In this post I’ll help you find the best sunscreen for clog prone skin and/or best spf for closed comedones.
Acne breakouts can be really upsetting, no matter the type of acne.
I myself am prone to comedonal acne especially, so these sunscreens are tailored closely to clogged pores and acne-prone skin types.
I myself *hate* looking for a new sunscreen, so this is the list of my favourite SPFs for people whose skin doesn’t tolerate sunscreen well.
Note – some of these links are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase, but it doesn’t cost you any more.
How to pick a non comedogenic sunscreen
Picking the best SPF for closed comedones can be tricky. If you’re hoping to avoid pore clogging ingredients in sunscreen entirely, I’m afraid I have some bad news.
There is no such thing as an 100% guaranteed non clogging sunscreen, even if you use an ingredient checker website like Acne Clinic NYC.
I won’t go into too much detail here, but essentially these websites are very misleading and do not account for the real chemistry behind how a formula works.
Check out my full blog post on why sunscreen without pore clogging ingredients isn’t as straight forward as you think.
Essentially you can really only use these ingredient checker websites as a light guide. Even if you avoid all sunscreen without clogging ingredients, you can still break out easily.
I like to choose ‘low risk’ sunscreens based on a combination of aggregating reviews from people with similar skin, less clogging ingredients which are present in lower quantities.
I’ll start with mineral-based sunscreen and move onto chemical formulas, with some frequently asked questions about SPF at the end.
Best mineral sunscreen for acne prone skin
Does mineral sunscreen clog pores? I get asked this a lot in my comments and the answer is always ‘it depends’.
Mineral sunscreens are not all made from the same ingredients. It is true that physical sunscreens are often made of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which gives them their infamous white cast.
However, you can’t really say ‘all mineral sunscreens’ do X thing because.. they’re all totally different formulas.
So, to help you find the right sunscreen that’s mineral-based, here are some of my favourites.
1. Best mineral sunscreen for sensitive acne skin
If I had to choose the most unproblematic mineral sunscreen not just for acne prone, but specifically sensitive skin, it’d be this one by Ultra Violette.
I began using the Ultra Violette Clean Screen SPF30 when I developed peri oral dermatitis in 2023.
I needed a good sunscreen that would protect me but not upset or trigger the dermatitis around my mouth.
If you haven’t seen my video on how to get rid of perioral dermatitis, it’s a comprehensive one!
For this reason, I think this is a great option for face sunscreen for perioral dermatitis, and just generally fussy skin. It also doesn’t sting my eyes whatsoever.
The downside for me is that it’s just not as glowy as I’d like it to be, and over time that… well, pissed me off to be honest!
At first it looked glowy and then during the day it’d dry down to more of a matte finish.
It is lightly tinted which I think is fine if you’re pale, but not at all inclusive if you’re of medium to dark skin tone, unfortunately.
I did notice a small build up of *tiny* closed comedones on my forehead, which I quickly noticed and detonated with my tretinoin. I then just used a different sunscreen on my forehead and it was fine.
Some notes on this sunscreen:
- Very minimal ingredients list so I’d be surprised if it causes anyone skin irritation
- Does not trigger breakouts for me
- Can lightly pill around the corners of the face, but not in an awful way
- Takes a knack to apply it, but once you’ve got it you’re good
- Only SPF30 which is fine for most of us in the UK, but not as ideal as a high spf like SPF50 (even if there’s a mere 1% difference between the two)
- Not brilliant for reapplying
- Works decently well under makeup, but is more matte than glowy finish
- Offers good sun protection, my skin has not tanned or burned under this
- A good choice for a non pore clogging tinted sunscreen
Anecdotally, my friends with rosacea enjoy this sunscreen. I will always keep one at home for times when my skin is unhappy. It is one of my ‘safe’ sunscreens.
Lastly, I will say that this mineral formula also contains butyloctyl salicylate in the ingredient list. It is an SPF booster often used in mineral sunscreens.
