If you buy something from the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?
Everyone should wear sunscreen to help protect their face and body from harmful ultraviolet rays that cause wrinkles, dark spots, burns, and even skin cancer. But if you have extremely oily skin like me, I’m sure you understand that the struggle to find a sunscreen for oily skin is very real. Tired of looking like an oil slick by the mid-afternoon, I decided to hit up skincare experts for their guidance on what to consider when buying sunscreen for oily skin.
Best Sunscreens for Oily Skin
How to Shop
It turns out that shopping for sunscreen for oily skin is similar to shopping for acne sunscreen. From the ingredients to product formulations, these are the key factors board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jason Miller, M.D., and double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, M.D. says you should consider when buying sunscreen for oily skin.
Best Formulations
- Powder sunscreens are ideal for anyone with oily skin because they soak up grease and reduce shine, and given their built-in brush design, they're super convenient for touching up your skin or layering over makeup. The only downside: You should start with a traditional liquid sunscreen to ensure your face is adequately protected with a thick enough layer of sun protection.
- Lotion and gel sunscreens are fantastic for an oily skin type. They're thinner than creams, meaning they absorb quickly, so you won't have to worry about your face feeling sticky or worse, looking shiny AF.
- Cream sunscreens are useful as long as they are made with lightweight moisturizers like hyaluronic acid instead of greasy ingredients like mineral oil which can clog your pores.
Mineral Ingredients Are Ideal
The biggest advantage of using mineral sunscreen is that regardless of the brand, they sit on top of the skin rather than partially soak into your face, meaning you have a lower risk of dealing with sunscreen-related pimples. “Typically, the minerals that are used to provide sun protection are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, so look for at least one of those ingredients listed as an active ingredient,” advises DeRosa.
As someone with a darker skin tone, I understand that white cast is a real issue with most mineral sunscreens. If you're worried about looking like a ghost, then you could use a sunscreen that combines both mineral and chemical UV filters instead.
For added reassurance, we thoroughly researched each sunscreen on our final list, and after chatting with our experts and reading through hundreds of online reviews, we can safely say all of these recommendations on our list won't leave behind a white cast on your face.
Non-Comedogenic is Your New BFF
Similar to non-comedogenic makeup, non-comedogenic sunscreens are an ideal match for those with oily skin because they don't clog your pores and lead to blackheads and acne. And it goes without saying, but in case you need a reminder: Opt for an oil-free sunscreen whenever possible. This means your sunscreen does not contain pesky oils that leave your oily face shiny and prone to pimples.
Ready to trade in your old face sunscreen for one of these expert-approved sunscreens that cut down on shine and won't clog your pores? Say goodbye to a greasy face and embrace these six impressive sunscreens for oily skin.
1
Best Overall
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Face Sunscreen
Pros
Highest SPF coverage- Fast-absorbing
- Matte finish
- Oil-, paraben-, oxybenzone-, and fragrance-free
- Doesn’t pill under makeup
- Safe for sensitive skin
Cons
- Contains chemical UV filters
Key Specs
- SPF: 60
- Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene
- Texture: Liquid
- Sizes available: 1
- Rating: 4.7-star average from nearly 4,300 reviews on Amazon
Coming in at our number-one spot is the French girl’s favorite skincare line La Roche-Posay. Miller is also a big fan of this lightweight liquid sunscreen for oily skin. “It’s one of my favorite liquid-based sunscreens that also dries without a visible residue or a thick layer of product,” says Miller.
One of the most impressive ingredients in this sunscreen for oily skin is silica powder that soaks up oils on your face each time you slather it on. It's also made with senna alata, a tropical leaf extract that helps guard your skin against free radical damage that leads to wrinkles. But our favorite ingredient found in this sunscreen is the bougie thermal spring water that boasts a high concentration of antioxidants and is sourced from La Roche-Posay, France.
Amazon reviewers say this is a great mattifying sunscreen for oily skin and dries powdery soft. To quote one 5-star review, “I’ve been searching for an everyday SPF that does not leave my skin shiny, as I have pretty oily skin, and I found it! It protects your skin really well, and it looks matte after applying it. I’m glad I bought it!”
We have more good news to share: this is the sole sunscreen for oily skin on our list that received a seal from the Skin Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit focused on skin cancer prevention and treatment.
More: These Doctor-Approved SPF Lip Balms Start at $3
Pros
- Helps fight free-radical damage
- Available in two shades
Cons
- Limited stock
Key Specs
- SPF: 30
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
- Texture: Fine powder
- Sizes available: 1
- Rating: 4.2-star average from nearly 2,500 reviews on Amazon
Refillable beauty products are having a moment, and this powder sunscreen is seriously underrated and worth incorporating into your oily skincare routine.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, M.D., loves using it for touching up her makeup or protecting her bare face. “It’s also great for body areas and easy to apply to your shoulders and chest without having to worry about leaving white residue on your clothing,” she says.
