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Are you a person with sensitive skin? You might have experienced that your skin gets irritated by the Sun’s UV rays. But, the problem is that you know that many sunscreens are also irritating to your skin. Yes, some people with very sensitive skin claim that sunscreens are allergic to their skin. So, they fear using sunscreens. Chemicals in some sunscreens can lead to red itchy bumps, stinging, and burning sensations for individuals with sensitive skin. Then, what is the solution? Will it not be possible to protect your skin from UV Rays? No, it is possible. Thanks to the best sunscreen for sensitive skin that will provide you with the intended results.
Which Ingredients Are Best for Sensitive Skin?
Physical sunscreens like titanium dioxide and zinc are the best options when it comes to selecting a face sunscreen for sensitive skin. However, it is still hard to find the formulas that will be safe for your sensitive skin. So, we have shortlisted the top 10 sunscreens for sensitive skin to help individuals like you get the right kind of care for your skin from the Sun’s UV rays.
Top Rated Face Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin Reviews
#1 Anthelios Clear Skin Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 60 from La Roche-Posay
Oxybenzone is the sunscreen used in regular sunscreens. But, this product does not use it as an ingredient. This sunscreen for oily skin from La Roche-Posay provides SPF 60 protection. It has been created to absorb pore-clogging oil even in humidity and heat.
The product has been created mainly for oily skin with Cell-Ox Shield Technology. However, as it is free of harsh chemicals and fragrances, it suits individuals with sensitive skin as well. The Cell-Ox Sheild Technology provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB Protection and antioxidant protection to the skin.
Many users expressed that this is the best sunscreen for sensitive skin that does not create any white marks on the skin after applying.
RELATED: Top 10 Best La Roche-Posay Skincare
#2 Pro Oil-Absorbing Moisturizer with SPF 30 from Cetaphil
This unscented fragrance-free moisturizer is also a sunscreen with its SPF 30 protection feature. This three-in-one formula in addition to controlling oil also hydrates and provides broad-spectrum SPF protection to the skin. The product uses Micropearl technology for providing a matte finish.
The purpose of this technology is to use fewer filters for greater hydration and lesser irritation, thereby making this product safe for sensitive skin. To provide sun-protection, the product uses octocrylene, octisalate and avobenzone as key ingredients.
Many users feel that this sunscreen with its non-greasy and light texture gets absorbed by the skin quickly. Cetaphil has formulated this product with oleosome technology.
RELATED: Top 10 Best Cetaphil Skincare – Expert Reviews
#3 Positively Daily Sunscreen Lotion for Mineral Sensitive Skin from Aveeno
This product from Aveeno is a sunscreen with SPF 50 protection and it uses 100% zinc oxide. It has been created as water and sweat-resistant sunscreen not just for the face but also for the body. The travel-friendly size of this product is highly appreciated by most users.
Aveeno has formulated this product to be non-irritating and gentle to suit sensitive skin. The sheer mineral sunscreen is easy to apply as claimed by many users. Also, the zinc oxide used in this product is naturally sourced to provide the best sun protection for sensitive skin users.
RELATED: Top 8 Best Aveeno Skincare Product: Expert Reviews
#4 ANESSA Perfect UV Sunscreen Mild Milk from Shiseido
With SPF50+PA+++ protection, this product from Shiseido with its stearic acid suits individuals with sensitive skin. The product is UV milk that fits comfortably and smoothly to the skin. The product adopted technology to improve UV protection with water, sweat, and heat. As nearly half of the ingredients in this product give a non-sticky and pleasant feel, this product best suits individuals with sensitive skin.
Many users suggested that this product in addition to providing sun protection also can be used as the best primer for makeup and they further added that it easily comes off with soap. The Thermo Booster Technology used by Shiseido in this product provides the strongest UV Protection.
RELATED: Top 15 Best Shiseido Skincare
#5 UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen from EltaMD
To make this product suitable for sensitive skin, this mineral-based zinc oxide formulation is dermatologist recommended. The product comes with an SPF index of 46 and it protects users against the problems associated with sensitive skin like discoloration, rosacea and acne.
