Sunscreen That Won't Irritate Skin? Sign Us Up (2025)

When your skin is easily irritated by what can feel like everything under the sun, the best sunscreens for sensitive skin may be your saving grace. The ever-growing skin-care market is catering more than ever to those with reactive skin, so it's breezier to find a formula that will suit you and your sensitivity while providing top-of-the-line protection from dangerous, cancer-causing sun exposure.

On this list, you'll find mostly mineral sunscreens—with a handful of chemical-hybrid ones (if that's what you prefer) that tend to be kinder to those with skin sensitivities. Read on for the favorites trusted and recommended by editors and dermatologists that leave skin soothed and, more importantly, protected from the sun (with proper reapplication, of course).

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: EltaMD UV Skin Recovery SPF 50 Sunscreen, $52
• Best Under Makeup: Vacation Shake Shake SPF 50 Mineral Milk Face Sunscreen, $27
• Best Drugstore: La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen, $40
• Best for Deeper Skin Tones: Dr. Few Tinted Mineral Sunscreen, $85
• Best for Redness: Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica Soothing Sun Milk, $20
• Best Chemical: Innisfree Daily UV Sunscreen SPF 36, $18
• Best Tinted: Lightsaver Activated Mineral Sunscreen SPF 33, $45
• Best for Dry Skin: Kate Somerville Hydrakate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops, $46

Best Overall: EltaMD UV Skin Recovery SPF 50 Sunscreen

Why it's worth it: EltaMD's UV Skin Recovery SPF 50 Sunscreen is like the Swiss Army knife of sunscreens—sensitive-skin-friendly, non-greasy, and redness-neutralizing, thanks to a green tint that works some color-theory magic. That green pigment comes from centella asiatica (cica), a skin-care staple that counteracts redness and soothes irritation. This mineral sunscreen is also packed with ceramides and amino acids to strengthen the skin barrier and provide deep hydration. "The EltaMD UV Skin Recovery worked well with all of them and didn't pill throughout the day," said former digital deputy beauty editor Sophia Panych. "I'm in my late 30s, have combination skin, and live in a city with very hard water that dries you out from head to toe." Panych also swears by the sunscreen's glowy, dewy finish, something she hadn't yet found in the world of mineral SPFs.

Best Under Makeup: Vacation Shake Shake SPF 50 Mineral Milk Face Sunscreen

Why it's worth it: Vacation has some of the cutest skin-care vibes in the game—just look at the packaging of the Shake Shake SPF 50 Mineral Milk Face Sunscreen. It's more than just a pretty bottle, though: The delightfully milky formula contains ZincWater, a smooth, clear (and proprietary) non-nano zinc ingredient that goes on light and soft. You'll also find ingredients like soothing aloe vera, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and tone-evening niacinamide. The coolest part? The bottle uses two little metal balls to keep the formula nice and watery when you shake up the product (yes, watery consistency can be just as desirable as creaminess).

Best Drugstore: La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen

Why it's worth it: Dr. Marchbein likes La Roche-Posay's Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen because it's ultra-sheer and sinks in so fast that you barely feel like you're wearing anything. "It has a subtle mattifying effect that's perfect to wear under makeup," she adds. It's also infused with vitamin E oil to nourish and strengthen the skin barrier. If you're after even more UV protection, opt for La Roche Posay's Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 60.

Best Splurge: Dr. Few Tinted Mineral Sunscreen

Why it’s worth it: If you think it’s impossible to find a mineral sunscreen that blends seamlessly into deep skin tones, Dr. Few’s Tinted Mineral Sunscreen is ready to prove you wrong. The creamy formula has a lightweight consistency and tan tint that make sure it looks natural (read: no greasy sheen or white cast). Its hydrating ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and shea butter, will give your skin a smoother, softer feel—you might even want to skip applying moisturizer underneath this. And yes, $85 is a lot, but our tester thinks the elegant consistency and moisturizing feel are worth the price tag.

Best Chemical: Innisfree Daily UV Sunscreen SPF 36

Why it’s worth it: Innisfree’s Daily UV Sunscreen SPF 36 is a chemical sunscreen made with sensitive skin-girlies in mind. This 2023 Best of Beauty-winning pick is formulated with cica, green tea, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E for all the irritation-soothing and barrier-protecting goodness you’re after. Never greasy, never chalky, and always glowy, this formula works like a charm under makeup.

Best for Redness: Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica Soothing Sun Milk

Why it's worth it: Sure, the word "milk" may not make this sound like a particularly intensive formula, but the Skin1004 Centella Tea-Trica Soothing Sun Milk reliably delivers the heavy-duty protection of the gloopy, globby sunscreens you're actively avoiding. And yes, it's a chemical sunscreen, but the formula is packed with redness-soothing all-stars like tea tree leaf water and cica extract from Madagascar to keep things calm, cool, and collected. It's super lightweight and dries down to a dewy finish you'll love.

