Top 10 Best Sunscreens in India to Protect From Skin Tan

Do you spend long hours outdoors? Is your skin becoming dark as a result? If yes, there is nothing to worry about!

All you Need is a Sunscreen.

Plenty of sunscreen and sunblock crème and lotion of different cosmetics brands are readily available off store shelves and on various online websites in India.

Use any of these sunscreen and sunblock crème or lotion. They definitely protect your skin from harmful Ultraviolet-A (UVA) and Ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays and eventually helps to reduce tanning as well.

Additionally, sunscreen and sunblock crème and lotion can also help prevent skin cancer. Contrary to popular belief, they are reasonably priced.

Indeed, some sunscreen and sun-protection products in India also offer added features such as skin moisturising or getting rid of acne or dark spots.

Interested? Then read on. Here we list “The Top 10 Best Sunscreens in India for Women” that are useful to protect your skin against the harmful effects of sunlight.

best sunscreens in India

Selecting Best Sunscreen Lotion

Before you zero on a sunscreen or sunblock product, it is vital to know your skin type and amount of time you are exposed to direct sunlight.

The vast land expanse of India means, people in one part of the country are exposed to a different kind of sunlight than others.

Another factor you must consider is called Sun Protection Factor or SPF. Sunscreen and sunblock products come with different SPF ratings. We will discuss SPF later in the article.

But first, let me acquaint you about sunscreen and sunblock products since you may get confused overuse of these terms while buying.

Sunscreen v/s Sunblock

Actually, sunscreen and sunblock are almost similar.

The two words were used in the USA. Manufacturers of sunscreen that added Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide to their products marketed them as Sunblock.

The only difference was, sunblock products were thicker and formed an opaque, milky coating on the skin.

Sunblock products used a denser oil to provide a thicker layer on the skin.

In contrast, sunscreen products did not use these two ingredients. Hence, they are lighter on the skin and are not visible to others.

Generally, sunscreen products use lighter oil and thus are transparent. They coat the skin without forming an opaque mask.

Since 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited manufacturers from using the term ‘Sunblock’.

In countries like India, the word sunblock continue to be used by some companies. It signifies the sunscreen lotion has a higher Sun Protection Factor or SPF.

What is SPF (Sun Protection Factor)?

Before finalising on a sun protection product, you need to find out which Sun Protection Factor suits you best.

For example, a crème or lotion with SPF 15 means, only about one part of 15 of Ultraviolet rays will affect your skin if you are exposed to direct sunlight for 30 minutes.

This does not necessarily mean you opt for higher SPF products.

Instead, the time of day easily determines the SPF factor when you will be exposed to direct sunlight and your geographical location. Sunlight differs at every position.

You can judge what SPF sunscreen is best suited by knowing the time your skin takes to darken when exposed to sunlight.

Also, sunscreen with high SPF does not mean you are entirely shielded from UVA and UVB radiation. No sunscreen manufactured to date can provide that kind of protection.

Further, SPF can also vary according to heat and humidity at your location. Sun protection products tend to run with perspiration.

Sweat can render ineffective even the highest SPF sun protection product.

Finally, using a sunscreen with very high SPF comes with inherent risks: your skin would be unable to synthesise the much-needed nutrient Vitamin-D, triggering a deficiency.

Using a sunscreen with low SPF will be ineffective if you are exposed to sunlight for very long.

If in doubt, consult a dermatologist or cosmetics expert to find the SPF best suited for your skin.

Remember, it is incredibly crucial to buy a sunscreen product of the right SPF.

List of Top 10 Best Sunscreens in India

Now that we know about SPF and its uses as well as how to choose a sunscreen product, we will explore the top 10 brands available in India.

1. Lakme Sun Expert

best lakme sunscreen

Lakme provides one of the best sunscreens in India; thus, Lakme Sun Expert leads the range of sunscreen and sunblock products in India

Priced affordably, Lakme Sun Expert is available with various Sun Protection Factor ratings.

Lakme Sun Expert is available in SPF 24 and SPF 50 variants.

Price:  Rs.350/ 125ml

Also Read: 15 Best Face Washes For Women In India To Get A Glowing Skin


2. Nivea Sunscreen

best nivea sunscreen

Germany’s Beiersdorf makes the Nivea range of best sunscreen lotions for the face in India.

Nivea sunscreen is available in two variants- SPF 30 and SPF 50.

