Best Sunscreen for Fair Skin

To most people, skin is, well, just that – skin! But to fair-skinned beauties, you know it’s not that simple.

In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, pale skin is one of the highest risk factors to increase your likelihood of skin cancer. But you probably knew that too.

That’s why SimplySunSafe searched high and low to find a sunscreen you can apply each and every day, that wouldn’t feel like you were wearing a thick layer of, well, goop!

After investigating the specifics of what makes sunscreen effective for even the fairest among us, SimplySunSafe confidently recommends Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield (for face), and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Cooling Water Lotion Sunscreen (for face & body). These products really do impress.

Buyer’s Guide

To be certain that your sunscreen is good enough to protect your especially sensitive, pale skin, make sure it has the following must-have features:

Broad spectrum protection

If you were buying hairspray, would you buy a brand that only protected your ‘do from wind damage and not humidity? Probably not. The same principle applies to sunscreen. Even though we simply see the sun shining as a single ‘beam’, it is actually a complex phenomena that contains multiple types of UV radiation. The ones we usually worry about are UVA and UVB.

UVA radiation is what’s responsible for accelerated signs of aging (A=aging) such as wrinkles or sagging skin, as well as the invisible cellular damage that can eventually become skin cancer. UVB rays are those responsible for turning our skin into hot, tender, blistery mess (B=burning) that we call a sunburn.

Not all sunscreens are going to protect you from both UVA and UVB radiation. This type of protection is called broad spectrum protection, and products that offer it will typically show a label that says either ‘broad spectrum’ or ‘UVA/UVB’ to let you know you’re getting your money’s worth.

If you still aren’t sure, try checking the active ingredients. Anything containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide will provide broad spectrum protection, though zinc oxide is the more effective of the two at protecting from UVA rays.

Best SPF for Fair Skin

Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, is one of the biggest influences on consumers’ purchasing decisions when it comes to choosing a sunscreen. That’s what makes it so surprising that many people are rather unsure as to what the number so boldly displayed on the packaging actually means. In this case more is not always better.

Think of the SPF rating as a fraction. It indicates what percentage of the sun’s UVB radiation you are shielded from. For example SPF 15 means that only 1/15 of the UVB rays from the sun actually affect your skin. However, this doesn’t mean that SPF 30 is twice as strong as SPF 15, or that SPF 100 provides total protection. Take a look at the table below for a clearer picture:

SPF Rating	UVB Protection
None	0%
2	50%
15	93%
30	97%
50	98%
100	99%

Now that you have a better idea of how SPF ratings really work, you may remember a time when you shelled out extra cash to purchase the SPF 100 options over the SPF 30 or 50 option. If you’re trying to find the best sunscreen for very pale skin, it does make sense to try to get the ultimate level of protection. However, once you rise above SPF 30, the differences in protection offered are not great enough to justify spending a whole lot more.

In fact, in 2012 the FDA changed the packaging regulations for sunscreen companies so that the maximum rating is now ’50+’, and also says that SPF 30 is sufficient for most people to be adequately protected from the sun.

Physical is better than chemical

Just as there are different types of radiation coming from the sun that can harm our delicate skin, there are also different ways that sunscreen protects us from this harm. Sunscreens are broadly classified into two types: physical sunscreen and chemical sunscreen.

Chemical sunscreens contain active ingredients that soak into your skin and absorb the light before it can damage your cells, whereas physical sunscreen is more like a mirror or a coat of armor that sits on top of your skin and bounces light away.

While both types of sunscreen are effective at their job, physical sunscreen is definitely the way to go. Just a couple of reasons to choose physical sunscreens include that they work immediately upon application, last longer, and are less likely to cause skin irritation. More importantly, they stop more UV reaching the skin, which is the whole point of sunscreen!

Plus, the active ingredients in chemical sunscreen are known as endocrine disruptors; these are chemical that soak into your skin, enter your bloodstream, and act as hormones such as estrogen within the body. This has a negative effect on your body’s hormone balance and is known to cause health issues after prolonged use.

Some chemical sunscreen ingredients such as oxybenzone are known to be particularly dangerous and the FDA has warned consumers away from using them. Quite a few of these dangerous chemicals are banned in other countries, and while they are still legal in the US they are by no means harmless and SimplySunSafe will never recommend to you a product that is purely chemical or contains oxybenzone.

