Welcome to LovelySkin.com.
While it is well-known that sunscreen is an essential part of any daily regimen, if your skin is prone to acne, sunscreen may be a challenge. Luckily, we have great options that are acne-friendly mineral formulas for you. With the help of board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, we can help you find the best physical sunscreen for acne-prone skin.
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 mineral formulas differ from chemical sunscreens, which use filters such as avobenzone, oxybenzone and octinoxate to help protect your skin from damaging UV rays. “Chemical sunscreens are somewhat better in all-around protection, but are not recommended for young children or pregnant women,” Dr. Schlessinger says. Physical sunscreens also qualify as reef-safe and comply with local laws in vacation destinations such as Hawaii that mandate mineral-only sunscreens for use on their beaches.
Mineral 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 staff prefer tinted. It all comes down to personal preferences, but the following are my list of favorites for you when it comes to untinted options.”
When it comes to acne-safe mineral sunscreen for your face, basically, you want 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 four formulas that provide excellent broad-spectrum sun protection and are also well-suited for acne-prone skin.
With 10% 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. “This is one of my absolute favorite physical sunscreens to use on your face or your body,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “It easily absorbs into the skin without any trace of a white cast on most skin tones.”
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 11% 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. It does have some fragrance in it as well, if that is what you prefer.
An innovator when it comes to anti-aging skin care, ALASTIN Skincare created this facial sunscreen to provide skin benefits that continue even after the sun goes down. It features 19.95% zinc oxide to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays as well as ectoin, an ingredient that helps provide protection from blue light. It also contains ALASTIN’s patented TriHex Technology, which works within your skin to flush out damaged collagen and elastin fibers and encourage new, healthy skin growth.
Thanks to Dune Suncare’s micro-dispersion technology, this acne-safe mineral sunscreen has a weightless texture that absorbs quickly and goes on invisibly on all skin tones. A combination of 4.8% zinc oxide and 2.34% titanium dioxide works to provide broad-spectrum protection while antioxidant-rich ingredients such as vitamin E and carrot seed help improve the health and texture of your skin over time.
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 as a face or body sunscreen. 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 14% 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 TiZO sunscreen features a moisturizing cream texture comes in both tinted and untinted formulas, so you can choose what you prefer. It’s one of the best mineral sunscreens for acne-prone skin thanks to the inclusion of 20% zinc oxide, which provides broad-spectrum UV protection, along with antioxidant-rich vitamin E to help soothe skin and protect it from environmental stressors such as pollution.
This sheer, lightweight COOLA 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.
This Sonrei sunscreen comes in a spray bottle with a continuous all-angles mist that makes it especially convenient to cover hard-to-reach spots on your body. With 5% zinc oxide, it sprays on white but blends into skin with an invisible matte finish. With a formula that’s water-resistant for up to eighty minutes, this mineral sunscreen for acne-prone skin is great to wear while golfing, swimming or other warm-weather activities.
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.
Other Posts by AaronSupercharge your wrinkle correction with...
Vacation beauty essentials with La Roche...
Follow us on social networks and be one of the first to learn about sales, giveaways, and free samples
| Mon - Fri | 9 - 5 p.m. CT |
|---|---|
| Sat (chat only) | 9 - 3 p.m. CT |
| Sun / Holidays | Closed |
| Call or Text: | 402-697-1100 |
|---|
