Best Sunscreen for Men in 2020

Everyone needs sun protection. But for some reason, men lag behind women in knowledge and understanding of skin cancer prevention – namely sun safe behaviours and skin self-examination.

This knowledge gap has resulted in some scary statistics. One particularly startling stat is that once diagnosed, men are about 27% more likely to die from melanoma when compared to women.

This happens due to men’s poor sun protection habits and the late detection of their skin cancers which often get found when they’re beyond the point of treatment.

Men aren’t properly protecting themselves against the sun’s harmful UV rays. So let’s do something about it!

What do you need to be sufficiently protected from the sun?

You need safe and effective broad spectrum protection. This will include wearing a hat and sunglasses, UV protective clothing, and seeking shade whenever possible. But when you have to bare your skin, wearing a safe and effective sunscreen is a must for all men!

After careful research into what is necessary to properly protect men’s skin against the sun’s harmful UV rays, SimplySunSafe recommends thinksport Sunscreen SPF 50+ as the best sunscreen for men. Read on for a detailed buyer’s guide, comparison table, and in-depth reviews of the top 5 sunscreens for men.

Listen up, guys. In order to be sure that your skin is sufficiently protected against the sun’s harmful UV rays, there are a few must-have features you should look for in your sunscreen:

Broad spectrum protection

Whenever you are buying a sunscreen for any purpose, one of the most important features that you need is broad spectrum protection. What this means is that the sunscreen provides balanced protection against both UVA and UVB rays.

Is this really necessary, you ask?

Yes, it is. The reason you need this protection is that each type of ultraviolet (UV) radiation works differently. UVB rays damage the outer layer of your skin leaving you burned or tanned. UVA rays breach the deepest layer of your skin (the dermis) and cause premature aging.

Even if men aren’t generally as vocal about it, nobody wants their skin to age prematurely. And that is not the only thing to be worried about. Exposure to both types of radiation increases your risk of skin cancer.

Remember, just being a man does not mean that your skin is less vulnerable to harm from the sun’s UV rays. Skin is susceptible to damage from UV rays no matter what type of body it is on. You need to make sure that you wear a sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection!

There are two simple ways to identify sunscreen with broad spectrum protection. Just check the label and the active ingredients list. On the labels of many sunscreen bottles you will be able to find the words ‘broad spectrum’ or ‘UVA/B’, which make it very clear that they provide broad spectrum protection.

If you don’t see these words on the label or just want to feel extra sure, you can check the ingredients list for zinc oxide. Products with the ingredient zinc oxide protect against the full range of UVA/B rays so they are a great option!

Most sunscreens that you will find provide broad spectrum protection because the FDA made it a requirement. But hey, it never hurts to double check the label and ingredients list!

Best SPF for men

So you’ve heard the term ‘SPF’ or read it on bottles, right? But what exactly does it mean? The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is something you definitely want to understand when searching for the best sunscreen for guys.

The SPF rating tells you what fraction of the sun’s UVB rays will reach your skin when you have applied it properly. For example, if you are wearing a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30, then only 1/30th of the sun’s rays will reach your skin. That explains why you are able to stay in the sun longer when you wear sunscreen.

But remember that the effectiveness of a sunscreen’s SPF depends on many different factors including the time of day, amount of sunscreen you have applied properly, and even reflections from surfaces such as water or sand. This results in sunscreen needing to be reapplied at least every 2 hours and even more frequently if you sweat or get wet!

Take a look at this table to better understand how much UVB protection different SPF ratings give you:

Surprised by what you see?

There really is not much difference between a sunscreen with SPF 30 and one with SPF 100. For this reason, SimplySunSafe recommends that you always use a sunscreen with an SPF rating no lower than 30 and no higher than 50. Our recommendation is in line with that of the FDA.

No matter what SPF rating you use make sure you don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen every couple of hours!

Physical is better than chemical

You can divide sunscreen into two main groups – chemical and physical. The difference lies in the active ingredients of the sunscreen and in the way it works to protect your skin against harmful UV rays.

• Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays as they reach your skin.
• Physical sunscreens, on the other hand, reflect UV rays before they reach your skin.

SimplySunSafe recommends physical sunscreens over chemical ones for a few important reasons. Physical sunscreens stop more radiation reaching the skin across a broader UV spectrum. This makes them more effective, but they also:

• Work immediately upon application
• Last longer
• Are less likely to cause irritation
• Have a longer shelf life

There is also an important reason not to choose chemical sunscreens – they contain ingredients called endocrine disruptors. Need a biology recap? Let me put it simply. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that mess with your hormones.

I don’t think I need to tell you that this is not something you want. The worst of these chemicals is called oxybenzone. Be sure to check any sunscreen you’re thinking of buying, and avoid this ingredient at all costs!

