17 Best Sunscreens for Oily Skin that Don't Feel Greasy (Tested and Reviewed for 2023)
By Beth Gillette and Abby Dupes | Beauty & Health Editor at SELF
I know the cardinal rule of skincare is that you have to wear sunscreen every day. Slathering on a formula with SPF 30 (or higher) every single day is the key to helping prevent fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, sun irritation, and most importantly, skin cancer and sun damage. But until recently, I was convinced my oil-prone skin and SPF just didn't mix. Every formula I'd tried slipped and slid off my face in mere hours, making me look shiny as hell. However, that's finally changed — since I discovered that sunscreens for oily skin do exist and are formulated specifically to mattify skin while protecting it from sun damage.
Obviously, this led me to test legit dozens of sunscreens to determine the best options out there for oily skin; we're talking sunscreens for acne, tinted sunscreens, mineral and chemical sunscreens, and more. On top of that, I chatted with four dermatologists to get their take on sunscreen for oily skin, along with their top product picks. But before we get into that, here are a few of my faves:
1. Ultra-Violette Velvet Screen SPF 50 Blurring Mineral Skinscreen
I own about 30 different sunscreens (and have tried hundreds over the years—hey, it’s my job, okay?), and I have to give myself a pep talk before I test any others, since nothing will compare to how much I love my skin wearing this sunscreen from Ultra Violette. I spread it on my skin in the morning before foundation, and I sometimes don’t even feel like I need to pat on setting powder because it gives me such a natural, matte finish. It goes on with a thick, cream consistency, but immediately blends into a velvety finish (hence the name).
Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
Other key ingredients: Kakadu plum, gluconolactone
SPF: 50
Oil-free? Yes
One Cosmo editor says: “Truly, no other sunscreen makes my skin look so good. It's mattifying without making my face look dull or dry, even if I have the random dry patch throughout my otherwise oily face." — Beth Gillette, beauty editor.
2. First Aid Beauty Hydrating Sunscreen Milk SPF 45
Some of us with oily skin (hi, me) have a tendancy to also get inflamed breakouts. Fun! If swiping sunscreen on your irritated face sounds like the worst thing you could ever do, give this one a try. It's loaded with colloidal oatmeal, a master at soothing swelling, irritation, itch, and more. But it's also surprisingly blendable and lightweight, so it won't make you look like a greaseball.
Type: Chemical (Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
Other key ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, soybean oil
SPF: 45
Oil-free? No
One Cosmo editor says: "Sure, I have oily skin, but my face is a precious lil fairy and often gets irritated and inflamed. Soooo, I loved when I saw this has colloidal oatmeal to help soothe skin. But it's also extra lightweight and doesn't even feel like I'm wearing anything once I rub it in." — BG
3. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh SPF 50+ PA++++
This water-based Korean sunscreen feels like I just splashed water on my face (2000s skincare ad style). It's cooling, lightly hydrating, and plumping, but also fully absorbs into my skin to avoid the dreaded greasy look I always get with SPF on my oily skin. Don't let its thin consistency fool you, though—this formula is actually loaded with hydrators, including ceramides, beta-glucan, peptides, panthenol, and oat kernel extract.
Type: Chemical
Other key ingredients: Ferulic acid, ceramides, peptides, beta-glucan
SPF: 50
Oil-free? No
One Cosmo editor says: "When I visited Seoul, it was my goal to pick up all the cool Korean sunscreens. Of everything I tested, this was the best for my oily skin. It's probably one of the lightest SPFs I've ever tried. It doesn't even feel like sunscreen; just a serum." —BG
4. Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+
Dr. Shamban recommends this stick sunscreen from Shiseido for oily skin because it goes on with a smooth, matte finish. Stash this cute lil bb in your makeup bag and glide it directly over your skin to reapply your sunscreen on the go. Because it goes on completely clear (for all skin tones) (!), you don’t even need a mirror to smooth it on, making it essentially mess-free. You can massage it all over your skin every two to three hours, or use it to touch-up the high points of your face that are prone to sun damage, like your nose and forehead.
Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
Other key ingredients: Triethylhexanoin (moisturizing), licorice root extract
SPF: 50+
Oil-free? No (mineral and castor oil)
One Cosmo editor says: "As someone who loves the sun but also has super dry skin that I want protected at all times, I love this stick from Shiseido. It doesn't make me feel oily or greasy, and it's great for swiping over my dry patches, shoulders, or anywhere else that needs some extra love when I'm in the sun."—JH
5. Eucerin Sun Clear Skin SPF 50 Face Sunscreen Lotion
I'm obsessed with this lightweight chemical sunscreen from Eucerin on my acne-prone skin—and I'm even more obsessed with how affordable it is. For less than $16, this SPF 50 cream is loaded with dimethicone to help control my oil throughout the day and gently smooth my textured skin temporarily. And when I run out, it's so easy to quickly add to an Amazon order or pick up on a drugstore run.
Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
Other key ingredients: Vitamin E, dimethicone
SPF: 50
Oil-free? Yes
One Cosmo reader says: "I recently discovered the Eucerin Sun Clear Skin SPF 50 Face Sunscreen Lotion, and it has become an absolute must-have in my daily skincare routine. I've struggled to find a sunscreen that doesn't cause irritation, and Eucerin Sun Clear Skin has proven to be gentle and suitable for daily use. It goes on smoothly, doesn't clog pores, and feels lightweight on the skin. The non-greasy formula is a welcome relief. It absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving behind a matte finish that doesn't feel heavy or sticky."
6. Hero Cosmetics Force Shield Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30
I keep my vanity stocked with this sunscreen for whenever I’m dealing with a particularly angry breakout. It has a light-green tint that helps neutralize some of the redness on my skin, along with loads of anti-inflammatory ingredients, including ectoin, bisabolol, and green tea extract. But don’t worry—the tint fully disappears into my medium skin once I blend it in (though it may leave a slight white cast on deep skin tones), leaving behind a velvet-y, sheer finish with absolutely no tacky residue.
Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
Other key ingredients: Ectoin, bisabolol, green tea extract
SPF: 30
Oil-free? No (raspberry and moringa seed oils)
One Cosmo editor says: "One thing about me: I'm, unfortunately, always breaking out, which means I have a constant rotation of sunscreens that work for my acne-prone skin. This one is my go-to for soothing and diminishing redness as soon as I spread it on, thanks to the green tint. It feels like a soothing cream, but protects like an SPF." — BG
7. Cocokind Silk SPF Mineral and Chemical Sunscreen SPF 30
I’ve tested a handful of clean sunscreens for oily skin, and they often leave a white cast or a strong glowy finish that my oily skin simply despises. But one of my favorite clean beauty brands, Cocokind, essentially developed the antithesis of that. This sunscreen is a hybrid of chemical and mineral filters (see: homosalate and zinc oxide) that protects my skin but blends out with a sheer, lightweight finish on my medium skin tone (and also on deeper skin tones, based on TikTok reviews). TBH, I completely forgo my morning moisturizer in the summer in favor of this sunscreen, because the lightweight banana flower extract is just moisturizing enough for my oily skin but doesn’t leave my makeup slippin’ and slidin’ all over my face.
Type: Chemical (homosalate) and mineral (zinc oxide)
Other key ingredients: Banana flower extract (moisturizes)
SPF: 30
Oil-free? Yes
Glowing customer review: “I'd been using Cocokind's other sunscreen for years and loved it, but the Silk Spf is a total game changer. [It] makes my skin look so dewy, goes on super smooth, and doesn't irritate my sensitive/acne-prone skin at all.”
8. Ciele Tint & Protect SPF 50+ Tinted Serum Foundation
IMO, most tinted sunscreens are not made with oily skin in mind, usually imparting a dewy glow that makes me look like the second coming of Edward Cullen. But Ciele's formula has a blurring satin finish that sits beautifully on my skin throughout the day. I just squeeze a few drops out of the dropper, then stipple it on my face with a beauty sponge. It makes my skin look smooth and soft—not glossy or shimmery—all the while imparting SPF 50 protection.
