Sunscreen and Sunless Tan Review

I take sunscreen products as serious as I do other skincare products. There are so many out there to try and I want one that is safe, clean and will benefit my skin. I have tried many products thru the years so I have a lot of products to share for my sunscreen and sunless tan review.

Sunscreen is important year round. But as things warm up and we spend more time outside, it becomes even more vital in your skincare routine. We all know that sunscreen is extremely important in regards to preventing skin cancer. It is also vital in regards to anti aging. I have read and heard many times that if you spend a lot of time and money on your skincare but don’t wear sunscreen, you are ruining all the improvements you are making.

Sunscreen and Sunless Tan Review

Sunscreen Reviews

Face Sunscreens

One of my absolute favorite products is this new Glowscreen from Supergoop! I wear it every single day and dedicated a whole post to it here! It is an easy way to wear sunscreen everyday. Cerave has great skincare products. This face sunscreen moisturizes as well as provides sun protection.

I know many avoid wearing sunscreen because it feels heavy or causes them to break out. Like other products, it is all about finding one that works for you. This clear dry face sunscreen absorbs quickly and won’t clog your pores. It will also help absorb excess oil on your skin. Like the glowscreen, this sunscreen layers well under makeup.

Body Sunscreens

I am also picky about sunscreens for my body. It should absorb easily and be a clean formula. Bonus points for any that have extra skincare benefits.

At the beginning of each summer, I buy this sunscreen in the pump version so I have plenty. It is fast absorbing and feels great on your skin. It also smells really good. For pool or lake days, this PLAY everyday sunscreen is whaty I layer on before I go outside. The spray version is easy to pack for reapplications.

Another spray sunscreen I love is Beauty Counter’s Mineral Sunscreen Mist. Mineral sunscreens provide a physical barrier to the sun’s rays. Some people don’t like them because they don’t soak in and leave a film. I have found that problem but not this mist. It takes a little bit longer to soak in but once it does there isn’t an oily residue.

While it isn’t a must have, I love this dry skin oil! It is the best for applying on shoulders, face or your chest. Since it is a stick, its easy to keep in your purse or bag. It is invisible but acts as a highlighter that adds a pretty glow. Personally I will apply it throughout the day on the parts of my skin that get the most sun. It’s a very quick way to make sure they are protected.

Faux Tan Reviews

Protecting your skin from the sun doesn’t mean you have to give up a bronzy glow. I have several products that I highly recommend. One of the most important steps is prepping your skin by exfoliating it. This body scrubber does a great job (review here) and this mitt is amazing!

Favorite Self-Tanners

I’ve tried my fair share of self tanners and had plenty of good and bad experiences. Some of my favorite brands are Bronze Cactus, St. Tropez, Tan Towel and Tan Luxe. Bronze Cactus is the latest brand of self tanner that I’ve been using. I love that they have so many color options so you can find the exact color you want. I use caramel cream. The foams apply well and the colorant in it makes it easy to see where it has been applied.

St. Tropez foams apply smoothly and evenly. The purity foam is colorless and has just a slight self tanner smell. It gives a subtle color that you can build. But even one application gives you some bronzy color. This mitt is made for self tanner application and keeps your hands from being discolored. It also helps apply any product more evenly.

Tan Towels are single use towels infused with self tanner. You just swipe the towels across your body to apply. I like to fold the cloth in quarters while using and then use a different quarter on each area of my body. The towels are packaged separately so you can pack them to take on vacations.

For a very gradual and buildable color, I’ve started using Tan Luxe lotion. It feels and applies like a normal lotion. A few hours after application, you’ll see a hint of color. You can apply this daily to build up the color. Once you are happy with the bronze level, apply every few days to maintain. I like to apply it with the tanning mitt as well.

Disclosure: I may earn an affiliate commission on any purchases or clicks thru the links in this post. This is no cost to you and I only share things I love.

This post is originally from 2022 but has been updated for 2023.