Top SPF Picks for Summer 2025 – Safe, Effective Sun Protection for Skin & Body

What is summer 2025 all about? Choosing SPF products with ingredients that are safe for our skin and safe for our bodies to absorb. Now more than ever we have SPF options that are non-pore clogging, give us proper UV protection, use ingredients that are safer for our bodies to absorb, and contain ingredients that benefit our skin.

These are my 2025 top picks for face and body SPF. I think we should avoid chemical SPF ingredients like Octinoxate and Oxybenzone because of their known negative effects on our bodies. I have found blended chemical SPFs that have safer ingredients like Avobenzone, Octisalate, and Octocrylene. And I’m choosing mineral SPFs that don’t have that thick, heavy feeling that makes our skin feel extra greasy.

One last note before we get to the SPF list! Remember, daily sun protection is an all-year-round thing. Damage comes from UV rays even on cloudy and cold days, and SPF protects us against other harmful rays, like ones that come from our devices and fluorescent lighting. So, just because we need a little extra SPF in the summertime (remember to reapply every 2 hours when spending time out in the sun), it is something we should have in our skincare routine 365 days a year.

scrub me secret: why do we want to avoid certain skincare ingredients? Some ingredients used in skincare and other products are known harmful chemicals; this means studies have shown that those specific ingredients cause skin irritation, hormone damage, and in some cases, contribute to cancers. we need to do our research and read our ingredient labels (or let me read them for you 😉) so we can make sure we lessen our toxic load on our body. I wrote another blog post that contains a list of skincare ingredients I like to avoid.


Your Summer 2025 SPF List

Innes Free Daily UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen - SPF 45

This is the SPF I’m currently using. I love this product because it’s a mineral SPF that feels like a regular facial lotion, meaning it doesn’t feel thick or tacky or leave a white cast like some mineral sunscreens tend to do.

This SPF 50 is the perfect last step to your AM skincare routine. With complexion evening ingredients like Centella Asiatica and niacinamide, plus its redness-neutralizing green tint, you might feel like you don’t even need your tinted moisturizer, coverup, or foundation.

BYOMA Gel Face Moisturizer - SPF 30

This gel SPF for your face also doubles as a lightweight moisturizer. With a ceramide complex and hyaluronic acid, this product helps your skin stay hydrated. This is a great option for oily skin types or those who don’t like a dewy or greasy feel on their skin. Dry skin types might like layering this SPF over a thicker moisturizer.

I also love layering this SPF underneath my tinted SPF moisturizer.

PCA Hydrator Plus - SPF 30

An all-time favorite of mine! This hydrating facial SPF is listed in so many of my product recommendation blogs. I love this SPF because it uses a chemical blend of SPF ingredients that are deemed safe for our skin and bodies when used in the correct concentration. Chemical-blended SPFs don’t have any greasy, thick, or tacky feel to them.

This product can double as your daytime moisturizer and also SPF. So, for those who are looking for fewer steps in their skincare routine or often forget the SPF step, this is my recommendation for you.

Beauty Of Josen Daily Releif Sunscreen - SPF 40

This popular K-Beauty sunscreen is a popular one among my clients because of its affordability and the esthetician-approved ingredient blend. This product uses a blend of UV-blocking ingredients that are less common, but they are approved as safe for skin and body on the EWG Skindeep Database. This is another SPF item that doesn't feel too thick or tacky and contains skin-loving ingredients. Making it perfect for daily use!

Probiotic extracts, rice extracts, and antioxidant plant extracts provide skin softening, smoothing, and extra protection benefits. I can see why this is a popular sunscreen.

scrub me secret: I know a lot of these skincare items can be easily purchased on amazon. and you might have even learned about them via your favorite amazon influencer. However, in the spirit of supporting skincare businesses and avoiding the mass consumerism that is amazon I encourage you to purchase items directly from the skincare BUSINESS’S website or from a small business that carries the certain product you need. You will not find any amazon links in this blog.

Indie Lee SPF Primer - SPF 50

I love an unexpected SPF product, and this is exactly that! This slightly tinted, liquid primer contains a broad-spectrum SPF 50. The color of this product isn’t pigmented very much at all, so it works great for most skin types. It’s soothing, helps add some hydration to your skin, and gives it an overall more even tone. You can apply your makeup, tinted moisturizer, or nothing at all over this primer. Rosemary extract, vitamin E, niacinamide, and allantoin are all ingredients that benefit our skin, making this item a combo of an SPF, makeup item, and skincare.

I like adding a few drops of this to my ILIA SPF tint. It thins out the texture a little bit, and then I know I’m not compromising the SPF effects of my tinted SPF by adding an item that doesn’t contain any sun protection ingredients.

Derma E Sun Protection Mineral Powder - SPF 30

An SPF mineral powder is such a nice product to have; It’s easy to apply and reapply whenever you need. It can go on over makeup or other products you have on your skin. I also like that it has a mattifying effect that helps with any sweat or oiliness you experience in hot weather. This mineral powder SPF product can easily be tossed into your purse, beach bag, or travel bag so you never have to go without SPF. Bonus, it’s TSA friendly!

Having an SPF powder is one of my skincare tips for those who often forget to reapply their SPF. This mineral powder can be applied using the brush applicator, meaning you don’t need to touch your face or even use a mirror to apply it. It’s that easy!

Tulipscreen Hydrating Lip Oil - SPF 40

Lips can get sunburnt too. Often, too much sun exposure is a contributor to flaky skin on your lips. I’ve never found a lip product or a lip balm that contains SPF that I have really loved, until now! I was gifted this tinted lip oil with SPF last year, and I’ve been using it ever since.

This is a tube of pigmented lip oil (see colors above) that contains an SPF 40. It stays on your lips even while drinking, eating, swimming, or sweating. If you’re in the mood for a new lip tint, choose this one with SPF in it!

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen - Body SPF 40

Don’t forget the SPF on your body! Most skin cancers are found below our face and neck, so we really need to make sure we are protecting ourselves from these damaging UV rays.

This gel SPF for your body is perfect for those who don’t like the feeling of any moisturizer or product sitting on their skin. It’s super lightweight and feels matte shortly after applying. Now you have no excuses not to SPF your whole body.

Kinfield Cloud Cover - Body SPF 35

This moisturizing body SPF is perfect for those with dry skin. This mineral body SPF is made with aloe, glycerin, and sea kelp, which all add moisturizing and skin softening properties. It’s thick, creamy, and feels so good on dehydrated, dry, or sunburnt skin. And it doesn’t leave a white cast.

This is the perfect body SPF for outdoor sports, exercise, and beach activities because it doesn’t wipe away with sweat and gives your skin the protection it needs. This is what I currently use on my body because I love my skin to look hydrated and glowing all over.

scrub me secret: Another thing all these sun protection products have in common, other than they are esthetician approved? These are all broad-spectrum SPFs, meaning they protect your skin against both long UVA and short UVB rays. Broad-spectrum SPF is a must for protecting against cancers, burning, and early onset aging, like sagging skin and wrinkles.

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