Mayhem and mischief aside, there is something set-specific to HBO’s latest edition of The White Lotus: The sun in Koh Samui, Thailand, where Season 3 was filmed, is relentlessly hot. (The UV index in Thailand averages between 11–12, which is considered extremely high.) Luckily for the cast and crew, makeup department head Rebecca Hickey is diligent about proper sun protection—and willing to share with us exactly which sunscreens our favorite hotel guests relied on during production.
EltaMD UV Clear ($44)
Like a lot of fans, Hickey likes EltaMD because it’s “clean, simple and acne-safe,” going as far as to call it a “perfect product.” She also shares that it was the go-to for Michelle Monaghan and Carrie Coon during filming. (As a melanoma survivor, Monaghan previously told us she typically starts her day with EltaMD UV Clear.)
Epicuren X-Treme Cream Propolis Sunscreen ($58)
For Leslie Bibb, it’s this SPF 45+, which Hickey describes as a “creamy lotion that leaves a beautiful glow.” As Bibb herself told us, she’s a brand loyalist of the full line: “I’m an Epicuren girl. I’ve used their products forever, and they’ve been really good for my skin.”
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF 50 ($18)
For our spa superstar Natasha Rothwell, it was this lightweight hyaluronic-acid SPF. “It gives the prettiest sheen and doesn’t leave any white cast,” says Hickey.
Indie Lee Daily SPF 50 Primer ($46)
“This is one of the best primers that has the prettiest finish,” Hickey says of Aimee Lou Wood’s multitasking SPF of choice. “And, it also protects from UV rays.”
Vacation Super Spritz SPF 50 Face Mist ($18)
Hickey says “everyone” on set wore this hydrating spray, which was not hard for the cast to come by. “We had tons of these on set and would spray over makeup all-day long,” she says.
Jaxon Lane Rain or Shine Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen ($32)
We may have just unearthed one of Walton Goggins’s go-tos. “Every man this season was wearing this SPF moisturizer,” shares Hickey of the Amazon-available sunscreen. The derm-recommended SPF features vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, green tea, licorice root and ginseng, and gets rave reviews for going on clear and being super hydrating.
Dr. Jart Every Sun Day Sun Stick ($22)
Hickey, in particular, is a fan of this easy-to-use stick. “It is convenient and is perfect to glide over makeup.”