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Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen is one of the best ways to protect your skin from painful sunburn, visible photodamage—think fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration—and skin cancers that the sun’s UV rays can cause. However, if your skin is prone to acne, you might be concerned that sunscreen could make your breakouts worse. With the help of board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, we’re here to help you find the best physical sunscreen for acne-prone skin so you can stay free of breakouts while protecting yourself from the sun’s damaging rays.
Physical sunscreens, also called mineral sunscreens, feature mineral-based filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to help physically block UV rays from damaging your skin. These differ from chemical sunscreens, which use filters such as avobenzone, oxybenzone and octinoxate to help protect your skin from damaging UV rays.
Physical sunscreen formulas can be tinted or untinted. “Whether you choose a tinted or non-tinted formula of physical sunscreen is really a matter of personal preference,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “Tinted formulas can provide some additional coverage to even out skin tone or disguise redness, while untinted formulas look white coming out of the bottle and work into the skin with minimal effort in most cases. I personally prefer untinted for myself, but many of my dermatologist friends prefer tinted. It all comes down to personal opinions, but the following are my list of favorites for you when it comes to untinted options.”
When it comes to physical face sunscreen for acne-prone skin, it can help to look for a formula that is non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores. That’s a key distinction, because clogged pores can lead to acne, including blackheads, whiteheads and pimples. Here are three formulas that provide excellent broad-spectrum sun protection and are also well-suited for acne-prone skin.
With zinc oxide to protect your skin from the sun, this physical sunscreen formula has a lightweight formula and a sheer finish that wears well under makeup. It also features two skin-soothing ingredients, allantoin and bisabolol, that can help reduce redness and inflammation from existing acne breakouts.
Featuring a non-comedogenic formula and a combination of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for broad-spectrum protection, this option from Obagi is one of the best face sunscreens for acne-prone skin. It also contains glycerin to help give skin a hydrating boost and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive.
This super-light sunscreen liquid is a great option for acne-prone skin that has also accumulated some existing sun damage over time. In addition to zinc oxide to provide mineral-based UV protection, it also contains ISDIN’s proprietary DNA Repairsomes, a blend of enzymes that have been clinically proven to help repair existing sun damage.
If you’re prone to acne on your body as well as your face, you might want to try a physical sunscreen that is non-comedogenic and also meant to be applied on the face and body. These three options can help you simplify your sun safety routine because you can get away with bringing just one sunscreen in your beach or pool bag for the day.
If you’re a fan of the convenience of spray-on sunscreen, consider this broad-spectrum sunscreen from EltaMD. It contains no chemical propellants and instead uses bag-on-valve technology to power an all-angles spray nozzle so you can cover hard-to-reach areas like your back. It protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays with zinc oxide and offers forty minutes of water resistance for days you plan to swim or take part in water sports.
With soothing ingredients such as allantoin, bisabolol and mineral-rich Avene Thermal Water, this body and face sunscreen lotion can help calm inflammation from existing breakouts while providing broad-spectrum sun protection with zinc oxide. Not only is it one of the best physical sunscreens for acne-prone skin, but it is also approved by the National Eczema Foundation as a safe option for people with eczema.
This dual face and body sunscreen with a moisturizing cream texture comes in both tinted and untinted formulas, so you can choose what you prefer. Zinc oxide provides broad-spectrum UV protection while antioxidant-rich vitamin E helps sooth skin and protect it from environmental stressors such as pollution.
This sheer, lightweight body sunscreen is a great option if you’re looking for a physical sunscreen for acne-prone skin. With aloe juice and a combination of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, it helps hydrate skin while providing broad-spectrum sun protection for your arms, legs and any other skin that you’ll be baring at the beach or pool. It’s also entirely fragrance-free, which is a plus if you’ve found scented sunscreens to be irritating in the past.
Looking to further up your sunscreen IQ? Learn more about infrared sunscreen and the benefits it can provide for your skin on the LovelySkin Blog.
Aaron serves as Editor at LovelySkin. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, he has immersed himself in the beauty industry. When he’s not writing about the latest beauty trends, he spends time cuddling his dogs, scouring antique stores, playing tennis and hiking.
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