7 Acne Safe Sunscreens
Stephanie is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and founder of Stephanie Lee Nutrition. Originally from NE Wisconsin, she started out as a licensed cosmetologist. She then went on to graduate with a B.S. in Human Biology, emphasis in Nutrition and Dietetics and completed 1200 hours of clinical experience through Priority Nutrition Care Distance Dietetic Internship. She uses her passion for nutrition and wellness as a tool to help women feel their best inside and out.
No doubt I’m very into sunscreen. Especially Acne Safe Sunscreens.
Protecting yourself from the sun is oh-so important. But you already knew that. Not only does regular sunscreen use prevent sunburns, it also helps defend us against the UVA/UVB rays that cause oxidative damage, premature wrinkles, discoloration, skin cancer, and sun spots.
In the past, I’ve been a faithful purchase-r of Sephora’s yearly Sun Safety Kit. Super obsessed with the fact that I could try out multiple sunscreens, with multiple purposes. Hello eye cream, basic sunscreen, tinted moisturizer, and self-tanner.
Sounds like the perf combination, am I right?
For normal, healthy skin, this kit is a dream. But, this smorgasbord of products is a nightmare for sensitive or acne prone skin.
Did you fall into this trap too? After all, you think you’re taking great care of your skin. It’s just one more of the healthy habits you’ve taken on…
But little did you know that favorite sunscreen of yours is clogging up your pores.
Believe it or not, sunscreen can host a number of pore-clogging ingredients. In my case, they were actually making my acne worse. MAJOR SIGH!
Some of my favorite products are loaded with:
Isostearyl Isostearate (Synthetic Ester and Emollient)
Isopropyl Myristate (Solvent and Synthetic Ester)
Cocoa Butter (Emollient, Pigment, Plant Extract)
Coconut Oil (Emollient, Plant Extract, Moisturizer, Fragrance)
Octyl Stearate (Solvent, Synthetic Ester)
Summer is right around the corner. So let’s get into some acne safe sunscreens, shall we?
After a lot of label reading and exploration of new products, I’ve put together a list of 7 acne safe sunscreens. Additionally, these tend to work for sensitive skin too. I’ll even share my current fave at the moment.
Sorella Apothecary Quench and Protect Hydrating SPF 30
Le Mieux Skin Protective Emulsion
Face Reality Daily SPF 30 Lotion – **Personal Fave**
Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel Sunscreen – Not as clean but very affordable
Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen and Primer, SPF 30
Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35
Not sure if your sunscreen makes the cut? Check out my list of pore-clogging ingredients here. Or enter your products in the CosDNA database. Be sure to avoid products acne rated 3+.
What are your favorite acne safe sunscreens of the moment? Share, share! A sunscreen list can never be too long! Comment below or find me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
