Sunscreen for sensitive skin
The sun is shining, the grass is green and the pools are calling. That’s right, summer is approaching, but before you head out to the beach for the weekend, there’s something you need to make sure you take with you, and it isn’t those cool designer shades you’ve been dying to show off.
The cold of the winter can be harsh on sensitive skin, causing unpleasant conditions like eczema and psoriasis. While you may sigh with relief now that winter’s over, the summer sun can be equally as unforgiving on your skin.
If you have sensitive skin, you need to know what to look for in sunscreen to be well-protected against those harsh UV rays.
What makes sunscreen suitable for sensitive skin?
There are hundreds of sunscreen products on the market, with some specifically claiming to be for sensitive skin, while other sunscreens use vague labels to insinuate as much. However, even if it doesn’t explicitly state that it’s for sensitive skin on the label, there are a few things you can keep an eye out for when selecting which sunscreen to purchase if you have sensitive skin.
SPF
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Most sunscreens range from 30-100, however, it’s believed that SPF 50 sunscreen suffices for almost all skin types.
Mineral-based
If you have sensitive skin, you need to make sure that the sunscreen you use is made with a mineral-based solution, not a chemical filter. Ingredients to watch out for are oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone. Also avoid any sunscreen with insect repellant in it.
Chemical filters absorb UV rays and minimize the amount that gets through your skin, while mineral sunscreens create a barrier between your skin and the sun’s harmful UV rays.
When in doubt, you want to see zinc oxide on the label.
Oil- and fragrance-free
You might be turned off by sunscreen if your skin is acne-prone, but an oil-free sunscreen will provide protection from the sun without leaving you feeling greasy or clogging your pores.
Also, there are sunscreens with fragrances that are safe for those with sensitive skin, but some of them can irritate your skin. So try to avoid sunscreens with fragrances if possible.
The best sunscreens for sensitive skin in 2021
EltaMD Daily Face Sunscreen: available on Amazon
EltaMD sunscreen provides a powerful combination of UV protection and hydration. It’s made with a mineral-based formula and contains hyaluronic acid, which promotes moisture retention.
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion: available on Amazon
Neutrogena offers an SPF 60 mineral-solution sunscreen that’s fragrance- and oil-free. In addition, it contains Purescreen Technology, which is designed to reflect and scatter harmful UV rays.
Aveeno Kids Continuous Protection: available on Amazon
Sure, it’s designed for children’s delicate skin, but that doesn’t mean adults can’t use it. At SPF 50, it provides superior UVA and UVB, and it’s suitable for both on-face and on-body use.
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen: available on Amazon
It’s a bit more expensive than other brands, but if you’re eco-conscious, it’s a win-win. Blue Lizard protects coral reefs by avoiding using oxybenzone in their sunscreen. It’s SPF 50, mineral-solution and sweat- and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer: available on Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
It’s not technically a sunscreen, but more of a moisturizer with SPF 30. It’s formulated for acne-prone skin and is lightweight enough to be used on its own or under makeup.
CeraVe Tinted Sunscreen: available on Amazon and Ulta Beauty
CeraVe’s face sheer tint is a mineral-filter sunscreen suitable for all skin tones. Its tinting offsets the white trail associated with most mineral sunscreens, leaving your skin with a radiant and healthy glow.
Vanicream SPF 35 Sport Sunscreen: available on Amazon
If you’re an active outdoor person, this is an excellent sunscreen made with a non-greasy formula. It offers broad-spectrum protection and is water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Body & Face Sunscreen Lotion: available on Amazon and Ulta Beauty
If your skin is prone to sunburning, La Roche-Posay’s sunscreen is formulated with Cell-Ox Shield technology, offers SPF 100 broad-spectrum protection and can be applied to both the face and the body.
Alba Botanica Sunscreen Lotion: available on Amazon
Alba Botanica incorporates rejuvenating botanicals like chamomile and aloe-leaf juice into an SPF 30 mineral-solution sunscreen optimized for delicate skin. It’s lightweight, reef-friendly and has a non-greasy finish.
Baby Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion: available on Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
This sunscreen is made with a hydrating plant-based formula that contains zinc oxide, coconut oil, shea butter and cocoa butter. It’s designed specifically for toddlers, but it works great for adults and provides protection for all types of sensitive skin.
CoTZ Sensitive Non-Tinted SPF 40 Sunscreen: available on Amazon and Ulta Beauty
A gentle SPF 40 sunscreen with 20-percent zinc-oxide mineral protection, CoTZ’s sensitive-skin sunscreen hydrates and soothes easily irritated skin without leaving that dreadful and unsightly white cast.
Thrive Natural Moisturizing Mineral Sunscreen: available on Amazon
This sunscreen uses a zinc-oxide barrier to shield you from UVA and UVB rays and features a matte finish and a pleasantly light citrus fragrance. It can also help repair skin damaged by the sun.
Bondi Sands Sunscreen Lotion: available on Amazon
If you’re looking for a non-greasy sunscreen lotion with no fragrance for your sensitive skin, Bondi Sands is a great product. Its fast-absorbing solution contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E that hydrates for up to 72 hours.
Thinkbaby Natural Sunblock: available on Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
It’s designed for infants, but Thinkbaby’s SPF 50 sunscreen is highly effective for adults as well. It’s free of harmful chemicals and offers a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB protection.
Kevin Luna is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