This face sunscreen for sensitive skin contains lactic acid, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for promoting healthy-looking skin. The Skin Cancer Foundation has recommended this product as an effective broad-spectrum sunscreen. It protects sensitive skin against both burning and aging sun rays. Also, the antioxidant ingredients in this product combat free radicals caused by both infrared and ultraviolet rays.
Many users of this product appreciated that this product provides long-lasting sun protection.
RELATED: Top 10 Best EltaMD Skincare
#6 Tinted Sunscreen with SPF 30 from CeraVe
This product from CeraVe has been created as a hydrating mineral sunscreen with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
This sunscreen has been created by CeraVe as a sheer tinted sunscreen, which means that it suits all skin tones. Also, it leaves the skin instantly with a healthy glow. Further, this product counterbalances the white-cast that mineral sunscreens are known to create.
Many users expressed that this sunscreen blends into the skin seamlessly with its non-greasy and lightweight texture. The Skin Cancer Foundation has recommended this product as an effective broad-spectrum sunscreen ideal for daily use. With 100% mineral sunscreen, this product has been created to reflect the sun’s UV Rays.
RELATED: Top 10 Best CeraVe Skincare – Expert Reviews
#7 Daily Protection Face Lotion With SPF 30 from Eucerin
This face sunscreen for sensitive skin has been enriched by Eucerin with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to provide broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection.
The key ingredients in addition to providing sun protection also safeguard against long-term sun damage. The product is made not to be sticky on the face.
This non-greasy and fast-absorbing formula is gentle on sensitive skin as claimed by many users. Many users also stated that this product provides 24-hour moisture. It is free of fragrance and it is non-comedogenic. The mineral sunscreen in this product makes it ideal for sensitive skin.
#8 Seriously Soothing SPF 30 Day Cream from Acure
This product from Acure is a day cream that provides SPF 30 protection. With niacinamide and blue tansy, this product suits normal to sensitive skin types. To make it suitable for sensitive skin, this product is 100% vegan and 0% pretentious. It is free of sulfate, paraben, mineral oil, petroleum, silicone and cruelty.
To make it suitable for sun protection, the product uses zinc oxide as the key ingredient. In addition to helping with sun protection, the product also soothingly hydrates the skin. The blue tansy oil used as an ingredient in this product helps with soothing irritated skin and it also calms the skin with its richness in antioxidants.
Many users with sensitive skin have expressed that this product is a miracle sunscreen for sensitive skin.
RELATED: Top 8 Best Acure Skincare Products – Expert Reviews
#9 Simply Protect Faces Sunscreen Lotion from Banana Boat
The hypoallergenic formula that this product uses makes it suitable for sensitive skin. To make it further safe, the product uses less than 25% ingredients. Also, the product has been made by Banana Boat without added fragrances, oils, parabens and oxybenzone.
The active sun-protecting ingredients in this product are zinc oxide, octocrylene, octisalate and homosalate.
Many users expressed that this product helps them get through the summers without any sunburn. The users of this product stated that it provides sweat and water resistance and protection from harmful UVB/UVA Rays. This product stays through sand, sweat, wind, ocean water, pool water and the sun even in 100-Degree heat.
RELATED: Top 8 Best Banana Boat Products – Expert Reviews
#10 Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Dry-Touch Lotion With SPF 100+ from Neutrogena
With SPF 100+, this product from Neutrogena helps to protect the skin against the sun and reduces the skin cancer risk if used as per the direction given in the package.
With dry-touch formulation, this product gets quickly absorbed by the skin. This technology also ensures a matte finish with its non-greasy texture. The product has been formulated by Neutrogena for ensuring the best sun protection. It can provide up to 80 minutes of water-resistance. So, it can be used when the user is in a pool or ocean as well. It is offered both in stick and spray form to suit the requirement of users. As it is non-comedogenic and free of PABA, it is suitable for sensitive skin and even other skin types.
Not just face sunscreen for sensitive skin, this product can be used on the body as well claims many users. The product uses avobenzone for optimal broad-spectrum protection from skin-burning UVB and skin-aging UVA rays both for body and face.