To ensure you’re buying a physical sunscreen check the bottle for the words ‘physical’ or ‘mineral’. You can also take a look at the ingredients list for the active ingredients zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide to make sure you’re getting a natural sunscreen.

If you’re planning to use one of SimplySunSafe’s recommended sunscreens, don’t worry! They’ve all been checked against EWG’s database. Each one is recommended for both exceptional UV protection and product safety!

Water resistant

When it is hot outside, you sweat. This is something uncontrollable that can really interfere with your sun protection, if you’re not sufficiently prepared! That is why you need to use a sunscreen that is water resistant, guys.

Sunscreens are sold as water resistant for either 40 or 80 minutes. I suggest that men use a sunscreen that is water resistant for 80 minutes. This means that you won’t need to worry about reapplying as often as if you were wearing a sunscreen with only 40 minutes of water resistance or none at all.

Don’t be fooled by false advertising, though! There is no such thing as ‘sweatproof’ or ‘waterproof’ sunscreen. Keep your eyes peeled for a sunscreen with 80 minutes of water resistance and find one that suits all of your personal needs. It will provide you with better protection and save you a lot of unnecessary time spent reapplying sunscreen that melted away too fast.

Rub on lotion not spray

Spray sunscreens sound really convenient and easy, but I don’t recommend them. Why? Because the safety and effectiveness of spray sunscreen is debatable.

Rub on lotion will always be far safer than spray lotion. The fact is that while your skin may be able to handle the chemicals in sunscreen, your internal lung tissue simply cannot. And using a spray sunscreen puts you at great risk of inhaling the chemicals into your lungs.

Not only is spray sunscreen less safe than the rub on lotion, but it is also less effective. With spray sunscreens, you just do not have enough control to apply a sufficient and evenly spread layer of product to your skin. This results in insufficient sun protection, the opposite of what we’re aiming for.

So don’t be tempted by the seemingly easy style of spray sunscreens. Rub on lotions are safer and more effective, and are the better choice for men’s skin in the long run!

	thinksport Sunscreen	BADGER Sport Sunscreen	BurnOut Ocean Tested	California Baby Super Sensitive	Raw Elements Eco Formula
SPF	50+	35	30	30+	30
Broad spectrum	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Active ingredients	Zinc Oxide (20%)	Zinc Oxide (22.5%)	Zinc Oxide (20%)	Titanium Dioxide (12%)	Zinc Oxide (23%)
Water resistance	80 Minutes	80 Minutes	80 Minutes	80 Minutes	80 Minutes
Price	$	$$	$	$$$$	$$$

After extensive research into the needs of men’s skin which included discussing issues with customers, reviewing customer feedback, examining manufacturer specifications, and participating in skincare forums, SimplySunSafe has chosen the 5 best sunscreens for men. Each product provides broad spectrum, physical protection of SPF 30 or greater, and is water resistant. They are all free of oxybenzone, available in rub on lotions, and suitable for daily use.

1. thinksport Sunscreen SPF 50+

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thinksport Sunscreen has taken the top spot as SimplySunSafe’s best sunscreen for men! This product provides broad spectrum protection through the use of a high concentration of its active ingredient zinc oxide (20%). It also provides you with the highest marketable level of UVB protection (SPF 50+) so that you don’t have to worry so much about your skin burning.

Thinksport Sunscreen is extremely safe and was actually the first sunscreen to pass Whole Foods premium care requirements. The formula is free of parabens, phthalates, and PABA so it is gentle enough for men to use every day without experiencing irritation or dryness. The product has an unobtrusive smell that is not bothersome.

This sunscreen comes in a rub on lotion, and is a thick cream. Although it is thick, customers report that it is easy to apply and absorbs into the skin very well. Men will need to spend some time and effort rubbing the cream in properly, but once it’s been rubbed in, it will not leave a white cast. One of the most important things about this formula is that it will not leave your skin greasy or oily. For this reason, it is the best sunscreen for men with oily skin.

Thinksport Sunscreen is water resistant for 80 minutes. And this isn’t just a label, it really stays put even with heavy sweating. It is very reasonably priced and provides all the necessities a man needs in his sunscreen. This is a durable sunscreen that men can rely on!

If you love this sunscreen and want value for money, it also comes in a 6 ounce version so you get more bang for your buck.

2. BADGER Sport Sunscreen SPF 35

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Another excellent option for sun protection for men’s skin is BADGER Sport Sunscreen. This is a physical product which provides broad spectrum protection through a very high concentration of its active ingredient zinc oxide (22.5%).

This sunscreen is so good, we named it the best sunscreen for sports.

