Carrying SPF day by day generally is a onerous promote in case your pores and skin is liable to shine—in any case, who needs so as to add extra greasiness to already-oily pores and skin? However a sunscreen formulated particularly for shiny pores and skin could make the every day behavior quite a bit simpler to stay with. It’ll have a lighter consistency and comprise mattifying or oil-absorbing elements that’ll depart your pores and skin wanting contemporary, not slick. If each SPF you’ve tried has left your face with a greasy sheen or heavy really feel, permit us to introduce you to one of the best sunscreens for shiny pores and skin, hand-picked by dermatologists and Attract editors. After you have your holy grail, you’ll by no means skip placing on SPF once more.
Our Prime Sunscreens for Oily Pores and skin
Continuously Requested Questions
Greatest General: Shiseido City Setting Oil-Free Mineral Sunscreen SPF 42
This light-weight, fluid sunscreen is all the pieces you possibly can need in an SPF for shiny pores and skin. First off: Shiseido City Setting Oil-Free Mineral Sunscreen SPF 42 is oil-free (therefore the identify), which is a must have while you’re anxious a couple of method feeling greasy and including to the slickness of your pores and skin. Not solely will this not contribute to grease, it’ll actively assist get rid of it with dimethicone and silica—two elements that take up oil and provides your pores and skin a smoother, shine-free end (consider it like your favourite mattifying primer). Don’t fear, although—the method is noncomedogenic, so these silicones gained’t clog your pores and trigger breakouts.
It additionally packs hydrating elements like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to ensure you’re not missing in moisture—as a result of everyone knows drying out your pores and skin isn’t the reply to fixing oiliness. If that’s not sufficient to persuade you to slide this into your seaside bag, know that it’s additionally waterproof for as much as 40 minutes. You may splash round to your coronary heart’s content material and look nice whereas doing it.
Tester suggestions from contributing commerce author Annie Blackman
“An oily sunscreen is like nails on a chalkboard for me, particularly throughout summer time months the place my face will get oily by itself. This Shiseido sunscreen is oil-free, light-weight, and leaves no white solid. The bottle is smaller than I anticipated, nevertheless it has turned out to be a superb factor as a result of it slips proper into my purse. I often like creamier formulation, however I recognize the thinness mixed with the excessive safety degree.”
Sunscreen sort/Key elements
mineral/glycerin, hyaluronic acid, camellia leaf extract, turmeric
Greatest for Zits-Inclined Pores and skin: SkinCeuticals Clear Every day Soothing UV Protection Sunscreen SPF 50
Why it is value it: The SkinCeuticals Clear Every day Soothing UV Protection Sunscreen SPF 50 is a mineral-chemical hybrid that was particularly examined on acne-prone pores and skin to verify it doesn’t flare up breakouts. Its star elements are peptides, which soothe sensitivity, and bisabolol—an anti-inflammatory that’ll settle down redness. And it leaves out probably irritating elements like perfume and comedogens that may clog pores.
Tester suggestions from commerce editor Sarah Han
“For those who don’t need to compromise glow within the seek for calming, non-irritating formulation, that is it. SkinCeuticals’ Clear Every day leaves my pores and skin wanting radiant after three small pumps (it’s tougher to portion out the two-finger rule with a pump, so I believe this is kind of an sufficient quantity) whereas peptides and bisabolol reduce any redness I’ve round my nostril and cheeks. It takes a bit of longer to mix in in comparison with most 100% chemical sunscreens I’ve tried, nevertheless it dries all the way down to a seamless, cast-free, and semi-dewy end on my light-medium Asian skintone.”
Sunscreen sort/key elements
mineral and chemical/peptides, bisabolol, glycerin
Greatest Tinted: Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Why it is value it: Based on Brooklyn-based board-certified dermatologist Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, the Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is a perfect decide for the oiliest of complexions, as a result of its grease-free end and common tint that blends into your pores and skin tone. It’s additionally an excellent decide for mature pores and skin, because it accommodates skin-firming peptides to cut back the look of early-stage sagging and tremendous traces.
