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Medicine cabinet packed full of skincare products
Medicine cabinet packed full of skincare products
Megan Charles / Her Campus Media
Style > Beauty

I tried 5 affordable sunscreens so you don’t have to.

Updated Published
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mich chapter.

As a person who has sensitive skin and has struggled with acne for a very long time, I’ve always done the best I could to take care of my skin. One of the most important steps of a skincare routine is using sunscreen, and I’ve tested a couple over the years that I felt were affordable. All of these sunscreens are fragrance-free and do not irritate my skin. 

CeraVe AM Lotion 

This sunscreen is supposed to couple as a moisturizer and sunscreen. However, the problem with these types of products is that the concentration of SPF is lower, necessitating a larger amount of product in order to get enough SPF coverage. I found that this sunscreen pilled very easily and left a white cast on my face. Though I do enjoy CeraVe products (I’ve been using their PM moisturizer all day, every day, for years), this product was a no for me. 

Kose Suncut UV Perfect Essence

This sunscreen has a smooth formula that applies lightly over the skin and does not leave a white cast. However, I found that this sunscreen did not work very well with makeup and made my concealer separate. This sunscreen is very affordable and works very well if you want something light for your face. 

Alba Botanica Sunscreen

This is a thick mineral based sunscreen that has great coverage. However, I found that it was difficult to rub in and may leave a white cast for darker skin tones. For a sunscreen this thick, I did not find any issues with pilling nor with makeup separation. 

Biore Aqua Rich Sunscreen

This sunscreen is very similar to the Kose Suncut sunscreen, with a smooth and thin formula that rubs on the skin easy, leaving a sheer, light finish. However, I also found that this sunscreen made my makeup separate and it made my skin feel slightly sticky. 

Haruharu Wonder Daily Sunscreen

I love this sunscreen, and it is the one I currently use. It has a very smooth texture and leaves a velvety finish. This feels like I’m applying any other moisturizer, and is a great base for makeup application that feels so light on my face and does not leave a white cast. It also has rice water which hydrates the skin!

Sophomore at the University of Michigan studying public policy. I love late night talks, The Backseat Lovers, reading books that make me cry, and laughing so hard until my stomach hurts. Ask me about the last song of an album!