Sunscreen Formulas Are Only Getting Better—Here's What's New, Elite, and Begging for Your Beach Bag

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.

Sunscreen Sticks

I just wrote an in-depth guide to the best sunscreen sticks because I'm convinced they're the easiest, most mess-free way to reapply SPF with smooth, even coverage. Try rubbing traditional sunscreen onto your skin with sandy hands, and you'll know what I mean. (It's exfoliation I never asked for.) I have sunscreen sticks littered all over my life—there's one in my car, in my bag, on my desk, and in the chic Zara Mesh Tote Bag ($80) I reserve for beach trips.

I have strict standards for my sunscreen sticks. If they pull, tug, pill, or smudge off my skin the second I start to sweat, it's out. I only collect the ones that glide across my skin like butter, stay put, and ideally provide additional skin benefits. (I'll take as many antioxidants as I can get in the summer months.)

Shiseido's Ultimate Sun Protector Clear Stick SPF 60+ ($33) is a classic—recommended by not one, not two, but three WWW beauty editors, which isn't surprising considering it's the number one sunscreen stick in the U.S. The invisible formula provides broad-spectrum SPF 60+ and eight hours of hydration. Its built-in SynchroShield Technology creates a protective veil that's strengthened by heat, water, and sweat exposure, which means it's fully water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Kopari's Pure Protect 100% Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+ ($25) is a glow-boosting mineral option. It has a sheer finish and a moisturizing, plumping, and antioxidant-rich base.

Abib's Airy Sunstick Protection Bar SPF 50+ ($) is my favorite Korean formula. It's water-resistant up to 80 minutes and is infused with ectoin and allantoin to protect the skin from damage, stress, and irritation. I also appreciate its semimatte finish when my skin gets too shiny in the summer heat.

SPF Primers

SPF primers work on three levels. First, they give the skin an extra layer of sun protection under makeup (duh). Second, they smooth and blur imperfections, including breakouts, redness, or enlarged pores. Third, they work as traditional makeup primers do, gripping foundation, concealer, and other products to the skin for a flawless, long-wearing result that holds better in the face of high heat and humidity. They're the multitasking makeup-meets-skincare heroes that are guaranteed to streamline your summer 2026 routine.

Eadem's new Sunsuede SPF 50+ Lightweight Sunscreen & Blurring Primer Stick ($32) is my top pick. As the name suggests, it provides a velvety, suede-like finish while blurring enlarged pores and controlling excess oil thanks to kaolin and zinc PCA. The lightweight formula grips makeup, enhancing and extending the wear of foundation, concealer, blush, and bronzer. YSE Beauty's Skin Glow SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Primer ($54) uses chemical filters to shield the skin, while niacinamide targets dark spots and sodium hyaluronate hydrates and plumps. It's the one to use if you want a mega-watt glow. On the flip side, I recommend Ultra Violette's Supreme Screen SPF 50 Mini Mate Sunscreen Moisturizer and Primer ($17) if you prefer a matte finish.

Ciele, a brand built on sun protection, offers another editor-vetted SPF primer. Meet the Prime & Protect SPF 30+ Smoothing Primer ($38). The 100% mineral formula smooths the skin, grips makeup, and provides an all-over, sun-kissed glow with two radiant shades, Mother (sheer champagne) and Nacre (soft bronze).

Sheer Tinted Sunscreens

As Robinson pointed out, sheer, slightly tinted sunscreens are on the rise. These provide light, skin-enhancing coverage with a smooth, hydrated finish. Many are 100% mineral, like Dr. David Kim's Lightsaver Triplesome Serum SPF 40 ($55), which is offered in two versatile shades. Formulated with the proprietary Triplesome Repair Complex-3, it helps protect, restore, and calm the skin. Goldenfaden MD's Lumi Shield SPF 50 Sunscreen ($48) is another derm-developed mineral option. Its universal sheer tint creates a soft veil on the skin, delivering a natural-looking glow.

Supergoop's new Protec(tint) Daily Skin Tint SPF 50 ($44) is the editor-approved chemical option. The ultra-blendable skin tint smooths and evens skin tone while delivering hydrating and strengthening benefits, thanks to a formula made up of a whopping 83% skincare ingredients.

Scalp & Lip Sunscreen

Dermatologists say the scalp is the #1 most neglected area for sun protection. Wearing a hat is an obvious and effective way to prevent sun damage in this area, but it's impractical to expect people to wear one 100% of the time. That's where scalp sunscreen comes in. They're intentionally designed to shield the scalp from harsh UV rays, without weighing the hair down or contributing to greasy roots. I can vouch for many of them—as a thin-haired person, I'm an ideal guinea pig.

Lip sunscreen shouldn't be skipped either. It's another notoriously neglected area. UV damage can break down collagen and elastin, contributing to a thinning appearance with dark spots, lines, and wrinkles...or worse. Luckily, there's no shortage of sheer, high-performance SPF lip products on the market.

3 Editor-Favorite Sunscreens

While the aforementioned sunscreens are all editor-approved, there are a few SPFs that WWW beauty editors love and cherish so much, they deserve their own category.

Let's start with Isdin's Fusion Water Magic SPF 40 Sunscreen ($38). The formula is beloved by multiple WWW beauty editors, but none so passionate as associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia. She penned a full review after using it on a sun-soaked trip to Miami. The formula offers 360-degree protection against not only sunburns but also blue light, photoaging, heat damage, infrared, pollution, and free radicals. As if that's not reason enough to invest in it, the watery, milky texture is a sensorial delight and soaks the skin in moisture.

Osea's new Marine Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen ($42) has also been the talk of intra-editor Slack channels. WWW's assistant beauty editor, Sabrina Talbert, is a big fan, which led her to pen her own dedicated review. Unlike other mineral SPFs, it's virtually undetectable on the skin and can be layered seamlessly (no pilling, smudging, or smearing). It impressed not one, but two self-confessed "sunscreen snobs." Enough said.

Last but not least, I have to talk about Bioré's UV Aqua Rich Daily Hydrating SPF 50 ($20), an elegant SPF that's beloved by yours truly. I originally waded into Bioré waters when I picked up the European-formulated version of this SPF on a trip to Paris. I was so incredibly obsessed with it that when it ran out, I put out a call to friends and fellow editors: "If you're going to Europe, please buy me a bottle of this SPF." After wishing and waiting for a bottle to magically drop into my lap, I decided to test the U.S. version, and wow, I loved it just as much. I don't know how they did it, but it's just as silky, smooth, and skin-quenching as my beloved Parisian one. I swear by it and reach for it nearly every day, whether I'm wearing it alone or under makeup.

And if I can sneak in one more rec...just one! It would be Beauty of Joseon's Dayscreen 2-in-1 SPF 30 ($20). As a Korean sunscreen stan, I've tried just about every K-beauty formula on the U.S. market, and IMO, this is one of the best. It's weightless, hydrating, and packs an antioxidant punch thanks to green tea-hyaluronic acid, a brand-exclusive ingredient. Meanwhile, ceramides support barrier function and moisture retention. It's so soothing that it's a must for all my fellow rosacea sufferers. I'll leave it at that.