The weather’s heating up and the days are growing longer and longer. We’re nearing our solstice equinox and the days will only grow hotter and hotter. We’ve noticed that SPF is flying off of our shelves, but how can you navigate which one is the right one for you? To make your life easier we’ve done some deep-dives into each and every single SPF on our shelves to help to narrow down your search and make your life a bit easier.
Firstly, we’d like to remind you that all of our products are #SpruceApproved, meaning that each SPF is reef-safe, mineral-based, vegan, and cruelty-free. After looking through each of our SPF’s, we’ve also made sure that each one is TSA-approved and travel-friendly (at or under 3.8 fl oz). Now that we’ve got all those checked off of our to-do list, let’s get into it.
Ursa Major’s Force Field SPF 30
1.7 fl oz. | unscented | untinted | 2-in-1 | glass bottle, pump | subtle dewy finish | $58
For those of you looking for a workhorse low-effort product, we want you to turn your eyes to Ursa Major’s Force Field SPF 30. It’s both a moisturizer AND a sunscreen. Ursa Major’s put hyaluronic acid in there to ensure that your skin will stay hydrated throughout the day, and locked it in with shea butter and squalane and to keep your skin moisturized. This is a great product for the low-effort skincare individual.
July Sky C-Shells Daily Sunscreen SPF 30
2 fl oz. | subtle citrus scent | untinted | soothing/healing | plastic tube, screw-top | dewy finish | $30
This is our Spruce’s top selling sunscreen. It’s our lightest formula that is untinted. July Sky is an AAPI-owned company and does a phenomenal job formulating a product that blends into all skin-tones without a white-cast. This formula has green-tea and vitamin C built in to soothe the skin from pre-existing sun damage. Layer this on top of whatever your current skincare routine is with ease, pack it with you on your trips without worry of spillage, share it with everyone around you. This is a great product for the avid outdoorsy individual.
UnSun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30: Light-Medium & Medium-Dark
1.7 fl oz. | subtle oat scent | tinted | heaviest/richest formula | plastic tube, pop top | dewiest finish | $29
With two color options to choose from, UnSun is stocked on our shelves for good reason. This formula is the heaviest, most moisturizing SPF we carry. Choose between Light-Medium and Medium-Dark to attain the perfect even tone after applying. UnSun is a Black-owned, woman-owned business, her name is Katonya Breaux (and fun fact, she is Frank Ocean’s mom!). We love this formula for how rich and nourishing it is, perfect for drier skin types and makeup-wearers (and anyone seeking to help with redness!)
UnSun Full Coverage Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
3 fl oz. | subtle oat scent | untinted | heaviest/richest formula | plastic tube, pop top | dewiest finish | $32
Love what you just read above about UnSun, but not interested in a tinted product? For those of you who are looking for a heavy, untinted, face and body SPF, look no further. This is a great product for the put it all-over individual.
Marie Veronique Everyday Coverage Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30
2 fl oz. | herbaceous scent | tinted | lightest formula | amber glass, pump | matte finish | $60
We ADORE Marie Veronique and their SPF is truly wonderful. This is our most lightweight formula and feels most like a serum. It applies easily and dries matte. It’s offered in three shades: extra light, light, and medium and does not cover all skin tones (they are working on their darker hues). This is a great product for the oilier skin-types.
Eminence Sun Defense Minerals SPF 30 Powder
0.28 oz | unscented | untinted and tinted | powder formula | plastic brush applicator | matte finish | $58
This is our only powder formula for SPFs and it is truly wonderful. Offered in 6 different tints: 0 Translucent, 1 Honey Apple, 2 Cherries & Berries, 3 Peaches & Cream, 4 Calendula Spice, and 5 Cinnamon Bronzer. Each name denotes the dried ingredients added to provide that specific color. We’ve noticed that this is a really wonderful product for anyone who is seeking a mattifying makeup setting powder. Those who are often on-the-go and need to touch up any oiliness, this is a wonderful option. This is the easiest product to reapply SPF on the go. This is a great product for the on-the-go, oilier skin types or those who need a touch-up.
3.4 fl oz. | subtle citrus scent | untinted | body-dedicated SPF | plastic tub, pop top | dewy finish | $28
Kinfield is a wonderful non-toxic outdoor-focused skincare company. Everything they make is catered to anyone who is constantly outside, from their bug spray to their bug-bite patches. Their Cloud Cover SPF is our highest rated SPF at 35. It’s our only body-dedicated SPF and is our heaviest formula, it does leave a white cast on more melanated skin. It is water resistant up to 80 minutes and is a great option for anyone who is constantly outside in the sun.
My my my, that was a lot of information! After learning about all of our SPF’s we see how difficult it could be to choose one over the other. If you’re still having a hard time choosing, we recommend you come in and try them all out if you’re able to - we’re happy to help!
