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Introduction

We all know sunscreen is one of the most important products in a skincare routine. It prevents premature skin aging, helps your post-acne marks fade faster, and prevents hyperpigmentation. 

But guess what? Sunscreen also has another superpower. It can help prevent one of the key processes that kick off the development of acne. This process is called Oxidative Stress (Source). Oxidative Stress triggers a chain of events in the skin that causes Lipid Peroxidation. Lipid Peroxidation never gets talked about even though it kicks off an inflammatory chain of events that directly causes acne. And guess what? Preventing Lipid Peroxidation is one of the keys to maintaining clear skin.

But, finding a sunscreen that doesn’t make you break out, irritate your skin, clog your pores or leave a white cast is a MAJOR CHALLENGE. So fear not, I’ve put together a list of my top sunscreen picks for acne-prone skin. All picks are free of common pore-clogging ingredients, phototoxic essential oils, unnecessary fragrances, or random plant ingredients that can increase your chances of irritation and more breakouts. 

You’ll notice that a lot of the sunscreens I recommend aren’t from the USA. That’s because the FDA which is responsible for approving new sunscreen filters has apparently been on vacation (hopefully with sunscreen and a hat) for the last 30 years. Yeah, it’s a major problem. And another thing that’s important to note is that UVA rays play a much larger role in contributing to oxidative stress and free radical damage than UVB rays (Source). To put it bluntly, the selection of UVA filters in the USA is quite literally sh*t, so my list of recommendations is quite small. 

Most sunscreens I recommend are from Japan, France, and Canada (where I used to live). These countries have incredibly stringent laws when it comes to approving UV filters so you can be confident that the filter you’re using is safe, even if it’s not technically ‘approved’ in the USA. Once you find one that works for you, I recommend ordering several bottles at a time so it’ll last you about a year. This will help you save on shipping and any duties and taxes you may need to pay. 

The only risk when purchasing sunscreen online is making sure that you’re getting the real deal. I do not recommend buying any popular skincare products on Amazon that could have fake versions circulating. They do not co-mingle their skincare inventory but they do co-mingle their fulfillment. So even if you order a product from a brand's official storefront, it may still be fulfilled by a random 3rd party seller because they're closer to your shipping location. 

When it comes to daily use, Japanese sunscreens offer the best performance in terms of cosmetic elegance. You’ll find these sunscreens feel like a serum or moisturizer on the skin and have a minimally greasy feel. They also play well with foundation and makeup and tend to work better on a broader range of skin tones. 

Japanese sunscreens are great for daily use that involves short, incidental sun exposure. When looking for a Japanese or South Korean sunscreen make sure you purchase one that has a ‘PA++++’ rating. The +’s denote the level of UVA protection and ++++ is the highest rating on the market. 

The last bonus with Japanese sunscreens is that, despite being of amazing quality, they are incredibly cheap. Most are less than a third of the price of their French or USA counterparts. This makes them a lot more accessible to a broader range of people and it’s easier to apply the correct amount to get the protection you need. 

French and Canadian sunscreens offer the highest UVA protection (a lot of USA sunscreens are seriously lacking in this department). UVA protection is just as important as UVB protection when it comes to preventing sun damage and oxidative stress in the skin. 

I recommend these sunscreens if you work or do a lot of sports or activities outside or are planning a vacation that will involve a lot of sun exposure. While these sunscreens offer the best protection they can be a challenge to wear every day because they’re, thick, somewhat, oily feeling, don’t always play well with makeup, can pill, and many can leave a white cast—even on pale skin. 

A note on Alcohol: The vast majority of properly formulated sunscreens will almost always contain alcohol. Alcohol helps the product spread better on the skin, helps it dry down faster, and acts as a penetration enhancer for the active ingredients. Do not fear alcohol in sunscreens. In a well-formulated product, it is your friend. If you have open lesions on your face though it can sting a bit, and some people find the smell of alcohol bothersome. 

A note on UV filters: The ‘mineral’ filters Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are not necessarily safer and they sure as heck aren’t better. Do not fear chemical sunscreens or fall for the ‘chemical sunscreen is destroying our coral reefs’ hype. Everything we put on our bodies has an impact on the environment. 

Aside from this, Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide don’t always work great on the majority of skin tones. They can leave a greyish or white cast on the skin. And to make matter worse, they have a tendency to dry out the skin (Zinc Oxide is particularly drying and is technically an astringent) and cling to dry patches. Use with caution if you are struggling with breakouts and redness or irritation. 

Here’s our Top List Of The Best Sunscreens For Acne-Prone Skin That Will Help To Keep Oxidative Stress In Check

Top sunscreen recommendations meet the following criteria:

1. No added fragrance
2. No essential oils
3. <1% concentration of potential clogging esters, fatty alcohols, or plant oils
4. Minimize the number of plant/botanical extracts that can lead to allergies and irritation

All sunscreens mentioned use chemical filters unless otherwise noted.

Japanese Sunscreens

Rohto Mentholatum - Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Essence SPF 50 PA++++ (2023 Formula)

Suitable for all skin tones: Yes, however some may find it leaves a slight white cast. 

