It’s no secret that SPF can trigger breakouts, which means the best sunscreen for sensitive skin won’t just be any formula. Some research is, of course, required to understand which ingredients can irritate and which don’t. To help you understand the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens (which is where the root of the problem mainly lies), we tapped dermatologists for insights, plus their top picks in the category.
Because sunscreen needs to be applied daily, it’s important to have one you can rely on (and actually enjoy using). Many of our favorite sunscreens do more than just provide protection; they also contain a mix of hydrating and anti-inflammatory ingredients. And, of course, they don’t leave a white cast that might wash you out. Ahead, find our top picks for the best sunscreens for sensitive skin, as recommended by leading dermatologists and makeup artists.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Elta MD UV Clear Sunscreen; $32
- Best Lightweight Texture: Supergoop! Mineral Unseen Sunscreen; $38
- Best Drugstore: Eucerin Sensitive Skin Sunscreen; $16
- Best Oil-Free: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen; $26
- Best Sunscreen Stick: CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen Stick; $10
- Best Splurge: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense; $42
In This Story
- 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?
- Meet the experts
Best Overall: EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen
- Why We Love It: You’d be hard-pressed to find a dermatologist who doesn’t rave about this sunscreen. It’s lightweight formula glides on easily with no white cast, and it helps soothe sensitive skin types prone to acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. Board-certified dermatologist Onyeka Obioha-Lolagne describes it as her go-to: “This sunscreen blends in well with all skin tones, including deep skin tones, and also contains niacinamide—a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.” Plus, it’s oil-free, making it ideal for those with oily, acne-prone skin.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
- SPF Level: SPF 46
- Texture: Lightweight and silky
- Chemical or Mineral: Chemical
- Oil-free: Yes
Best Lightweight Texture: Supergoop! Mineral Unseen Sunscreen
- Why We Love It: The masterminds behind countless amazing SPF formulations, Supergoop’s Mineral Unseen Sunscreen, in particular, deserves a spot on this list. According to Onyeka Obioha-Lolagne, it is “antioxidant-rich, as well as fragrance-free, which is great for sensitive skin.” Its lightweight texture is described as “cloud-like,” so it blends in easily, and you won’t even notice you have anything on your skin. It also doubles as a makeup primer, so you can use that to justify its cost—girl math!
- Key Ingredients: 17.68% zinc oxide, bamboo extract
- SPF Level: SPF 40
- Texture: Sheer
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
Best Drugstore: Eucerin Sensitive Skin Sunscreen
- Why We Love It: Sensitive skin users need not worry as the formula is hypoallergenic and free of fragrance, oil, dyes, parabens, phthalates, oxybenzone, and octinoxate. A little goes a long way, so be sure to use it sparingly; otherwise, you’ll need to use some elbow grease to rub it in.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide 24%
- SPF Level: SPF 50
- Texture: Lightweight
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: Yes
Best Oil-Free: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen
- Why We Love It: This fragrance-free sunscreen is safe for all skin types but is particularly beneficial for those with sensitive skin. “Formulated for sensitive skin, this sunscreen contains Cell-Ox technology, providing broad-spectrum coverage and is rich in antioxidants,” says Obioha-Lolagne. It also contains hyaluronic acid, offering around 12 hours of hydration after just one application—though we recommend reapplying throughout the day.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide
- SPF Level: SPF 30
- Texture: Hydrating cream
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: Yes
Best Sunscreen Stick: CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen Stick
- Why We Love It: Sticks are convenient for traveling or applying on the go, particularly when they’re as small as this one from CeraVe, which can fit anywhere, including your tiny jeans pocket. Safe to use on kids as well, it is formulated with the brand’s patented InVisibleZinc technology, a micro-fine zinc oxide that spreads easily and has a clear finish. The stick format also makes it easy to reach hard-to-get areas that often get burned, like the lips, nose, earlobes, and around the eyes.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, ceramides
- SPF Level: SPF 50
- Texture: Lightwear texture with clear finish
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: Yes
Best Splurge: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense
- Why We Love It: If you’re heading to the beach or pool, you’ll need something water-resistant like this one from SkinCeuticals, which is effective for up to 40 minutes. It glides on easily with no white cast, leaving behind a gorgeous natural tint so you can skip the base makeup. Obioha-Lolagne is also a fan: “This mineral sunscreen is oil-free and fragrance-free. It contains iron oxide, providing a tint to the formula and protecting against visible light, which may contribute to unwanted hyperpigmentation.”
