Back

5 oil-free sunscreens you can rely on for grease-proof protection

SPF sans shine

By Delaney Loane

Digital Beauty Editor / October 29 2021

Sunscreen is obviously an essential skin care step that tends to defy skin type – everybody needs it. That doesn’t mean, however, that everybody should be wearing the same kind.

Not only has the sunscreen world come a long way in the highly necessary ‘reducing white cast’ and ‘upping the SPF factor’ departments, but they’ve also made major progress in the realm of catering to different complexions.

For example, if your skin runs oily (or overly sensitive), you’ll want to reach for one that specifically calls out its ‘oil-free’ status, because oil-free formulas are less likely to cause congestion/leave visible shine on the surface.

And trust us, if an SPF is oil-free, it’ll be bragging about it; while they do exist, oil-free options are definitely still rare.

Don't worry, we did the searching for you. Here, we round up five stellar oil-free sunscreen options for protection sans shine…

Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50+ Luminising Sun Serum

'Luminising' may not sound like a keyword you’d look for in an oil-free sunscreen, but yes, you better believe it; this one is both glow-enhancing and grease-free. A silky serum that’s as lightweight as it is protective (with a whopping SPF50+), it’s hydrating and yet also invisible on the skin.

$47 at Adore Beauty

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

A weightless, skin-smoothing blend blessed with the ability to impart a velvety finish, it’s designed to control excess shine while also harnessing the hydrating powers of meadowfoam seed oil. Basically, it’s balanced, protected skin in a tube.

$49.77 at Revolve

tbh Skincare Skin Shady 50+

Another superstar-status SPF boasting a 50+ label, it’s a non-greasy (but glycerin-packed; hi hydration, nice to see you) option that dries down to the matte finish we know you’ve been searching for. A matte finish with zero white cast, may we add.

$42 at tbh Skincare

EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46

This oil-free protectant is favoured by celeb fans such as Kendall Jenner and Josephine Skriver, so it should come as no shock that it's a shine-resistant SPF you can rely on. In fact, it was specifically designed not to overwhelm oily, combination or sensitive skin types.

$50.64 at Amazon

Fenty Skin Hydra Visor Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF15 Sunscreen Moisturiser

Alright, hear us out: by no means are we recommending you use this SPF15-moisturiser hybrid as your sole ‘screen; even Rihanna wouldn’t want you doing that. However, its oil-free, non-chalky nature does mean it’s a top choice for layering on a little extra hydrating protection.

$52 at Sephora

Main image credit: @kendalljenner

After more oil-free options? Here are our fave matte foundations...