After the best sunscreen for sport? 11 that passed my meticulous sweat tests (2025)

As runners, we’re often well-tuned with doing what we can to protect our muscles, joints and feet — but what about our skin? Wearing sunscreen — especially on the face — is arguably the single most important thing we can do for our skin, yet many of us head out on a run with only a pair of sunglasses or a running cap to protect us from the sun’s UVA rays.

Before you go reaching for that tube of thick white sun lotion at the back of the cupboard, know that your skin has different requirements on a long run than it does lying on a beach. That's where I come in. As a run editor and 12-time marathoner with acne prone skin, I spend plenty of time on the roads and trails and have tested the best facial and body sunscreens and SPFs designed specifically for sports. The products below are designed to feel lightweight and non-greasy, while being able to withstand the sweatiest training sessions to keep you protected.

What to look for in a sunscreen for running

Lightweight

Possibly the most important factor in an SPF is a lightweight consistency that's absorbed rapidly, while allowing the skin to breathe and sweat effectively, says Tom Austen, founder of Pelotan, sun performance protection for athletes. ‘Look for a formula that doesn’t block pores, meaning your body can effectively regulate temperature and you can fully commit to your workout,’ he says.

Sweat-resistance

‘You also want something highly water and sweat-resistant, meaning it won’t slide off or drip into your eyes during your workout,’ says Austen.

Factor

For running, look for products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more and with broad spectrum protection, says Austen: ‘Even with a high SPF, if a sunscreen isn't broad spectrum, you won't be protected from all UVA rays'.

UVA rays might not cause you to burn, but they do penetrate more deeply into the skin and play a greater role in premature skin ageing.

Application

It’s important to think about how long you intend to be running and the practicalities of reapplying during your run. A longer-lasting product can be a lot less faff, but if you've got the means to carry your SPF with you, you may want the reassurance of applying something more often.

Formula

SPFs can come in lotion, spray and stick formulas. Again, there's no clear winner here – find what works best for you. That said, we will say that lotions are a good option for applying pre-run, while sprays and stick formulas are handy for on-the-run re-application.

It’s perhaps the ultimate extreme-running sunscreen. A RW tester used this to fend off the Saharan sun in the Marathon des Sables. The spray bottle makes application mess-free, while a liberal coating protects from everything our local star can throw at you for 10 hours. It’s completely water- and sweat-resistant, too.

Supergroup! was created off the back of founder Holly Thaggard’s hatred of greasy textures, chalky finishes and dubious ingredients when it comes to sunscreen, so you know this is a quality product. In fact, it's one of our e-commerce editors favourite products overall (she's been using it for over a year): the lotion is completely invisible, water and sweat-resistant, lightweight, fast-absorbing and smells delicious too. We've also found it sits well under make-up. Plus, it’s coral reef safe, making this a great option for surfers or sea swimmers. It’s factor 50, but you will need to reapply it if you're out for several hours.

This one is definitely on the premium end of the sunscreen spectrum, but it doubles up as a lightweight daily moisturiser with avocado oil, neroli oil and Nordic pine bark to boost skin cell regeneration and leave you feeling fresh. The formula is pretty thick, but a little goes a long way: we find you only need a tiny pump, and it delivers a luxurious, 'barely-there' feel. A great option if you want something hydrating that will sit well under make-up.

With a water-gel consistency, this SPF from Glossier doesn’t feel sticky or greasy, instead it glides on and is super easy to apply. Better yet, it’s completely undetectable thanks to it’s transparent forumal, which absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving white cast and sits beautifully under make-up. Offering SPF 35 protection against UVA and UVB rays, this suncream isn’t advertised as a sports-specific suncream, but we really rate it as a everyday option that’s easy to use and doesn’t clog your pores when you get a sweat on. It also contains antioxidants, including vitamin E, broccoli, and aloe leaf to help protect against free radicals – and it smells fresh, too.

Easy to apply (and reapply if needed), quick-drying and non-greasy high-grade protection whereyou need it most. Our tester was particularly impressed by the scalp protection – a great option when the sun is in full effect but you don’t want to wear a cap.

A great option for ultra-endurance athletes, cyclists, or anyone planning to play sports outside in the summer. Pelotan has been developed to offer eight hours of sun protection, so you only need to apply it once. You might assume this would make the formula thick and greasy, but it's quite the opposite, ticking all our requirements for an awesome sport sunscreen: clear, lightweight, non-greasy and breathable. We tested this at a fitness retreat in Crete (which involved boxing and strength classes in the midday sun), and we impressively didn't burn once. It sprays on easily, isn't sticky and it actually smells nice, too. Big, big fans.

Lightweight, sweat-resistant and non-greasy, this SPF 50+ liquid suncream is suitable for normal, combination and sensitive skin and provides triple protection against UVA, UVB and blue light. It also contains powerful antioxidants which means it can help shield the skin from pollution and other environmental aggressors. We found it sat perfectly on top of our normal, everyday moisturiser – and didn’t flake underneath makeup – and thanks to its liquid consistency it absorbs super quickly and doesn't leave any annoying white cast. The small 40ml bottle is particularly useful for chucking in your backpack or hydration vest for on-the-go use (and complies with travel-size toiletry requirements). Plus, the bottle and cap are made from 50% recycled plastic.

Water-resistant (for up to 80 minutes), this is a solid option for any budding triathletes or open-water swimmers. It's one of the most lightweight formulas we've tried, too: there's absolutely zero grease, and it blends smoothly into the skin without leaving that 'sunscreen film'. It's a pricer option, but it's a high-quality product that won't disappoint — trust us, one RW tester even used this during an ultramarathon in Tanzania.

This Supergoop primer not only helps protect your skin, but it also leaves you with a beautiful, luminous glow. While not technically tinted, it does have a pearlescent sheen that looks great when worn alone or under makeup. This formula also packs hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and niacinamide, all of which help keep your skin clear and bright. As an added bonus, it protects from blue light, which is especially helpful if you spend a lot of time in front of your computer or on your phone during the day.

Another quick-dry oil, this spray is easy to apply and soaks in fast. The water- and sweat-resistant barrier lasts all day and offers full protection for your body, face and scalp. Our tester used it while running in the 30°C Dubai desert heat and it performed perfectly.