Availability: Online

Fungal Acne (Malassezia Safe): Yes. Potential problematic ingredients are at <1%

Best For: Normal, Combination and Oily Skin

Climate Notes: Works in all climates. If you live in a cold dry climate this may be slightly drying. 

Rohto Mentholatum - Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Gel Gold SPF 50+ PA++++ (2023 Formula)

Suitable for all skin tones: Yes. This one has positive reviews across all skin tones. 

Availability: Online

Fungal Acne (Malassezia Safe): Yes

Best For: Dry, Normal, and Combination Skin. Oily skin may find this slightly oily and it does not have any mattifying effects. 

Climate Notes: Works well in all climates and temperatures. 

Rohto Mentholatum - Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA++++ - Normal

Suitable for all skin tones: Yes

Availability: Online

Fungal Acne (Malassezia Safe): Yes

Best For: Normal, Combination and Oily Skin

Climate Notes: Works in all climates. Use with caution if you have dry skin and live in a dry climate. 

Note: This sunscreen contains Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. I have read several reviews from people with various skin tones stating that this does not leave a white cast. Use caution with any Zinc Oxide sunscreen as it can be drying/dehydrating. This is great if you have oily skin and want a mattifying effect but not so much if you already have dehydrated skin with dry patches or flaking - it WILL cling to these spots and make them more noticeable. This is also one of the few Japanese sunscreens that is alcohol-free. 

Rohto Mentholatum - Hada Labo - Koi-Gokujyun UV White Gel SPF 50+ PA++++

Suitable for all skin tones: Yes

Availability: Online

Fungal Acne (Malassezia Safe): Yes

Best For: Normal, Combination and Oily Skin

Climate Notes: Works in all climates. The lightweight gel texture makes it especially great for hot, humid climates. 

South Korean Sunscreens

Unfortunately, I could not find a single South Korean Sunscreen without boatloads of added fragrance, or potentially irritating essential oils, so until a brand releases one, this list will remain empty. 😥

USA Sunscreen

Cotz Face Prime & Protect SPF 40 Tinted

Suitable for all skin tones: Yes, various skin tones have reported it doesn’t leave a white cast

Availability: Online and through Amazon.com (I’ve linked to the Cotz Official Amazon storefront)

Fungal Acne (Malassezia Safe): Yes

Best For: Normal, Combination and Oily Skin

Climate Notes: Works in all climates but hot humid climates may find it a bit heavy feeling. 

This is a mineral-based sunscreen that uses Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide in a silicone base. It’s great for ultra-sensitive skin, particularly if you have eczema or rosacea. Since this formula isn’t water-based, it’s alcohol-free. If you wear makeup or foundation this could also double up as your primer.  

Bonus: The addition of Iron Oxides (the ingredient that gives this sunscreen its tint) helps to protect against High Energy Visible Light (HEV). HEV can contribute to excess pigmentation in the skin (Source). This makes this sunscreen a particularly great option if you struggle with hyperpigmentation or melasma. 

French Sunscreens

Bioderma Photoderm Light Sunscreen Spray SPF50+

Suitable for all skin tones: Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI may find this leaves a white cast.

Availability: Online and through local pharmacies

Fungal Acne (Malassezia Safe): Yes

Best For: Dry, Normal, and Combination skin. Oily skin may find it too greasy.

Climate Notes: Works in all climates, but particularly humid climates may find it feels too heavy/greasy. 

La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ 

Suitable for all skin tones: Yes. 

Availability: Online and through local pharmacies

Fungal Acne (Malassezia Safe): Yes

Best For: All skin types.

Climate Notes: Works in all climates.

Note: I recommend picking up the tinted version if you have melasma or pigmentation concerns. The Iron Oxides that give the formula its tint help to protect against High-Energy Visible Light (HEV). HEV can trigger pigmentation in the skin. 

Canadian Sunscreens

A lot of French sunscreens are sold in Canada is the UV filters they use are approved here.  You won’t find as wide a variety of sunscreens in Canada but they can be worth buying if you’re having issues getting a hold of the versions from European sellers. These are best purchased in a Pharmacy Like Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall as virtually no Canadian retailers selling these products ship internationally. 

Bioderma Photoderm Spray SPF 40 (Shipping within Canada only)

Suitable for all skin tones: Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI may find this leaves a white cast. 

Availability: Online and through local pharmacies

Fungal Acne (Malassezia Safe): Yes

Best For: All skin types.

Climate Notes: Works in all climates.

Con: Contains Fragrance

How to Choose Your Next Sunscreen

If you’ve been struggling to find a sunscreen that you can tolerate wearing daily, I’d recommend starting with a Japanese sunscreen since they are more affordable and easier to incorporate into a consistent daily routine. If you’re going on vacation or spend a lot of time outdoors then a French sunscreen will give you the ultimate protection. 

Questions? Have a sunscreen you'd like me to check? Reach out in the comments below. 

Christina B.P.

Founder, Authentic Ego