It is basically an unregistered chemical filter and it is so common in facial sunscreen claiming to be 100% mineral. Because it’s not registered, it’s listed in the ‘inactive ingredients’ list.
I’ve found it really hard to find mineral sunscreens without this filter, so I am working on a separate list of mineral sunscreens without butyloctyl salicylate.
2. Best mineral Korean sunscreen
If you’re into Korean or Japanese beauty and are looking for the best sunscreen for face with mineral filters, I can highly recommend the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Mineral Relief Daily Sunscreen.
I discovered the brand a while ago and, whilst some of them do contain fragrance and essential oils, they have fragrance-free formulas as well.
This ‘mineral’ formula by Haruharu is such a lovely texture and consistency. Mineral sunscreens can be awful and chalky, but this one feels like a moisturiser.
Korean beauty products are amazing because they can be as effective as preventing sun damage as western formulas, but don’t feel hideous to wear like some US/EU sunscreens do!
I would definitely not describe this sunscreen as greasy, but it is also not super lightweight.
Haruharu describe it as a ‘velvet’ finish and I agree with that. It’s like a traditional cream moisturiser that sinks into the skin, though not as much as a gel cream, for example.
I love this SPF because it has some great key ingredients for the skin barrier – and you know I’m a sucker for the skin barrier.
She contains heart leaf extract, niacinamide and rice bran oil. Niacinamide is helpful for controlling acne and reducing dark spots left by pimples.
Some notes on this K beauty sunscreen:
- SPF 50+ PA++++
- Minimal white cast, although I am quite pale it does appear others with darker skin found this to have a slight white cast
- Feels like a moisturiser, non stickySPF
- Fragrance and essential oil free
- Also comes in a chemical filters version, which I’ll talk about later
- Gives the appearance of healthy skin, not too matte or too glowy
- This does not sting my eyes
Overall, this is a great Korean sunscreen that doesn’t clog pores (or at least feels unlikely to), that uses mostly mineral filters.
Best sunscreen for face using chemical filters
If you have issues with sunscreen clogging pores, there’s a lot more choice when it comes to chemical sunscreens.
With chemical sunscreens it’s also way easier to find one that doesn’t give a ghostly white cast.
If you have a medium-deep skin tone, I highly recommend chemical spf over mineral for this reason.
They will also usually be the best sunscreen for under makeup, because mineral formulas often feel like they sit on top of the skin.
These are some of the best sunscreens for face that don’t settle into fine lines like a mineral formula might.
I have organised them into different categories to hopefully help you find a non comedogenic SPF (for you) that works for your skin.
3. Best Korean sunscreen for oily skin
Lots of my audience are on the look out for a sunscreen for oily acne prone skin. This one is pretty popular, so I imagine you might’ve seen it before.
Well, the good news is that I think it’s popular for a reason!
I don’t think this sunscreen is only hyped due to influencers or social media, it is a really lovely formula so it deserves the hype.
If excess oil is something you deal with, you can be sure that the Skin1004 Hyalu-cica Water Fit Sun Serum won’t add to it.
It’s loved by so many people with breakout-prone skin, though of course I still recommend patch testing (as with any new product).
I would describe this as a non greasy sunscreen for face that most people will enjoy the texture of.
It comes out like a pale cream that very quickly sinks into the skin. As per the name, it is a hydrating formula and just feels like another step in your skin care routine.
The formula contains hyaluronic acid, glycerin and niacinamide to brighten and hydrate.
Some notes on this K beauty sunscreen:
- It is fragrance and essential oil-free (all sunscreens I recommend are)
- Whilst it is hydrating, I personally wish it was a bit richer and thicker. It sinks in a little quickly for my personal tastes.
- Great for oily skin types to combo skin types who’re looking for an SPF without a glowy finish
- SPF rating of SPF50+ Pa++++
- This is a good sunscreen for under makeup, in my experience
- No hint of white cast for me
- This does not sting my eyes
Overall if you’re looking for a Korean sunscreen that doesn’t clog pores for lots of people, this is a good candidate to try out.
