Top 5 Best Sunscreens for Acne-prone Skin

 If adding sunscreen to your morning regime feels like an unnecessary step, consider this statement from the Skin Cancer Foundation: “More than 90% of the visible skin changes associated with aging is caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.” 

When it comes to protecting your face – your whole body from UVA and UVB rays, your most important defense is sunscreen.

Using sunscreens especially on your oily or acne-prone skin may feel a bit like a misnomer. After all, sunscreens are comedogenic and tend to clog pores leading to breakouts and acne.

Fortunately, there are tons of oil-free sunscreens that protect your skin from the harsh rays of the sun and prevent breakouts at the same time.

Sunscreen and Acne

10-20 minutes per day of sun exposure for people with lighter skin and 20-30 minutes per day for people with darker skin may actually prove beneficial for acne symptoms. I didn’t say that, acne.org did.

However, just like with anything in life, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Overexposure to the sun will damage the skin resulting in breakouts, acne and flare ups.

A good sunscreen helps prevent sunburn and protects the skin.

Physical vs Chemical Sunscreen

Finding a good sunscreen doesn’t have to be a challenge. Look for the ones that say “non-comedogenic” on their labels. The term “non-comedogenic” means that the product is designed to not clog your pores and then cause further irritation, pimples and blemished areas on your skin.

There are two types of sunscreens, physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens reflect or block the sun rays.

Physical sunscreens tend to be non-comedogenic and stay on the skin providing maximum protection all day long. They come in two forms: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Zinc oxide is the gentler of the two and offers superior sun protection. However, sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide have a drying effect on the skin, and due to the physical nature of zinc and titanium oxide, leave a white residue on the skin.

Chemical sunscreens

Chemical sunscreens by contrast absorb sun rays. They tend to have a less reliable record with acne-prone skin and begin degrading once they are exposed to sunlight. They are effective for only 2 hours of sun exposure but are very clear on the skin and can be moisturizing.

Broad spectrum sunscreens

The term broad spectrum applies to sunscreens which block both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are the rays responsible for tanning and burning the skin. Both UVA and UVB rays are responsible for skin damage, premature aging, and skin cancer

Both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are broad spectrum with zinc oxide as the superior.

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number

The SPF number on sunscreen refers to only UVB blocking. The higher the number, the longer you can stay in the sun without burning.

The SPF number is a multiplier. If you normally burn in 30 minutes, an SPF of 2 will allow you to stay in the sun for 60 minutes without burning. An SPF of 3 offers maximum sun protection for 90 minutes and so on.

How to properly apply sunscreen

Most people apply much less than is recommended and on average are only getting ¼ the protection.

To get full protection, take a big pea size amount of sunscreen and apply liberally over your face and neck.

Top 10 sunscreens for acne-prone skin

1. Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunblock:

Unlike sunscreens that coat and mattify the skin, Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunblock offers a light-weight, non-greasy liquid lotion sunblock that melts into the skin completely, leaving no shiny residue.

With its broad spectrum SPF 30, Neutrogena Clear Face Lotion sunscreen offers excellent sun protection. It is at the top of my list for being a steal at an affordable price.

2. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra-Light Sunscreen:

This superlight sunscreen folds into the skin and offers maximum sun protection all day long with its broad spectrum SPF 45.

You can conveniently wear it under makeup without it clogging your pores. It is oil-free and non-comedogenic.

3. MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tinted Crème:

MD Solar Sciences mineral based sunscreen soothes blemishes and breakouts on the skin. This sunscreen conceals red spots and blemishes while blending into the skin easily. It is hypoallergenic and comes in an SPF 30 or 50 for maximum protection against harmful UV rays.

4. L’Oreal Sublime Sun Advanced Sunscreen:

This is a water-resistant formula and easy to apply with its advanced SPF 50. It is full of antioxidants like vitamin E that help repair sun burned skin and keeps your skin looking healthy and fresh.

5. Murad Oil Free Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30:

Murad sunscreen is the ideal sunscreen to put under your makeup. It is formulated with just the right amount of ingredients and antioxidants to give it a light, weightless feel