Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin

It can be difficult to find the right sunscreen for acne-prone skin, especially if you struggle with an oily skin type. It’s important to protect your skin from the sun every time you leave the house, but many sunscreens cause greasy buildup, which leads to clogged pores and breakouts.

Additionally, many waterproof and sweat-proof sunscreens contain acrylate and silicone polymers that can create a sticky, gummy feeling on the surface of your skin. The side effects of these ingredients can cause skin irritation and make an existing acne issue much worse.

While these problems might be frustrating, one of the worst things you can do for your complexion is leaving the house without sun protection. That’s why we offer natural sunscreen for face acne —without chemical irritants—designed to be gentle on your complexion while protecting it from sun damage. If you’re worried about breakouts, you’ll also want to use our hydrating cleansing cloths at the end of the day to remove debris and excess oil—no rinse required.

Learning how to choose the best sunscreen for acne-prone skin requires a bit of background information; namely, understanding the difference between physical and chemical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens are designed to reflect and block the sun’s rays by creating a barrier between the sun and the surface of your skin. Whereas other chemical formulas work by absorbing past the skin cell barrier and converting UV light to heat, our non-comedogenic formulas won’t clog your pores while effectively protecting skin from sun damage.

Chemical sunscreens can also make breakouts much worse as they often contain irritating ingredients, namely oxybenzone, which can absorb into the skin and affect your hormonal functions. Chemical sunscreens can be so harmful, in fact, that Hawaii (among several other states and countries) recently banned them altogether in favor of reef-safe* sunscreen that’s gentle to the environment.

Physical sunscreens use the active ingredients titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, which are typically considered safe for sensitive skin because they do not penetrate the surface. Our physical, mineral-based sunscreen formulas are designed to provide exceptional, eco-friendly sun protection, without negatively impacting your delicate complexion. When you shop Colorescience products, you’ll never need to worry about harming your body or the environment.

The best sunscreen for acne-prone skin should contain an oil-free sunscreen formula. This is because the overproduction of oil, also known as sebum, within the skin is a major component to why many people break out. When sebum mixes with dirt, debris, and dead skin cells, your pores can become clogged, leading to the formation of whiteheads and blackheads. If clogged pores become infected with bacteria, they can develop into inflamed blemishes and painful cystic acne. To avoid worsening your breakouts, you need to find the right acne-prone sunscreen product.

When shopping for sunscreen for acne-prone skin, there are a few key things to look out for on the label:

• Non-comedogenic (or oil free)
• Fragrance-free
• Chemical-free formula
• SPF 30 or higher
• Made for sensitive skin

If you’ve been looking for a reliable sunscreen for face acne that won’t trigger breakouts, look no further. At Colorescience, we’re all about healthy skin, which is why we set out to create a variety of sunscreen products made with only the purest ingredients that promote long-term skin health. Whatever your sunscreen preferences, we have a formula for you:

• Best Overall Acne Sunscreen: If you don’t have any specific preferences and simply want a high-quality sunscreen that’s designed with blemish-prone skin care in mind, try our SUNFORGETTABLE® TOTAL PROTECTION™ BRUSH-ON SHIELD SPF 50 made with mineral powder formula, or choose SUNFORGETTABLE® TOTAL PROTECTION™ FACE SHIELD SPF 50 if you prefer a liquid formula.
• Best Matte Sunscreen for Face Acne: For a sunscreen that absorbs excess oil and leaves your skin looking clean with a subtle matte finish, try our SUNFORGETTABLE® TOTAL PROTECTION™ SHEER MATTE SPF 30 SUNSCREEN BRUSH. It does a great job of reducing shine to bring out a beautiful, harmonious complexion.
• Best Tinted Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin: Available in four shades (fair, medium, tan, and deep), SUNFORGETTABLE® TOTAL PROTECTION™ BRUSH-ON SHIELD SPF 50 is a mineral powder that’s perfect for on-the-go application. Wear it alone or dust it over your makeup application knowing the tinted mineral powder will blend seamlessly into skin.
  • For sunscreens with brush-on applicators, don’t forget to use our brush cleansing wipes to keep the bristles free of dirt, debris, and excess oil—otherwise, you could apply the buildup directly onto skin, potentially worsening your acne.
• Best Whipped Acne Sunscreen: If you prefer whipped formulas, our DAILY UV PROTECTOR SPF 30 WHIPPED MINERAL SUNSCREEN provides smooth, weightless coverage and the critical protection your skin needs against environmental stressors.
• Best Sport Sunscreen for Face Acne: SUNFORGETTABLE® TOTAL PROTECTION™ SPORT STICK SPF 50 is designed for active days. With strong protection, convenient application, and family-friendly ingredients, you can take your sport stick to the playground, beach, or soccer games.
• Best Illuminating Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin: Don’t let blemishes stand in the way of achieving a radiant complexion. Use our SUNFORGETTABLE® TOTAL PROTECTION™ FACE SHIELD GLOW SPF 50 to illuminate your skin while preventing sun damage and signs of premature aging.
• Best Bronzing Acne Sunscreen: If you prefer a warm, bronzed look, try our SUNFORGETTABLE® TOTAL PROTECTION™ FACE SHIELD BRONZE SPF 50. The liquid formula is slightly tinted to give your skin a sun-kissed touch.

All of our sunscreen options provide acne-friendly, chemical-free skin protection. In addition to being a good choice for acne-prone skin types, our anti-aging sunscreen works to maintain overall skin vitality and preserve its youthful quality, regardless of whether you’re experiencing a breakout.

You may not have realized, but your acne and sunscreen may be intertwined if you’re using an SPF formula that contains oil or clogs pores. Many chemical formulas also contain irritating ingredients, such as alcohol and fragrances, that can cause sensitive skin to flare up. related. Watch out for these harsh chemicals on sunscreen labels and consider them a red flag:

• PABA
• Octinoxate
• Oxybenzone
• Avobenzone
• Homosalate
• Octocrylene
• Cinoxate
• Dioxybenzone
• Ensulizole
• Meradimate
• Padimate O
• Sulisobenzone

To shield your skin against UV light, blue light, infrared light, and pollution, we’ve worked hard to create UV protectors that defend against all environmental aggressors—minus the harsh chemicals. Colorescience offers fragrance-free mineral sunscreen that won’t clog pores, so you can apply the sun protection you need without aggravating skin conditions.

You should always apply sunscreen any time you’ll be exposed to the sun for as little as 15 minutes. In addition to providing critical protection against damaging UVA and UVB rays, Colorescience sunscreen helps guard against damaging free radicals caused by your environment. You might consider applying our advanced formula even on days at the office in order to shield your delicate complexion from blue light cast off by your laptop, cell phone, and electronic devices.

Traditionally, for chemical-based sunscreens, you need to apply the product 30 minutes before you’re going to be exposed to the sun. However, because our mineral-based formulas fall into the category of physical sunscreen, you can apply them on your way out the door. This is because physical sunscreens sit on the skin, creating a barrier between your skin and the sun, while chemical sunscreens need to absorb into your skin in order to provide protection.

After your initial application, it’s important to make sure you reapply every two hours. If you are going to be swimming or sweating profusely, you should reapply every 40 minutes or so. That way, your skin stays protected all day long.

Say goodbye to worrying about breakouts every time you enjoy a day in the sun and say hello to a sunscreen for acne that works with Colorescience.

*Reef safe as defined by Hawaii’s legislation related to the ban of SPF sunscreen products that contain oxybenzone or octinoxate.