4. Best all round acne friendly sunscreen
I’ll take a moment to reiterate that there is no such thing as acne friendly sunscreen in the sense that we wish there was.
I know that when people ask me for ‘acne friendly’ moisturiser, foundation etc they’re hoping for a silver bullet.
Something that won’t cause those little annoying skin-colored bumps.
However as we know, everyone’s different – with different hormones, lifestyles, makeup and skincare products.
These variables impact whether a sunscreen will make us break out, so it’s impossible to label something 100% acne friendly sunscreen.
However I think the Purito Soft Touch sunscreen is a great choice if you’re prone to breakouts and closed comedones.
In 2024 Purito had a bit of a rebrand and changed the packaging (not for the best if you ask me!).
As far as I can see, the ingredients are the same as the old packaging, though their website is not particularly clear.
I’m in the middle of speaking to Purito to get confirmation on this.
I nearly titled this the best matte sunscreen, because it’s supposed to be matte but lots of people feel it’s more dewy.
In my experience, it goes on a little dewy to begin with (which I love) but after a few hours it’s very much matte (which I don’t love as much).
Some notes on the Purito Soft Touch sunscreen:
- This doesn’t pill at all in my experience
- Feels nice and moisturising without being heavy, but dries down to zero in a couple hours (for me)
- A nice sunscreen to use whilst using topical retinoids
- Looks good under makeup and doesn’t interfere with makeup products (for me)
- I didn’t notice a white cast at all
- This does not sting my eyes
Purito is a brand I really love in general. If you’re wondering about the Korean sunscreen scandal and how safe the sunscreens are, I’ll talk about that later on.
I used this sunscreen for around 4-6 weeks before I realised it was causing a couple of random itchy spots.
I think this is because my skin is quite sensitive and may even be sensitive to K beauty filters (something I’ve begun to suspect but not confirmed).
Overall I still recommend it because it’s a lovely formula with a nice finish, and many of my followers have tried it and loved it.
5. Best cheap sunscreen for acne prone skin
This sunscreen should be viral, in all honesty. It’s such good value and so underrated, as well as zero white cast for deep skin tones.
Out of this list it’s definitely the best sunscreen without white cast option.
The Superdrug B. Protect Defence Sun Cream is usually on offer for two for £14.99 (!!) crazy numbers in today’s world.
Not to mention how nice it is to be able to buy something on the high street (sorry non UK readers).
This is a translucent gel sunscreen that spreads easily over the skin and doesn’t pill.
The only drawback I can think of is that it’s ever so slightly sticky, but not ‘classic sticky sunscreen’ vibes.
It also does sting my eyes a little bit from time to time.
Some other notes on this sunscreen:
- Looks good under makeup and adds a nice dewy glow
- Lasts for ages because the bottle is quite large
- There are quite a few unsponsored TikTok reviews for this product, especially by creators with medium-deep skin tones
- I don’t think oily skins would like this very much, but dry skin definitely might
6. Best chemical sunscreen for sensitive skin
Out of all the sunscreens I feature, one that notably gets lots of praise in the comments is the SOS Serum SPF50 Sun Cream.
It sounds like quite a few people have tried it and stuck with it 12+ months later!
SOS Serum is a very underrated and largely unheard of brand on social media, I also like their cleanser. The best way to shop the brand is on Amazon, direct from the SOS store.
I like their whole range which focuses on simplicity and minimal ingredients.
The texture of this is like a moisturiser, and it is neither matte nor dewy. It is overall very comfortable to wear.
I didn’t find that it got oilier throughout the day, but it can occasionally pill and I think that’s due to the silicones in it.
Most people get along well with silicones, but I find that they sometimes break me out – specifically on my forehead (yay).
I think this would be a fab SPF for most people, but especially those with rosacea or sensitive skin conditions.
