Wearing SPF every day can be a hard sell if your skin is prone to shine—after all, who wants to add more greasiness to already-oily skin? But a sunscreen formulated specifically for oily skin can make the daily habit a lot easier to stick with. It’ll have a lighter consistency and contain mattifying or oil-absorbing ingredients that’ll leave your skin looking fresh, not slick. If every SPF you’ve tried has left your face with a greasy sheen or heavy feel, allow us to introduce you to the best sunscreens for oily skin, hand-picked by dermatologists and Allure editors. Once you have your holy grail, you’ll never skip putting on SPF again.
Our Top Sunscreens for Oily Skin
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free Mineral Sunscreen SPF 42
This lightweight, fluid sunscreen is everything you could want in an SPF for oily skin. First off: Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free Mineral Sunscreen SPF 42 is oil-free (hence the name), which is a must-have when you’re worried about a formula feeling greasy and adding to the slickness of your skin. Not only will this not contribute to oil, it’ll actively help eliminate it with dimethicone and silica—two ingredients that absorb oil and give your skin a smoother, shine-free finish (think of it like your favorite mattifying primer). Don’t worry, though—the formula is noncomedogenic, so these silicones won’t clog your pores and cause breakouts.
It also packs hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to make sure you’re not lacking in moisture—because we all know drying out your skin isn’t the answer to solving oiliness. If that’s not enough to convince you to slip this into your beach bag, know that it’s also water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. You can splash around to your heart’s content and look great while doing it.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman
“An oily sunscreen is like nails on a chalkboard for me, especially during summer months where my face gets oily on its own. This Shiseido sunscreen is oil-free, lightweight, and leaves no white cast. The bottle is smaller than I expected, but it has turned out to be a good thing because it slips right into my purse. I usually like creamier formulas, but I appreciate the thinness combined with the high protection level.”
Sunscreen type/Key ingredients
mineral/glycerin, hyaluronic acid, camellia leaf extract, turmeric
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50
Why it’s worth it: The SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 is a mineral-chemical hybrid that was specifically tested on acne-prone skin to make sure it doesn’t flare up breakouts. Its star ingredients are peptides, which soothe sensitivity, and bisabolol—an anti-inflammatory that’ll calm down redness. And it leaves out potentially irritating ingredients like fragrance and comedogens that might clog pores.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“If you don’t want to compromise glow in the search for calming, non-irritating formulas, this is it. SkinCeuticals’ Clear Daily leaves my skin looking radiant after three small pumps (it’s harder to portion out the two-finger rule with a pump, so I think this is more or less an adequate amount) while peptides and bisabolol minimize any redness I have around my nose and cheeks. It takes a little longer to blend in compared to most 100% chemical sunscreens I’ve tried, but it dries down to a seamless, cast-free, and semi-dewy finish on my light-medium Asian skintone.”
Sunscreen type/key ingredients
mineral and chemical/peptides, bisabolol, glycerin
Best Tinted: Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Why it’s worth it: According to Brooklyn-based board-certified dermatologist Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, the Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is an ideal pick for the oiliest of complexions, due to its grease-free finish and universal tint that blends into your skin tone. It’s also a great pick for mature skin, since it contains skin-firming peptides to reduce the look of early-stage sagging and fine lines.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“My skin is so oily, you’d think I’d get an invite to OPEC. While I’ve found perfectly serviceable sunscreens that don’t make me look greasy, this one stands out because it leaves my skin looking matte, but not overly flat or one-dimensional. The tint does a lot of heavy lifting for my skin tone—on which most mineral sunscreens look chalky—and I love that this has zero scent to speak of.”
Sunscreen type/key ingredients
mineral/glycerin, peptides, vitamin E
Best for Sensitive Skin: Ultra Violette Velvet Screen SPF 50
Why it’s worth it: Fragrance-free and made with zinc oxide, Ultra Violette Velvet Screen SPF 50 is a great option for sensitive skin. It also delivers serious skin-nourishing benefits, too: It packs vitamin C from kakadu plum that’ll brighten your skin while Pentavintin (a hydrating plant extract) brings hydration into the equation. Plus, it gives skin a blurred finish that can stand up to the sun’s heat. The texture is on the thicker side, so give this a beat to sink into your skin before applying makeup.
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
“I recently spent the weekend at Coachella, outdoors and in 100-degree heat for three days straight, and this soft matte sunscreen saved my life. Not only did I manage to not get sunburned at all, the velvety finish really helped my makeup from turning into a gloopy, gooey mess.”
