Dermatologists, beauty influencers, and even your favorite celebrities all agree that sunscreen is a must-have in any beauty routine. Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, applying sunscreen daily is essential, even on cloudy days. A good SPF not only protects your skin now but also ensures its health in the long run. But if you’re an oily skin damsel, the struggle of finding that perfect non-greasy yet hydrating sunscreen is real! In this easy-breezy guide, we’ll explore the best sunscreen for oily skin, and also share a couple of tips to make sure your skin remains shine-free and full of glow, all summer long.
But first, let’s take a closer look at what oily skin is and why it can be such a challenge to manage.
What is Oily Skin & Why Does it Act Up So Much?
Before we discuss the best sunscreen for oily skin, let’s look at what oily skin actually means.
Your skin gets oily when its oil glands go into overdrive, producing more sebum/natural oil than necessary. Many things can trigger this, including genes, hormones, what you eat, and, of course, your skincare routine.
Naturally, it’s a task to pick up the right products for oily skin that not only tackle the ‘oil’ aspect but also fight modern skincare problems triggered by stress, fast lifestyles, pollution, etc.
The best sunscreen for oily skin does not just need to be non-greasy; it also needs to better protect against UVA and UVB rays, hydrate the right way (believe it or not, oily skin needs it), and also work on everyday sun damage.
Where do you get it all? Most importantly, how do you get it all?
By making the right choice. By knowing your skin and the importance of sun protection via the right usage, ingredients, and textures.
Why is Sun Protection Important for Oily Skin?
Face the fact that a lot of us try to skip sunscreen because we’re lazy. Or because we have already applied our face moisturizer and anything over it, even the best sunscreen for oily skin, triggers the fear of a drippy oil face, yikes!
Hold up, though! You NEED A SUNSCREEN. Sun’s UVA+UVB rays can go deep into your skin and mess things up at a regular level. We’re talking premature aging, dark spots, more breakouts, and even skin cancer! Trust us, you can’t let the fear of oil take precedence here. There are sunscreens now that provide just the proper hydration for oily skin, with the help of lightweight oils and ingredients balanced just right to give you that sun-glow while protected against UVA+UVB rays.
So yeah, sunscreen? Definitely a must for everyone!
How to Choose the Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin?
So, about sunscreens – they’ve had a bad rap for being greasy and sticky, right? But nowadays, newer ultra-nourishing formulations like Neude Skin’s Sunstoppable SPF45 PA+++ Sunscreen have lighter formulas that soak right in, leave you with a fresh glow, and don’t leave that annoying white film behind. This 3-in-1 face sunscreen is an excellent choice for intensive sun exposure that protects, repairs, and hydrates. Yup, it’s true – you can finally find the best sunscreen for oily skin.
To help you pick out the best face sunscreen for oily skin, here’s what you need to keep in mind.
#1 SPF Is Key – The Higher, the Better
Here’s the deal with SPF – it basically tells you how well your sunscreen can shield you from those UVB rays, whether you are looking for sunscreen for an oily face or otherwise. For oily skin, experts recommend going for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher like the Sunstoppable SPF45 PA+++ by Neude Skin that helps prevent tan and works on past UV damage to become an all-round suncare product which should be a must-have in your skincare kit.
#2 Pick Lightweight Hydration over ‘Matte’!
We know it can be tempting almost to pick up that ‘ultra-matte’ SPF. But do you want sun protection at the cost of hydration? If you wish for a shine-free yet healthy, hydrated SPF glow with no white cast, you need a sunblock for oily skin that has modern textures. Neude Sunstoppable SPF45 PA+++, for instance, is a milk sunscreen with a unique and hydrating texture with no white cast that leaves a Hi-glaze, hydrated glow behind. Add a lightweight yet powerful SPF to your routine, one that hydrates and protects, leaving behind zero shine or grease, just a healthy glow.
#3 New-gen Filters with No White Cast
When picking out the best sunscreen for oily skin, go for ones with new-gen filters. These are the latest and safest filters around, so they’re less likely to bother your skin. Plus, they help your sunscreen stay effective for longer, giving you solid protection from the sun all day. Zinc Oxide-infused sun is a pick over older formulations and filters because not only does it get quickly absorbed to give instant cover against the sun, but it does not leave the skin greasy, nor does it leave a white cast behind. A win-win, for sure.
