The 8 Best Sunscreens For Sensitive Skin That Soothe And Protect (2024)

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.

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.

  • Best Sunscreen Overall For Sensitive Skin: EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen SPF 46

  • Best Value Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin: Cerave Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen

  • Best Mineral Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

  • Best Luxury Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin: Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense Sunscreen

  • Best Stick Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin: Aveeno Protect + Soothe Mineral Sunscreen Stick

  • Best Moisturizing Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios HA Mineral Sunscreen

  • Best Water-Resistant Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin: Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 50+ Sunscreen

  • Best Lightweight Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin: Cocokind Silk SPF 30

Best Sunscreen Overall For Sensitive Skin

Our Tested Top Pick For Gentle Sun Protection

EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen SPF 46

Type: Hybrid | Size: 1.7 ounces | Scent: None

What you’ll love:

  • Doesn’t cause breakouts
  • Absorbs well
  • Good for oily and combination skin

Keep in mind:

  • Some say it pills

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

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

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.

Best Luxury Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin

A Glowy Formula From A Derm-Approved Brand

Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense Sunscreen

Type: Mineral | Size: 1.7 ounces | Scent: None

What you’ll love:

  • Has SPF 50
  • Creates a subtle blurring effect
  • Layers well under makeup

Keep in mind:

  • Some say it has a runny texture

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

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

MOST POPULAR

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

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 acult 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

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 sayit can pill if too much is applied

Feel isimportantwhen 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.

MORE FROMFORBES VETTED

The 85 Best Black Friday Deals So Far, According To Our EditorsByKara CuzzoneForbes Staff
60+ Early Black Friday Deals Worth Shopping Right NowByJordan ThomasForbes Staff

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.

  • Author Molly Calhoun regularly researches the latest in skincare, reporting on everything from the best vitamin C serums to neck-firming creams.
  • 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 ingredients and preservatives,” says Dr. Leah Ansell, board-certified dermatologist with Treiber Dermatology. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, on the other hand, can be drying and “tend to leave a white residue and are thicker, but they’re very safe for those with sensitive skin,” says Ansell. If your skin is reactive and prone to redness, hybrid options are protective and absorb well, but finding out if they irritate skin may require some trial and error.

“If you are using zinc-based sunscreen, it starts working as soon as it is applied,” says Rogers. “A chemical based sunscreen needs to be absorbed into the skin before it is effective. We are taught to wait 30 minutes, although some studies suggest it starts to work faster than that.”

SPF

The SPF factor in a sunscreen shouldn’t affect sensitive skin, according to Ansell. “SPF 30 is generally adequate, though recent studies show that higher SPFs tend to be more effective,” says Ansell. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends water-resistant, broad spectrum skin protection of SPF 30 or higher for any extended outdoor time.

Fragrance

For the most part, you want to try to avoid fragrance if you have reactive or delicate skin. “Fragrances or fragrance additives can irritate those with fragrance allergies or sensitive skin,” Rogers says.

What Type Of Sunscreen Is Best For Sensitive Skin?

Our pick for best sunscreen for sensitive skin overall is the EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum Protection. It has SPF 46, and it hydrates and soothes in addition to providing broad spectrum protection.

Is SPF 30 Or 50 Better For Sensitive Skin?

Both are good, but there are certain factors to consider. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “SPF 30 allows about 3% of UVB rays to hit your skin. An SPF of 50 allows about 2% of those rays through. That may seem like a small difference until you realize that the SPF 30 is allowing 50% more UV radiation onto your skin.” So while an SPF of 50 is more protective, it can also give a false sense of security. It’s still a good idea to reapply, seek shade and cover up when in the sun for extended periods.

Should You Use Different Sunscreen On Your Face And Body?

While it’s perfectly fine to use the same sunscreen on both, you may want to use different products based on your skincare concerns in certain areas of the face and body. “If a patient is acne-prone, they should use non-comedogenic sunscreen on the face but don’t need that on the body, unless they have acne on the chest and back,” says Dr. Ansell.

The 8 Best Sunscreens For Sensitive Skin That Soothe And Protect (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

Last Updated:

Views: 6258

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

Birthday: 1994-08-17

Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

Phone: +8524399971620

Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.