Nivea sunscreen lotions impart moisturising of the skin that prevents it from drying and premature ageing.

Price: Rs.270 to Rs.350

Also Read: 15 Best Fairness Creams in India For All Skin Types


3. Neutrogena Sheer Ultra Dry

best neutrogena sunscreen

American skincare company Neutrogena offers its eponymous sunscreen cream in the Indian market.

Currently, Neutrogena provides Sunscreen SPF 50 only, to meet demands from the Indian market.

Affordably priced, Neutrogena sunscreen is a globally acclaimed product.

Price:  Rs.360/ 88ml

Also Read: 10 Best Quality Moisturizers For Daily Use in India


4. Banana Boat Sports

best banana boat sport sunscreen

The American brand of sunscreen Banana Boat sells sun protection cream with SPF 50 in the Indian market.

Banana Boat Sports is a specially formulated sunscreen for women and men that spend long hours outdoors performing sports activities that also triggers heavy perspiration.

Price:  Rs.900/90ml


5. Himalaya Herbals Protective

best himalaya sunscreen

Yes, you can also buy this best sunscreen lotion which is made with herbal extracts and other natural ingredients.

One of the India’s leading Ayurveda companies which manufacturer of herbal medicines and beauty products, Himalaya Herbals manufactures a herbal sunscreen with SPF 15. It is a best ayurvedic sunscreen in India.

Price: Rs.200/100ml


6. Biotique Ultra Soothing

best biotique sunscreen

For discerning users, Biotique offers two variants of its sunscreen lotion, with SPF 30 and SPF 50.

These can be easily bought from any good store or pharmacy and also online through select e-retailers.

These lotions are priced reasonably.

Price: Rs.225 to Rs.275/ 120ml


7. Lotus Herbals Safe Sunscreen

best lotus sunscreen

Yet another type of best sunscreen crème available in India and made with herbal extracts come from Lotus.

Lotus has the only sunscreen crème in India that offers a very high protection factor, with SPF 70.

Variants with SPF 30 and SPF 50 are also available from Lotus.

Price: Rs.200 to Rs.500/ 60grams


8. L’Oreal Paris Aqua Perfect

best loreal sunscreen

French skincare and beauty products maker, L’Oreal offers some of the best sunscreens in India suited for Indian skin types.

The Aqua Perfect range with SPF 24 offers sufficient protection against UVA and UVB rays regardless of your location In India.

The product is formulated for India.

Price: Rs.400/ 30ml

Also Read: Top 10 Most Popular Shampoo Brands Names in India For all Hair Types


9. Clarins Sunscreen Care

best Clarin sunscreen

With a price tag of Rs.1,700, Clarins is indubitably an expensive sunscreen lotion to buy.

However, the higher price is compensated by the fact that Clarins of France is renowned for skin care and beauty treatment products manufacturer.

Their products are made with the finest quality ingredients. Only imported versions are available in India.

Price: Rs.1,700/ 100ml

Also Read: 15 Best Face Washes For Women In India To Get A Glowing Skin


10. VLCC Sun Defense

best vlcc sunscreen

VLCC Sun Defense has carved itself a niche in domestic sunscreen market.

Some of the Indian geniuses make VLCC Sun Defense for Indians.

For the very affordable price, it is one of the best buys in the country.

Additionally, VLCC also has Sunscreen SPF 40 variant of this crème, in addition to the SPF 30 and SPF 50 type.

Price: Rs.180 to Rs.300/ 120grams


Wrap Up

This ends the list of best sunscreens in India for women. By now hopefully, you are thoroughly aware which is the best SPF sunscreen for face according to your skin type.

Regardless whether you are a salesperson that spends long hours outdoors or engage in sports, love the beach or planning a vacation to a sunny city this winter, pack some of the best sunscreens lotion or sun block cream along.

Other than protecting your skin from the harmful effects of UVA and UVB rays, they also provide moisturising effects.

Thanks to the better knowledge of protecting oneself from prolonged exposure to sunlight, the sunscreens in India is on the upswing.

To derive best results and get full value for money, it is recommended to use sunscreen lotion or crème in a manner directed by the manufacturers.

Remember, sunscreen that drips with sweat is useless and can cause your body to tan unevenly.

Follow the steps suggested in this article to choose the best sunscreen/sunblock that suits your budget and requirements.

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