Last year, it felt like I couldn’t do anything right with my skin. Everything was either clogging my pores or, in the case of a few American chemical sunscreens I tried, causing red, itchy, tight-feeling blotches. We all know sunscreen is the number one product we need to use to preserve our skin for the long haul, but how many of us are actually using it every day? When you have acne-prone skin, your routine can start to feel like a laser maze to navigate—one wrong move and you’re toast.
That’s where I come in :)
If you don’t know where in the skincare universe to turn in order to find a sunscreen that won’t break you out and isn’t a nightmare to use, here are eight recommendations you might want to try, split between a few key categories: Korean, mineral, tinted, and an on-the-go stick.
Korean
Since the FDA hasn’t approved a new sunscreen filter since 1999, we’re working with 26+ year old technology here in the States. Other countries, like Korea, on the other hand, have filters that are light-years ahead. To match, their sunscreens are also much lighter, which makes them the gold standard for daily wear.
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
This is the sunscreen that got me on the Korean filter train. It’s insanely hydrating (but not greasy), so it lives up to the “watery” and “gel” claims. It blends in about two seconds, making it a joy to use. This would work for most skin types.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh
If you’ve ever tried the OG Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun (which does have a few pore-cloggers that are far down the ingredient list) and thought it was too thick or moisturizing, you might want to try their Aqua-Fresh version instead. It’s less hydrating than the Isntree option, so it would work best for someone who lives in a humid climate and/or has oily skin.
Mineral
My acne-prone, redness-prone, all-the-prones skin loves zinc oxide. It’s anti-inflammatory, meaning it helps with all the above. The catch? They’re usually annoying to blend and leave a white or purple cast. Not these tho!
Anua Airy Sun Cream
Ever tried a Korean mineral sunscreen? This one from Anua, famous for their calming heartleaf-containing products, has zinc oxide as the second ingredient, but blends like a dream with minimal white cast. The finish is natural, meaning it’s a bit more matte than glowier options.
Tower 28 SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen
For an easily-accessible option you can get at Sephora, Tower 28’s sunscreen can’t be beat. It’s a fair price (when compared with others in the category), and has the same non-irritating ethos as the rest of the brand’s skincare.
Tinted
If you’re prone to dark spots and hyperpigmentation (like melasma), tinted sunscreens may be the best route. Their tints usually come from iron oxides, which have been proven to provide extra protection against visible light and potentially blue light. They also help to even the skin tone!
Tatcha Silk Sunscreen
While this does have a few pore cloggers if you run it through a checker, it specifies it’s non-comedogenic (meaning it has likely gone through third-party testing). It hasn’t bothered me after using it consistently, so I’m choosing to trust! It can oxidize a bit orange on my ghostly ass face, but would look great on a vast majority of people.
Fenty Hydra Vizor Huez Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30
I’ve talked about this countless times. It’s an absolute holy grail for me, and I see myself wearing it for years to come. It has super light coverage, but instantly perks up my face with a slight glow. The shade range isn’t fussy, so you have wiggle room in choosing the best one for you.
Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation
Them calling this a “foundation” is apt—it has more coverage than you’d expect! I’d say it’s somewhere on the light ⟶ light-medium scale. Someone who likes wearing makeup regularly, but wants to focus on the health of their skin first, should absolutely try this.
Stick
On-the-go girlies, this is for you.
Shisedio Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+
If you’ve ever used Supergoop’s Glow Stick Sunscreen and thought it was too greasy, this is also for you. It’s much more of a joy to use, can be thrown in your bag for re-application (do NOT forget the hairline and tops of ears), and contains exactly zero pore-cloggers (as with the others on this list!).
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