Top three sunscreens for sensitive skin
By Roshni Riar, Staff Writer
Iâm ashamed to say that sunscreen has taken a backburner in my priorities over the last few years.
As I get older and understand how important it is to protect my skin from the sunâs harmful rays, Iâve started testing different products and formulas to find the absolute best one for me. I have to admit, itâs proven to be a little difficultâitâs hard to know where to start or what to look out for. Personally, I have sensitive, acne-prone skin and am always hesitant to drop money on a product Iâm relatively unfamiliar with.
If you feel the same way, Iâd recommend taking a look at my top three recommended sunscreens. Go to some drugstores and ask for samplesâmost are happy to give you someâand patch test on your jaw or neck to make sure you react well before applying a full coverage.
Oh, and donât forget to reapply!
Avène SPF 50+ Emulsion
This sunscreen was my first big sunscreen purchase over a year ago and I have to say, Iâm a huge fan.
The formula is targeted at those with sensitive skin and goes on smooth and creamy, almost like a moisturizer. Since I am a person of colour, one of the things Iâm always looking out for is white castâwhich I havenât experienced in my time using this sunscreen. It has a pleasant smell, feels moisturizing, and goes well on top of other face products or underneath makeup; itâs somewhat mattifying, which is a bonus for oily skin.
SPF 50+ Emulsion offers UVB-UVA protection, the mineral titanium dioxide, and water resistance for up to 40 minutes. It also contains thermal spring water and a vitamin E derivative to keep the skin soft and calm.
Iâd recommend this in the winter, when your skin might need a little extra moisturization.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid Lotion SPF 60
This product is my go-to sunscreen in the summer for a number of reasonsâitâs developed for sensitive skin, is very light in texture, and lasts forever.
The formula is super watery so it can be hard to work with. I recommend squeezing a few small drops on your face to rub it in. This is a chemical sunscreen, which means it absorbs into the skin, as opposed to physical sunscreenâsuch as a mineral-based sunscreenâwhich sits on top of the skin and acts as a UVA ray blocker.
This product is non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, mattifying, and incredibly light on the skin while offering a high SPF count with broad spectrum UVB-UVA protection. It doesnât leave a white cast and works well with other products, so long as you wait at least 10 minutes before or after applying your next product.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Sunscreen SPF 50
Iâve been a fan of Neutrogenaâs Hydro Boost line for a long time. I first discovered it while on Accutane, when the gel moisturizer saved my skin from what felt like full-blown moulting.
This sunscreen is my favourite-feeling formula. The gel lotion is soothing and settles into the skin wonderfullyâitâs the one sunscreen where I genuinely forget that Iâm wearing it. Having oily skin, I wasnât sure if this moisture-targeted line would be right for me, but the texture is great and offers non-greasy moisturizer all day long.
Hydro Boost Sunscreen SPF 50 provides broad spectrum UVB-UVA protection, wears well with other products, doesnât leave a white cast, and is non-comedogenic, so itâs good for most sensitive skin.
