Expert-Approved Acne Sunscreens for Matte, Pimple-Free Skin This Summer

Growing up in Florida, I understood the importance of wearing sunscreen early on, but truthfully, I only wore sunblock in the summertime or at the beach because it left my oily, acne-prone skin a greasy mess. Thankfully, skincare companies have transformed their ashy, pore-clogging products into sophisticated acne sunscreens that protect us from the sun's rays without causing breakouts. Modern acne sunscreens are oil-free, non-comedogenic, and safe for everyone with uber-sensitive skin.

Need another reason to purchase a new acne sunscreen? Consider this a sign. Using expired sunscreen from last summer can backfire and cause major breakouts. “If the sunscreen is expired or the ingredients have been exposed to direct sunlight and high temperatures, the heat and sun can break down the chemicals and render them ineffective and potentially irritating to the skin,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, M.D.

Best Acne Sunscreens

How to Shop

Mineral Versus Chemical

Sunscreens fall into two categories: mineral, aka physical, and chemical. They're both effective and safe to use, but King and double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, M.D., prefer mineral sunscreens for acne-prone or very oily skin. Physical sunscreens, like Thrive Natural Care Daily Sunscreen, sit on top of the skin and are non-comedogenic, meaning they don't congest your pores, while chemical sunscreens, such as EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen, are partially absorbed by the skin and can clog pores, resulting in acne.

Ingredients

Here are a few of King's go-to and least favorite acne sunscreen ingredients.

• Best ingredients: look for a non-comedogenic and oil-free sunscreen made with mineral sun-blocking ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
• Worst ingredients: avobenzone, benzophenone, methoxycinnamate, and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) are all common chemical sunscreen ingredients that can cause pimples in acne-prone skin.

Formulation

Sunscreens are available in several formulations, but when it comes to acne-prone skin, powder, cream, and liquid sunblocks reign supreme. To help you better understand why these three formulas are ideal for acne-prone skin, I consulted double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Angela Casey, M.D., of clean skincare line Bright Girl.

• Cream sunscreens are thick and provide much-needed sun protection and hydration. While it may sound counterintuitive to use a thick product for acne-prone skin, when your face becomes dry, it interrupts the skin's microbiome and leads to irritation and inflammation, which can cause acne flareups.
• Liquid sunscreens, such as Supergoop! CC Screen and Revision Skincare Intellishade Truphysical Tinted Moisturizer, are thinner than creams, easy to apply, and are absorbed quickly into the skin.
• Powder sunscreens are incredible for soaking up excess shine and grease but are best used as a touchup over liquid or cream sunblocks. They're also equipped with built-in bristles, making them great for travel and reapplying at the beach.

Ready to slather your face with a mattifying acne sunscreen? Our experts shared their all-time favorite acne sunscreens worthy of your hard-earned money. As our beauty editor, I also vetted all of their suggestions and researched their key attributes like active ingredients and suggested reapplication times. All of these recommendations are mineral sunblocks made with only the best sun-blocking filters to protect your skin from ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays that cause wrinkles, sunburns, and skin cancer.

From oil-absorbing powder sunscreens to clean beauty brands, try one of these non-greasy acne sunscreens before your next beach vacation.