The Sunscreen Shortlist
Summer calls for many things: a good straw hat, the perfect beach read, and a sunscreen you don’t dread applying. We asked a few Friends of Fenimore to share the SPF formulas they swear by—from silky mineral sunscreens to glow-giving gels and drugstore finds. Enjoy our sunscreen shortlist, straight from the beauty cabinets of some very fresh-faced friends.
Dr. Dan Belkin
For Dermatologist Dr. Dan Belkin, the best sunscreen is one you’ll actually want to use. His picks span both ends of the spectrum: a luxurious, silky, treatment-minded mineral formula and an affordable drugstore option that makes daily SPF a little less daunting.
Of Alastin’s SilkSHIELD All Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, he says:
“Beautiful, silky and matte texture. Mineral sunscreen, minimal white cast, with their proprietary trihex peptides that stimulate collagen and elastic fibers.”
For something a little more wallet-friendly, he reaches for CeraVe’s Invisible Mineral Sunscreen Face Sheer Tint SPF 50:
“My favorite drugstore brand option—more of a lotion, also all mineral, but with no white cast at all! I use this one on my toddler.”
Emily Schoen
When it comes to sunscreen, Digital Creator Emily Schoen is looking for something that checks all the practical boxes without feeling, well, practical. Her pick is Primally Pure’s Sun Cream SPF 30 in Lavender Mint.
“I’ve been loving this one because it smells amazing, is water resistant and really works!”
Megan Karp
Content Creator and Substacker Megan Karp’s picks make a convincing case for treating SPF as a skincare ritual rather than an afterthought. Her two favorites cover both face and body, with formulas that feel decidedly more luxurious than your average sunscreen.
For the body, she loves Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50:
“This stuff is amazing for body—it’s truly like a body cream that you put on post shower, but it happens to have 50 SPF in it. Ultra luxurious.”
And for the face, her pick is Emma Lewisham’s Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Body Crème:
“It gives a ‘your skin but better’ veil.”
Kristin Ellen Hockman
Designer Kristin Ellen Hockman is firmly in the glow camp. Her favorite is Tula’s Protect + Glow Daily Sunscreen Gel SPF 30, which she loves for its lightweight texture and luminous finish.
“This one from Tula is my absolute favorite. It gives you the most beautiful, natural glow and has a lovely light texture to it.”
ariel okin
When Dr. Dan recommends a sunscreen, Ariel Okin listens.
“He’s always right!” she says of her daily Alastin SPF, adding that “Martha uses it too!”
For the body, she reaches for Bask’s non-aerosol sprays and Invisible SPF 40:
“Jenn Streicher introduced me to (both) via her fabulous clean beauty store in Bedford, Duchess.”
