Apparel
The best sunscreen for golfers 2020
The best sunscreens golfers should consider to protect your skin against the sun's damaging UV rays
Sun protection is something we take very seriously at Golf Digest. There is no excuse for playing a round of golf without properly applying sunscreen, wearing a quality pair of sunglasses, staying hydrated and practicing safe sun habits like seeking shade and conducting regular screenings for skin cancer. Apparel-wise, you'll want to wear a hat—the wider the brim the better—and many golf clothes actually have UPF sun protection threaded right into the fabric for additional protection. Another commonly forgotten safe sun practice is applying lip balm. Your lips are one of the most sensitive skin areas of the body and deserve a little extra attention, so always select a balm with SPF in it.
Every year, Golf Digest selects the best sunscreens and lip balms for golf as one of our Editors’ Choice awards. This year’s sunscreen winners were Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Spray SPF 30, Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-touch SPF 30 and Thinksport Suncreen SPF 50+. These sunscreens were selected based on their safe ingredients, effectiveness for golfers and an involved testing process. These products include a spray and two lotions that are all mineral-based sunscreens with zinc as the main ingredient. Avoid chemical sunscreens with harmful ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate or octisalate.
Here’s a review of our Editors’ Choice selections and a few others worth trying—including easy-to-apply sunscreen sticks, selections for those with sensitive skin and options for those with more involved skin care or makeup routines.
Related: We're in trouble: Skin cancer is on the rise, and not just for golfers
*All products featured on Golf Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.*
2020 Editors’ Choice: Best Sunscreen For Golf
These are the top-vetted sunscreens, as selected by our editors. You can trust the ingredients and the formula isn’t sticky or slimy–so it won’t impact your grip either. They come in a variety of sizes, so keep one at home and apply it head-to-toe before you leave the house, and having a travel-sized version to keep in your bag and reapply every two hours as sunscreens degrade over time.
Above, from left to right:
Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Spray SPF 30 | BUY NOW: $19 (for 6oz. bottle)
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-touch | BUY NOW: $27 (for three-pack 3oz. bottles)
Thinksport Suncreen SPF 50+ | BUY NOW: $10 (for 3 oz. bottle)
Sunscreen Sticks
Sunscreen sticks are a balm-version of protection that are easy to apply and great for touch-ups on the face, ears, neck and hands. They should NOT be your primary form of sun protection but an add-on to your regular lotion or spray application. Balms are typically less likely to sweat or drip, so you’ll be able to cover the sensitive area around your eyes without the concern of a stinging, sweaty drip.
Above, from left to right:
Z Block Sunscreen Stick | BUY NOW: $10
EiR NYC Surf Mud Pro, SPF 50 | BUY NOW: $30
Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sport Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 | BUY NOW: $7
Thinksport Sunscreen Stick SPF 30+ | BUY NOW: $9
For Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is not an excuse to skip applying sunscreen. There are others that are more face-friendly. Products made for kids or babies are usually a safe bet, but aren’t always sweat-resistant. If you have skin issues, wearing a large brimmed hat and seeking shade is especially important for protecting your skin from sun damage. These lightweight sunscreens are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic–but always test a new product on a small area of the body before widespread use.
Above, from left to right:
Neutrogena Face Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin, SPF 50 | BUY NOW: $11 (1.4oz)
Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Mineral Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 40 | BUY NOW: $15 (1.7 oz)
Alba Botanica Sensitive Fragrance Free Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 | BUY NOW: $12 (4 oz.)
Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Stick | BUY NOW: $12
To incorporate into skincare and make-up routines
If you spend a little more time in front of the mirror to take care of your skin, great, it shouldn’t be an issue to add a quality sunscreen into the mix. Investing in a good moisturizer with sunscreen is essential, but keep in mind the top layer determines how much sun protection you’ll have. If you pile a bunch of products on top of your sunscreen, the effectiveness will decrease significantly. Opt for a setting spray with sunscreen–or a tinted formula–to get the best coverage and still look great.
Above, from left to right:
Thinksport Everyday Face Sunscreen, Naturally Tinted | BUY NOW: $10 (2oz bottle)
Farmhouse Fresh Elevated Age-Degending Sunscreen, SPF 30 | BUY NOW: $38 (1.7oz. bottle)
UncompliKated Makeup Setting Spray SPF 50 Sunscreen | BUY NOW: $38 (3.4oz bottle)
Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Sunscreen | BUY NOW: $30
Supergoop! Mattescreen Suncreen SPF 40 | BUY NOW: $38 (1.5 fl oz)
Most sunscreens aren’t meant for your lips and don’t usually have the best taste anyway. Grab a lip balm with sunscreen to protect your lips from harmful rays. Thinksport Thinker Lip Balm and Z Blok Lip Balm are the 2019 Editors’ Choice selections for best lip balm for golfers. The Thinksport stick has SPF 18 with a refreshing currant and grapefruit flavor, while Z Blok’s is fragrance free with SPF 30. The Colorscience Sunforgettable Total Protection Balm is great for ladies mixing a sunscreen with SPF 50, a hydrating balm and a trendy lip color all in one. It also can be used for a pop of color on the cheeks.
Above, from left to right:
Thinker Lip Balm | BUY NOW: $3
Z Blok Lip Balm | BUY NOW: $10 (for back of three)
Sun Bum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm | BUY NOW: $4
Colorscience Sunforgettable Total Protection Balm | BUY NOW: $29
Honorable Mentions
Here are a few more safe and effective sunscreen products to try. Brands like Coola have options with a fresh tropical scent to mask any odor and Bare Republic has mineral sunscreens in fun colors that’ll encourage the kids to jump on the sunscreen train, too.
Above, from left to right:
EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 47 | BUY NOW: $18 (4oz)
Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray | BUY NOW: $18 (6oz)
Coola Organic Sunscreen Body Spray, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | BUY NOW: $38 (8 Fl Oz)
Bare Republic Mineral Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 | BUY NOW: $15 (5oz)
MORE CONTENT ON SUNSCREEN
For more sun protection:
Bucket hats: A debate on acceptable golf attire