Save this story Save Story Save this story The rules have changed when it comes to choosing the best sunscreens for sensitive skin. In the past, mineral or nontoxic was the way to go for those prone to breakouts or irritation. These days, the playing field has widened considerably, with gentle chemical formulas and K-beauty options designed to pamper and protect the skin.
“Overall, sunscreens for sensitive skin are improving both in terms of efficacy and cosmetic elegance,” says Marisa Garshick, MD , a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan and New Jersey. “Newer mineral formulations have been developed that are lightweight, absorb easily, and are not as likely to leave behind a white cast.” Plus, the newly FDA-approved SPF filter bemotrizinol ( BEMT ) has expanded the options for those with sensitive skin who prefer a chemical formula.
“BEMT may not be as likely to cause a reaction as some other chemical filters,” Dr. Garshick notes. “It is a large molecule that does not have as much systemic or skin absorption, which may lower the potential risk of skin irritation.” Additionally, the synthetic organic UV filter is photostable, so it may not require the addition of other stabilizing chemicals that can trigger a reaction in some sensitive skin types.
Overall, Dr. Garshick says, the new class of sunscreens are formulated with daily use in mind, rather than an occasional day at the beach. Incorporating hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, plus calming ingredients like niacinamide, the modern formulas minimize the potential for dryness and irritation in sensitive skin—and they’re more enjoyable to use. Ahead, find the soothing formulas that dermatologists and Vogue editors trust to keep UV damage (and breakouts and redness) at bay.
What type of sunscreen is best for sensitive skin? What to look for in a sunscreen for sensitive skin? Should I wear sunscreen if I have sensitive skin? Is SPF 50 too much for sensitive skin? What sunscreen should you use if you're allergic to the sun? How We Tested Meet The Experts Best Overall: EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen Save to wishlist Save to wishlist EltaMD
Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid SPF Level : SPF 46 Texture: Lightweight and silky Chemical or Mineral: Chemical (9% zinc oxide, 7.5% octinoxate) Oil-free: Yes Finish : Clear and natural finish Size : 1.7 oz Fragrance : No Love It Leave It Absorbs quickly Some users report that the pump can get stuck or stop working properly over time Doesn’t clog pores or cause breakouts Helps calm redness Best Mineral Sunscreen: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense Save to wishlist Save to wishlist SkinCeuticals
Key Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, zinc oxide SPF Level: SPF 50 Texture : Lightweight mineral fluid Chemical or Mineral : Mineral (titanium dioxide 6%, zinc oxide 5%) Oil-free: No Finish : Sheer, tinted finish Size : 1.7 oz Fragrance : No Love It Leave It Adapts to your skin tone with no white cast The texture can be a bit runny, which might make application slightly messy Water-resistant for up to 40 minutes The tint provides a touch of light coverage Best With BEMT: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense Sunscreen SPF 50 with BEMT Save to wishlist Save to wishlist La Roche-Posay
Key Ingredients: Bemotrizinol (BEMT), avobenzone, glycerin, vitamin E, litchi extract SPF Level: 50 Texture : Lightweight, milky serum Chemical or Mineral : Chemical (bemotrizinol/BEMT, avobenzone 3%, octocrylene 6%, homosalate 11%, octisalate 5%) Oil-free: N Finish : Natural, invisible finish Size : 1.7 fl oz Fragrance : Yes Love It Leave It: Uses gentle UV filters Not water resistant Antioxidant-rich Melts into the skin Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Liquid Mineral Sunscreen Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Neutrogena
Key Ingredient s: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, vitamin E SPF Level : SPF 70 Texture : Sheer Chemical or Mineral : Mineral (Titanium dioxide 6.6%, zinc oxide 14.4%) Oil-free : Yes Finish: Natural Size : 1.4 Fl. Oz Fragrance : No Love It Leave It High SPF protection Some users note a slight white cast, especially on deeper skin tones Oil-free and fragrance-free Suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin Best for Outdoors: Dune Mineral Melt Sunscreen Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Dune
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, carrot root extract, carrot seed extract, sunflower extract, rock rose extract SPF Level : SPF 30 Texture : Ultra-smooth and thin Chemical or Mineral : Mineral (4.8% zinc oxide, 2.34% titanium dioxide) Oil-free : No Finish : Sheer finish Size : 1.7 fl oz Fragrance : No Love It Leave It Goes on invisible across all skin tones Comes at a high price point for the size Gently calms and soothes the skin Great pick for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors Best K-Beauty : Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Pure Mineral Relief Daily Sunscreen Save to wishlist Save to wishlist
Key Ingredients: Ceramide NP, houttuynia cordata extract, niacinamide, daisy flower extract, black rice bran oil, hyaluronic acid, moringa seed oil SPF Level : SPF 50 Texture : Non-greasy, lightweight Chemical or Mineral : Mineral (non-nano zinc oxide) Oil-free : No Finish : Satin finish Size : 1.69 oz Fragrance : No Love It Leave It Wears well under makeup May require a bit of buffing to fully absorb without leaving a white cast Delivers a matte finish without drying out the skin A little goes a long way Best for Hydration : Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UVLock Spectrum 45 Sunscreen Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Round Lab
Key Ingredients: Birch juice, niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, allantoin SPF Level : SPF 45 Texture : Lightweight, moisturizing cream Chemical or Mineral : Chemical Oil-free : Yes Finish : Dewy, non-greasy Size : 1.69 fl oz Fragrance : No Love It Leave It Quick-absorbing Not water resistant Layers well under makeup May be too dewy for oily skin Most users find that it doesn’t sting or burn the eyes Best for Antioxidant Support : Krave Beauty Beet The Sun SPF 40 PA+++ Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Krave Beauty
Key Ingredients: Beet root extract, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, propanediol SPF Level : SPF 40 Texture : Lightweight, non-greasy lotion Chemical or Mineral : Chemical (avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 3%) Oil-free : Yes Finish : Natural, radiant Size : 1.7 fl oz Fragrance : No Love It Leave It Lightweight, hydrating formula with a non-greasy feel The packaging can be slightly prone to leaking Antioxidant-rich to protect against environmental stressors Best for Sensitive Skin : Avène Mineral Sunscreen Multi-Defense Fluid Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Avène
Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, tocopherol, niacinamide SPF Level : SPF 50 Texture : Lightweight fluid Chemical or Mineral : Mineral (zinc oxide) Oil-free : Finish : Sheer Size : 1.3 fl oz Fragrance : No Love It Leave It Lightweight, fast-absorbing formula May require extra blending on some skin tones Fragrance-free formula packed with soothing ingredients Everything You Need to Know What type of sunscreen is best for sensitive skin?