Type: Mineral (titanium dioxide)
Other key ingredients: Dimethicone, bisabolol, niacinamide
SPF: 50
Oil-free? Yes
One Cosmo editor says: "I've somehow acquired this SPF-focused skin tint in about seven different shades so I always have one that will match me. It covers up all my zits and dark spots while blurring my pores and, of course, protecting my skin." — BG
9. Coola Refreshing Water Plumping Gel Serum Sunscreen SPF 30
Thick, goopy creams simply don't inspire me to slather on sunscreen every day. But ya know what does? This majorly lightweight serum-based SPF from Coola. It's loaded with the lightest hydrators (aloe vera and hyaluronic acid, hello) that quickly sink into my skin, leaving me feeling plump and fresh without all the heaviness. It's the dream canvas for foundation too, since it doesn't add any extra dewiness or slip that makes my products melt.
Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
Other key ingredients: Aloe vera, hyaluronic acid
SPF: 30
Oil-free? No
One Cosmo editor says: "I used up a full bottle of this last year because I freakin' love how cooling and light it feels on my skin. In the summer, the last thing I want is to feel like I have a heavy sunscreen on in already-sticky NYC. But this glides on and feels like I just patted on a gel-serum." — BG
10. Lightsaver Activated Mineral Sunscreen SPF 33
“Mineral-based sunscreen tends to be better for oily skin,” says dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, “because these minerals are typically less irritating to your skin than chemical SPF filters are, making them a bit more tolerable for acne-prone and sensitive skin.” However, these formulas often get a bad rap for being thick and heavy on your skin and leaving behind an unsightly white cast. But I’ve found this new mineral sunscreen from Lightsaver (which was developed by dermatologist David Kim, MD) to feel nothing like the rich, milky formulas I’m used to.
Instead, this sheer sunscreen has a light tint that essentially disappears as I blend it into my skin (though it might take a little effort to blend into deep skin). Its lightweight moisturizers, squalane and glycerin, leave behind a satin, skin-like finish, which layers really well under my tinted moisturizer. Plus, it’s also formulated with niacinamide, which is basically a do-it-all ingredient that soothes and brightens over time.
Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
Other key ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, niacinamide
SPF: 33
Oil-free? No (sunflower seed oil)
One Cosmo editor says: "I’m fully impressed with this mineral sunscreen. There’s no white cast on my medium skin tone, and it doesn’t feel goopy or heavy on my oily skin. I can load this on my face in the morning without having to worry that my skin will become a grease machine in a few hours." — BG
11. Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Powder Sunscreen Brush SPF 30
“Lotion and creams provide the best SPF coverage,” notes Dr. Shamban, “but powder sunscreens are still great for fast, no-fuss, no-mess touch-ups.” Which is also why I love this translucent mineral sunscreen for reapplying sunscreen to my oily skin, because it’s essentially a setting powder and a sunscreen top-up all in one.
Seriously—even dermatologist Divya Shokeen, MD, is a fan: “It absorbs excess oils, which leaves your skin with a matte finish,” she says. I start with a liquid sunscreen underneath (like, any of the others on this list), but instead of trying to blend another layer of sunscreen over my oily skin, I just dab this powder over my face with the included brush.
Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
Other key ingredients: Ceramides, papaya and mango fruit extracts
SPF: 30
Oil-free? Yes
One Cosmo reader says: “This is such a holy grail for my skincare. I put this on in the morning and my face stays matte the entire day.”
12. EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46
Every dermatologist I've ever met—including Dr. Shokeen and Jeannette Graf, MD—has raved about this ultra-lightweight sunscreen from EltaMD. Why, you ask? Because, along with chemical and mineral SPF, it uses niacinamide and lactic acid to help exfoliate dead skin that can cause breakouts, smooth any bumpy texture you have on your skin, and slowly fade acne scars. I’m partial to the clear formula, but I did order the tinted version pretty much immediately after Hailey Bieber used it in a GRWM TikTok and love it for my medium skin as a skin tint.