RELATED: Top 10 Best Neutrogena Skincare
Why Do You Need Face Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin?
Sunscreen is a photoprotective product formulated to prevent intense UV rays from damaging the user’s skin. How essential is face sunscreen for sensitive skin? How to find the best product to protect the skin while enjoying a sunbath? Continue reading to reveal answers!
It will be your biggest mistake if you ignore your skin’s needs. It is the largest organ and it is always exposed to various threats. Your skin protects internal organs, blocks germs, and prevents environmental threats from affecting your bodily functions.
Sunlight is quite essential for your health, but prolonged exposure will damage your skin. Sun’s UV rays are not skin-friendly and that’s why you have to block them. Sunscreen products do that job and offer the following benefits!
1. No risk of sunburn
There are UVA and UVB rays in the sunlight. UVA rays can trigger long-term skin issues, such as ageing signs and skin cancer. The UVB rays can cause instant damage by triggering sunburn and skin cancer if no protection is applied.
Sunburn is a painful skin issue and it also poses the risk of skin cancer. You cannot take this issue lightly if you have sensitive skin. You have to wear sunscreen on your face in order to fight this problem.
There are sunscreen products capable of effectively blocking the UVB rays. Try them before you step foot out of the house. It will be pretty helpful in protecting your delicate skin!
2. Prevents premature ageing
Genuine anti-ageing products are expensive. You will have to try quality moisturizers, serums, toners, and night creams to prevent ageing. What if you are careful before ageing signs start appearing on your face? What if you can delay the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet, and fine lines?
A high-quality sunscreen product can do that job for you. Prolonged exposure to UVA rays can trigger the premature ageing problem. You may face this skin issue in your late 20s or early 30s if you spend hours in the sunlight.
Try a feature-rich sunscreen product to avoid premature ageing. This product should be able to block about 97% of UVA rays and thus you won’t be worried about ageing anymore!
3. No risk of skin allergies due to sun exposure
Sunlight can cause changes in skin texture. Your immune system starts considering sun-alerted skin a foreign object. Consequently, skin reactions occur and cause unnecessary irritation and pain. Blisters, redness, rashes, etc. are some examples of sun allergies.
You should avoid spending too much time in the sunlight. Always cover the top layer of your skin with sunscreen to reduce the effects of sunlight. Your immune system won’t trigger reactions if the sunlight can’t affect it. Thus, you won’t experience skin allergies!
4. Reduced risks of hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a harmless skin issue. It occurs when your skin produces excess melanin. Some spots of the face look darker than the rest of the skin. It may not cause pain or irritation, but it affects your looks.
Sun exposure is a known cause of hyperpigmentation because prolonged sun exposure stimulates melanin production. Apply the sunscreen and you will block rays that make your skin produce more melanin. Thus, you won’t face the risk of hyperpigmentation.
How to Buy the Best Face Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin?
Is it tricky to find high-quality sunscreen? No, it isn’t if you got normal skin. You need to be more watchful if you want to protect delicate and sensitive skin. You should carefully assess the following factors to find and purchase the best product for sun protection.
1. Carefully assess the ingredients list
Cosmetic product manufacturing brands use a variety of ingredients to produce lotions and sprays to block UV rays. You are taking the risk of skin allergies if you aren’t checking the ingredient list before buying the product. Commonly used sunscreen ingredients are:
- Titanium dioxide
Being a naturally found mineral, titanium dioxide is present in most sunscreens. It is known for its skin-protecting properties. Experts categorize this ingredient as a physical filter because it develops a protective barrier over the epidermis.
Titanium dioxide does not penetrate your skin. It coats the upper layer of the skin so that UV rays can bounce back. Since this ingredient it does not cause any allergies, it is safe for kids and users with sensitive skin.
- Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide is present in sunscreens as a protective ingredient. It reflects both UVA and UVB rays to protect your skin. This ingredient coats your skin’s upper layer with a protective barrier to block all UV rays.
This mineral filter is quite beneficial for users with sensitive skin. People have never reported allergic reactions due to zinc oxide-based sunscreen lotions. Its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties make it quite appealing for delicate skin.