Suitable for daily use

One of the few downsides to physical sunscreen formulas is that they can sometimes feel thick or oily on the skin, making them unpleasant to wear for extended period. This means that if you are searching for the best sunscreen for white skin you need to make sure you choose something with a formula you can wear everyday.

If you simply go for the highest SPF rating or the greatest concentration of active ingredients, over time the important ritual of applying sunscreen regularly will start to fall to the wayside. We can’t have that.

I don’t want any of my readers to go through what I went through when I had my skin cancer scare, so part of this particular review process was to pay special attention to user feedback regarding the texture of the sunscreen and whether or not it irritated the skin with prolonged use.

Pleasant finish

When looking for a dependable daily sunscreen, it’s also important to consider the finish, or how it looks on your skin once you’ve thoroughly rubbed it in. Is it nearly invisible? Is it so shiny you look as if you’ve just rubbed your face with butter? Does it leave a strong white cast and make you feel you’re impersonating a mime?

These sorts of considerations aren’t necessarily important if you’re looking for an ultra-tough waterproof sunscreen to get you through your triathlon, but for general use, most people don’t want to be mistaken for a slightly melted wax candle.

Most of the time, if a sunscreen has a very high concentration of active ingredients there is a good chance you’ll have the white cast to some degree or another. In terms of the ‘shine factor’ you’ll get with a sunscreen, it can help you read the inactive ingredients to see if it is heavy in oils – or you can bypass that laborious process and simply start with the 5 products recommended here!

Best Sunscreen for Fair Skin Comparison

 

5 Best Sunscreens for Fair Skin

After thorough research that combined discussing issues with customers, reviewing customer feedback, examining manufacturer specification, and participating in skincare forums, SimplySunSafe has chosen the 5 best sunscreens for fair skin. All of these sunscreens provide broad spectrum, physical protection of SPF 30 or greater, and are suitable for daily use.

1. Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

First on SimplySunSafe’s 5 best sunscreens for fair skin is no other than Colorescience’s Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50! The main reason why SimplySunSafe chose this sunscreen is because of its exceptional sun protection and its universality. Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 is now available in three (3) different tints namely Universal, Glow, and Bronze Tints.

Colorescience’s Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 provides the ultimate level of skin protection in a translucent powder with a weightless finish. This unique formula absorbs and reflects light to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles while protecting your skin from sun damage. Colorescience uses only highly refined minerals to provide broad-spectrum protection and build a barrier that deflects infrared rays, preventing premature aging and future damage.

Take on the sun with our Total Protection Face Shield. This SPF 50 face shield features all-mineral-based physical sunscreen ingredients in a water-resistant and oil-free formula that delivers 40 minutes of sweat-proof and waterproof protection for all skin types and tones. The tone-adapting tint creates a flawless finish that instantly improves the look of dull skin and covers minor imperfections.

The Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 is very easy to use. To maximize the protection brought upon by the Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50, thoroughly apply a generous amount to the skin at least 15 minutes before sun exposure. It is also recommended to reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours depending on the duration of your exposure to the sun.

Colorescience is an Australian company and is one of the leading skincare companies all over the planet. It was established in the year 2000 by Diane Ranger, who also founded the Bare Escentuals in 1976. Since then, Colorescience has been trusted and tested by leading dermatologists and is dedicated to producing exceptional products promoting long-term skin health by only using 100% safe, clinically-tested, and potent ingredients.

2. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Cooling Water Lotion Sunscreen

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Next up on SimplySunSafe’s 5 best sunscreens for fair skin is La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Cooling Water Lotion Sunscreen! This brilliant sunscreen is one of the most popular sunscreens in the market because of its usability and convenience. It is carefully formulated to be fast-absorbing and water-like, which makes it an ideal product especially for people who are always on the go.

Anthelios Cooling Water Lotion Sunscreen has a unique sunscreen texture that transforms like water on the skin while providing a cooling effect and advanced sunscreen protection. Moreover, this sunscreen lotion helps protect the skin from environmental pollutants and stressors that can trigger skin sensitivity. It is also enriched with Anti-Oxidants so it provides immediate comfort and relief to dry skin that is often irritated by sun exposure.

Aside from being able to provide full-body sun protection, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Cooling Water Lotion Sunscreen is also easy to use. To maximize its protection, thoroughly apply a generous amount to the skin at least 15 minutes before sun exposure. It is also recommended to reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours depending on the duration of your exposure to the sun.