#4 Look for some love in the ingredients
When you’re on the hunt for the ideal SPF for oily skin, it’s all about checking out those ingredient lists. Make sure they’re tailored for your oily, acne-prone skin. Look for sunscreens packed with goodies like niacinamide, avocado, milk peptide, circa, hyaluronic acid, and more. These powerhouse ingredients work their best to calm down any inflammation and keep that oil production in check. Neude Sunstoppable SPF45 PA+++ Sunscreen has Milk, supercharged by Avocado & Almond Oil, with Zinc Oxide for complete sun protection.
#5 What’s in the texture? Everything
Experts recommend gel-based sunscreen for oily skin.
Move over. We are way too deep in the 21st century. Skincare has evolved. We are reimagining and re-texturing skincare, even with the seemingly ‘heaviest’ ingredients, to give oily skin the best nourishment, sun repair, and care, and it doesn’t necessarily need to be restricted to gel.
For instance, don’t go for the age-old fear when you spot an oil. New-age brands like Neude skin are formulating and balancing the goodness of Milk, its derivatives, and also oils in a way that the texture brings out the best of ingredients without leaving any shine on the skin.
Expert Tips for Applying Sunscreen
Ready to make the most of your sunscreen? Here are some super-simple, easy-to-follow tips for applying sunscreen on oily skin:
- Cleanse Thoroughly: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser to remove excess oil and prepare your skin for sunscreen.
- Choose the Right Type: Look for formulations and ingredients over excess drying sunscreens that strip your skin of its essential oils. Pick sunscreens that give lightweight hydration and do not clog pores.
- Apply Correctly: Make sure your skin is dehydrated before applying sunscreen. Applying it on damp skin may dilute the product and make it less effective.
- Use the Right Amount: Follow the three-finger rule! Apply two to three fingers’ worth of sunscreen, which should be enough to cover your entire face and neck.
- Spread Evenly: Ensure you spread the sunscreen evenly across your face, focusing on areas that tend to get oily, like your forehead, nose, and chin.
- Remember Your Neck: Extend the sunscreen application to protect your neck as well.
- Reapply Throughout the Day: If you’re spending time outdoors, remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if you’re sweating or swimming.
- Layering with Makeup: If you wear makeup, apply sunscreen before your makeup and let it absorb fully before applying other products.
- Avoid Heavy Products: If your sunscreen feels heavy on your skin, consider skipping moisturizer or using a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer instead. Better yet, pick a sunscreen that can double as a moisturizer, like Neude Sunstoppable SPF45 PA+++.
- Blot Excess Oil: Keep oil-absorbing sheets or blotting papers handy to manage excess oil throughout the day without disturbing your sunscreen.
Follow these simple tips, and you’ll be ready to soak up the sunshine without worry. Enjoy responsibly!
Mastering Sunscreen for Oily Skin: Avoid These Common Mistakes
Now that you know everything you need to do, here’s the deal: There are certain no-gos when it comes to picking the best sunscreen for oily skin. If you want the best out of your sunscreen, you need to use it the right way.
Steer clear of these mistakes.
- Skipping Sunscreen: Don’t do this on any day, even when you feel the laziest. Sunscreen is a must for your skin, and even a few minutes unprotected under the good-old sun can do a hell of a lot of damage to it.
- Using Too Little: Ah dear, the two-finger rule. Remember it. Anything less than that, and you may not be applying sunscreen at all.
- Forgetting to Reapply: Oily skin may lead to more face touching, so remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if you’re sweating or in the water.
- Applying on Damp Skin: Always apply sunscreen to dry skin. Moisture can dilute the product, reducing its protective abilities.
- Neglecting the Neck & Nooks: We’re all guilty! Your neck, your eyelids, your nose corners, your ears, and every exposed corner of your face and body need sun protection.
- Relying Solely on Makeup: Multitaskers are in! We totally are in favor of and in love with those. But, but, but, sunscreen is what sunscreen does. Do not barter it for anything. Yes, those BB and CC creams with SPF and foundations with SPF can be very tempting, but trust us when we say that, you need to apply sunscreen first and top up with these later. Opt for the best-tinted sunscreen for oily skin to double up your sun protection over a good sunblock like Neude SPF45 PA+++, but don’t replace it.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to oily skin, sunscreen isn’t just about sun protection—it’s about finding the right balance. The best sunscreen for oily skin is designed to shield you from the sun without making your skin feel greasy or triggering breakouts. Looking for the ideal sunscreen for oily skin can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But don’t stress too much! Dermatologists have a straightforward tip: any sunscreen is better than none. So, keep on slathering that SPF!
Read also: Benefits of a Kiell’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser