Sensitive skin can be tricky because it’s prone to redness and easily bothered by ingredients in a variety of skincare products. This can include sunscreens, which tend to irritate reactive skin, often due to chemical active ingredients that are meant to shield from environmental and sun damage. The best sunscreens for sensitive skin (like our top overall pick from EltaMD) combine SPF with a non-inflammatory formula, so skin is soothed and protected all at once.
These are the best sunscreens for sensitive skin that that provide effective, broad-spectrum sun … [+] protection.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
Sunscreens are made with different kinds of filters: chemical, mineral or a blend of both. Chemical ingredients absorb into the skin and are generally sheer when applied, but they can be irritating to some. Mineral sunscreens feature active ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are typically gentler on delicate skin, making them ideal for sensitive types. This version, however, can sometimes be difficult to blend, and may leave you with a pale, chalky appearance. With the help of experts, we’ve rounded up the best sunscreens for sensitive skin that that provide effective, broad-spectrum sun protection without irritation.
When you have sensitive skin, it can be hard to find sunscreen that doesn’t cause uncomfortable stinging or itching. EltaMD’s top-rated SPF came out on top for sensitive skin in our best face sunscreens review thanks to its gentle formula that features 9% zinc oxide, a key ingredient for shielding skin from UVA and UVB rays. This derm-recommended sunscreen also has niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate and lactic acid, so it hydrates, treats acne and smoothes skin all while providing effective sun protection.
Best Value Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin
A Soothing Formula For Easily Irritated Skin
Ulta Beauty
Cerave Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen
Type: Hybrid | Size: 3 ounces | Scent: None
What you’ll love:
Water-resistant formula
Non-comedogenic
Not sticky or greasy
Keep in mind:
Chemical ingredients may be irritating to some
Many sunscreens claim to be invisible, only to leave behind a ghost-like, chalky finish. This face and body sunscreen goes on sheer and is a master multitasker. It has hydrating hyaluronic acid, ceramides to restore the skin’s barrier and seal in moisture and niacinamide to calm and soothe irritated, reactive skin. Reviewers particularly love that a little goes a long way and say it absorbs easily. Many even comment that it layers well under makeup.
Best Mineral Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin
Safe, Effective SPF For The Most Delicate Skin
Bluemercury
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Type: Mineral | Size: 4 ounces | Scent: None
What you’ll love:
Doesn’t pill
Oil free
Water resistant for 80 minutes
Keep in mind:
Can be difficult to blend
This 100% mineral SPF is so gentle that it’s our top sunscreen for babies. La Roche-Posay’s formula is non irritating, and it stays put on skin and doesn’t leave behind a greasy feel. It’s made with silica, which absorbs excess oil and reduces shine, and it has the company’s patented Cell-Ox Shield technology. This provides broad-spectrum sun and antioxidant protection—helping youthful-looking skin stay that way for longer.
With tinted sunscreen, it can feel impossible to find something that doesn’t clash with your coloring, but this is one intended to be a universal tint that enhances natural skin tones. It uses the mineral filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to reflect the sun’s rays, and because of the microfine particles of the filters, it spreads evenly, feels weightless and leaves no white cast.
Best Stick Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin
Broad-Spectrum Protection In A Travel-Friendly Stick
Amazon
Aveeno Protect + Soothe Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Type: Mineral | Size: 1.5 ounces | Scent: None
What you’ll love:
Non-greasy formula
Paraben-, phthalate-, oxybenzone- and dye-free
Good value
Keep in mind:
Not cruelty-free
For when you want a no-nonsense, easy-to-apply sunscreen that stays on, this is a great option. Mineral formulas can be drying on skin, but this SPF 50 features oat essence, which works to maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and restore a normal pH. It’s also mess free, easy to stash in your purse and allows for fast application on the go. Some reviewers do note that it has a thick consistency, so you have to work to blend it, and it may leave a white cast behind.
Best Moisturizing Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin
A Hydrating French Pharmacy Favorite
Ulta Beauty
La Roche-Posay Anthelios HA Mineral Sunscreen
Type: Mineral | Size: 1.7 ounces | Scent: None
What you’ll love:
Moisturizes for up to 12 hours
Oil-free and non-greasy
Gives skin a plumped appearance
Keep in mind:
Expensive
Think of this as a multitasking sunscreen that has the potential to transform skin while simultaneously battling the negative effects of the sun. While sunscreens with mineral filters can sometimes be drying, this creamy formula contains hyaluronic acid, glycerin and panthenol to hydrate. It also has an antioxidant complex with senna alata, a tropical leaf extract, which protects from free radicals that can cause fine lines, wrinkles and uneven tone.
Best Water-Resistant Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin
An Option That Withstands Water And Sweat
Amazon
Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 50+ Sunscreen
Type: Mineral | Size: 5 ounces | Scent: None
What you’ll love:
Good value
A little goes a long way
Non irritating
Keep in mind:
Can leave a white cast
This physical sunscreen is water-resistant for 40 minutes and has a cult following in large part because people say it doesn’t stain white clothing. One exceptionally cool thing about it: The bottle turns blue in harmful UV light as an easy reminder to reapply.
Best Lightweight Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin
Blendable, Non-Irritating Sun Protection
Ulta Beauty
Cocokind Silk SPF 30
Type: Hybrid | Size: 1.7 ounces | Scent: None
What you’ll love:
Cruelty-free
No sticky feeling
A little goes a long way
Keep in mind:
Some say it can pill if too much is applied
Feel is important when it comes to sunscreens; they cover precious surface area and anyone who is skin conscious typically spends lots of time wearing them. This lightweight hybrid formula contains polysaccharide-rich banana blossom to help hydrate skin, and it leaves behind a silky feel and dewy finish that users love. Other pluses: It absorbs well and doesn’t leave a white cast.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Here at Forbes Vetted, we’ve logged countless hours testing and reviewing makeup and skincare products—including facial sunscreens and SPF for babies—as well as poring through reviews from consumers.
Deputy editor Jane Sung, who has edited every iteration of this story, oversees the beauty and grooming category and has 15-plus years of experience covering beauty and style.
Calhoun also consulted with dermatologists Dr. Heather D. Rogers and Dr. Leah Ansell for their take on what to look for in sunscreens for sensitive skin.
How We Chose The Best Sunscreens For Sensitive Skin
When putting together a list of best sunscreen options for reactive skin, we looked at top options available at different price points and then considered consumer reviews from a wide range of retailers.
We used our tested insights to choose some of our winners, including our best overall pick that our testers with highly reactive skin raved about.
We also spoke with leading dermatologists for their expert advice on the best ingredients and formulations to protect skin from the sun—and stave off redness and any angry flare-ups.
What To Consider When Buying The Best Sunscreens For Sensitive Skin
There are some key factors to consider when shopping for sunscreens for sensitive skin. Here’s what to look for.
Ingredients
“Sensitive skin is more likely to be irritated by everything, including sunscreen,” says Dr. Heather D. Rogers, dermatologist and co-founder and CEO of Doctor Rogers Skin Care. “This is because the skin is typically thinner, drier and often has more blood vessels closer to the skin’s surface, all of which contribute to absorbing more of whatever you put on, thus making it more sensitive.” So paying close attention to ingredients when you have sensitive skin is a must.
“Chemical UV filters, including avobenzone, octinoxate, oxybenzone and homosalate, may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals,” Rogers says. “Preservatives such as parabens, phenoxyethanol and formaldehyde releasers used to prevent microbial growth in sunscreens can also cause skin irritation. Alcohol—like denatured alcohol or SD alcohol, which stands for specially denatured—can be drying and irritating to sensitive skin types.” As a general rule, look for things that are non-comedogenic.
Chemical Vs. Mineral
Chemical sunscreens tend to absorb into the skin and are sheer when applied; however, “chemical sunscreens are a higher risk for irritation due to the many i
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