Best Facial Sunscreen Serums of 2025
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Facial sunscreen serums are a must-have for anyone looking to protect their skin from harmful UV rays while also nourishing it with beneficial ingredients. These lightweight formulas are designed to be worn under makeup and provide a layer of protection that won't feel heavy or greasy on the skin. Many facial sunscreen serums also contain antioxidants and other ingredients that help fight against free radicals and environmental stressors. They come in a range of SPF levels, making it easy to find the perfect one for your skin type and daily needs. Whether you're spending the day outdoors or just running errands, a facial sunscreen serum is an essential step in any skincare routine.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Facial Sunscreen Serums
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 60+ Face Serum
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 60+ Face Serum is a lightweight facial sunscreen serum that provides all-day hydration and broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Its non-greasy and fragrance-free formula is oxybenzone-free and non-comedogenic, making it perfect for everyday use. The serum also acts as a makeup primer, leaving the skin feeling soft, smooth, and moisturized. It is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and contains vitamin E that nourishes the skin. Use it liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours to prevent sunburn and skin cancer.
Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum SPF 50+
Kiehl's UV Serum SPF 50+ is a lightweight sunscreen that offers robust protection against harmful UV rays while also addressing early signs of aging. With its Collagen Peptide, it helps improve your skin's texture and tone, making it ideal for anyone looking to enhance their skin's appearance. This invisible formula is suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin, ensuring a seamless application under makeup. Plus, it boosts your skin's radiance, leaving you with a healthy glow throughout the day.
Neutrogena Clear Face Serum Sunscreen with SPF 60+
Protect your skin from harmful UV rays while preserving its natural moisture barrier with Neutrogena Clear Face Serum Sunscreen. This lightweight, non-greasy face sunscreen with broad spectrum SPF 60+ helps prevent sunburn and fight signs of aging due to UV exposure. Its Helioplex Technology provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, while green tea leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth, and breathable. The fragrance- and oxybenzone-free formula is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and it works well as a makeup primer that blends in invisibly on all skin tones.
ZitSticka MEGASHADE Sunscreen Serum
ZitSticka MEGASHADE Serum is a lightweight sunscreen serum that provides impressive hydration and UV protection for your skin. It maximizes the absorption of nutrients and minerals, allowing you to enjoy time outdoors without worrying about skin damage. The silky smooth texture seamlessly blends onto the skin, providing even coverage while leaving your skin feeling silky, soft, smooth, and refreshed. This sunscreen is suitable for dry and sensitive skin, nourishing and safeguarding it against UV rays. With its lightweight texture and convenient dropper bottle, it is easy to apply and blend into your skin. Dermatologist tested, this sunscreen is gentle on breakout-prone, fair, dark, oily, dry, and sensitive skin. Elevate your skincare routine with the advantages of SPF protection.
d'alba Piedmont Waterfull Sunscreen Serum
The d'alba Waterfull Sunscreen offers a unique serum-like texture, providing a dewy finish while delivering SPF 50+ protection. This sunscreen combines mineral and chemical UV filters, ensuring smooth application without irritation, making it ideal for your daily routine. You’ll enjoy all-day hydration thanks to its aqua-rich essence and pink glow technology, which leaves your skin feeling fresh and radiant without any greasy residue. Plus, its universally flattering pink hue enhances your natural tone, serving as a perfect base for makeup, so you can look and feel your best every day.
CeraVe SPF30 Facial Moisturizer
Protect and hydrate your skin with CeraVe SPF30 Facial Moisturizer. Its micro-fine zinc oxide sunscreen provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It spreads easily, absorbs quickly, and leaves a non-greasy finish. Use it as the last step in your morning skincare routine after other products have been absorbed. This oil-free day cream contains Hyaluronic Acid to retain skin's moisture and Niacinamide to help calm skin. Its MVE Technology delivers hydration throughout the day. Moreover, it contains three essential ceramides that help restore and maintain the skin's natural barrier. Recommended by dermatologists, it is suitable for all skin types, including dry, sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin.
Mad Hippie Luminizing Facial SPF
Mad Hippie Sunscreen is a mineral face lotion that protects your skin from the sun's harmful rays. Its broad-spectrum SPF 29+ shields your skin against UVA/UVB rays, making it a perfect daily protective serum. This clear and clean silicone-free zinc sunscreen contains beneficial ingredients that help combat oxidative stress, and it is water-resistant, so it stays on your skin during exercise or while swimming at the beach. To get the most out of it, apply it as the last step in your morning skincare routine and reapply after swimming or exercise. Mad Hippie's mission is to create more beauty on the planet, and they do that by making beautiful skin and sun care that gives back to conservation and empowerment projects.
PELO Naturals SPF50 Sunscreen Serum
PELO Sunscreen Serum is a lightweight, non-greasy formula that offers powerful SPF 50 protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays. This dual-action product not only shields your skin from the sun but also acts as a makeup primer, hydrating and smoothing your skin for a perfect makeup application. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, it features a gentle, non-comedogenic formula free from toxic chemicals. Plus, its travel-friendly size makes it easy to take along wherever you go, ensuring your skin stays protected and fresh throughout the day.
Mad Hippie Daily Protective Serum SPF 30
Mad Hippie Sunscreen Serum is designed to protect your skin from harmful UV rays while providing hydration. This lightweight face serum features zinc oxide, which effectively shields your skin from oxidative stress. It's also water-resistant, making it ideal for outdoor activities like swimming or exercising. Suitable for all skin types, its non-nano zinc oxide ensures that the protective particles remain on your skin until you're ready to wash them off. For optimal results, apply it as the final step in your morning routine and reapply as needed throughout the day.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50
The La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50 is a breakthrough water-based serum that provides advanced protection and visibly improves the appearance of fine lines, dark spots, and skin texture. This daily face sunscreen and anti-aging serum protect against sun damage and premature aging while visibly smoothing and blurring fine lines, wrinkles, and pores for an even complexion and younger-looking skin. The powerful antioxidant complex of Baicalin, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E helps protect your skin from free radicals caused by UV rays. It has a sheer finish, is oil-free, and leaves your skin feeling fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use face serum with sunscreen?
So it should be serum (the lightest product always goes on first), then moisturizer, then sunblock. And yes, between serum and moisturiser, serum goes on first. If you are also using an essence, that would go on before the serum. Another rule of thumb: wait a minute between putting on each product.
2. Can serum replace sunscreen?
Well, the answer is absolutely NOT! Although both SPF and the citrusy serum have similar properties, their individual effects on our skin cannot be denied. They will only bring more good news when used together.
3. Is SPF serum effective?
If you've ever used a serum, you'll know that a little bit goes a long way—so how effective are sunscreen serums? Shirley Chi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in California, says they sunscreen serums are a great addition to your skin-care routine when used correctly.
During our facial sunscreen serum research, we found 48 facial sunscreen serum products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 407,501 customer reviews through our big data system to write the facial sunscreen serums list. We found that most customers choose facial sunscreen serums with an average price of $18.40.
The facial sunscreen serums are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of facial sunscreen serums, including Neutrogena, Kiehl's, ZitSticka, d'alba Piedmont, CeraVe. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Lisa Bechard is a skin therapist with 12 years of working experience in the beauty industry and also an experienced beauty writer who has expertise in skincare, medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery, and wellness. Her writing skills are excellent and all her content is very persuasive and insightful.