CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Body Sunscreen, Travel Size 5oz

Why it's worth it

A thick, ceramide-rich mineral cream that costs a fraction of the others and protects just as well. The trade-off is a real white cast, so plan on thin layers and a full minute of rubbing it in properly.

CeraVe's mineral sunscreen does the two things a budget pick has to do. It protects — zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, broad spectrum, developed with dermatologists — and you can buy it at any drugstore without thinking about it. The ceramides are the bonus. They make up roughly half the lipid content of a healthy skin barrier, and ceramide formulas measurably improve water loss and barrier function within a few weeks.

If your skin is dry, flaky or recovering from something, this is the most comfortable pick here. It's a cream rather than a fluid, and it behaves like a moisturizer with SPF folded in. The National Eczema Association recommends it. There's no fragrance, no oil, and nothing that usually sets off compromised skin. On a cold, dry morning you may not need a separate moisturizer underneath at all.

From our review of 7 mineral sunscreens for face, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +CeraVe's mineral sunscreen does the two things a budget pick has to do
• +If your skin is dry, flaky or recovering from something, this is the most comfortable pick here
• +You do have to work for the finish

What to know

• –The cast is the headline problem, and it gets worse the deeper your skin tone
• –It's formulated for face and body, so it's heavier than a purpose-built face fluid