Tester suggestions from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“My pores and skin is so oily, you’d suppose I would get an invitation to OPEC. Whereas I’ve discovered completely serviceable sunscreens that do not make me look greasy, this one stands out as a result of it leaves my pores and skin wanting matte, however not overly flat or one-dimensional. The tint does lots of heavy lifting for my pores and skin tone—on which most mineral sunscreens look chalky—and I really like that this has zero scent to talk of.”
Sunscreen sort/key elements
mineral/glycerin, peptides, vitamin E
Greatest for Delicate Pores and skin: Extremely Violette Velvet Display screen SPF 50
Why it is value it: Perfume-free and made with zinc oxide, Extremely Violette Velvet Display screen SPF 50 is a good possibility for delicate pores and skin. It additionally delivers severe skin-nourishing advantages, too: It packs vitamin C from kakadu plum that’ll brighten your pores and skin whereas Pentavintin (a hydrating plant extract) brings hydration into the equation. Plus, it offers pores and skin a blurred end that may stand as much as the solar’s warmth. The feel is on the thicker aspect, so give this a beat to sink into your pores and skin earlier than making use of make-up.
Tester suggestions from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
“I not too long ago spent the weekend at Coachella, open air and in 100-degree warmth for 3 days straight, and this mushy matte sunscreen saved my life. Not solely did I handle to not get sunburned in any respect, the velvety end actually helped my make-up from turning right into a gloopy, gooey mess.”
Sunscreen sort/key elements
mineral/kakadu plum, pentavitin, glycerin
Greatest Korean: Then I Met You Essence Mild Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++
Why it’s value it: Having elements of your face really feel tremendous dry whereas your T-zone can’t appear to cease pumping out oil could be very actual—and likewise difficult to navigate relating to merchandise. However this Korean sunscreen is a protected guess for mixture pores and skin. Then I Met You Essence Mild Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ makes use of a trio of hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and panthenol to strengthen the pores and skin’s moisture barrier whereas antioxidants from galactomyces ferment filtrate (a spinoff of fermented sake) soothe and scale back the looks of pores. It gained’t utterly eliminate shine, nevertheless it’ll give your pores and skin a wholesome sheen that appears dewy fairly than greasy.
Tester suggestions from affiliate magnificence director Sarah Kinonen
“Technically, I’ve mixture pores and skin, however catch me mid-day and you may see me shine from throughout the room. Whereas the Then I Met You Essence Mild Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ does not sop up oil and even forestall it, it does play into my every day gleam in one of the best, most useful manner by giving my pores and skin dehydrated much-needed moisture (within the type of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol) because it protects it. I’ve gone by means of two, perhaps three of those tubes already—it is one of the best!”
Sunscreen sort/key elements
chemical/galactomyces ferment filtrate, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, panthenol
Greatest Clear: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
Why it is value it: Board-certified dermatologist Jeannette Graf, MD, a professor at Mount Sinai College of Drugs, suggests EltaMD’s barely-there UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, touting its means to cut back shine and clear pores by the use of lactic acid. Consider this as extra of a mattifying moisturizer than a sunscreen. Despite the fact that it is boosted with sodium hyaluronate (a type of hyaluronic acid) to hydrate pores and skin, it will by no means really feel oily or sticky. FYI: We’ve discovered that it helps to offer the formulation a couple of minutes to set earlier than making use of make-up to keep away from pilling.
Tester suggestions from Attract contributor Jessica Kasparian
Jessica Kasparian says this sunscreen has a dreamy texture that’s straightforward to reapply: “This is among the first zinc oxide-based SPFs I attempted and really favored. It feels creamy whereas I’m rubbing it in and it has a mushy matte end (learn: it doesn’t make my face look shiny or powdery).”
Sunscreen sort/key elements
chemical and mineral/niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
Greatest Drugstore: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Extremely Mild Fluid Sunscreen SPF 60
Why it is value it: The La Roche-Posay Anthelios Extremely Mild Fluid Sunscreen SPF 60 offers all the light-weight, oil-free solar safety you possibly can ever ask for, which is why it gained a Better of Magnificence Award in 2024. It feels extra like a primer on the pores and skin, due to its silky matte end, and make-up superbly layers on high. Together with giving your pores and skin broad-spectrum SPF 60, it affords up a dose of senna alata, a tropical leaf extract that is wealthy in free radical damage-reducing antioxidants.
