The New Class of Sunscreens: Better Formulas, Smarter Textures, and Zero Excuses

By Kaitlyn McLintock
Published 2 days ago

Let me be honest with you. As a beauty editor living in the United States, it would be very easy for me to complain. We don’t have access to the next-generation sunscreen filters that Europe, Asia, and Australia have been enjoying for years. Our options can feel limited. Some formulas pill. Others smudge. And don’t even get me started on the ghostly white cast that certain mineral sunscreens leave behind.

It would also be easy for me to throw up my hands and say, “Just stock up on SPF the next time you take an international trip.” But I refuse to do that. Because here’s the thing: even with our so-called “old news” filters, there are genuinely impressive sunscreens available right now, on American shelves, ready for your beach bag. Certain brands have done the work. They’ve formulated intelligent SPFs that are silky, featherlight, and packed with additional skin benefits beyond just protection. How did they do it? I don’t know. Maybe it was a magic spell. More likely, it was the expertise of some very talented cosmetic chemists.

Some of these sunscreens are so good that my fellow editors and I have officially classified them as elite. You just need to know where to look. That’s what I’m here for.

The Big Picture: What’s New in SPF This Year

I spoke with Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and the founder of BeautyStat Cosmetics. He told me something that changed how I think about sun protection. The days of owning a single bottle of basic sunscreen lotion are over. People are now curating personal collections of SPF in a variety of textures and formats. Sunscreen wardrobes are the way of the future.

“Mists, sticks, gels, primers, serums, and milks continue to trend this year,” Robinson says. “And body-part specific sunscreens, such as for the scalp and lips.” Meanwhile, he’s been seeing more and more mineral sunscreen launches—specifically tinted formulas and sheer finishes that solve the white cast problem that has plagued mineral SPF for years.

And there’s potentially big news on the horizon. Robinson says a new chemical filter called Bemotrizol—which has been used in other markets for years and provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection—might be approved for use in the US as early as this summer. “I am most excited about this new sunscreen because it’s easy to formulate with and plays nicely with other ingredients,” he says.

Fingers crossed. But in the meantime, here’s what’s already worth your attention.

Milky Sunscreens: The Texture That’s Taking Over

Forget traditional creams and lotions. Right now, milky sunscreens are the most popular format for a reason. They’re fluid, featherlight, and sink into your skin like a dream.

Tatcha’s The Milky Sunscreen SPF 50+ ($22) might just be the breakout star of the summer. The transparent broad-spectrum filters virtually disappear on skin. Vitamin E and encapsulated ectoin hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier. Okinawa aloe soothes irritation. It’s everything you want in a daily SPF.

If you prefer mineral formulas, Summer Fridays’ Shadedrops SPF 50 Daily Mineral Milk Sunscreen ($38) uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with a slight peachy-nude hue that prevents any white cast. Antioxidants, ceramide NP, and glycerin deliver anti-aging and barrier-strengthening benefits. Good Weather Skin’s The One All-Over Sun Milk SPF 50 ($54) takes the same approach—100% mineral, formulated for face but meant for the whole body, with a universal tint and hydrating squalane and sea buckthorn oil.

Sunscreen Sticks: The Reapplication Game-Changer

I’m convinced that sunscreen sticks are the easiest, most mess-free way to reapply SPF. Try rubbing traditional sunscreen onto your skin with sandy hands at the beach, and you’ll understand immediately. I have sunscreen sticks everywhere now. One in my car. One in my bag. One on my desk. One in the beach bag I reserve for summer weekends.

But I have strict standards. If a stick pulls, tugs, pills, or smudges off the second I start to sweat, it’s out. I only want the ones that glide across skin like butter, stay put, and ideally offer additional skin benefits.

Shiseido’s Ultimate Sun Protector Clear Stick SPF 60+ ($33) is a classic—recommended by three different Who What Wear beauty editors. It’s the number one sunscreen stick in the US for good reason. The invisible formula provides eight hours of hydration, and its SynchroShield Technology creates a protective veil that’s actually strengthened by heat, water, and sweat. Fully water-resistant for 80 minutes.

Kopari’s Pure Protect 100% Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+ ($25) offers a glow-boosting mineral option with a sheer finish and a moisturizing, antioxidant-rich base. And Abib’s Airy Sunstick Protection Bar SPF 50+ ($16) is my favorite Korean formula. It’s water-resistant for 80 minutes, infused with ectoin and allantoin, and leaves a semimatte finish that’s perfect for when summer heat makes my skin too shiny.

SPF Primers: The Multitaskers You Didn’t Know You Needed

Here’s where things get really interesting. SPF primers work on three levels. First, they give your skin an extra layer of sun protection under makeup. Second, they smooth and blur imperfections—breakouts, redness, enlarged pores. Third, they grip your foundation and concealer for a flawless, long-wearing result that actually holds up against summer heat and humidity. These are the multitasking heroes that will streamline your entire routine.

Eadem’s Sunsuede SPF 50+ Lightweight Sunscreen & Blurring Primer Stick ($32) is my top pick. It provides a velvety, suede-like finish while blurring pores and controlling excess oil with kaolin and zinc PCA. The lightweight formula grips makeup like nothing else.

YSE Beauty’s Skin Glow SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Primer ($54) uses chemical filters, niacinamide to target dark spots, and sodium hyaluronate to hydrate and plump. It’s the one to use if you want a megawatt glow. On the flip side, Ultra Violette’s Supreme Screen SPF 50 Mini Mate ($17) delivers a matte finish. And Ciele’s Prime & Protect SPF 30+ Smoothing Primer ($38) comes in two radiant shades—Mother (sheer champagne) and Nacre (soft bronze)—for an all-over, sun-kissed glow.

Sheer Tinted Sunscreens: Coverage Meets Protection

As Robinson predicted, sheer, slightly tinted sunscreens are everywhere now. These provide light, skin-enhancing coverage with a smooth, hydrated finish. Many are 100% mineral.

Dr. David Kim’s Lightsaver Triplesome Serum SPF 40 ($55) comes in two versatile shades and features a proprietary repair complex that helps protect, restore, and calm the skin. Goldenfaden MD’s Lumi Shield SPF 50 Sunscreen ($48) offers a universal sheer tint that creates a soft veil and natural-looking glow. And Supergoop’s new Protec(tint) Daily Skin Tint SPF 50 ($44) is the editor-approved chemical option—ultra-blendable, made of 83 percent skincare ingredients, and perfect for anyone who wants protection and a bit of coverage in one step.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to wait for next-gen filters or book an international flight to get great sun protection. The options are already here. They’re better than ever. And with textures ranging from milky serums to glide-on sticks to multitasking primers, there’s truly no excuse to skip SPF this summer.

Find the formula that works for you. Put it in your bag. Reapply often. And enjoy the sun without worrying about what it’s doing to your skin. That’s what elite sunscreens are for.