Type: Chemical (octinoxate) and mineral (zinc oxide)
Other key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
SPF: 46
Oil-free? Yes
One Cosmo editor says: "When you discover an SPF like this one that fully protects your skin from the sun and blends beautifully into the deepest of skin tones, then you definitely award it and tell the world to stock up!”—Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large
13. Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Matte Sunscreen Gel SPF 45
If I put this clear sunscreen from Black Girl Sunscreen on my oily skin in the morning, my face will stay completely shine-free until I’m ready to take my makeup off. The clear-on-all-skin-tones, silicone-based gel leaves skin smooth and imparts matte finish, which makes it especially great under makeup. And because it’s so smoothing and mattifying, it works double-duty as my makeup primer, since it doesn’t pill or get greasy no matter how much I layer on.
Type: Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
Other key ingredients: Aloe vera, shea butter, squalane
SPF: 45
Oil-free? No (coconut oil and shea butter)
One Cosmo editor says: "It goes on super easily and has the creamiest texture that immediately plumped and hydrated my skin. Also, the matte finish is honestly a perfect base for makeup, and it plays well with other products." — Ama Kwarteng, beauty contributor
Can I skip moisturizer and use sunscreen for oily skin?
You can skip moisturizer and just use sunscreen for your oily skin, but experts suggest incorporating both into your routine. “It’s important to use moisturizer and sunscreen separately, as each serves a different purpose for the skin,” says Dr. Shokeen. “Moisturizer hydrates and plumps your skin, while sunscreen protects your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation.”
But there definitely are options out there if you want to skip a step in your routine, like moisturizing sunscreens and moisturizers with SPF (of 30 or more, remember!). “There are hybrid sunscreens with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid that can work as both,” says Dr. Shokeen. “But ideally, you should use two separate products to achieve optimal skin health,” she says, especially because you’ll need to use a ton of SPF moisturizer to get adequate protection against the sun (kind of like drinking two bloody margs instead of taking a shot of tequila).
Why does my sunscreen make my face so oily?
“Sunscreens can make your face oily because they’re often filled with rich oils and butters,” says Dr. Graf. “Historically, facial sunscreens have been thick and heavy in nature,” says Dr. Graf, noting that these formulas often used dense moisturizing agents and occlusive ingredients that would sit on top of your skin and leave an oily film.
Is chemical or mineral sunscreen better for oily skin?
Neither chemical nor mineral sunscreen is necessarily “better” for oily skin, but generally, dermatologists including Dr. Graf and Dr. Shamban, recommend opting for mineral formulas. Here’s a quick rundown of chemical versus mineral sunscreens to explain why: Essentially, chemical sunscreens use active chemical filters (like avobenzone, oxybenzone, or homosalate) to absorb the sun’s rays, convert them into heat, and then release them from your skin.
Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, use mineral filters (like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) to create a physical shield between your skin and the sun (which is also why they tend to be thicker and often leave a white cast behind). So which one is better for oily skin? If you ask Dr. Shamban and Dr. Graf, they both suggest choosing a mineral sunscreen for oily skin, because zinc oxide and titanium dioxide tend to be slightly mattifying and oil-absorbing (though, consequently, they’re often a bit heavier and ashy, too).
Derms also generally recommend mineral sunscreen for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin, as the filters in chemical sunscreen can sometimes be a culprit for irritation for some sensitive-skin folks. But because of the white and ashy cast mineral sunscreens tend to leave, it’s often not possible for those with very-deep skin tones to use, which is where oil-free, clear chemical formulas like Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen and Starface Clear As Day come in.
You might also prefer a chemical sunscreen based on your lifestyle, like if you’re outside all of the time sweating or swimming, because the formula won’t slide off as easily. In that case, “among the chemical sunscreen filters, I find that octocrylene and octisalate are more lightweight for oily skin,” says dermatologist Mamina Turegano, MD.
Can sunscreen cause acne breakouts?
If you have oily and acne-prone skin, sunscreen can potentially cause breakouts, especially if your SPF is full of heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. But note: It’s not necessarily the sunscreen chemicals or minerals themselves that are clogging your pores, but the other ingredients they’re mixed with. Just like any cream or lotion that doesn’t agree with your skin, a cocktail of butters, oils, sweat, and your own sebum can potentially get trapped in your pores and lead to pimples and blackheads, says Dr. Graf. So how do you pick the best sunscreen for breakouts and oil? Ahem...