- Key Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 6%, zinc oxide 5%
- SPF Level: SPF 50
- Texture: Lightweight mineral fluid
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
Best for Acne Prone Skin: InnBeauty Project Mineral Sunscreen
Mineral Sunscreen
- Why We Love It: This mineral sunscreen comes in several tinted shades, perfect for days when you want your skin to breathe but still want a thin, barely-there base layer to even out pigmentation. “I recommend this product because it is safe for acne-prone and sensitive skin, is a mineral sunscreen, and leaves a glow on the skin—an added bonus,” says dermatologist Dr. Greenfield.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C + rice extract, peptides, hydroviton 24
- SPF Level: SPF 43
- Texture: Weightless gel-cream
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
Best For Glow: Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF
- Why We Love It: This creamy SPF is always in my makeup kit because it gives you the perfect amount of glow meets tint, but don’t just take my word for it. Makeup artist Kate Mellinger also loves it, saying, "This is one of my favorite sunscreens for daily use. It has a high SPF of 50, absorbs into the skin leaving zero white cast, and has three shades to suit any skin tone. It leaves a lovely glow, so I love to wear it alone on no-makeup days as it gives the skin just enough oomph.” It also packs a punch with its skin-care ingredients—vitamin C, niacinamide, jojoba esters, and allantoin all work to hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, 3% niacinamide
- SPF Level: SPF 50
- Texture: Radiant finish
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
Best For Hydration: Innisfree Daily UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen
- Why We Love It: K-beauty is always at the forefront of innovation, which is why we would be remiss not to mention one of our favorite brands, Innisfree, in this list. This mineral sunscreen is soothing, reduces redness, and helps even skin tone thanks to its color-correcting green tint. It also contains hyaluronic acid and cica, so there’s no dryness post-application—instead, it is very hydrating and leaves behind a healthy glow.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, squalane, centella asiatica, cica
- SPF Level: SPF 45
- Texture: Satin finish
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
Best Sunscreen Drops: Cay Skin Mo’Bay Mineral Sunscreen Drops
- Why We Love It: These sunscreen drops from model Winnie Harlow make application a breeze and contain skin-care ingredients such as moisturizing sea moss, antioxidant-rich fermented guava, and hydrating squalane. The formula is so lightweight that you won’t notice it on your skin, and it leaves behind the right amount of glow, pairing nicely with makeup.
- Key Ingredients: Sea Moss, fermented guava, squalene
- SPF Level: SPF 30
- Texture: Natural finish
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
Best Tinted Option: Live Tinted Hue Guard
- Why We Love It: A good multitasking product will always earn our praises, which is why we can’t get enough of this moisturizer-meets-primer-meets SPF 30 that simplifies our routine so that we can get out the door in minutes. (It can be worn alone or with makeup.) Mineral sunscreens can often appear chalky, but this one prioritizes darker skin tones, blending in seamlessly to ensure you never have to worry about a white cast.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 18%
- SPF Level: SPF 30
- Texture: Lightweight, non-greasy
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
Best For Blue Light: COOLA Mineral Sun Silk Creme
- Why We Love It: City dwellers, pay attention: This silky sunscreen is formulated to protect skin (sensitive types included) from exposure to blue light, infrared, and pollution. Dr. King is also a fan as it “contains niacinamide, which helps to improve tone and texture, and contains emollients to support the skin barrier.”
- Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin B3
- SPF Level: SPF 30
- Texture: Radiant finish
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: Yes
Best Sunscreen Serum: RMS Beauty Radiance Serum
- Why We Love It: If glowing skin is your main concern when shopping for sunscreen, this serum formula from makeup artist Rose Marie Swift might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. It’s tinted and comes in three shades—light, medium, and rich—and is super hydrating thanks to a blend of peptides like quinoa seed extract, niacinamide, and pea extract. You can even mix it with your existing sunscreen to tint it, or mix two shades together if you want something that matches exactly.
- Key Ingredients: Quinoa seed extract, niacinamide, pea extract, zinc oxide
- SPF Level: SPF 30
- Texture: Radiant finish
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
Best Fragrance Free Option: The Outset Mineral Sunscreen
- Why We Love It: The Outset’s entire line centers around clean ingredients, so it was only a matter of time before the brand came up with the perfect mineral sunscreen. “Not only does it leave zero white cast, but it also contains hydrating and soothing ingredients—its trademarked Hyaluroset complex (an alternative to hyaluronic acid), ceramides, niacinamide, allantoin, and snow mushroom which is both hydrating and an antioxidant,” says Mellinger. It’s also fragrance-free, a major plus for sensitive skin.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluroset complex, snow mushroom, niacinamide, ceramides
- SPF Level: SPF 30
- Texture: Sheer
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
Best SPF Level: Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen
- Why We Love It: Aussies spend a lot of time in the sun and are incredibly strict when it comes to sunscreen. Dr. Greenfield loves this Australian brand as the sunscreen provides mineral protection and the bottle changes color in UV light, reminding you to apply and reapply. “This brand cares about the health of your skin but also cares about the reef and only designs reef-friendly products,” she adds.
- Key Ingredients: Zinc Oxide, titanium dioxide
- SPF Level: SPF 50+
- Texture: Dries smooth
- Chemical or Mineral: Mineral
- Oil-free: No
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 coverage against all wavelengths of UVA and UVB light while avoiding common skin reactions and rashes.
More specifically, according to 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
Chemical vs. Mineral
For sensitive skin, 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.
