13 Best Moisturizer With SPF That Are as Protective as They Are Hydrating
When UV levels are at an all time high, it doesn’t hurt to add a best moisturizer with SPF to your curated summer skin care edit. An O.G. multitasker, this works similarly to sunscreens for face in that they provide protection from harmful sun rays, but are packed with intensely conditioning agents like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to nourish dry, dull skin. But, is your moisturizer with SPF as good as your traditional face sunscreen? Below, two board-certified dermatologists answer this and more to anchor our edit of the best moisturizers with SPF of 2024.
Our Top PicksBest for Dark Spots: SkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30, $60Best For Mature Skin: RĂ©Vive Moisturizing Renewal Day Cream SPF 30, $195Best For Dry Skin: Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40, $48Best Drugstore: CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion With SPF 30, $20Best For Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer SPF 30, $25Best For Oily Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer with SPF 50, $27Best Color-Correcting: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30, $54In This StoryWhat is moisturizer with SPF?How does moisturizer with SPF differ from traditional sunscreen?Is moisturizer with SPF as good as traditional sunscreen?What to look for in moisturizers with SPFHow much moisturizer with SPF should you apply for adequate UV protection?Meet the expertsSkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30SkinCeuticals
Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30
Why We Love It: This SkinCeuticals moisturizer with SPF is the ideal summertime formula to stock up on because it gently, yet visibly brightens, hydrates, and protects. Tranexamic acid, niacinamide, phenylethyl resorcinol, and glycerin come together to fade dark spots and correct discolorationâleaving skin soft, glowing, and protected against future sun damage.Key Ingredients: 1% tranexamic acid, 2% niacinamide, 0.3% phenylethyl resorcinol, 7% glycerinChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 7.2%, 5% Octisalate, Octocrylene 7.2%)SPF Level: 30Size: 1 fl ozBest For: Dark spots, hyperpigmentation, brightening, combination-to-oily skinCeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion With SPF 30CeraVe
Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion With SPF 30
Why We Love It: Formulated specifically for balanced to oily skin types, CeraVe crafted a lightweight, matte-finish lotion perfect for summer. It finds its hydrating benefits through a blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramides, plus a cocktail of chemical UV filters to not only protect against sun rays but the skin barrier too.Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramidesChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.7%)SPF Level: 30Size: 1.7 fl ozBest For: Normal to oily skinPeter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Moisturizer SPF 45Peter Thomas Roth
Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Moisturizer SPF 45
Why We Love It: If I were to apply a face cream on a sunny day by the pool, Iâd grab Peter Thomas Roth’s Water Drench. Water-resistant with a non-greasy, invisible, cream-to-gel formula, this safeguards skin with SPF 45 protection and delivers up to 72 hours of hydration.Key Ingredients: 30% Hyaluronic acid complex, ceramides, glycerin, hydrolyzed silkChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 5%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 10%)SPF Level: 30Size: 1.7 fl ozBest For: Dry skinLa Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30
Why We Love It: Whether you have a penchant for French pharmacy skincare or drugstore classics, you’re likely familiar with La Roche-Posayâs Double Repair face moisturizer. One of the brandâs bestsellers, this rich cream is packed with thermal spring water, ceramides, allantoin, and niacinamide to replenish skin’s moisture levels, soothe, and even tone. Itâs one of those products thatâs virtually impossible not to like.Key Ingredients: La Roche-Posay prebiotic thermal water, glycerin, ceramides, allantoin, niacinamideChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 5%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 7%)SPF Level: 30Size: 3.38 fl ozBest For: Sensitive skin, all skin typesNeutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Facial Moisturizer with SPF 50Neutrogena
Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Facial Moisturizer with SPF 50
Why We Love It: If youâre already a fan of Neutrogena’s well-loved Hydro Boost Moisturizer, you should consider its SPF-infused companion your summertime swap. Like the O.G. formula, this is powered by hyaluronic acid for all day hydration. However instead of a water-gel, the SPF version is whipped into a lightweight cream that melts into skin sans white cast.Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, glycerinChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 15%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 10%)SPF Level: 50Size: 1.7 fl ozBest For: All skin typesKiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30Kiehl’s
Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30
Why We Love It: The star ingredient in Kiehlâs Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 is squalaneâa botanical lipid derived from olives that works to replenish the skin barrier. Additionally, glycerin and botanical oils in the formula come together to make skin soft, supple, and balanced as ever.Key Ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, sweet almond, apricot kernel, and avocado oilChemical or Physical: Chemical (Homosalate, octocrylene)SPF Level: 30Size: 4.2 fl ozBest For: All skin typesElemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30Elemis
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30
Why We Love It: Elemis takes a collagen-first approach to treating skinâmeaning it seeks to boost skinâs collagen production for more youthful, glowing skin. This moisturizer in particular boasts wrinkle-smoothing propertiesâfinding firming and toning benefits through botanicals like chlorella and ginkgo biloba.Key Ingredients: Padina pavonica, ginkgo biloba, chlorella, carrot root extractChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 1.0%, octionoxate 1.0%, octocrylene 0.5%)SPF Level: 30Size: 1.69 fl ozBest For: Mature skin, fine lines, wrinkles, dry skinSupergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40Supergoop!
Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40
Why We Love It: Say you want to delight in Supergoop!âs sun-care expertise but prefer something a little more nourishing. Then, Superscreen Hydrating Daily Cream is the one for you. With SPF 40 (through chemical UV filters), you get substantial sun protection, but instead of a sheer, invisible gel (like its Unseen sunscreen) or a bronzing lotion (like its Glowscreen), this is a rich cream packed with ectoin, ceramides, and algae extract.Key Ingredients: Ectoin, ceramides, algae extract, glycerinChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 6%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 1.5%)SPF Level: 40Size: 1.7 fl ozBest For: All skin typesMDSolarSciences Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30MDSolarSciences
Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30
Why We Love It: The MDSolarSciences Daily Perfecting Moisturizer SPF 30 is one of those products that youâre likely to return to year after year. Its lightweight, nourishing, creamy texture gives it universal appeal; plus, all skin types can benefit from its ingredient composition. Experts say ceramides, naicinamide, and vitamin C are useful in all skin-care routines.Key Ingredients: Proprietary SolSci-X and ProVention-R, plus niacinamide, peptides, antioxidants (vitamin C, grape, rosemary, green tea, rosehips), and aloe veraChemical or Physical: Chemical (avobenzone 3%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 2.75%)SPF Level: 30Size: 1.7 fl ozBest For: Mature skin, fine lines, wrinkles, dry skinShiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20Shiseido
Essential Energy Hydrating Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20
Why We Love It: Interested in the Japanese approach to skincare? Add Shiseidoâs Essential Energy cream to cart. This uses chemical filters to shield against UV rays, but also soothes, energizes, and replenishes skinâs moisture levels through ginseng root extract and hyaluronic acid. Though at first glance, it appears as a rich creamâtrust it will absorb swiftly and weightlessly into the skin.Key Ingredients: Ginseng root extract, hyaluronic acid, caffeine, rosemary leaf extractChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 2.0%, homosalate 5.0%, octisalate 5.0%, octocrylene 5.0%)SPF Level: 20Size: 1.7 fl ozBest For: All skin types, under makeupClinique Moisture Surge Broad Spectrum SPF 28Clinique
Moisture Surge Broad Spectrum SPF 28
Why We Love It: Cliniqueâs Moisture Surge is the lightweight moisturizer of dreams. With a soft, cloud-like texture, the formula blends seamlessly into skin, alleviating concerns like dryness and dullness through the brandâs aloe biofermentâa cocktail of lactobacillus, activated aloe water, and organic aloe extract powder, plus hyaluronic acid and provitamin D.Key Ingredients: Aloe Bioferment + HA Complex, hyaluronic acid, provitamin D, glycerinChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3.0%, homosalate 7.0%, octinoxate 7.0%, octisalate 4.5%)SPF Level: 28Size: 1.7 fl ozBest For: All skin types, dullness, under makeupRĂ©Vive Moisturizing Renewal Day Cream SPF 30RĂ©Vive
Moisturizing Renewal Day Cream SPF30
Why We Love It: RĂ©Vive knows how to make an excellent moisturizerâa statement thatâs easily backed up after trying its Renewal Day Cream. The elixir is packed with a biomimetic peptide that plumps and smooths skin, alongside thermus thermophilus ferment, antioxidants, and red algae to protect against environmental stressors and boost the skin barrier.Key Ingredients: Bio-Renewal Peptide, thermus thermophilus ferment, vitamin C, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate, allantoin, red aglaeChemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 2.6%)SPF Level: 30Size: 1.7 fl ozBest For: Mature skin, dry skinDr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30
Why We Love It: Dr. Jart+âs Cicapair treatment takes your ordinary face moisturizer up a notch by not only nourishing skin but delivering a green-to-beige tint that expertly neutralizes redness and color-corrects with ease. And thanks to tiger grass, otherwise known as centella asiatica, sensitive and reactive skin types are left calm and balanced after application.Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica, glycerin, strawberry leaf extract, lavender oil, rosemary leaf oilChemical or Physical: Mineral (Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide)SPF Level: 30Size: 1.69 fl ozBest For: Color-correcting, redness, sensitive skinWhat is a moisturizer with SPF?
