The 9 SPF Products a Derm Uses All Summer Long

This is Dr. Chiu’s everyday face sunscreen, and for good reason: “It’s the gold standard of both physical and chemical broad spectrum sunscreens with an incredibly elegant formulation that never feels heavy and disappears into any skin type,” she says. She loves that it’s suitable for each and every skin concern, including those prone to acne or rosacea. Another bonus? “My fiancé loves it too,” Dr. Chiu says. “It is one of the few sunscreens he’ll use.”

Dr. Chiu considers this her go-to sunscreen for below the neck, noting that it’s especially good for a long day out in the sun. “Not only does it have antioxidants that truly boost the sun protection effects, but the blend of shea, olive, and avocado oils also gives skin a soothing, moisturized feel when it’s dried out from the pool or sun,” she explains.

Whenever Dr. Chiu gets a laser, peel, or other exfoliating skin treatment, she protects her post-procedure skin with this mineral sunscreen, since it’s super-gentle. “The incredibly lightweight, almost watery formula of this sunscreen makes it hard to believe it’s a mineral sunscreen,” says Chiu. “It truly feels more like a fluid than a lotion.”

No one reapplies sunscreen as well or as often as they should, which is why Dr. Chiu packs this brush-on sunscreen for touch-ups. “This is a must-have for every single woman as a touch-up sunscreen that doubles as a loose powder makeup,” she says. “Literally, keep one in the house, at the office, and in the beach bag.”  She loves that it circumvents the idea of slathering more liquid sunscreen on top of makeup, which doesn’t hold appeal for many. And it’ll also mattify oily or sweaty skin, which is particularly helpful in the summer months.

“When my pigment is acting up, this is my sunscreen of choice,” says Dr. Chiu. It goes above and beyond: Not only does it protect from UVA and UVB rays, it contains antioxidants that fight the damaging downstream effects of the sun, including hyperpigmentation. Plus, “this SPF also has infrared energy protection—meaning protection from heat energy, which has been shown to contribute to aging skin and melasma,” she says.

When Dr. Chiu wants a little more coverage to even out her skin tone, she reaches for this tinted moisturizer with SPF. “It’s perfect for the beachy, no-makeup look that gives you a natural beautiful glow and tint while protecting your skin from photoaging,” she says. And she’s impressed by the range of tints, adding, “It’s a huge step forward in sunscreens.”

This is a vacation staple for Dr. Chiu, since the playful formula is like sunscreen and body makeup in one. “This is my go-to when I want to be protected, but with just that little playful shimmer,” she says. It gives skin a beach-ready radiance, but without the damage.

As the skin around the eyes is famously delicate, Dr. Chiu loves to give it extra TLC with this mineral-based eye cream-meets-sunscreen. “I love knowing it won’t sting my eyes, that it brightens and conceals any dark circles, and that there are anti-aging ingredients in the formula,” she says. “What more can you ask for?”

For protecting her lips—which are as prone to sun damage as the rest of your skin—Dr. Chiu reaches for this multitasking lip balm. “It’s moisturizing, glossy, sun protective, and a tad yummy-tasting,” she says. “Enough said.”