BADGER Sport Sunscreen is a thick, rub on sunscreen, which is chemical and fragrance free. In total, it has just 5 ingredients. Its other four ingredients: organic sunflower oil, organic beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and sunflower Vitamin E are all conditioning ingredients which make this product the best sunscreen for men with dry skin.

This sunscreen provides you with highest level of water resistance (80 minutes) and you won’t have problems with the sunscreen running during water activities or intense physical exercise. This is really important for functionality of men’s sunscreen.

The effective and moisturizing protection that this sunscreen provides for men makes it more than worth its price. BADGER Sport Sunscreen is just as good of an option as our number one pick, thinksport Sunscreen, and landed at number two because it does tend to leave a slight white cast. However, take the time to test BADGER Sport Sunscreen out because it may be the best choice for you!

BADGER Sport also comes as a roll on stick. It’s the same awesome formula as the lotion, so if you prefer the convenience of stick sunscreens, check out this version!

3. BurnOut Ocean Tested Physical SPF 30

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BurnOut Ocean Tested Physical Sunscreen is a good option for men’s sun protection. This sunscreen provides broad spectrum protection with its active ingredient zinc oxide (20%). This product is very popular with men and has considerable support in online communities that discuss men’s skincare because of its amazing protection.

The sunscreen’s formula is free from PABA, chemicals, and parabens. BurnOut Ocean Tested Physical Sunscreen is a vegan product, which makes it user-friendly for just about everyone who comes across it. It also includes skin conditioning ingredients such as aloe vera and tocopherals (a type of Vitamin E).

Just as men will want, this sunscreen provides 80 minutes of durable water resistance. Sweating will not create issues with the product’s effectiveness. The formula has a smooth consistency, but does require some effort to rub into your skin. On darker skin tones, it is likely that this product will leave a slight white cast.

BurnOut Ocean Tested Physical Sunscreen is a very reasonably priced and effective option for sun protection for men. You may want to test this sunscreen out in your search for the best sunscreen for you.

4. California Baby Super Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30+

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California Baby Super Sensitive Sunscreen is a favorite here at SimplySunSafe because it is very versatile, but also effective. And here it is yet again, being listed as the best sunscreen for men’s face. This popular sunscreen provides broad spectrum protection through its active ingredient titanium dioxide (12%).

California Baby Super Sensitive is the best choice for men’s face because of how gentle it is, while still providing effective protection. The formula is PABA-free, unfragranced, and hypoallergenic. It will not even irritate your eyes if rubbed into them by accident.

Although it is super gentle, this sunscreen still manages to provide 80 minutes of water resistance. The water resistance is reliable though excessive sweating can cause you to need to reapply more frequently.

California Baby Super Sensitive Sunscreen has a thick formula that needs to be rubbed in very well, otherwise it may leave a white cast. This is a great, effective option for men with sensitive skin or for men’s faces.

It is noticeably more expensive than the other products featured on this list so you might want to reserve this sunscreen for use exclusively on your face to make each tube last longer. Give it a test to see if it may be the right product for you!

5. Raw Elements Eco Formula Sunscreen SPF 30

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The last product to make SimplySunSafe’s list is a good option for men’s sun protection, as well. This physical sunscreen provides broad spectrum protection with the highest concentration of active ingredient on this list – zinc oxide (23%).

This sunscreen is made to be used on all types of skin, including men’s. It is hypoallergenic and all natural. It even includes many ingredients that work to condition skin including organic cocoa butter and all natural vitamin E. It is a thick formula which will require time to rub into your skin, and may leave a white cast.

The best thing about this sunscreen for men is that it is very water resistant (80 minutes). It is durable and reliable when it comes to possible difficulties with sweating or water activities.

Another good thing about this product is that it is biodegradable and so it is very environment friendly! It is slightly pricey, which is part of the reason why it has landed last on our list, but the quality is worth the price.

Raw Elements Eco Form Sunscreen is a great product overall, and you should definitely try it out to see if it may be for you!

Conclusion

This guide was written for those who are searching for the best sunscreen for men. I hope that by reading this guide you gained more knowledge about what is necessary for protecting men’s skin from the sun and have found a protect that fits your needs!

SimplySunSafe recommends thinksport Sunscreen SPF 50+, but all 5 of the sunscreens recommended will provide sufficient and durable sun protection for men.

Keep in mind that it is always a good idea to test a few products when searching for the best one for you. After you have tried different sunscreens, you will better understand what your skin needs. Then you will be able to pick the product that best fits your daily life.

I love learning new things and hearing about new products from other people. So if you use or know of any other sunscreens for men, please let me know in the comments. I’ll take a look at the products and might even add them to this list!