Top 7 Best Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin

There are several milestones you must pass to be a functioning adult in today’s society: 1. paying bills on time, 2. feeding yourself something other than dry cereal, and 3. applying sunscreen to your face every single day. Sure, this list may be totally biased. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, though, you’re probably on the anti-SPF bus, thanks to a lifetime of dealing with greasy, heavy, and pore-clogging formulas.

But we’re here today to tell you that lightweight, non-shiny, and mattifying sunscreens really do exist for your oily, acne-prone skin, and we’ve found the best of them. Check out these best sunscreen for acne prone skin and oily, below, that won’t leave your face looking like a slick mess.

Best Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin

1. EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 – $39

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 - Top 7 Best Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin

King recommends this non-comedogenic, sensitivity-free, oil-free, paraben-free and fragrance-free sunscreen for acne prone skin. “With zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid and niacinamide, it helps calm and protect sensitive skin types prone to breakouts associated with acne and rosacea,” she says.

Gymrek and Wexler are also fans of this SPF that contains niacinamide (AKA Vitamin B3), which helps the skin retain moisture and lactic acid, helping “decrease shine and clears pores,” making this lightweight sunscreen “great for acne-prone and sensitive skin.” “It’s light and dries quickly, so you can slather it on your face, neck and chest before getting dressed all year round. This is my daily sunscreen and it’s great sunscreen for acne prone skin,” add Gmyrek.

2. Neutrogena Clear Face Break-Out Free Liquid Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 55 – $27.92

Neutrogena Clear Face Break - Top 7 Best Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin

Neutrogena’s sunscreen is “an ultralight lotion that is oil-free and won’t break you out. It is specially formulated for people with oily and acne-prone skin,” says Zeichner. It also contains one of his favorite active ingredients: avobenzone, which he describes as an “organic sunscreen filter that is extremely effective in providing broad-spectrum UV protection.” Gmyrek is also a fan of this “light-yet-water-resistant” sunscreen that is both non-comedogenic, oil-free and fragrance-free.

3. Isdin Eryfotona Actinica – $60

ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Zinc Oxide - Top 7 Best Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin

This 100-percent mineral broad-spectrum SPF 50+ sunblock is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. “It contains antioxidants and DNA repair enzymes, which means it’s repairing and protecting at the same time. The texture is lightweight and easy to use,” she says. The vitamin-E enriched sunscreen for acne-prone skin also comprises 11-percent zinc oxide, so you don’t have to worry about this sunblock leaving behind a white cast on your face. “Zinc oxide is a mineral UV blocker that also has a soothing effect on the skin. In fact, it is the main ingredient used in diaper rash creams to protect babies’ bottoms,” adds Zeichner.

Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin - Top 7 Best Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin

All CeraVe products are formulated with three essential ceramides (1, 3, and 6-II) to provide a layer of hydration, and this SPF 50 is no exception. This mineral sunscreen also contains hyaluronic acid—an ingredient that can hold up to 1000x its weight in water—and niacinamide for more moisturizing power.

Color Science Sunforgettable Brush-On Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 - Top 7 Best Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin

This two-in-one powder sunscreen is a lazy gal’s dream. This brush-on formula doubles as a cosmetic powder and sunscreen in a few simple swipes, mattifying your complexion while lightly covering imperfections. Though the powder is tinted, it gives sheer-to-natural looking coverage, but won’t conceal any major blemishes. It’s available in five shades that range from fair to medium skin tones. An added bonus, Dr. Houshmand notes, is that it’s ultra-portable: “It’s easy to use, and it can fit in your purse or another small bag,” she says.

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30 - Top 7 Best Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin

This may look like an ordinary sunscreen, but the swirly formula in this little bottle is like pure magic. It’s not likely that a typical drugstore brand brings top-notch products, but this sunscreen beats hundreds of others at only a fraction of the price. This silky formula is light as air, almost like whipped cream. It is hydrating enough to double as a moisturizer and SPF and the best part is you’ll barely feel it on your skin. The formula is swirled with silk proteins and shea butter so you can be sure it won’t get dry or chalky.

7. Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With SPF 30 – $16.12

Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With SPF 30 - Top 7 Best Sunscreen For Acne Prone Skin

Finding a moisturizer with SPF that actually protects your skin can be tricky—but this one (designed with oily skin in mind) gets a stamp of approval from the Skin Cancer Foundation. The mattifying formula won’t break you out or irritate existing pimples, since it’s lightweight, non-greasy, and fragrance-free. Still, your skin will feel hydrated, thanks to glycerin (which pulls in water) and dimethicone (an ingredient that prevents moisture loss without clogging the pores).

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