To say I’ve been buying up any and all the face sunscreens I can get my hands on to test them out for this exact blog post, would be pretty accurate way to sum up my past few months. What can I say? I’m dedicated to the cause. As someone who struggles with acne scarring, I’ve been looking for a tinted sunscreen that helps me feel comfortable going makeup-free during those hot summer days around the pool and at the beach. I also wanted to find a primer with SPF in it that would work overtime for me on days where I was wearing a full face of makeup. After lots of trail and error, I’m finally sharing my selections for the BEST face sunscreens for summer 2023. Keep scrolling for my top 3 picks!

The BEST Tinted Sunscreen – Kosas DreamBeam $40

I was so disappointed in the Kosas concealer that I almost didn’t buy this SPF 40 Kosas DreamBeam tinted sunscreen even after it came highly recommended by a consultant at Sephora. I am SO glad I took a chance on Kosas again though because this sunscreen is the. real. deal.

$40 might seem like a lot for this small bottle, but I’m pleasantly surprised with how long it’s lasting me. (I’ve been wearing my Kosas tinted sunscreen almost every day for the past month and I still haven’t run out yet!)

While I don’t expect a tinted sunscreen to cover up my acne scars completely, Kosas’ DreamBeam tinted sunscreen does a really great job evening out my skin tone and dulling my acne scars to the point where I feel comfortable leaving the house after adding just a little Kosas powder to my face. (That’s all I have on in the photos included in this blog post.) I’ll skip the Kosas powder though if I’m putting the DreamBeam on before a workout.

The BEST Non-Tinted Sunscreen – Summer Fridays $36

This non-tinted SPF 30 sunscreen by Summer Fridays feels so light on my skin and doesn’t leave it looking oily. For that reason, it’s my TOP choice in the category of “non-tinted” for the BEST face sunscreen for summer 2023.

I’ve been a huge fan of Summer Fridays since they launched in 2018 so when I finally accepted the fact that my Supergoop sunscreen just wasn’t checking all my boxes, trying out their ShadeDrops Mineral Milk Sunscreen was a no-brainer! And bonus points, it’s reef-friendly!!

This non-tinted sunscreen has been put to the test by yours truly. I’ve tested it underneath a full face of makeup and am happy to report that it doesn’t make your makeup “melt” off your face. Even after a full day of wear, my makeup still looks good with my Summer Fridays sunscreen as my SPF base. Alternatively, I’ve tested this sunscreen out when exercising and it doesn’t make my sensitive skin break out, which is a huge win! Either way, I’m wearing this sunscreen on my neck and chest daily to protect my skin from the sun! (I feel like the lightweight formula doesn’t transfer to the neckline of my shirt/dress.)

The BEST Drugstore Primer with Sunscreen – Maybelline $7

I meannn for $7 if you don’t automatically order this primer/sunscreen duo from Maybelline right now, I’m not sure what to say. Since I have oily skin, this primer + sunscreen is a MUST if I want to keep my makeup looking fresh all day long. It’s only SPF 20, but again, it’s $7!! I really can’t say enough good things about this. I lather it on and even with my sensitive skin, it hasn’t ever made me break out.

Also, take it from someone who wasn’t using a primer until recently, if you’re on the fence about “is a primer really necessary?” the answer is 100% YES! So why not let your primer do double duty as a sunscreen too?!

My beautiful, luxe one-piece swimsuit is c/o Hermoza and is part of their collaboration with Julia Berolzheimer. I’d recommend sizing up if you’re in-between sizing. I’m wearing their size 2 here (I usually wear an XS/S in swim), but I think I’d be more comfortable in their size 4. Shop my swimsuit here!

Before ya go, make sure you check out my Gray Malin inspired screened-in porch HERE!