Itâs as straightforward as it sounds: âA moisturizer with SPF is a product formulated to support skin hydration that also includes UV filters to provide sun protection,â says New York City-based double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Carolyn Stull.
How does moisturizer with SPF differ from traditional sunscreen?
According to New Yorkâbased, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lauren Penzi, âUnlike traditional sunscreen, these products contain additional hydrating ingredients like emollients that soften skin (i.e. ceramides), humectants that retain moisture in the skin (i.e. hyaluronic acid, glycerin) and/or occlusives that help prevent water loss (i.e. dimethicone).â
Is moisturizer with SPF as good as a traditional sunscreen?
Yes, and no. Penzi continues, calling moisturizer with SPF more âelegantâ than your everyday sunscreen in that they absorb better into the skin and will not leave a greasy residue. But that doesnât mean you should forgo your standalone sunscreen entirely.
âBoth come in different levels of SPF, but usually moisturizer with SPF contains lower levels,â she says. âAlthough it can be just as good as a traditional sunscreen if the SPF type and levels are equivalent, the difference is that people are usually not applying enough of it as they would sunscreen, and may not be reapplying it as they should with sunscreen.â
All to say, if you apply your a moisturizer with SPF enough (general guidance is two finger-lengths worth, or the equivalent of a shot glass full for the face), youâre good to go. For additional protection, consider supplementing with another SPFâlike a sunscreen facial mist, powder, or even tinted sunscreen.
What to look for in moisturizers with SPF
SPF Level: âI recommend selecting a product with SPF of 30 or higher, which blocks 97% of UVB rays,â says Stull. Penzi, who recommends a minimum SPF level of 40, emphasizes that âadditional increase in UVB protection is minimal.â The takeaway here is that itâs more important to reapply every two hours than to apply SPF with a higher level, just once.Broad-Spectrum Protection: Penzi advises to look for coverage from both UVA and UVB rays; âUVA rays penetrate deeper into skin and cause premature aging, including wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. UVB rays penetrate less deep, but they are main cause of sunburn and the development of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. (PA+ system refers to UVA coverage).âChemical vs Mineral: âMineral filters such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide work by reflecting and scattering UV rays as opposed to absorbing them,â says Stull, whereas chemical filters work by absorbing UV rays. Sheâd prefer mineral filters to chemical filters, particularly for those with sensitive skin, as they are generally less irritating and less likely to cause skin allergies.Key Ingredients: Both Stull and Penzi agree that humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin are great ingredients to look for as they draw water and moisture into the skin. Otherwise, Penzi would incorporate ceramides to âprotect the skin from environmental stressors;â squalene to prevent water loss and âneutralize free radicals that can damage skin cells and contribute to premature aging,â plus niacinamide to âstrengthen the skin barrier, improve elasticity, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.âHow much moisturizer with SPF should you apply for adequate UV protection?
To apply moisturizer with SPF, Stull recommends massaging into clean, slightly damp skin in the morning. For adequate sun protection, use at least a quarter-sized amount or the equvialent of two finger-lenghts.
Meet The Experts
Dr. Lauren Penzi is a New Yorkâbased, board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology.Dr. Carolyn Stull is a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at MDCS Dermatology in New York City.
