Matte Sunscreens to Try If Shiny Skin is Not Your Thing

Letâ€™s cut to the chase: There is quite simply absolutely no valid excuse for not wearing sunscreen daily. Along with seeking shade, covering up, and avoiding peak sun hours, wearing sunscreen is a crucial way to safeguard the health of your skin since unprotected UV exposure can cause sunburn, premature signs of aging, and even some cancers.

However, especially if you have oily skin, the thought of putting sunscreen on can sometimes be a little bit unappealingâ€”especially since many formulas on the market leave a greasy, white-cast after-effect once they're applied. The good news? There are plenty of matte sunscreens that offer up a nice, non-oily finish.

To help you narrow your options, we enlisted Dr. Elizabeth Houshmand, a double- board-certified dermatologist, to weigh in on what to seek outâ€”and what to avoid â€”in a formula. "Look for labels that say oil-free or non-comedogenic," she says, "But avoid formulas with mineral oils." She also says that in terms of application type, powder and gel sunscreens are your best bet. Beyond that, she advises picking a broad-spectrum sunscreenâ€”to shield your skin from both UVA and UVB raysâ€”and an SPF of 30 or more, which is recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology (even though, she encourages an SPF 50 formula to make sure you cover your bases).

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
Why Trust ishonest?

Best Overall: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

Works for all skin types

Protects against blue light

Acts as a primer

On the pricier side

Thereâ€™s lightweight sunscreen, and then thereâ€™s the totally undetectable sunscreen that you totally forget you're wearing. This Supergoop formula most definitely falls into the latter campâ€”it's not only oil-free but also weightless, scentless, and clear. Although it's great for all skin types, we especially like it for oily skin types thanks to its completely invisible texture. Still, it packs a punch in terms of protection, guarding not only against UVA and UVB rays but also blue light, the type of light emitted from all of our electronic devicesâ€”which many of the latest studies show may be potentially damaging. As if all of that werenâ€™t enough, it has a matte finish and layers beautifully under makeup. Devoted fans love both how it looks and feels on their skin.

Best Budget: Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen

Very sheer and light

Non-comedogenic

Affordable

Reviewers say it easily rubs off on clothes

Pick up this top-notch option for just under 20 dollars, it has the same efficacy and feels as great as much pricier sunscreens weâ€™ve tried. Youâ€™ll see that it does have a bit of color to it when you pump it out, but thatâ€™s more to combat any whiteness than to impart color onto your skin; it blends in completely sheer. It also has a silky feel and never leaves behind any greasy residue or excess sheen, always a plus. Non-comedogenic and entirely mineral- based, itâ€™s also a great pick for those whose skin is both oily and sensitive.

Best Drugstore: CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

Matte finish

Affordable

Hydrating

Chemical sunscreens can be irritating for some

Key Ingredients

Ceramides are a part of a complex family of fats or lipids called a sphingolipid. They work to restore the skin barrier and lock in moisture.

Dermatologists love this brand, a drugstore staple, for its straightforward skincare offerings featuring ceramides, essential ingredients for helping to strengthen and maintain a healthy skin barrier. This formula has those but also delivers additional moisturizing benefits, tooâ€”thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acidâ€”plus SPF 30 protection and a matte finish.

Best for Brightening: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Very sheer and light

Also contains skincare ingredients

On the pricier side

Yes, this featherweight, transparent formula (a favorite among dermatologists) touts an effective combo of chemical and mineral sunscreen ingredients to help effectively shield your skin from the sun. But we find even more noteworthy is the addition of two skincare ingredients: lactic acid, a gentle exfoliant, and niacinamide, an antioxidant that helps even tone and reduces redness. In tandem, they help to leave your complexion brighter and more radiant.

What Our Testers Say

"This is easily the most non-irritating, absorbent, and low-maintenance facial sunscreen Iâ€™ve come across; itâ€™s essentially a nice mid-range moisturizer that happens to have SPF 46." â€” Kelsey Clark, Product Tester

Best Moisturizer With SPF: Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30

Effective multitasking product

Mattifies skin

Affordable

Chemical sunscreens can be irritating for some

Yes, you canâ€”and should!â€”still use a moisturizer even if you have oily or acne- prone skin. We love this one because it delivers light hydration, and with an SPF of 30, a healthy dose of sun protection. But it doesnâ€™t stop there: It also helps mattify skin and keeps excess oil at bay. Plus, because itâ€™s non- comedogenic, thereâ€™s no need to worry about clogged pores or possible pimples.

Best Tinted: Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion

Comes in two shades

Affordable

Non-irritating formula

Reviewers say the shades lack good undertones

This non-chemical tinted lotion is more than just powerful sun protectionâ€” it delivers feel-good ingredients that are good for your skin (botanical and antioxidants that nourish and won't clog pores like Kakadu plum, eucalyptus, and red algae) as well as a powder finish to nix sweat and shine. It has an SPF of 50, it's water-resistant, and you can buy it at the drugstore. Not to mention that it also comes in two tinted shades. Score.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare All-Physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30

