The 6 Best Sunscreens for Oily Skin, According to Doctors and Our Beauty Editor

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.