I know my friends and family are sick of me asking if they applied sunscreen today—energy better spent encouraging the use of the best moisturizer with SPF instead of trying to shoehorn another step into an already curated skin-care routine. As the old adage says, work smarter not— so, if your sunscreen isn’t doubling as skincare, it might be time for an upgrade.
Pairing what the best face creams have to offer with what face sunscreens excel at—namely, protecting skin—dermatologists say these multitaskers are remarkably effective at shielding sun rays while nourishing skin with hardworking conditioning agents like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane. Not to mention, many moisturizers with SPF work well with all skin tones—that means sun protection sans white cast. Ahead, three board-certified dermatologists answer all your burning sunscreen questions—plus, Vogue’s edit of the 11 best moisturizers with SPF to shop now.
Vogue’s Favorite Moisturizers with SPF
In This Story
Best for Dry Skin: Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30
- Why We Love It: Elemis takes a collagen-first approach to treating skin—meaning it seeks to boost skin’s collagen production for more youthful, glowing skin. This moisturizer in particular boasts wrinkle-smoothing properties—finding firming and toning benefits through botanicals like chlorella and ginkgo biloba.
- Key Ingredients: Padina pavonica, ginkgo biloba, chlorella, carrot root extract
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 1.0%, octionoxate 1.0%, octocrylene 0.5%)
- SPF Level: 30
- Size: 1.69 fl oz
- Best For: Mature skin, fine lines, wrinkles, dry skin
Best Japanese: Shiseido Urban Environment Sun Dual Care Fresh-Moisture SPF 42
- Why We Love It: Designed with the city-dweller in mind, Shiseido’s Urban Environment Fresh-Moisture SPF 42 goes beyond sunscreen—it’s a daily essential for dewy, resilient skin. Powered by hyaluronic acid, this silky fluid delivers a generous dose of hydration that lasts up to 12 hours, plumping and smoothing as it protects. A soft-focus finish is delivered courtesy of Pearl Light Powder, which diffuses light to visibly brighten and even out tone—no makeup necessary. Meanwhile, a curated blend of antioxidant-rich botanicals, including green tea and perilla, fortifies skin against the daily assault of pollution and free radicals. The result? Sun care that doubles as skin care—and a glow that belongs in every beauty editor’s bag.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, pearl light powder, antioxidant-rich botanicals
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
- SPF Level: 42
- Size: 1.8 oz
- Best For: Dry to normal skin types seeking a hydrating, luminous finish with reliable sun protection. Ideal for daily wear under makeup or on its own.
Best for Mature Skin: RéVive Moisturizing Renewal Day Cream SPF 30
- Why We Love It: RéVive knows how to make an excellent moisturizer—a statement that’s easily backed up after trying its Renewal Day Cream. The elixir is packed with a biomimetic peptide that plumps and smooths skin, alongside thermus thermophilus ferment, antioxidants, and red algae to protect against environmental stressors and boost the skin barrier.
- Key Ingredients: Bio-Renewal Peptide, thermus thermophilus ferment, vitamin C, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate, allantoin, red aglae
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 2.6%)
- SPF Level: 30
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
- Best For: Mature skin, dry skin
Best for Very Dry Skin: Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40
- Why We Love It: Say you want to delight in Supergoop!’s sun-care expertise but prefer something a little more nourishing. Then, Superscreen Hydrating Daily Cream is the one for you. With SPF 40 (through chemical UV filters), you get substantial sun protection, but instead of a sheer, invisible gel (like its Unseen sunscreen) or a bronzing lotion (like its Glowscreen), this is a rich cream packed with ectoin, ceramides, and algae extract.
- Key Ingredients: Ectoin, ceramides, algae extract, glycerin
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 6%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 1.5%)
- SPF Level: 40
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
- Best For: All skin types
Best French Pharmacy: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30
- Why We Love It: Whether you have a penchant for French pharmacy skincare or drugstore classics, you’re likely familiar with La Roche-Posay’s Double Repair face moisturizer. One of the brand’s bestsellers, this rich cream is packed with thermal spring water, ceramides, allantoin, and niacinamide to replenish skin’s moisture levels, soothe, and even tone. With this composition in mind, dermatologist Dr. Mina Amin recommends it for those with dry, sensitive skin—“[this] blends easily which makes it a great option for everyone, including individuals that have beards.” It’s one of those products that’s virtually impossible not to like. Plus, its oil free and non-comedogenic—aka it’s safe for acne-prone skin. Moisturize away, without fear of inciting a breakout!
