The Best Face Sunscreen for Every Skin Type

If you know me, you know I advocate about using your good dinnerware for casual meals, making your bed, and wearing SPF on the reg. While you should be using SPF on your face (and body) daily, I know most people don’t. However, it’s a must during the summer months, when you spend more time in the sun, with skin exposed. This is especially important during the day if you use skincare products with certain ingredients, like AHAs which can include glycolic acid, lactic acid, or ingredients derived from citrus, like vitamin C. These are great ingredients but can cause sun sensitivity. But I hear you. Finding a good SPF product for the face can be difficult. Which is why I’m breaking down great face sunscreen for every skin type.

While my main argument for wearing sunblock is “I don’t want wrinkles,” there are multiple reasons you should be applying it regularly. The sun omits harmful UV rays that can attack your skin cells and create all sorts of problems from dark spots to premature aging to skin cancer (that’s a real thing, kids.) Learn more about sun protection here and here. I’ll spare you a more in depth lecture, and instead go over a few of my favorite sunscreen formulas for the face.

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For Oily Skin

One of the biggest excuses for not wearing sunscreen is that is it makes people’s acne act up or irritates their oily skin. To them, I say you are wearing the wrong type.

So long as you properly wash your face before bed (I recommend a double cleanse method), you shouldn’t suffer breakouts due to your sunscreen. However, as with anything skin related, it’s a really personal experience. And there are a handful of factors that work against oily skin. So when looking for a sunscreen, you may want to look for specific claims and ingredients.

If you don’t love a dewy look or your skin tends to get shiny, opt for something with a matte finish, like the Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen*. The formula is weightless, non-greasy, and leaves behind a soft matte finish that helps blur the appearance of uneven skin texture and large pores. If you don’t love the idea of an oil based formula, opt for something water based, like the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel*.

Scroll below through some of my favorite face sunscreen for oily skin:

For Dry Skin

My facial skin type hasn’t always been dry. It’s fluctuated a lot over the years from oily to combo, and now we’re just dry head to toe. But prior to that, I noticed how important hydrating sunscreen formulas were for me. I have psoriasis in a few different places on my body, and I noticed that some sunscreens (particularly chemical) really dried it out more and made for a really unpleasant experience. So when my face switched to a dry skin type, I knew I didn’t even want to try something that may dry it out more. So I opt for anything potentially hydrating.

If you’re dealing with dry skin, you may consider opting to a moisturizer with an SPF factor, like the Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer*. It comes with an SPF of 47 and leaves your skin glowing and hydrated. But there are plenty of standalone sunscreens that tout hydrating claims, too, like the CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen* or the Kinship Probiotic Sunscreen*.

Scroll below through some of my favorite face sunscreen for dry skin:

For Sensitive Skin

There’s so many misconceptions around sunscreen, and those faulty claims deter those with sensitive or fussy skin from using it. Which isn’t good, because it’s important we are taking care of our skin, and that includes sun protection. Luckily the industry is modernizing and becoming less bland, offering tons of great options for problematic skin.

Firstly, I’d highly recommend forgoing chemical UV blockers all together. They can cause stinging, burning, and other irritations on sensitive skin. Instead, go for mineral (physical) UV blockers. These ingredients will be zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

I use both chemical and mineral sunscreens in my SPF routine. However, I only use chemical formulas on my body. It doesn’t get quite as irritated as my face. And when using chemical sunscreens on my face, I notice a lot of burning on my cheeks and around my eyes.

Scroll below through some of my favorite face sunscreen for sensitive skin:

For Your Lips

When applying sunscreen to the face, there are a few areas people often neglect: the neck and chest, the back of the neck, ears, eyelids, and lips. But all of those areas are just as susceptible to sun damage as any other skin, so it’s important to make sure you’re paying some TLC to them, too. Luckily, there are so many balms and glosses out there that double as makeup and sun protection.

Scroll below through some of my favorite face sunscreen for the lips:

For The Eye Area

The skin around your eye is quite thin compared to the rest of your face, and it’s more prone to fine lines, wrinkles, and damage from the sun. But it’s an area a lot of people forget to cover when applying SPF. While your regular facial sunscreen is sufficient so long as it doesn’t irritate your eyes, you may want to use a specific eye cream with SPF instead for one reason or another. And these are my favorites.

Scroll below through some of my favorite eye creams with SPF:

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Sunscreen favorites are a personal, and sometimes it takes a little trial and error. But it is incredibly important to make sure you are wearing one every day. And if a formula not working your skin type is the reason you forgo wearing SPF, there are options for you. I hope this list was a little helpful in finding a face sunscreen that works for you and your skin type.

I’ll also say, most of these options will work on various skin types. So just because it’s in the oily skin category doesn’t necessarily mean someone with dry skin wouldn’t like it. Ya feel?

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