- Stay away from:
The above given two ingredients are best for sensitive skin. You may experience allergic reactions if your sunscreen contains Homosalate, Octisalate, and Avobenzone. These are commonly used ingredients in many sunscreen products because they absorb UV rays and turn them into heat.
People have reported irritation and other allergic reactions due to UV Rays absorbing ingredients. That’s why it is important to choose a product that does not cause skin problems. You may be safe against harmful UV rays, but your skin will absorb problematic ingredients and experience allergies.
2. What is the Sun Protection Factor?
You are probably making a huge mistake if you buy sunscreen production without assessing its SPF. The American Academy of Dermatology has advised buyers to choose products with SPF 30 or higher. What is this SPF? How does it affect the efficiency of sunscreen lotions?
It is a measure of the amount of solar energy necessary to trigger issues like sunburn. It describes how effective a product is when it comes to blocking harmful UV rays. If a product’s SPF is low, it cannot block problematic rays and the product will work great if its SPF is high.
Most sunscreens have an SPF of 30 and they can block up to 97% of the ultraviolet blue rays. Sunscreens with SPF 50 can block up to 98% UV rays and products with higher SPF will protect your skin flawlessly.
You may find some sunscreen products that claim to block 100% UV rays. That’s not possible and therefore you must not trust such claims.
3. Does the chosen product offer broad-spectrum protection?
Check the productto ensure it offers broad-spectrum protection. Sunlight contains various types of light rays. Sunrays responsible for skin damage are ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.
You are safe against the UVB rays if the sunlight is filtering through the transparent glass. UVB rays cannot penetrate glass, but direct contact can trigger the sunburn problem.
UVA rays are harmful no matter where you are. These rays can pass through glass and severely affect your skin. UVA rays can penetrate the upper layer of the skin and damage internal cells. Prolonged exposure can cause burning sensation, redness, dehydration, and other skin issues.
Sunscreens with multi-spectrum or broad-spectrum protection can filter both UVA and UVB rays. You are making a big mistake if you don’t check this important factor before buying the product!
4. Is it water-resistant?
Are you going to enjoy a pool party or a sunbath on the beach? It is will pretty hard to resist yourself from jumping in the water! Ordinary sunscreen products are not designed to maintain protection once you get wet. You have to look for water-resistant sunscreen lotions.
A water-resistant sunscreen lotion with SPF 40-80 can adhere to your skin for hours. It won’t let your skin bear sun damage just because you got wet. Most swimmers, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts wear waterproof sunscreens to have complete protection. You should try the same type of product!
5. How long your skin will be exposed to the sunlight?
Most working people cannot afford to reapply sunscreen time and again! They seek a product that can provide prolonged protection. There is no issue with regular sunscreen lotions, but they maintain a protective coating just for a few hours. You can try those products if you know you won’t spend 4-5 hours in the sunlight.
If your job requires you to cope with scorching sunlight, it should be your top priority to pick a product with prolonged protection. The best face sunscreen for sensitive skin will easily protect your skin for 2-4 hours. It can work even better if it’s an SPF 50 product.
6. Can you wear sunscreen indoors?
You may wonder that there is no need to apply sunscreen if you spend most of the day inside the home or the workplace. The sun can still damage your skin because you won’t be inside throughout the day. You may take a break to move out for a few minutes or peak out of the window.
Choose sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher to protect your delicate skin inside and outside the house. It is quite essential for you if your skin is delicate and sensitive. Do not move out without protection because it will affect your efforts of maintaining healthy and beautiful facial skin!
Conclusion
When sunscreen is important for all skin types, it is even more important for individuals with sensitive skin. The reason is that individuals with sensitive skin get sunburns easily. As they look for the best face sunscreen for sensitive skin, they can choose one of these further shortlisted products:
Sunscreen with natural zinc oxide: Positively Daily Sunscreen Lotion for Mineral Sensitive Skin from Aveeno
Product with greater sun protection: Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Dry-Touch Lotion With SPF 100+ from Neutrogena
Mineral sunscreen: UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen from EltaMD
Of course, all products we discussed here suit sensitive skin. But, we have further shortlisted three of them to help with easy selection.