Sunscreen type/key ingredients
mineral/kakadu plum, pentavitin, glycerin
Best Korean: Then I Met You Essence Light Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++
Why it’s worth it: Having parts of your face feel super dry while your T-zone can’t seem to stop pumping out oil is very real—and also tricky to navigate when it comes to products. But this Korean sunscreen is a safe bet for combination skin. Then I Met You Essence Light Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ uses a trio of hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and panthenol to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier while antioxidants from galactomyces ferment filtrate (a derivative of fermented sake) soothe and reduce the appearance of pores. It won’t completely get rid of shine, but it’ll give your skin a healthy sheen that looks dewy rather than greasy.
Tester feedback from associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen
“Technically, I have combination skin, but catch me mid-day and you’ll see me shine from across the room. While the Then I Met You Essence Light Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ doesn’t sop up oil or even prevent it, it does play into my daily gleam in the best, most helpful way by giving my skin dehydrated much-needed moisture (in the form of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol) as it protects it. I’ve gone through two, maybe three of these tubes already—it’s the best!”
Sunscreen type/key ingredients
chemical/galactomyces ferment filtrate, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, panthenol
Best Transparent: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
Why it’s worth it: Board-certified dermatologist Jeannette Graf, MD, a professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, suggests EltaMD’s barely-there UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, touting its ability to reduce shine and clear pores by way of lactic acid. Think of this as more of a mattifying moisturizer than a sunscreen. Even though it’s boosted with sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid) to hydrate skin, it’ll never feel oily or sticky. FYI: We’ve found that it helps to give the formulation a few minutes to set before applying makeup to avoid pilling.
Tester feedback from Allure contributor Jessica Kasparian
Jessica Kasparian says this sunscreen has a dreamy texture that’s easy to reapply: “This is one of the first zinc oxide-based SPFs I tried and actually liked. It feels creamy while I’m rubbing it in and it has a soft matte finish (read: it doesn’t make my face look shiny or powdery).”
Sunscreen type/key ingredients
chemical and mineral/niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
Best Drugstore: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 60
Why it’s worth it: The La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 60 provides all of the lightweight, oil-free sun protection you could ever ask for, which is why it won a Best of Beauty Award in 2024. It feels more like a primer on the skin, thanks to its silky matte finish, and makeup beautifully layers on top. Along with giving your skin broad-spectrum SPF 60, it offers up a dose of senna alata, a tropical leaf extract that’s rich in free radical damage-reducing antioxidants.
Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen
“It delivers a no-nonsense, no-cast, no-rubbing-in-for-20-minutes sunscreen—a dream come true for a girl like me, who dreads daily sunscreen application. It protects from the sun quickly and without the greasy-feeling mess and chemical smell that sunscreen can often leave behind, all at a reasonable drugstore price.”
Sunscreen type/key ingredients
chemical/senna alata, thermal spring water, vitamin E
Other sunscreens for oily skin to consider
- If you have easily-inflamed skin, the Supergoop Mineral Mattescreen Sunscreen SPF 40 ($40) is worth a shot, since it’s lightweight and calming. It has a lightweight formula that guards against damaging sun rays while antioxidant-rich bamboo extracts protect against free radical damage and lightly condition the skin.
- If you want something sweat- and water-resistant, the Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 ($49) has your back. It’s resistant for 40 minutes, so you can take an extra-long dip in the pool or do an extra lap on your run without worrying about the formula wearing off.
- If you’re worried about pollution, the Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36 ($64) contains ectoin, which helps defend skin against blue light and pollution. Its lightweight formula is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores, and it gives skin a healthy sheen without looking greasy.
- If you’re on a budget, consider picking up the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50. Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 gets her seal of approval for oily skin types because of its lightweight feel and impressive oil control. “This mineral sunscreen dries and won’t leave the skin feeling greasy, making it a great option for those with oily skin,” she says. “It also contains vitamin E to protect against free radical damage.” Bonus: This face sunscreen is hypoallergenic, fragrance- and paraben-free, and packed with soothing ingredients, making it a winner for those prone to redness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should oily skin use mineral sunscreen?
You can if that’s your preference. According to Corona Del Mar-based board-certified dermatologist Stefani Kappel, MD, start with oil-free, mineral sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. “These not only offer better protection against UVA and UVB rays, but they’re naturally less comedogenic, or acne-causing, than chemical sunscreens,” she says. (That said, chemical sunscreens do offer big advantages; they’re usually easier to blend into deeper skin tones, and feel lightweight on skin, which is why we’ve included some good options for oily types in the below list.)
Which ingredients should you avoid in a sunscreen for oily skin?
In addition to the type of sunscreen filter, steer clear of formulas that contain pore-clogging oils, like coconut, soybean, and wheat germ oils. While they’re ideal for dry skin (and worth considering if you have combination skin), they may inadvertently activate sebum production, which can be a problem for a skin type that already has larger oil-producing sebaceous glands.
Meet the experts
- Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Brooklyn
- Jeannette Graf, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine based in New York City
- Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Stefani Kappel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Corona Del Mar
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