Best Tinted: Lightsaver Activated Mineral Sunscreen SPF 33

Why it's worth it: Lightsaver's Activated Mineral Sunscreen SPF 33 is brought to you by board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD, a NYC-based board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology. The brand's mission is to "make daily sun protection mindlessly easy," and with a tinted sunscreen that is as silky, creamy, and bouncy as this one, we'd say its goal is within reach. On the back of the bottle, you'll find ingredients like calming photolyase, antioxidant-rich lingonberry stem cells, and hydrating niacinamide and squalane. The National Eczema Association approves this formula, so you know you can trust it.

Best for Dry Skin: Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops

Why it's worth it: If you've yet to find a sunscreen that makes you excited to re-apply (and re-apply), drop what you're doing and pick up a bottle of the Kate Somerville Hydrakate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops. Powered by ectoin—a soothing, free-radical-defending skin-care ingredient found in bacteria (the good kind our bodies need). Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City previously explained: "Ectoin helps protect cellular integrity in extreme weather conditions." By binding with water molecules, ectoin "surrounds cells, enzymes, proteins, and other biomolecules by forming protective, nourishing, and stabilizing hydration shells around them," cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline noted. This Best of Beauty-winning sunscreen leaves behind zero white cast and is lightly tinted to leave behind a glowy finish. Make sure you give the bottle a hearty shake before applying.

More sunscreens to consider

• If you're targeting signs of aging, you can't go wrong the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50. This sheer, zinc oxide-based sunscreen is fragrance-free and has a subtle tint that allows it to easily blend across a range of skin tones without creating a white cast. Its formula also features artemia salina, a plankton extract that helps increase the skin's UV resistance over time.
• If you have oily skin, try the Paula's Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50. It has a hybrid formula powered by both physical and chemical UV filters, but it still goes super easy on sensitive skin. Along with mattifying kaolin clay and soothing aloe vera extract, this weightless sunscreen is spiked with antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E to protect against free radical damage and plump skin with much-needed moisture. It's also water-resistant, making it an excellent match for sweaty activities.
• Got acne? Vanicream's Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 is a safe bet that comes recommended by Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology in New York City. "This broad-spectrum SPF 30 is a mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide that is also free of fragrance, parabens, formaldehyde, and other preservatives," she says. She also notes that this formula is noncomedogenic, so it's less likely to clog pores—a plus for those prone to breakouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I benefit from sunscreen for sensitive skin?

As we mentioned, it can be challenging for people with sensitive skin to find a sunscreen that won't agitate due to common irritants from chemical sun blockers. If that sounds like you, you'll want to try a gentler mineral sunscreen.

Even if you're not sensitive to every chemical in a chemical sunscreen, discerning which irritates your skin is complicated. "Even if you identify which [kind of] product it is, you don't know which chemical it is [because] formulas typically contain up to four [photoprotective chemicals]," says board-certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. Thus, a mineral sunscreen with no chemicals rids you of the root issue. Plus, cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously told Allure that mineral sunscreens are less pore-clogging.

Another consideration is "to avoid mineral sunscreens that have parabens, phthalates, and added fragrances, as these can cause irritation, redness, and inflammation of the skin," Dr. Lamm notes. The lesson: Always read the ingredient list, especially as some sunscreens are hybrid formulas and contain physical and chemical UV filters.

What's the difference between a chemical and a mineral sunscreen?

"Physical sunscreens (a.k.a. mineral) work by reflecting the UV rays off skin," he says. Conversely, Dr. Lamm explains that chemical-filter sun protection products work by absorbing the sun's rays that hit your skin rather than bouncing them off.

Mineral-based products utilize, well, mineral filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are usually gentler than chemical options. "Mineral sunscreens also typically do not irritate the eyes like chemical sunscreens," he says. Plus, they're photostable, so they don't need to be applied as regularly as chemical sunscreens, according to New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD.

That's not to say people with sensitive skin can never use chemical sunscreen—it just may involve more trial and error to discern which (if any) ingredients spur adverse reactions. More important than anything, though, is to use any sunscreen—period. "My recommendation is to find a sunscreen you love, chemical or physical, and use it every single day," says Muneeb Shah, MD, a Wilmington, North Carolina-based, board-certified dermatologist. "Whichever sunscreen you love, as long as the SPF is [at least] 30, is the sunscreen for you."

Meet the experts

• Shari Marchbein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Hadley King, MD. a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology in New York City
• Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, New Jersey
• Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Idriss Skincare based in New York City
• Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist
• Corey L. Hartman, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama
• Muneeb Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Wilmington, North Carolina

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.