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The Very Best Sunscreens, According to Outdoor Athletes + Experts

The Very Best Sunscreens, According to Outdoor Athletes + Experts featured image
Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images
This article first appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of New Beauty. Click here to subscribe

In the world of sun care, who better to trust than those who live under its constant gaze? From surfing and tennis legends to golf champions alongside skin experts based in the sunniest corners of the country, this roster shares their wisdom on the ultimate sun-care essentials.

Photography by Andre Sarimento

01 Serena Williams, tennis legend

“As an athlete, I had to wear products that would look good through intense movement. Sometimes tennis matches last three hours. I needed products that would really last, which was difficult. I would mix foundations with SPF, which inspired my WYN BEAUTY Featuring You Hydrating Skin Enhancing Tint SPF 30 ($29). Then and now, the one thing that hasn’t changed in my beauty routine is SPF. It’s so important to protect your skin from the sun. I am busier than ever running around with my daughters, so multipurpose products with SPF that move with me are a must.”

02 Anna Chacon, MD, Miami dermatologist

“As a dermatologist, I highly encourage the use of sun protection, especially for people living in a sunny place like Miami. For sunscreen, I recommend a broad-spectrum formula with an SPF of at least 30, such as La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 60.”

Amy Peterson, Miami medical aesthetician and founder of Skincare by Amy Peterson

“It’s important to use effective sun-protection products, but it’s also crucial to be mindful of trapped heat in the skin. Keeping the skin cool is the best way to avoid flare-ups and any irritation to the skin caused by heat. Using a wearable neck fan, visors—I love the Wide Brim Visor from de la heart ($44)—and sun-protective clothing are great options. They help avoid trapped heat under the skin, especially for individuals who have melasma.”

Shown above: Watskin Ryann Bodysuit in Multi Floral ($345)

03 Kelly Slater, world champion surfer

“My entire career, I’ve been looking for an SPF that is engineered for performance and built for me as a professional athlete, but that is not detrimental to my body or the planet.“ Slater’s go-to: his very own Freaks of Nature Daily Defender Sunscreen ($35).

Jane Seymour, actress

“I grew up in a generation where I definitely damaged my skin. Now, I am really, really careful. I use sunblock, I always wear a hat, and I just don’t sit in the plain sun. And also, as an actress, top light doesn’t make you look very good. It gives you bags under your eyes and makes you look older. When you wear a hat, you can control your light source. The Wallaroo hats are so stylish. I love one with a wide brim. The ‘Elise’ ($67) is my absolute favorite. I don’t go anywhere without it.”

04 David Erlich, senior director of spa & wellness at Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

“Sharing the same island, I am a huge fan of the Maui-founded sun-care brand, Project Reef. They offer a fantastic range of products for both face and body, and are Certified B-Corp. They focus on mineral sunscreen–based products and are also Hawaii Reef Compliant, which can be healthier than those that are chemical-based.”

05 Carissa Moore, world champion surfer and Olympic gold medalist

“My favorite sunscreen is without a doubt the Sun Bum Original SPF 70 Body Lotion ($18.50). It feels so good on my skin, and it smells absolutely delicious.”

06 Sloane Stephens, U.S. Open champion

“I train outside every day, so having good sun care is critical. I love a spray sunscreen because I need to keep my hands grease-free so I can grip my racquet. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist SPF 70 ($10) is my go-to—my absolute favorite.”

Rose Zhang, professional golfer and NCAA champion

“Like many golfers, I had to warm up to wearing sunglasses while playing, feeling like they’d be a hindrance to my game,” says Zhang. Then she discovered Uswing Sunglasses ($699). “They’re light, they block out light and they help distinguish things, like blades of grass on a putting green. They changed my mind in a positive way.”

07 Sarrah Hallock, cofounder and chief operating officer of THE WELL

Opening Miami’s first-ever caldarium at THE WELL Bay Harbor Islands required some serious time in the Florida sun for Hallock. “I have melasma, so I’m serious about SPF and sun protection. I wear sunblock 365 days a year. Right now, I am loving Saie’s Slip Tint for every day.”


IMAGES: PASCAL LE SEGRETAIN/STAFF/GETTY IMAGES; HARRY HOW/STAFF/GETTY IMAGES; TIM CLAYTON – CORBIS/CONTRIBUTOR/ GETTY IMAGES; DUSTIN SATLOFF/STRINGER/GETTY IMAGES

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