Do not worry if these words sound unfamiliar to you, by the end of this article you\u2019ll know exactly how to choose the best sunscreen for acne prone skin, which sunscreen ingredients to avoid like the plague and exactly what SPF is the best choice.<\/p>\n
Best sunscreens for people with acne<\/h2>\n
For those of us who have acne, our skin type is especially sensitive. Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder, meaning our skin likes to get pink, red and angry quickly. What you see as a spot, cyst or pustule is your skin\u2019s immune function causing an inflammatory skin reaction.<\/p>\n
The best sunscreens for acne prone skin are especially sensitive, mineral based formulas – meaning they are physical sunblocks. Soon we\u2019ll explain exactly what this means.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/264081_BestSunscreenForAcne_QuoteImages-1_072718-267x400.png\")
<\/p>\n
**Top Choice** <\/strong>Murad City Skin Broad Spectrum SPF 50 | PA ++++<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\nHigh SPF, zero to minimal white cast, blue light protection, high UVA protection.<\/p>\n
A mineral sunscreen with almost zero white cast – trust us they\u2019re hard to find. Not only is Murad\u2019s City Block an extremely light weight, easy to rub in fluid, it also has high protection against all types of irritating light pollution – blue light<\/a> (from digital devices), UVA, UVB, IR. <\/p>\nIt\u2019s non-greasy, fast absorbing, non-comedogenic, fragrance free, sensitive skin friendly. All best sunscreen for oily, acne prone skin boxes are ticked – while it\u2019s pricey the ease of use and high protection are worth it.<\/p>\n
Bonus:<\/strong> Murad\u2019s city block also helps protect your skin against pollution damage<\/a>, a key suspected cause of oilier skin and altered sebum production – both of which cause acne.<\/p>\n **Best for Oily Skin** <\/strong>Derma E Skin Care Oil Free Face Antioxidant Spf 30<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\nOil free, silicone free, mattifying and natural.<\/p>\n
Derma E\u2019s Antioxidant SPF30 is fantastic for oily, acne prone skin types. Effectiveness relies solely on 20% zinc oxide – a physical sunblock. Zinc<\/a> is a perfect ingredient for oily skin types because studies show zinc\u2019s able to help reduce your skin’s oil\/sebum production. If you want to read more about zinc and acne you can click here<\/a>.<\/p>\nNote:<\/strong> After application you may experience slight white cast. As you can see from this video<\/a>, it fades fast.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/264081_BestSunscreenForAcne_QuoteImages-2_072718-267x400.png\")
<\/p>\n
**Best for sensitive skin** <\/strong>SunSense Sensitive Matte with SPF 50 Plus, tinted formula<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\nTinted formula for medium skin tones, high SPF, with nicotinamid<\/a> known to help fight acne. <\/p>\nSunSense sensitive matte formula makes the perfect pick for acne prone skin types. It\u2019s sensitive skin friendly, free from commonly used comedogenic skin care ingredients e.g. Isopropyl palmitate and has an added tint to help eliminate white cast.<\/p>\n
**Best for price** <\/strong>Aveeno Natural Protection Oil-Free Mineral Sunscreen Lotion<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\nFragrance free, oil free, high SPF, water resistant, sensitive skin friendly.<\/p>\n
Aveeno is a skin care brand whose defining difference is their use of oat extracts to help treat sensitive skin types, so it comes as no surprise their oil free mineral sunscreen is a winner for problematic skin.<\/p>\n
Irritation will make your acne worse, however anti-inflammatory oat extracts<\/a> can help do the exact opposite. How? By calming symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions i.e. acne. <\/p>\n**Best for reapplication** <\/strong>Brush On Block SPF 30<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\nFragrance free, oil free, extremely easy reapplication, non-greasy.<\/p>\n
Surprise – sunblock does not have to arrive as a greasy cream. In fact, sunblock ingredients are solid particles so they can perfectly be used in face powders or brush on blocks. If you\u2019ve applied makeup after sunscreen, brush on block makes for a perfect reapplication.<\/p>\n
**Purse friendly, general choice for acne prone skin** <\/strong>Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen Mineral Lotion, Non-Greasy, SPF 30<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\nNon-greasy, non-sticky, natural ingredients.<\/p>\n
No-one takes sunscreen more seriously than the Ozzies. This is a great general, purse-friendly choice for acne prone skin using a combination of zinc oxide, titanium dioxide plus all-natural ingredients with added SPF benefits.<\/p>\n
Best SPF moisturizers – lightweight alternatives to sunscreens<\/h2>\n
Want a simplified skin care routine for acne prone skin? Is your complexion unable to handle multiple-products? Want to be sure you\u2019re using SPF protection 356 days a year?<\/p>\n
The best SPF moisturizers for acne prone skin can do all of the above<\/strong>. They\u2019re non-comedogenic, mineral based, at least SPF 30 and much, much easier to use than mineral sunscreens i.e. white cast and absorbability are usually not an issue.<\/p>\n**Top Choice** Paula’s Choice-RESIST Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nLightly tinted, fragrance free, non-comedogenic, anti-ageing, best absorbability, zero white-cast.<\/p>\n
