Dr. Shereene Idriss has looked at more sunscreens than most of us will ever own. Her approval rate for the category sits at 77%, and she handed out a handful of Top Pick stamps across a very wide range of price points. Her enthusiasm is real, but so is her eye for what falls short.
What does Dr. Shereene Idriss recommend in sunscreen?
Across her approvals, Dr. Idriss keeps coming back to two things: formulas that disappear without a trace, and ones that pull double duty as a moisturizer. She loves the Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV Sunscreen SPF50 Clear for feeling like water on the skin, which she says is a win for people with oily skin. She rates the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ just as highly, calling it a beautiful moisturizing sunscreen for dry skin at about ten dollars. Innovative actives catch her eye too. She gave a Top Pick to the ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion SPF 50, partly because it contains photolyase, which is a repair enzyme that helps skin recover from past sun damage while the SPF prevents new damage. Price is not a barrier to a top rating from her, but formula feel is.
Dr. Shereene Idriss's sunscreen picks, in her words
"There's also one by Sun Bum which I do not have here but when I tell you it transports me and takes me away to a tropical island, you will feel the same way too. Love, love, love the Sun Bum scalp and hair mist SPF 30. It is only 17 dollars and the cheapest vacation you will ever take in your brain. It is a 24% zinc oxide and retails for 30 bucks. It comes in four shades: translucent, light, medium, and deep, which might also work for hair tones as well."
"I love Isdin. The Fotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion SPF 50 is great and it's designed for people with actinic damage. Actinic is a fancy word for sun damage, meaning the breakdown of your collagen from the Sun. [...] This one is great. It has Photolyase, which is a repair enzyme in the sunscreen that allows your skin to repair itself while you're protecting it from future sun."
"It's not as expensive as it is for the face. I think they don't put in as many vitamins, antioxidants, and so on."
"This is a mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 70. That is extremely lightweight, extremely easy. It dries down very, very fast. and unlike traditional mineral sunscreens, has very little of a white cast."
"The Inkey List has their polyglutamic acid dewy sunscreen at SPF 30 which is great for dry skin. It has no HA but it does help to keep you hydrated with the polyglutamic acid."
"The Ordinary is a brand that you've never heard of. Their UV filters SPF 30 serum is a brand new launch for $19. It's pretty incredible. It is very lightweight. It is serumlike and it is fragrance free and it is great for the person who hates sunscreen. In fact, it reminds me of K's better screen in terms of packaging as well as texture, but the price point is obviously very different."
How many sunscreens has Dr. Shereene Idriss reviewed?
Dr. Shereene Idriss has reviewed 52 sunscreens, for an approval rate of 77%. 40 approved, 10 mixed, and 2 skipped.
What has Dr. Shereene Idriss skipped in sunscreen?
She skipped almost nothing. A Nay is rare in her record here, though about one in five landed as mixed takes. Her clearest skip is the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40. She is direct about it: she dislikes it personally because of the silicone load. Too slippery, too much slip, she says, which may be a real concern for anyone who layers makeup or other products on top. She is quick to add that plenty of people love it, so the skip is honest rather than harsh.
"Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen is one that I actually personally dislike very much. But people love her, they absolutely love her. She's 48 dollars, she's SPF 40. It is also a physical sunscreen, a chemical sunscreen. I don't like her because it's just way too slippery for me. There's too much silicone, there's too much slip."
"Am I going to be recommending the mela B3 serum on my channel probably not"
What should you take from Dr. Shereene Idriss's picks?
Dr. Idriss is one of the most approval-friendly reviewers in the category, but she is not easy to please on texture. If a sunscreen disappears well, hydrates without weight, and comes in at a fair price, she is very likely to rate it. If it sits heavy or leaves the skin too slick, she says so plainly. Her Top Picks span budget finds like Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ to specialist formulas like ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion SPF 50, so there is something in her record for almost every skin type and budget.
Watch Dr. Shereene Idriss say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion SPF 50Named a winnerWatch at 18:22
- First Aid Beauty Hydrating Sunscreen Milk with Oatmeal SPF 45Named a winnerWatch at 0:10
- Sun Bum Original Scalp and Hair Mist SPF 30Named a winnerWatch at 14:31
- Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40Skipped itWatch at 12:39
- La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum and SunscreenSkipped itWatch at 9:53
- Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50Rated itWatch at 17:07
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SunscreenRated itWatch at 1:57
- The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30Rated itWatch at 18:05
- The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30Rated itWatch at 2:45
- Ciele Tint & Protect SPF 50+ Tinted Serum FoundationRated itWatch at 8:44
- Allies of Skin One SPF 50 Invisible Sunscreen GelRated itWatch at 11:43
- Vacation Classic Whip SPF 30Rated itWatch at 17:59
- Supergoop Protect Tint Daily SPF 50Rated itWatch at 15:34
- First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30Rated itWatch at 13:48
- Isntree Purple Protector Sunscreen SPF 40Rated itWatch at 11:56
- Kiehl's Autotone Skin Discoloration Treatment SPF 30Rated itWatch at 5:32
- Beauty of Joan Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50Rated itWatch at 4:23
- Revision Skincare IntelliShade Original Tinted SPF 45Rated itWatch at 9:48
- Supergoop Play Body Mousse SPFRated itWatch at 9:21
- Sarah Creal Brilliant Repair Shield Illuminating SPF 50Rated itWatch at 5:35
- Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum SPF 50 Facial Sunscreen with Collagen PeptidesRated itWatch at 15:14
- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Skin Illuminator SPF 25Rated itWatch at 11:30
- Coppertone Glow Shimmer Sunscreen SPF 50Rated itWatch at 9:50
- Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++Rated itWatch at 9:00
About this expert
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This guide reflects what Dr. Shereene Idriss said across her videos about 52 products in sunscreen, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.