Dries clear with no chalky residue

Great for sensitive skin

No scent

Small bottle

When your skin is on the sensitive side, a mineral sunscreen, like this one, is always going to be your best bet. It relies on zinc oxide, a mineral that sits on top of your skin to block out the sun, and is much less likely to cause any kind of potential irritation than chemical blockers. Oil-free (important for oily skin) and fragrance-free (important for sensitive skin), it also absorbs quickly and blends into any skin tone; reviewers with darker skin note that itâ€™s one of the only non-tinted, mineral options that they can wear without any chalkiness. While initially, it looks a bit dewy, it dries down quickly to a velvety and matte finish. Oh, and it contains a hefty dose of protective antioxidants, too.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Neutrogena Clear Face Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 30

Very sheer and light

Water-resistant up to 80 minutes

Can feel a little tacky at first

This oil-free, broad-spectrum sunscreen is made specifically for acne-prone skin â€”one of the sheerest, lightweight formulas weâ€™ve ever tried. Both oil-free and non-comedogenic (as well as dermatologist-tested), thereâ€™s no need to stress about clogged pores, ever. Plus, it'll help you maintain a matte finish all day, all the while protecting your skin from UV light. It's a miracle worker in a bottle for oily and acne-prone skin typesâ€”trust us.

Best for Dark Skin: Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30

Dries clear with no chalky residue

Soothes the skin

Does contain oil

Formulated by women of color for people of color, this SPF 30 is filled with natural ingredients that are good for your skin like avocado, jojoba, cacao, and vitamin C-rich carrot juice, which soothe and even out skin. There's also sunflower oil that prevents irritation from sunburns. Free of oxybenzone and octinoxate, toxins commonly found in sunscreen, this pick is great for everyday protection. Bonus points for it drying clear and without a greasy residue.

Best for Touch-Ups: Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50

Protects against UV rays and blue light

Comes in four shades

Easy to use

On the pricier side

Learn more

Best reserved for touch-ups

Breaking news: You should not only be applying sunscreen daily but also reapplying it regularlyâ€”ideally every two hours or at least any time before you go outside. This 100% mineral powder sunscreen (which also contains iron oxide to protect your skin from blue light) is great for touch-ups since it wonâ€™t mess up your makeupâ€”in fact, it delivers a little bit of coverage, too. Not to mention that powder, in general, is a good way to absorb excess oil throughout the day. Plus, itâ€™s self-dispensing and portable, meaning you can easily keep one to have on-hand anytime, anywhere.

Best Under Makeup: EleVen by Venus Williams Unrivaled Sun Serum SPF 35

Featherweight feel that layers beautifully under makeup

Great for all skin tones

Clean and cruelty-free

On the pricier side

Hereâ€™s one for all the sunscreen haters out there. True to the name, this feels more akin to a luxurious skincare serum than any traditional sunscreen you may have ever used. Although itâ€™s entirely mineral-based, it blends in clear skin tones (founder Venus Williams made sure of that). The addition of hydrating prickly pear extract contributes to the more serum-like texture, which also happens to layer beautifully under makeup, making this a great pick for daily use.

Final Verdict

Yes, it may not seem as appealing to put on sunscreen if you have oily skin, but you still have to. Happily, there are plenty of great options for oily skin out there. The Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 (view at Sephora) is our top pick; it's a totally undetectable oil-free formula thatâ€™s scentless and clear, too. The EleVen by Venus Williams Unrivaled Sun Serum SPF 35 (view at Credo Beauty) layers beautifully under makeup and blends into all skin tones. And if youâ€™re on a budget, be sure to check out the wallet-friendly CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF (view at Ulta) and/or the Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen (view at Bliss).

What to Look for in a Sunscreen for Oily Skin

Oil-Free

At the risk of pulling a Captain Obvious, this is the most important criteria, since the last thing you want is to add more oil to your face.

Non-Comedogenic

Similarly, you want to make sure that the sunscreen you choose wonâ€™t clog pores, given that those with oily skin are already more prone to clogged pores, to begin with.

The Formula

Powders and gels are an especially great option, given that theyâ€™re innately lighter and more mattifying than creams or lotions.

Whether you want to go with a chemical formula, mineral formula, or a hybrid is a matter of personal preference and is completely up to you. The key is to seek out oil-free options that are non-comedogenic.

The same way as you would apply sunscreen onto any other type of skin. You need at least a nickel size amount for your face and neck, which is about two fingersâ€™ worth (use your index and pointer finger). Ideally, you should also be reapplying every two hours after the fact, especially if youâ€™re going to be spending time outdoors. Thatâ€™s where powder formulas can be hugely helpful.

Why Trust ishonest?

ishonest contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. While her skin is drier than it is oily, sunscreen is her absolute number one must-have beauty product, so sheâ€™s extremely well-versed in all of the different types and formulas available. She does incorporate some of the ones featured on this list into her daily routine (especially during the summer when her skin is slicker). Both the Bliss and Dr. Dennis Gross formulas are currently a part of her regular rotation, and she always has one of the Colorescience powder brushes on hand at all times.

Meet the Expert

Dr. Elizabeth Houshmand is a double-board-certified dermatologist in Hamburg, PA. Sheâ€™s well-versed in both cosmetic skin treatments and dermatologic surgery and is involved in education and teaching, as well as research/clinical trials.

Arjmandi N, Mortazavi G, Zarei S, Faraz M, Mortazavi SAR. Can Light Emitted from Smartphone Screens and Taking Selfies Cause Premature Aging and Wrinkles?. J Biomed Phys Eng. 2018 Dec;8(4): 447-452.

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