Not only does this travel-friendly toiletry protect you from UVA and UVB rays, but it also has you covered with far-infrared ray protection.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3
Best Mineral Formula
EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen
Pros
- Safe for rosacea
- Oil-, fragrance-, and paraben-free
Cons
- Sells out quickly
Key Specs
- SPF: 46
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide and octinoxate
- Texture: Lightweight cream
- Sizes available: 1
- Rating: 4.7-star average from nearly 29,230 reviews on Amazon
As Amazon’s number-one best-selling sunscreen, it’s no surprise EltaMD earned a spot on our list. Beyond its impressive rating and glowing reviews, Miller called this one of the best sunscreens for oily skin and notes it’s his no-fail pick. “It’s my personal favorite sunscreen for daily use because it feels very light when applied and does not leave a thick white paste on the skin,” says the New Jersey-based doctor. He adds it has a thin texture that is not greasy or oily after application.
DeRosa called this one of her tried and true favorites and a product she recommends to patients with oily or acne-prone skin. “Available in un-tinted or tinted formulations, it’s lightweight, anti-inflammatory, non-comedogenic, and provides great sun protection. Its ingredients include hydrating hyaluronic acid, so sometimes I skip the moisturizer and just use this on hot days.”
Amazon reviewers are also obsessed with this sunscreen for oily skin because it contains soothing niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, a lightweight moisturizer.
And by the way, if reading about moisturizers in your oily skincare products is an immediate red flag in your mind — think again. “This product rubs on so smoothly, I can’t even feel that it’s there! This is by far the best I’ve ever used on my face,” says one Amazon reviewer with an oily, melanin-rich complexion. DeRosa adds she will sometimes skip using a separate moisturizer and just use this sunscreen on extra hot days.
4
Best for Dark Skin Tones
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen (1.7 Ounces)
Pros
- Award winner
- Oil and scent-free
- Clean formula
Cons
- The largest size is limited edition
Key Specs
- SPF: 40
- Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene
- Texture: Gel
- Sizes available: 3 (.68, 1.7, and 2.5)
- Rating: 4.7-star average from nearly 8,220 Amazon reviews
Solar rays don't discriminate, and according to thousands of Amazon reviewers, DeRosa, and editors, this popular sunscreen doesn't leave behind an ashy finish. In our guide to the best sunscreens for darker skin tones, several Black editors and influencers told us that this sunscreen is 100% worth the hype.
“Unseen is great for deeper skin tones because the formula is completely clear, which is genius! I don’t know why brands weren’t making them this way sooner,” says beauty influencer Natacha John. “I love that it keeps my oil-prone skin matte throughout the day while also not leaving that incredibly unflattering white cast,” adds Bianca Gracie, the managing editor of Edition by Modern Luxury.
It's made with a 100% clean, mineral formula that received the Clean at Sephora seal, meaning Unscreen Sunscreen doesn't contain 50 ingredients the beauty retailer considers questionable. Plus, it's infused with two effective but underrated ingredients that soothe your skin and leave behind a velvety finish: frankincense and meadowfoam.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Pros
- Paraben- and fragrance-free
- 100% recyclable via Terracycle
Cons
- Combines mineral and chemical UV filters
Key Specs
- SPF: 50
- Active ingredients: Avobenzone and titanium dioxide
- Texture: Lotion
- Sizes available: 1
- Rating: 4.2-star average from more than 1,440 Amazon reviews
Paula's Choice is one of the best moderately priced skincare brands on the market, so it's no surprise this sunscreen for oily skin is also on point! Made with an impressive antioxidant-rich formula, this sunscreen relies on kaolin clay to soak up excess oil and aloe vera extract to lightly hydrate and soothe your oily skin. It also utilizes vitamin A, C, and E to boost sun protection by fighting free radicals.
Amazon reviewers call this Paula’s Choice sunscreen for oily skin a must-have because it leaves behind a soft matte finish and pairs nicely with face makeup. To quote one 5-star Amazon review, “I have super oily skin, so most sunscreens make me break out or feel super sticky afterward. This sunscreen absorbs super fast and doesn’t leave me feeling like I have a wet face or break out.”
You can also confidently sport this sunscreen for oily skin while snapping selfies at the beach or while filming TikToks — several Amazon reviewers note it doesn't leave behind a white film on the skin, nor does it create any flashbacks on camera.
6
Best for Skin and Hair
Colorescience Total Protection Sheer Matte Sunscreen
Pros
- Available in two shades
- Reef-safe formula
Cons
- Most expensive SPF on our list
Key Specs
- SPF: 30
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide
- Texture: Fine powder
- Sizes available: 1
- Rating: 4.4-star average from nearly 217 reviews on Amazon
King is also a fan of this powder sunscreen for oily skin. It costs $10 more than Brush On Block’s version, but you get wider protection from UVA and UVB rays, pollution, and blue light emitted from your tech. If you don’t live in a major city with environmental pollution and don’t wear SPF indoors, then you could get away with just using Brush on Block’s sunscreen instead.
The New York-based derm says Colorescience sunscreen lives up to its mattifying promise, and you can even use it as a dry shampoo to soak up a greasy scalp.
Amazon reviewers say it also acts as a pore minimizer, and they can get away with not using a face primer. “I have aging, oily skin, and I don’t wear any foundation, only tinted sunscreen. We were in a hot, humid climate, so I have a hard time with oily skin. This product over a [liquid] sunscreen worked wonderfully,” says one 5-star Amazon review.
Another satisfied reviewer adds they keep a tube in their car for easy reapplication throughout the day. “I like that it is small and compact, so I can stash one in my purse as well. It also helps mattify my skin when it starts feeling oily.”
Nicole Saunders
Beauty Editor
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Best New Beauty Awards package. You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventues.