Tester suggestions from senior information editor Nicola Dall’Asen
“It delivers a no-nonsense, no-cast, no-rubbing-in-for-20-minutes sunscreen—a dream come true for a lady like me, who dreads every day sunscreen utility. It protects from the solar shortly and with out the greasy-feeling mess and chemical odor that sunscreen can usually depart behind, all at an affordable drugstore value.”
Sunscreen sort/key elements
chemical/senna alata, thermal spring water, vitamin E
Different sunscreens for shiny pores and skin to contemplate
- When you have easily-inflamed pores and skin, the Supergoop Mineral Mattescreen Sunscreen SPF 40 ($40) is value a shot, because it’s light-weight and calming. It has a light-weight method that guards in opposition to damaging solar rays whereas antioxidant-rich bamboo extracts defend in opposition to free radical harm and frivolously situation the pores and skin.
- If you would like one thing sweat- and waterproof, the Colorescience Sunforgettable Complete Safety Face Protect SPF 50 ($49) has your again. It’s resistant for 40 minutes, so you’ll be able to take an extra-long dip within the pool or do an additional lap in your run with out worrying in regards to the method sporting off.
- For those who’re anxious about air pollution, the Alastin HydraTint Professional Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36 ($64) accommodates ectoin, which helps defend pores and skin in opposition to blue mild and air pollution. Its light-weight method is non-comedogenic, so it gained’t clog pores, and it offers pores and skin a wholesome sheen with out wanting greasy.
- For those who’re on a funds, contemplate choosing up the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50. Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York Metropolis, says the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 will get her seal of approval for shiny pores and skin sorts due to its light-weight really feel and spectacular oil management. “This mineral sunscreen dries and will not depart the pores and skin feeling greasy, making it an excellent possibility for these with oily pores and skin,” she says. “It additionally accommodates vitamin E to guard in opposition to free radical harm.” Bonus: This face sunscreen is hypoallergenic, fragrance- and paraben-free, and full of soothing elements, making it a winner for these liable to redness.
Continuously Requested Questions
Ought to oily pores and skin use mineral sunscreen?
You may if that’s your choice. Based on Corona Del Mar-based board-certified dermatologist Stefani Kappel, MD, begin with oil-free, mineral sunscreens that comprise zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. “These not solely provide higher safety in opposition to UVA and UVB rays, however they’re naturally much less comedogenic, or acne-causing, than chemical sunscreens,” she says. (That stated, chemical sunscreens do provide large benefits; they’re often simpler to mix into deeper pores and skin tones, and really feel light-weight on pores and skin, which is why we have included some good choices for shiny sorts within the under checklist.)
Which elements must you keep away from in a sunscreen for shiny pores and skin?
Along with the kind of sunscreen filter, avoid formulation that comprise pore-clogging oils, like coconut, soybean, and wheat germ oils. Whereas they’re excellent for dry pores and skin (and price contemplating when you have mixture pores and skin), they could inadvertently activate sebum manufacturing, which generally is a downside for a pores and skin sort that already has bigger oil-producing sebaceous glands.
Meet the specialists
- Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, a board-certified dermatologist primarily based in Brooklyn
- Jeannette Graf, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and professor at Mount Sinai College of Drugs primarily based in New York Metropolis
- Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist primarily based in New York Metropolis
- Stefani Kappel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist primarily based in Corona Del Mar
How we take a look at and evaluate merchandise
When Attract checks a product, our editors take a look at it from each angle in an effort to greatest serve you. We evaluate elements, scrutinize model claims, and, when essential, look at peer-reviewed scientific and medical research. Along with testing every product that is included in every evaluate, we depend on specialists who form their fields, together with dermatology, beauty chemistry, and drugs, to assist us vet the elements and formulation.
