I’ve Tried Every Single La Roche-Posay Sunscreen—This Is By Far The Best of the Bunch

For more years than I would like to admit, I committed probably one of—if not the biggest—beauty sins: not wearing sunscreen every day. (1) because I was going through a tough bout with hormonal acne and avoided putting anything that could break me out, and (2) I couldn’t find any formulas that didn’t make my face feel sticky. But in the year of our beauty savior 2026, the SPF gods have answered our prayers: there are now countless lightweight serum sunscreens that are non-comedogenic, hydrating, and leave behind zero greasy residue.Team Cosmo has the honor of testing just about every SPF formula that hits the market, and our favorite of the summer is easily La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVAir Serum Sunscreen. From a brand that has mastered the art of sun protection and skincare, the chemical sunscreen has a fast-absorbing, non-comedogenic formula that delivers hydration and barrier support, while antioxidants help defend against environmental stressors, alongside top-tier sun protection.SPF50Skincare IngredientsNiacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin ESunscreen typeChemicalIt’s the SPF I’ve been wearing on repeat every day of the summer. The formula disappears into my skin within seconds, leaving behind none of the tackiness or heavy residue that used to make me loathe sunscreen. It has a lightweight texture that makes reapplying throughout the day feel actually enjoyable and hydrating. And while yes, the texture is feather-light, it still packs in tons of skin-loving ingredients, including thermal spring water sourced from La Roche-Posay, France, niacinamide to help brighten hyperpigmentation, glycerin and hyaluronic acid for an added boost of moisture, and antioxidants (like vitamin E and cassia alata leaf extract) to protect against environmental stressorsJasmine Hyman for CosmopolitanNo matter your skin type, this SPF feels weightless from the moment you apply it. As someone with super dry skin, I’m always looking for formulas that won’t cling to flaky patches or leave behind a chalky finish, and this does just the opposite. It feels like nothing on the skin, leaves my complexion with a healthy glow, and layers seamlessly on top of my (admittedly extensive) skincare routine without any pilling. Even while sweating and swimming, then reapplying it, all weekend long during the Fourth of July, my very sensitive skin stayed calm, with no breakouts or sunburns.Add Cosmopolitan as a preferred source in your Google search results.Use your Google account to add this to your settings.And it also works well for those on the other side of the skin spectrum with oily skin. Contributing beauty writer Celia Shatzman says she has “oily skin whose forehead turns into an oil slick in the summer,” and the formulation “Stays put in heat and humidity; you won’t even notice you’re wearing it, except for the hydration that it delivers, which is even more impressive considering how thin the formula is.”Beauty editor Beth Gillette is also a major fan of the formula, especially for her oily complexion. “This formula really impressed me—so much so, it was the only SPF I wore for four days in Miami and at the Miami Open.”Beth Gillette for CosmopolitanTake it from acne-prone editors who test beauty products for a living—this non-comedogenic, lightweight, and hydrating formula is the best one we’ve used all summer.Why Trust Cosmopolitan? Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things skincare. For this story, she used the La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVAir Serum Sunscreen for months to test its efficacy. She also tapped team Cosmo for their thoughts after using the sunscreen all summer long.Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.