15 Best Sunscreens for Oily Skin, According to Dermatologists & Glamour Editors

If you’re on the hunt for a hardworking drugstore pick, you can’t go wrong with CeraVe’s sheer tint. The mineral sunscreen, which is also available in an untinted formula, promises broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection while nourishing the skin barrier with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. Don’t worry: It’s not greasy, and Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in NYC, says it’s safe for all skin types.

This is a favorite of Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle. “I used it until the very last drop. I have combination and oily skin, and in the summer this tinted sunscreen was all I used as a base. It feels thick on your fingers, but once you layer it on your face, it blends smoothly and leaves a nice glow for a no-makeup makeup look.”

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid / SPF: 30 / Oil-free: Yes

• What we love: Light coverage; nontacky formula
• What could improve: Formula is a bit thick.

_{Original image by Glamour tester Briggit Earley}

“This is one of my favorite sunscreens for sensitive and acne-prone skin, because it has broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection and is fragrance-free, oil-free, and noncomedogenic,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “I love how it is fast-absorbing and has a matte finish—perfect as a base layer before makeup.”

Our tester sang its praises too: “Sometimes it feels impossible to find a mineral sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast, but this one is that unicorn I’ve been looking for,” she says. “It doesn’t leave any white cast behind—no excess rubbing required. One pass and it soaks right in.”

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Zinc oxide / SPF: 50 / Oil-free: Yes

• What we love: Doesn’t leave a white cast; suitable for the body and face
• What could improve: Some users say it stings their eyes.

“My skin type (combination and prone to breakouts) and skin tone (olive) have made it hard for me to find a good sunscreen,” says Glamour contributor Deanna Pai. “Most tend to feel cloying or prove hard to blend out invisibly. Not this lightweight SPF, though. It blends in seamlessly without feeling heavy and doesn’t leave skin shiny—even if you skew oily and acne-prone.”

Yes, the green color is a little odd, but there’s a good reason for this: The formula is designed to help cancel out redness from irritated or acne-prone skin. Another bonus for inflamed skin? The gel-cream formula lends a soothing cooling sensation as it settles into skin.

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Zinc oxide / SPF: 30 / Oil-free: No; contains raspberry seed oil and moringa oleifera seed oil

• What we love: Lightweight; easy to layer
• What could improve: Pump can get clogged.

_{Original image by Glamour tester Briggit Earley}

This SPF stands out from other mineral sunscreens so much that it earned a 2023 Glamour Beauty Award for its antiaging benefits. It’s more of a serum than a lotion, which makes it very runny, but as long as you work quickly, you won’t have any trouble. And because of this thin, serum-like consistency, there’s absolutely no white cast. A little bit goes a very long way, too, so even though the bottle looks small, it’ll last quite some time.

But let’s talk about those antiaging benefits. We love that the serum contains prebiotics to help improve the skin’s texture and wild butterfly ginger to counteract the effects of blue light and pollution—something many other sunscreens don't address.

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, S6Pro Complex, wild butterfly ginger root / SPF: 50 / Oil-free: Yes

• What we love: High SPF; antiaging benefits as well as sun protection
• What could improve: Formula is very runny.

_{Original image by Glamour tester Briggit Earley}

We love this drugstore body sunscreen pick for UVA and UVB protection all over (gotta love a multitasker!), because it’s a lightweight and nongreasy formula that won’t irritate acne-prone skin. The mineral-based formula boasts both prebiotics and vitamin E to combat any irritation without sending oil production into overdrive.

“I love the lightweight consistency, since it layers so well under makeup,” says Earley. “The only problem? The formula does leave a slight white cast, no matter how much you rub it in.” This may be especially problematic for those with darker skin tones.

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, vitamin E / SPF: 30 / Oil-free: No; contains jojoba seed oil

• What we love: Great for sensitive skin; for use on the face and body
• What could improve: May leave a slight white cast

It should surprise absolutely no one that Proactiv makes a great oil- and fragrance-free pick for acne-prone skin. “Most sunscreen irritates my angry, acne-prone skin,” say our tester. “But not this one. The formula isn’t at all tacky and it doesn’t feel heavy or excessively dewy on my already oily skin. In fact, I think it actually helps cut down on the shine.” It’s a chemical sunscreen, but we love that it’s clear and totally invisible on skin.

Type: Chemical / Key ingredients: Avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene / SPF: 30 / Oil-free: Yes

• What we love: Clear formula; specifically formulated for acne-prone skin
• What could improve: Some users say it stings their eyes.

_{Original image by Glamour tester Briggit Earley}

Unlike your average lotion SPF, this affordable pick is a clear lightweight gel. It spreads easily and absorbs almost instantly, so even though the bottle is small, a little bit goes a long way. Because of this, it’s also a great everyday pick for the face. Our tester says it feels a lot like a dry oil at first, but once it dries, it doesn’t leave skin oily at all.

Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle, who has combination skin, tells us the consistency is perfect for layering under makeup. And even though the tube is very small (perfect for popping in your cosmetics case), a little bit goes a long way, extending the life and overall value.

