

Dermalogica solar defense booster spf30 ($43.00) contains:

  • Avobenzone 3.0% (UVA)
  • Octinoxate 7.5% (UVB)
  • Octisalate 5.0% (UVB)
  • Oxybenzone 5.0% (s-UVA)

* Titanium dioxide covers the UVA spectrum up to 385nm, but the UVA range that is damaging goes up to 400nm; industry standard considers it to still be a broad spectrum coverage, but we wanted to note it here so you can decide.

Make sure you check out our introduction to sunscreen here. These products are typically available at Nordstrom.com or Sephora.com.

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11 Comments

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Tonee Avatar
Tonee

Clarins UV Plus is one of the best I have used. Doubles as a primer too – and absolutely no greasy residue once applied. That’s something I had to deal with when I used other sunscreen products on my face. The only minus point I can think of is the price because it has to be repurchased often.

Calico Avatar
Calico

Hi, i also love the clarin’s and its a definate staple in my life, makes a fantastic primer too. So easy to spread and use too, its so light. Worth a shot i really recommend.

K Avatar
K

Hi, I was wondering if you can recommend a sunscreen for combination skin, I tend to get oily throughout the day and I use dermologica at the moment but I find it is too thick and not that great under makeup. I also have hypo AND hyperpigmentation and the only way to prevent it is to wear sunscreen and therefore I don’t know what to choose because I wear foundation daily and it tends to feel like i have a layer of crap on my face by the end of the day….

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