La Roche-Posay is one of the giant skincare companies which is founded in the early 1900s. This French company is trusted and recommended by almost 100,000 dermatologists all over the world. La Roche-Posay is dedicated to creating skin care products that can address even the needs of the most sensitive types of skin without using harmful ingredients. The company also assures that every product is stringently formulated with high efficacy and within the safety standards in practice.

3. Australian Gold Sunscreen with Coffee Infused

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The third choice of SimplySunSafe for the 5 best sunscreens for fair skin is Australian Gold’s SPF 50 Lotion Sunscreen with Coffee Infused Ounce. The reason why SimplySunSafe chose this fan-favorite sunscreen is because of its Kona Coffee & Caramel Extract feature and also its signature added fragrance of Australian Gold.

This lotion sunscreen is masterfully blended with ingredients that are suitable even for the most sensitive skin types. Moreover, it is also hypoallergenic and oil-free, enabling the skin to be safe from stubborn itchiness and redness. Another thing that SimplySunSafe liked about this sunscreen is that it’s enriched with Anti-Oxidants such as Vitamin C, Shea Butter, and Mango Butter to help nourish and hydrate the skin for a fresher and younger look all the time.

It is also ideal for people who love outdoor activities because it is water and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes! To maximize the protection offered by Australian Gold SPF 50 Lotion Sunscreen with Coffee Infused ounce, it is recommended that you incorporate this lotion sunscreen into your skincare routine at least 15 minutes before your expected sun exposure. Apply a generous amount to your skin at least every 2 hours especially when exposed to the heat of the sun for prolonged periods. Also, reapply every 80 minutes of swimming to secure sun protection.

Australian Gold is one of the world’s leading skincare companies for almost 25 years already. It is trusted worldwide by renowned dermatologists and assures that only safe ingredients are incorporated in its products. Australian Gold aims to make our everyday outdoor experience even better by creating exceptionally effective sun care products for everyone.

4. Blue Lizard Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30+

Last update on 2023-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Blue Lizard’s Sensitive Formula has the highest EWG rating out of any of their products, providing high quality broad spectrum protection of SPF 30+.

It features two active ingredients, zinc oxide (10%) and titanium dioxide (5%). This is great because it gives you a high enough concentration of active ingredients that you feel confident about your level of protection, without being so high as to leave a pasty or white cast on the skin with application.

This product is one of the more expensive on this list. It makes up for its higher cost, though, with some great features.

Aside from the first place pick, Blue Lizard has the most pleasing finish on the list. It can be a bit shiny/oily when first applied, but if you are diligent about rubbing it in well then this usually gives way to a transparent look with minimal or no white cast.

The cap on the bottle turns blue in the presence of UV light, which I love as a fun little reminder to reapply often.

5. Block Island Organics Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This Natural Mineral Sunscreen from Block Island Organics offers the highest concentration of active ingredient on this list, with a whopping 22% zinc oxide. That translates into broad spectrum protection with an SPF rating of 30.

It is also the most expensive sunscreen on this list, undoubtedly due to the high concentration of active ingredient.

While the finish of this sunscreen is not overly oily, it does leave a pronounced white cast. It can be expected to show up on all but the most extremely fair skin, and even then it would be impossible to wear this underneath makeup and get a smooth application of product.

The cost of this option combined with the possibility that you would need to buy an additional product for everyday wear on the face is what has pushed this option down to 4th place, despite its high concentration of zinc oxide.

Conclusion

The intent of this guide was to provide a solid starting point for anybody who, like my friend, is searching for a high quality sunscreen to protect them. I hope that this was an informative read and that, in addition to some great recommendations, you learned a thing or two that will help you be a more mindful consumer when you purchase sunscreen in the future.

SimplySunSafe recommends Colorescience Total Protection Face Shield (for face) and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Cooling Water Lotion Sunscreen (for face & body) as the top sunscreen for those with very pale skin, but each sunscreen listed here is a great choice that will provide you with high quality protection.

Everybody has different preferences and it may be useful to try a few different options from this list to find a product that best suits your personal needs. A great tip for this process is to go to a store specializing in beauty or skincare products; they typically provide samples of their product so that you can ‘try before you buy’.

While I do make an effort to provide the best product recommendations in these guides, if you use or know of a sunscreen for fair skin that you are in love with, let me know! I love discovering and researching new products to add to my arsenal of top-notch recommendations!

SimplySunSafe also has sunscreen guides for a range of skin types including sunscreen for dark skin.

---