Type: Chemical / Key ingredients: Avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene 8.0, homosalate, meadowfoam seed, aloe / SPF: 35 / Oil-free: No; contains meadowfoam seed oil

• What we love: Doubles as a primer for makeup; completely clear gel formula
• What could improve: Small tube

_{Original image by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle}

The brand says this SPF is “luxuriously lightweight,” and that’s spot-on, according to our tester. “The tinted sunscreen is super thin but not as runny as other options,” she says. “It absorbed so fast and made my skin feel like pure silk, but wasn’t at all oily.” In fact, the ingredients list boasts oil-absorbing microspheres that work to absorb surface oils and reduce excess shine—key in the blazing heat.

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, mineral pigments, oil-absorbing microspheres / SPF: 30 / Oil-free: Yes

• What we love: Lightly tinted; leaves skin silky soft; helps reduce shine
• What could improve: Small bottle

_{Original image by Glamour tester Briggit Earley}

“This mineral-based sunscreen is applied like a powder, making it ideal for those with oily skin who prefer not to touch their face, especially when reapplying,” says Deeptej Singh, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Sandia Dermatology in Albuquerque. “The brush-on format, mineral base, and availability in four tints make this sunscreen versatile too.”

Users tell Glamour it’s easy to use a powder sunscreen for touch-ups once your makeup is already done, since it won’t smear or smudge whatever else you have on. As a nice bonus, our beauty editors say this is an exceptionally good solution for scalps, too, since it won’t leave strands greasy.

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide / SPF: 50 / Oil-free: Yes

• What we love: Travel-friendly; great for scalp protection; brush applicator eliminates the need to use your fingers
• What could improve: Pricey

_{Original image by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle}

The hot skin care brand only launched SPF last summer, but this mineral version is quickly catching on. It’s technically suitable for all skin types, but the brand says the focus is on those with acne-prone skin. The noncomedogenic formula is lightweight and has a mattifying finish that virtually disappears under makeup—basically, the ideal everyday option.

Our tester, who suffers from a skin condition that causes the T-zone to flare up, reported zero problems with the product. “The lightweight formula blends effortlessly and doesn’t leave any white cast in its wake,” they said. “The airless pump really does make it easier to get the product out of the tube, too, so you get the perfect face-size dollop every time.”

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Zinc oxide / SPF: 40 / Oil-free: No

• What we love: Blends easily; suitable for all skin types
• What could improve: Testers complained about the smell.

When it comes to sun blockers, Vacation is another buzzy brand at the moment—thank you, TikTok! We get it: It’s hard to deny the fun, nostalgic branding, especially when what’s inside really delivers. Our editors are already big fans of the brand’s Classic Whip SPF 30 but recently tried this face mist to impressive results.

The ingredients list is packed with superstars all meant to keep even sensitive and acne-prone skin both calm and protected at the same time: bisabolol, aloe, cucumber, shea oil, maracuja oil, caffeine, banana, coconut, green tea, vitamin E, and ferulic acid. (Phew!) It sprays on completely clear and instantly dries to a matte finish. “This isn’t an exaggeration—my face was dry just as soon as I sprayed the SPF,” our tester told us. “If not for the incredibly yummy tropical scent it leaves behind, I’d second-guess whether I’d actually put any sunscreen on.” We love how tiny the bottle is—you can easily stash it in your purse for all-day touch-ups. As a spray, it’s also great for reapplication. “I tucked this sunscreen spray in my fanny pack during my hike in Quilotoa Lake in Ecuador to reapply throughout the day, and loved it. I only wish that the spray was less jetlike and more misty so it’s easier to apply,” says Glamour’s Calle.

Type: Chemical / Key ingredients: Avobenzone, octocrylene, octisilate / SPF: 50 / Oil-free: No

• What we love: Suitable for all skin types; entirely clear; dries quickly; great scent
• What could improve: Because it dries so fast, you have to be careful not to miss any spots

_{Original image by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle}

We’ve spent the better part of the spring testing this sunscreen, evaluating just how well it works across a variety of temperatures, climates, and environments. It’s aced just about every test, solidifying its spot as an editor favorite. Danielle Sinay, Glamour’s associate beauty editor, says it’s a “dream for oily yet highly sensitive skin,” while commerce director Brie Schwartz praises it as the perfect solution for those who prefer to skip out on foundation.

That’s because it’s basically a skin care and SPF hybrid. It has a peachy-pink tint that lightly color corrects, but it also contains enough moisturizing ingredients to plump and smooth. Of course, you get that coveted SPF too—40, to be exact. It’s lightweight and quick to absorb, so it layers beautifully under makeup should you choose to do so.

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Zinc oxide / SPF: 40 / Oil-free: No

• What we love: Hydrating; lightly tinted; smoothing
• What could improve: Slightly tacky formula

_{Original image by Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz}

The American Academy of Dermatology may say SPF 30 is enough for adequate sun protection, but most dermatologists we spoke to told us this is just a baseline, recommending SPF 50 as the gold standard. “This product has a high broad-spectrum protection rating and is a mineral-based sunscreen specifically formulated for sensitive skin,” says Alain Michon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Project Skin MD. “It is tinted, so it can blend well with makeup products without adding excess oil.”

Our editors are huge fans of Skinceuticals, so it’s no surprise we like the brand’s sunscreen too. Wearers love the texture, noting it feels silky and smooth but not at all oily or greasy. They also like the light tint for just a hint of coverage. As a nice bonus, it’s a reef-safe option, meaning it can be worn swimming in oceans and lakes without causing environmental damage.

Type: Mineral / Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide / SPF: 50 / Oil-free: No

• What we love: Hydrating; lightly tinted; smoothing
• What could improve: Slightly tacky formula