- Key Ingredients: La Roche-Posay prebiotic thermal water, glycerin, ceramides, allantoin, niacinamide
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 5%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 7%)
- SPF Level: 30
- Size: 3.38 fl oz
- Best For: Sensitive skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin
Best Water-Resistant: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Moisturizer SPF 45
- Why We Love It: If I were to apply a face cream on a sunny day by the pool, I’d grab Peter Thomas Roth’s Water Drench. Water-resistant with a non-greasy, invisible, cream-to-gel formula, this safeguards skin with SPF 45 protection and delivers up to 72 hours of hydration.
- Key Ingredients: 30% Hyaluronic acid complex, ceramides, glycerin, hydrolyzed silk
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 5%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 10%)
- SPF Level: 30
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
- Best For: Dry skin
Best for All Skin Types: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30
- Why We Love It: The star ingredient in Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 is squalane—a botanical lipid derived from olives that works to replenish the skin barrier and according to Amin, helps reduce redness and inflammation. Additionally, glycerin and botanical oils in the formula come together to make skin soft, supple, and balanced as ever. No white cast in sight, but just as much moisture as Kiehl’s acclaimed face cream.
- Key Ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, sweet almond, apricot kernel, and avocado oil
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (Homosalate, octocrylene)
- SPF Level: 30
- Size: 4.2 fl oz
- Best For: All skin types
Best with Ectoin: Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops
- Why We Love It: The HydraKate Illuminating SPF Drops blend all the benefits of glowing complexion drops with a mineral sunscreen—the featherlight formula, powered by non-nano zinc oxide, offers serious protection at SPF 50. Skin stays supple thanks to ectoin, a stress-shielding amino acid that defends against environmental damage, while sheer mineral pigments lend a soft-focus glow. A whisper of malic acid gently refines texture over time. Think of it as your daily complexion armor—with the added bonus of skin looking positively radiant.
- Key Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide 24.5%, ectoin, sheer mineral pigments, malic acid
- Chemical or Physical: Physical (Mineral)
- SPF Level: 50+
- Size: 1.7 oz
- Best For: All skin types, including sensitive skin, seeking a multi-functional sunscreen that hydrates, protects, and enhances skin tone without leaving a white residue
Best on Amazon: CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion With SPF 30
- Why We Love It: Formulated specifically for balanced to oily skin types, CeraVe crafted a lightweight, matte-finish lotion perfect for layering beneath makeup or those with combination-to-oily skin types. It finds its hydrating benefits through a blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramides (a big selling point of Amin’s), plus a cocktail of chemical UV filters which not only shield against sun rays, but protect the skin barrier too.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.7%)
- SPF Level: 30
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
- Best For: Normal to oily skin
Best for Sensitive Skin: Clinique Moisture Surge Broad Spectrum SPF 28
- Why We Love It: Clinique’s Moisture Surge is the lightweight moisturizer of dreams. With a soft, cloud-like texture, the formula blends seamlessly into skin, alleviating concerns like dryness and dullness through the brand’s aloe bioferment—a cocktail of lactobacillus, activated aloe water, and organic aloe extract powder, plus hyaluronic acid and provitamin D. “Plus this moisturizer with SPF is fragrance-free, which makes it a great option for sensitive skin types,” Amin says. “I would supplement this one with a separate sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher for added protection.”
- Key Ingredients: Aloe Bioferment + HA Complex, hyaluronic acid, provitamin D, glycerin
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3.0%, homosalate 7.0%, octinoxate 7.0%, octisalate 4.5%)
- SPF Level: 28
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
- Best For: All skin types, dullness, under makeup
Best for Dark Spots: SkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30
- Why We Love It: When I asked dermatologist Dr. Mina Amin for her thoughts on this SkinCeuticals bestseller, she highlighted the featured tranexamic acid which helps fade dark spots and correct discoloration along with niacinamide and phenylethyl resorcinol—making it an excellent daily SPF for those with melasma. Plus, “it also contains glycerin to help draw in and seal in moisture”—leaving skin soft, glowing, and protected against future sun damage.
- Key Ingredients: 1% tranexamic acid, 2% niacinamide, 0.3% phenylethyl resorcinol, 7% glycerin
- Chemical or Physical: Chemical (Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 7.2%, 5% Octisalate, Octocrylene 7.2%)
- SPF Level: 30
- Size: 1 fl oz
- Best For: Dark spots, hyperpigmentation, brightening, combination-to-oily skin
Best for Redness: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30
- Why We Love It: Dr. Jart+’s Cicapair treatment takes your ordinary face moisturizer up a notch by not only nourishing skin but delivering a green-to-beige tint that expertly neutralizes redness and color-corrects with ease. And thanks to tiger grass, otherwise known as centella asiatica, sensitive and reactive skin types are left calm and balanced after application.
- Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica, glycerin, strawberry leaf extract, lavender oil, rosemary leaf oil
- Chemical or Physical: Mineral (Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide)
- SPF Level: 30
- Size: 1.69 fl oz
- Best For: Color-correcting, redness, sensitive skin
Everything You Need to Know:
What is a moisturizer with SPF?
It’s as straightforward as it sounds: “A moisturizer with SPF is a product formulated to support skin hydration that also includes UV filters to provide sun protection,” says New York City-based double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Carolyn Stull.
How does moisturizer with SPF differ from traditional sunscreen?
According to New York–based, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lauren Penzi, “Unlike traditional sunscreen, these products contain additional hydrating ingredients like emollients that soften skin (i.e. ceramides), humectants that retain moisture in the skin (i.e. hyaluronic acid, glycerin) and/or occlusives that help prevent water loss (i.e. dimethicone).”
Is moisturizer with SPF as good as a traditional sunscreen?
Yes, and no. Penzi continues, calling moisturizer with SPF more “elegant” than your everyday sunscreen in that they absorb better into the skin and will not leave a greasy residue. But that doesn’t mean you should forgo your standalone sunscreen entirely.
“Both come in different levels of SPF, but usually moisturizer with SPF contains lower levels,” she says. “Although it can be just as good as a traditional sunscreen if the SPF type and levels are equivalent, the difference is that people are usually not applying enough of it as they would sunscreen, and may not be reapplying it as they should with sunscreen.”
All to say, if you apply your a moisturizer with SPF enough (general guidance is two finger-lengths worth, or the equivalent of a shot glass full for the face), you’re good to go. For additional protection, consider supplementing with another SPF—like a sunscreen facial mist, powder, or even tinted sunscreen.
Should you pair a moisturizer with SPF with a traditional sunscreen?
“If your moisturizer contains SPF 30 or higher, you technically do not need to use a separate sunscreen,” Amin explains. “If you choose to use a moisturizer with sunscreen, look for SPF 30 or higher and it is important to apply a sufficient amount of sunscreen, an even layer which is typically two finger lengths long, to the entire face and neck.”
What to Look for in Moisturizers with SPF
- SPF Level: “I recommend selecting a product with SPF of 30 or higher, which blocks 97% of UVB rays,” says Stull. Penzi, who recommends a minimum SPF level of 40, emphasizes that “additional increase in UVB protection is minimal.” The takeaway here is that it’s more important to reapply every two hours than to apply SPF with a higher level, just once.
- Broad-Spectrum Protection: Penzi advises to look for coverage from both UVA and UVB rays; “UVA rays penetrate deeper into skin and cause premature aging, including wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. UVB rays penetrate less deep, but they are main cause of sunburn and the development of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. (PA+ system refers to UVA coverage).”
- Chemical vs Mineral: “Mineral filters such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide work by reflecting and scattering UV rays as opposed to absorbing them,” says Stull, whereas chemical filters work by absorbing UV rays. She’d prefer mineral filters to chemical filters, particularly for those with sensitive skin, as they are generally less irritating and less likely to cause skin allergies.
- Key Ingredients: Both Stull and Penzi agree that humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin are great ingredients to look for as they draw water and moisture into the skin. Otherwise, Penzi would incorporate ceramides to “protect the skin from environmental stressors;” squalene to prevent water loss and “neutralize free radicals that can damage skin cells and contribute to premature aging,” plus niacinamide to “strengthen the skin barrier, improve elasticity, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.”
How much moisturizer with SPF should you apply for adequate UV protection?
To apply moisturizer with SPF, Stull recommends massaging into clean, slightly damp skin in the morning. For adequate sun protection, use at least a quarter-sized amount or the equvialent of two finger-lenghts.
- Dr. Mina Amin is a Los Angeles-based dermatologist at California Dermatology Specialists.
- Dr. Lauren Penzi is a New York–based, board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Carolyn Stull is a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at MDCS Dermatology in New York City.
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