13 Dermatologist-Approved Sunscreens That Won’t Clog Oily Skin

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There's one step in our skincare routine that we refuse to skip—and it's applying sunscreen. In fact, slathering on SPF (of 30 or higher) is a healthy habit that everyone should incorporate in their day-to-day. Regardless of your skin type, sunscreen is premium protection against fine lines, premature aging, sunburn—and even worse, skin cancer. However, shopping for the best sunscreen for oily skin can be pretty tough.

While the perfect sunscreen for should be formulated for daily use, some products tend to contain ingredients that cause irritation and/or create greasy residue. For us to better understand how to pick out the best sunscreen for oily skin, we turned to experts to weigh in on what to look for—and what to steer clear of—in a formula.

How We Chose the Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin

Anyone with oily skin may feel it's a grueling task to lay hands on a sunscreen that works for their skin type. But, we can assure the right one for you exist. When picking out the best sunscreen for oily skin, our experts recommend you to consider the following:

Ingredients: It's always important to read the label for the ingredients. If you're naturally oily, then it's wise to stay away from sunscreens with excess oil to prevent potential breakouts and clogged pores. Occlusive ingredients such as petrolatum, glycerin and silicones are designed to hydrate and moisturize the skin, but too, will produce that unwanted shine and greasiness on top of the surface. Therefore, going with a non-comedogenic sunscreen is an ideal match for your skin, according to Dr. Jeremy Brauer, NY-based based board-certified dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon, and founder of Spectrum Skin and Laser.

Mineral vs Chemical Sunscreen: Choosing between the two relies on your own person preference—especially those with darker, sensitive or acne-prone skin. Mineral formulas employ active ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which scatter light and create a physical barrier that helps prevent the sun's rays from penetrating the skin, according to Dr. Rahi Sarbaziha, Beverly Hills-based Integrative Aesthetics Doctor. On the flip, mineral options often have a thick, goopy consistency. Chemical sunscreens are more featherweight and fast-absorbing of UVA and UVB rays. However, their most commonly used ingredients are oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate, which aren't a seamless combination with oily, sensitive skin.

Matte Finish: Although some sunscreens can make your skin appear too glossy, there are others capable of achieving that radiate look with a skin-blurring, mattifying effect.

This non comedogenic, oil free moisturizer with SPF comes highly recommended by Brauer. It's a great lightweight sunscreen for all skin types—especially acne and rosacea prone skin. It contains a calming ingredient trio of niacinamide, lactic acid and hyaluronic acid, to calm sensitive skin and nourish the skin’s overall appearance. He carries it at all times as a personal go-to for the face.

Another of his personal faves is this tone-adapting SPF 75 is a 100% mineral-based, oil free sunscreen. Its creamy formula provides a high level protection with a hint of color that perfectly blends with almost all skin types.

This clear, oil-free sunscreen is so light, you barely feel it on your face. Its formula helps consume excess oil, provides excellent UVA/UVB protection, and reduces shiny appearance.

We first tried this SPF in 2021, and its sheer, skin-like finish has kept us coming back ever since. With it being noncomedogenic, we don't have to worry about it clogging our pores—even on humid summer days.

It's a great standalone product that's feather-light and cool as a cucumber on the skin. We've been wearing this on a regular basis since 2020. It's our go-to especially for beach days because it gives a natural-looking finish.

This superpower SPF does many things: carries a subtle tint, offers environmental protection against infrared radiation, and pairs well for both men and women alike, but most importantly, it goes on without a white cast.

Sarbaziha loves this colorless sheer option because it effortlessly settles in and leaves no traces of residue.

Made with silica—which helps control shine and mattify the skin's appearance—this oil-free, broad spectrum sunscreen is great for combating

great for decreasing the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun.

Not only is this a great protective sunscreen for oily skin, but it also includes two prominent ingredients that are anti-aging and help reverse the signs of skin damage. The first being TriHex Technology®, which works with the skin to clear out damaged elastin and collagen and support the skin’s natural ability to produce new, healthy elastin and collagen. And the second is Ectoin—it helps provide protection from blue light and can repair existing sun damage within the skin.

Is Matte Sunscreen Good for Oily Skin?

The answer is yes. Matte sunscreen helps to reduce the skin’s shiny appearance and prevent further exacerbation of oil on the skin. Some versions even absorb oil and control breakouts. We recommend getting one that is easily absorbable, lightweight and oil-free.

Which is Better — Mineral or Chemical Sunscreen for Oily Skin?

According to both experts, mineral sunscreens seem to be trusted across the board. Generally, they're more tolerable for oily skin as most contain active ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Mineral sunscreens tend to rest on the surface, which lowers the chances of them blending with the skin's naturally produced oil, whereas chemical sunscreens soak up the sun's rays like a sponge instead of physically blocking them.

What Ingredients Should We Look For in Sunscreens For Oily Skin?

The best sunscreen for oily skin needs to have

There's one step in our skincare routine that you should never skip this summer—and it's applying sunscreen. That's true even if you have oily skin. The best sunscreens for oily skin protect against fine lines, premature aging, and sunburn, without clogging or irritating your face. However, trying to find the right sunscreen for oily skin can be pretty tough.

While the best sunscreen for oily skin should be formulated for daily use, some products tend to contain ingredients that cause irritation and/or create greasy residue. For us to better understand how to pick out the best sunscreen for oily skin, we turned to dermatologists and our grooming editors to weigh in on what to look for—and what to steer clear of—in a formula. We also spent the past year field-testing over 50 sunscreens designed for oily skin in a variety of settings: at the beach, working out, at work, and just about everywhere to make sure that these formulas held up in all sorts of environments.

Best Moisturizers With SPF | Best Zinc Oxide Sunscreens | Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin | Best Sunscreens for Acne-Prone Skin

How We Chose the Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin

When picking out the best sunscreen for oily skin, our experts recommend you to consider the following:

Ingredients: It's always important to read the label for the ingredients. If you're naturally oily, then it's wise to stay away from sunscreens with oil-based formulas to prevent potential breakouts and clogged pores. Occlusive ingredients such as petrolatum, glycerin and silicones are designed to hydrate and moisturize the skin, but will produce that unwanted shine and greasiness. That's why you should go with a non-comedogenic sunscreen, according to Dr. Jeremy Brauer, a New York-based dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon, and founder of Spectrum Skin and Laser.

Mineral vs Chemical Sunscreen: Choosing between the two relies on your own person preference—especially those with darker, sensitive or acne-prone skin. Mineral sunscreens employ active ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which scatter light and create a physical barrier that helps prevent the sun's rays from penetrating the skin, according to Dr. Rahi Sarbaziha, a Beverly Hills-based Integrative Aesthetics Doctor. On the flip side, mineral options often have a thick, goopy consistency. Chemical sunscreens are lighter and absorbs quicker. However, their most commonly used ingredients are oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate, which aren't a seamless combination with oily, sensitive skin.

Matte Finish: Although some sunscreens can make your skin appear too glossy, there are others capable of achieving that radiate look with a skin-blurring, mattifying effect.

Clear SPF46 Broad-Spectrum Duo

This non-comedogenic, oil-free moisturizer with SPF comes highly recommended by Brauer. It's a light sunscreen that caters to all skin types—especially acne-and rosacea-prone skin.

Whether you're getting into the water this summer or sweating bullets, this SPF has staying power. With a calming ingredient trio of niacinamide, lactic acid and hyaluronic acid, our editors found that using this consistently for one month helped their skin look healthier.

Eryfotona Actinica 100% Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+

Dermatologist Robert Finney, MD, recommends this mineral sunscreen for oily mugs since it's "pure zinc oxide." Bonus: it contains DNA repairosomes to help fix existing sun damage, and Vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant. Our editors also love that it applies easily, though it can leave a white cast on darker skin tones.

sunbetter TONE SMART SPF 75 Sunscreen Lotion

Another of Brauer's personal faves is this tone-adapting SPF 75. It's a 100% mineral-based, oil free sunscreen that blends in like a dream on almost all skin types. Skinbetter science makes a few different products designed to safeguard the skin, but this one boasts a creamy formula that provides a high level protection with a hint of color.

Unseen Sunscreen

It's a great standalone product that's featherweight and feels cool as a cucumber on the skin. We've been wearing this water and sweat-resistant sunscreen on a regular basis since 2020. It's our go-to especially for days at the beach and by the pool because it gives a velvety finish, regardless of how many times we reapply. Our Grooming Editor Garrett Munce loves this formula, and says it absolutely leaves no trace behind, even if your skin is a little bit oily.

"But what really makes it great for oily skin is the matte finish," says Munce. "It won’t leave even the slightest hint of shine behind and can even help camouflage and reduce shine as the day wears on. There’s even a new version for the body that’s equally as amazing."

Clear Face Liquid Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin, SPF 30

Because this oil-free sunscreen is specifically formulated for acne-prone skin, it not only helps mattify shine, but it actually helps control oil throughout the day, so it won’t leave you feeling like an oil slick after a couple of hours (and each reapplication).

Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen

This clear, oil-free sunscreen has such an ultralight texture, and our editors found that after testing it for a week, they could barely feel it on their faces. Its unique formula supports to consume excess oil, provides excellent UVA/UVB protection, and helps provide a matte finish.

Sun Oil Control SPF 50

While not as lightweight as some other sunscreens (it takes only slightly longer to rub in), we still love this sunscreen because it does double duty - protects your skin from the sun and helps control oil to avoid shiny patches and breakouts.

Dermacontrol Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with SPF 30

Oily skin still needs moisturizer—in fact, when skin isn’t properly hydrated it can actually produce more oil. This lotion would be a great oily-controlling moisturizer on it’s own, but it also contains SPF 30 which makes it an ideal double whammy for daily wear.

Total Protection™ No-Show™ Mineral Sunscreen

Sarbaziha grants her seal of approval for this colorless, sheer option because it settles nicely into even the oiliest skin. Our editors found that it barely leaves any residue on their faces after testing it.

Daily SPF30 Lotion

We first tried this SPF in 2021, and its sheer, natural-looking finish has kept us coming back for more ever since. As a result of its noncomedogenic formula, we don't have to worry about it clogging our pores—even on humid summer days.

Silkshield All Mineral Sunscreen

We're fans of this protective sunscreen, thanks to a couple of its prominent ingredients—TriHex Technology® and Ectoin. Combined, the two aim to reverse the signs of skin damage,
combat early stages of aging and provide protection from blue light.

Total Protection Face Shield

This superpower SPF does many things: carries a subtle tint, offers environmental protection against infrared radiation, and pairs well for both men and women alike, but most importantly, it goes on clearly.

Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion

Suitable for long hours spent in the sun, Sun Bum's gluten-free and vegan sunscreen lotion is a gem. We were surprised to find that it doesn't leave a white cast on darker skin tones—and since that's not the case, we apply liberally with no problem.

Why Trust Us?

For the past five years, Men's Health has dedicated itself to discovering and recommending the best grooming products for men via hands-on testing and in-depth research. Men's Health grooming has been featured on national news outlets like The TODAY Show and Good Morning America, showcasing the latest new grooming products for men and presenting why we love the brands we select.

Aside from constantly updating and adding to our ever-growing grooming section, Men's Health also dedicates an annual Grooming Awards package where we break down the best new products for men—ranging everywhere from skincare to shaving. Our Grooming Editor, Garrett Munce, who consulted on this story, has been testing sunscreens for the past decade, so he absolutely knows what he's talking about.

Is Matte Sunscreen Good for Oily Skin?

The answer is yes. Matte sunscreen helps to reduce the skin’s shiny appearance and prevent further exacerbation of oil on the skin. Some even absorb oil and control breakouts. We recommend getting a sunscreen that is easily absorbable, lightweight and oil-free.

Which is Better—Mineral or Chemical Sunscreen for Oily Skin?

According to our experts, mineral sunscreens are trusted across the board. Generally, they're more tolerable for oily skin, as most contain active ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Because of the those ingredients, mineral sunscreens tend to rest on the surface, which lowers the chances of them blending with the skin's natural oil. In contrast, chemical sunscreens soak up the sun's rays like a sponge instead of physically blocking them. Yet, they're more likely to acquire an ultralight texture and dry with a matte finish.

What Ingredients Should We Look for in Sunscreens for Oily Skin?

The best sunscreen for oily skin should include mineral-based ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, according to our experts. They have oil-absorbing properties, offer shine control and protect your skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays. In addition, Sarbaziha suggests using sunscreens that include dimethicone, iron oxides and silica, all of which contribute to a smooth matte appearance, to eliminate the appearance of shine and minimize excess oil.

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