The experts are in agreement that if you have sensitive skin, you should stick with mineral sunscreen. “Mineral sunscreen contains no chemicals that frequently cause irritation and allergic reactions in the skin,” explains Dr. Greenfield. Minerals sit on top of the skin and provide broad-spectrum sunscreen coverage against all wavelengths of UVA and UVB light while avoiding common skin reactions and rashes.
More specifically, according to Dr. Obioha-Lolagne, you’ll want to look for mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide in the formula. “The reason being that those with sensitive skin are more likely to have allergic reactions to the active ingredients in chemical sunscreens than to those in mineral sunscreens.”
What to Look for in a Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin
For sensitive skin, Dr. King generally recommends mineral sunscreens as well. These often include humectants and non-comedogenic emollients in their base formulas, which help keep the skin moisturized and prevent pore clogging.
According to Dr. Greenfield, SPF should be 30+ (minimum) for the face, and mineral sunscreens provide broad-spectrum protection.
Protection doesn’t mean you have to compromise on hydration. “Look for moisturizing ingredients such as ceramides, squalene, and hyaluronic acid to enhance skin hydration and avoid leaving the skin chalky with a white cast,” says Dr. Obioha-Lolagne.
If breakouts are your main concern, King notes that two factors can cause sunscreen-related breakouts: occlusion of the pores by comedogenic materials or a sensitivity reaction to chemical UV-blocking ingredients. Breakouts can result from any ingredient in the product, not just the active sunscreen components. Other emollients, fragrances, preservatives, or additional ingredients can also cause breakouts. Look for “non-comedogenic” on the label. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are both non-comedogenic.
King also warns to be wary of expiration dates. If the sunscreen has expired or the ingredients have been exposed to direct sunlight and high temperatures, the heat and sun can break down the chemicals, rendering them ineffective and potentially irritating to the skin
Dr. Greenfield advises that the texture should be light and breathable to avoid clogging pores or causing breakouts, yet thick enough to stay on the skin and not rub off easily. Lotions, creams, and gels are preferred over sprays, which can result in skipped areas.
Should I wear sunscreen if I have sensitive skin?
Absolutely! Dr. Greenfield emphasizes, “It’s perfectly fine to have a little sun exposure on your body, but UV radiation will only cause accelerated aging, discoloration, and texture changes on your face. I recommend facial sunscreen every single day, rain or shine.”
According to Dr. Shambam, the amount of SPF is not the primary factor for sensitive skin; rather, it’s the type of chemicals, actives, or ingredients that often cause reactivity. Products with higher percentages of chemical actives can be more aggressive and lead to irritation. Dr. Shambam explains that while using a sunscreen with SPF 50 is perfectly fine, the difference in protection between SPF 30 and SPF 50 is minimal, and even less so between SPF 30 and SPF 70 or higher. A quality broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 blocks 95-97% of UV rays. She adds, “For the most sensitive or reactive skin types, it's important to read the labels, be aware of key ingredients, and look for products specifically labeled for sensitive skin.”
What sunscreen should you use if you’re allergic to the sun?
“Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide-based sunscreens are usually the best and most effective options to prevent allergic reactions when in the sun,” Dr. Shambam says. However, she does advise patients who are allergic to the sun to do their best to avoid exposure when possible. When that’s not feasible, UPF clothing, hats, and umbrellas are always recommended.
Dr. Onyeka Obioha-Lolagne is a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Boutik Dermatology in Beverly Hills Dr. Marisa Garshick is a leading board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, as well as an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell - New York Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Nava Greenfield is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York Dr. Hadley King is a New York City–based board-certified dermatologist Katie Mellinger is a bi-coastal makeup artist living in both Los Angeles and New York Dr. Ava Shamban is a board-certified dermatologist living in both Santa Monica and Beverly Hills and the founder of Ava MD and Skin Five . Dr. Nicole Ruth is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York. Discover More Beauty Recommendations From Vogue Shopping The Best Eyebrow Pencils for Older Women Create Natural-Looking Volume and Fullness
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Source: Lifestyle
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