Sorry to spoil things for you, but there’s no magic secret to eternal life. While nutrient-dense, longevity-promoting foods can keep us strong and energized the longer we live, freezing ourselves in time just isn’t in the cards. What is? Aging with grace. And the secret there, dear readers, is the best anti-aging sunscreens.

Okay, there’s more to it than products alone. The mundane advice rings true: drink water, get a good night’s rest, and continue to seek inspiration wherever life takes you. There it is, as unglamorous as it may sound. But there’s hope yet. For a satisfying, mini miracle in the form of visible results, I’m writing today to uncover the anti-aging power of sunscreen. Keep scrolling for all you need to know about the superpowers of SPF: its ability to protect premature moisture loss, preserve collagen levels, prevent hyperpigmentation, and more. Plus, the 11 best anti-aging sunscreens money can buy.

Feature image by Riley Reed.

I wasn’t always the sunscreen devotee I am today. For most of my childhood, I believed the myth that people with darker skin didn’t have to wear sunscreen. So I didn’t. One less step for me. Imagine my surprise when, in my teens, I realized that I’d been sabotaging my skin. Skipping sunscreen wasn’t doing any favors to my adolescent acne and proclivity to hyperpigmentation. After this epiphany, I got in line fast. In just a few months I’d tried chemical sunscreens, physical sunscreens, tinted sunscreens—oh my! I ruled out the ones that left a white cast, and I kept the ones that felt like serums. I collected favorites and fashioned them into a routine I could adjust according to the season and reapply depending on the day.

What I learned? Sunscreen doesn’t have to be boring. Like any part of your routine, discovering the right one for your skincare goals can change everything. If you’re looking to prevent or reverse signs of photoaging, pick a sunscreen with ingredients that work together to shield and repair your skin. Opt for ingredients that increase collagen turnover, smooth fine lines, and fade hyperpigmentation. That way, you can prevent further sun damage while aging backward—which is as close to a fountain of youth as you’re going to get.

What Causes Visible Aging?

As we get older, our body’s collagen production slows down, making it harder for our skin to repair itself. This causes fine lines while making your skin lose firmness and hydration. In addition to natural moisture loss, UV rays are a major factor in aging. Years of direct sun exposure eventually cause sunspots and hyperpigmentation.

Does Sunscreen Prevent Aging?

Once our collagen production slows, it’s all about protecting what we have left. Bad news: Sun exposure kills our precious reserves of collagen. When you wear sunscreen, you create a barrier between you and UV rays, preventing hyperpigmentation and premature moisture loss.

What sunscreen is best for anti-aging?

The best sunscreen is the sunscreen you’ll wear. (Read that again.) Find a suncare product that fits into your routine so you know you’ll actually use it. To boost your anti-aging strats, choose a sunscreen with ingredients that also help reduce signs of aging. Opt for nourishing ingredients that keep the moisture in your skin, and actives that work with collagen to increase cell turnover.

Read on to discover some of the best anti-aging sunscreens to level up your routine, fade fine lines, and smooth texture.

Are there anti-aging sunscreens you swear by? Drop them in the comments!