Some notes on this sunscreen:
- It goes nicely under makeup, I imagine especially well with silicone based makeup
- You potentially don’t need to use a moisturiser with this one, but that’s a personal choice
- This might also be a great choice if you’ve developed perioral dermatitis
- Says it’s mineral based because it contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, but also contains mulitple chemical filters
7. Best glowy sunscreen for acne prone skin
One of the best glowy sunscreen for face, particularly skin that is acne prone, is the Sun Bum Face SPF50.
I think this would be loved by people who enjoy a shinier look (like me, ha). I do not think people with oily skin would enjoy this – but you do you!
The formula feels like a classic western-feeling sunscreen that you might wear to the beach. It provides really high quality, broad-spectrum protection.
Some notes on this sunscreen:
- It can definitely sting your eyes. I just get around this by using a mineral sunscreen around my eyes, since most chemical sunscreens sting eyes.
- I personally think this works quite well under makeup, but it depends on your makeup style.
Best sunscreen for perioral dermatitis
If you’re dealing with perioral dermatitis – first of all, I’m so sorry because I know how frustrating it is.
I recommend checking out my video and also my podcast episode. The video is about getting back to a routine after perioral dermatitis.
The podcast is a much deeper dive into ALL your options for tackling it.
Out of the sunscreens on the list, I would recommend the SOS Serum SPF and the Ultra Violette.
This isn’t to say others won’t agree with you, but IMO the best sunscreen for perioral dermatitis options are these.
Either way, you want to avoid fragrance and essential oils in any SPF you choose.
It is also a good idea to go for mineral sunscreens with either a zinc oxide or titanium dioxide base.
What is the best SPF for closed comedones?
If you’ve got this far and you’re still wondering what is the best non-comedogenic sunscreen, let’s just reiterate the unfortunate truth.
There is no such thing as a guaranteed sunscreen that doesn’t clog pores. Some formulas are made without ‘pore clogging ingredients’, but they still can clog pores.
Even if you search for the best oil free sunscreen, there’s no guarantee.
We all react to different ingredients differently. If we didn’t, product induced acne wouldn’t really exist because it’d be easy to avoid.
SPF products are just so hit and miss, so choosing from this low risk list is a good option.
But anyone saying they have the ‘best non-comedogenic sunscreens’ most likely don’t understand the flaw in the term ‘non comedogenic’.
What about the Korean sunscreen scandal?
What if you’ve found the perfect sunscreen that doesn’t cause breakouts, but it’s Korean or Japanese?
Some people are still concerned about the Korean sunscreen scandal that happened a few years ago.
In summary, a few sunscreens were tested by a third party and only gave SPF 19 instead of the 50 they were advertised at.
This led to a lot of distrust by consumers for brands like Purito.
It can be restrictive when looking for the best SPF for closed comedones but avoiding all Asian sunscreens.
Long story short, it was discovered that the SPF testing facilities were at fault, not the brands.
The brands had (rightfully) trusted the testing facilities, and the same facilities had effectively screwed over multiple brands.
Now, most K and J beauty brands do multiple rounds of testing, to avoid this same issue.
As you can imagine, their reputation took a hit, so they are now very cautious. Personally I think they’re safe and reliable to trust.
Should you wear moisturizer under sunscreen?
Do you need to wear moisturizer under sunscreen? This is a totally personal choice.
No, you don’t need to, but it’s also not a problem if you do.
I personally prefer to, but if your sunscreen is quite heavy then you also don’t have to.
There are no hard and fast rules.
Sunscreen or moisturizer first?
This one is a hard and fast rule.
Always wear your sunscreen last in your skincare routine, unless you’re wearing makeup over the top of it.
This is because the sunscreen forms a protective layer over your skin, and adding more products can disrupt the protection.
When you wear makeup, however, you almost need to accept there’ll be a little less protection.
You can use a spray SPF to top up with throughout the day, but you won’t be fully protected.