This has to be the easiest to use, best SPF moisturizer for acne prone skin. There\u2019s absolutely no white cast, the formula is free from fragrance (fragrance can irritate acne prone skin), full of antioxidants (protects your sebum against oxidation<\/a> – a cause of acne) and dries to a soft, matt finish – a must have for oily\/combination skin types. <\/p>\n**Best for redness** Paula’s Choice CALM Redness Relief SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nFragrance free, sensitive skin friendly, redness relieving, easy to use.<\/p>\n
Paula\u2019s choice really do blow it out of the park when it comes to finding a best SPF moisturizer for acne prone skin. This formula has minimal white cast, is lightly moisturizing, non-comedogenic and helps relieve pesky, inflammatory redness caused by acne.<\/p>\n
**Best natural sunscreen for acne prone skin** Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil Free Moisturizer<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nNatural, organic, oil free, non-comedogenic.<\/p>\n
Designed for blemish prone skin types, you can be sure Juice Beauty\u2019s SPF 30 oil free moisturizer is a tried and tested non-comedogenic sunscreen.<\/p>\n
This formula is is bursting with naturals plus it\u2019s also full of antioxidants – ingredients which stop your skin\u2019s natural oils from becoming comedogenic, which would worsen your acne.<\/p>\n
How do I choose the best sunscreen for my skin?<\/h2>\n
The best sunscreen for your acne prone skin will always be;<\/p>\n
\n- Mineral based i.e. a physical sunscreen<\/li>\n
- Sensitive skin friendly<\/li>\n
- Antioxidant rich<\/li>\n
- With added anti-inflammatory ingredients<\/li>\n
- SPF 30 or higher<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Out of the thousands of sunscreens available to you, there are just 2 key types. Sunscreens which work by using;<\/p>\n
\n- Chemical sunscreen filters or<\/li>\n
- Physical sunscreen filters<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Chemical sunscreen filters absorb skin damaging UV light before your skin can, whereas physical sunscreen filters have the ability to reflect it away.<\/p>\n
While chemical sunscreen filters also known as organic sunscreen filters are very effective, they can have side effects for your acne prone skin. An chemical sunscreen works by absorbing UV light and is sacrificed during this process.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/264081_BestSunscreenForAcne_QuoteImages-3_072718-267x400.png\")
<\/p>\n
When chemical sunscreens, such as oxybenzone,protect your skin, specific molecular bonds\/moieties are able to react with photons of light and preventing them from reacting with your skin. This reaction releases heat energy, in addition to being a key cause of photoallergy<\/a>. <\/p>\nEssentially chemical sunscreens have the potential to aggravate<\/a>, sensitize<\/a> and inflame your acne prone skin. <\/p>\nDoes sunscreen cause acne? <\/strong><\/h3>\nYes, chemical based sunscreens have potential to flare your acne.<\/p>\n
Why take the risk when instead you can use a perfect for acne prone skin physical sunscreen. The most common physical sunscreen ingredient is zinc oxide – a sunscreen ingredient with more than just sun protection benefits for acne prone skin.<\/p>\n
In addition to being sensitive skin friendly, zinc<\/a> may help reduce sebum production in addition to helping skin heal – it\u2019s key in helping your skin process vitamin A<\/a>, which is the vitamin (as retinoic acid) clinically proven to help resolve acne. <\/p>\nDoes sunscreen help acne? <\/strong><\/h3>\nYes, physical sunscreens can help prevent UV oxidation of skin lipids into highly comedogenic actives, in addition to preventing UV caused inflammation. Acne is an inflammatory skin condition therefore sunscreens with additional anti-inflammatory ingredients are especially helpful.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/264081_BestSunscreenForAcne_QuoteImages-5_072718-267x400.png\")
<\/p>\n
What SPF do you really need?<\/h3>\n
You\u2019ve picked up a great mineral sunscreen – fantastic. Now you\u2019ll also want to be sure it has a minimum SPF of 30. This is the dermatologist recommended gold standard for effective sun protection. Sunlight can quickly cause oxidation of your skin\u2019s sebum turning it from helpful to highly comedogenic – acne causing.<\/p>\n
Bonus: <\/strong>A minimum SPF 30 also ensures you a very effective sunscreen for acne scars. This level of sun protection will help you stop common, sun induced darkening of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Meaning that the dark marks left behind after an acne spot have healed.<\/p>\nThe science bit: <\/strong>SPF simply stands for sun protection factor. Take SPF 30 as an example, say it takes your acne prone skin 10 minutes to burn without sunscreen in direct sunlight – using SPF 30 will protect your skin against burn for 30 times longer i.e. you\u2019d be able to enjoy the sun worry free for up to 300 minutes. It also means only 1 in every 30 UV rays gets to interact with your skin giving you a reliable and effective UV protection level of 97%.<\/p>\nKey ingredients to look for<\/h3>\n
Making sure you\u2019ve chosen a mineral\/physical sunscreen perfect for your acne prone skin is extremely simple when looking at an ingredients list. There\u2019s only 2 currently known and used actives;<\/p>\n
\n- Zinc oxide<\/li>\n
- Titanium dioxide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
See either of these 2 listed under \u2018active ingredients\u2019 on a sunscreen label and you\u2019re in the safe and clear\u2026 almost – be sure to read this next bit on what to avoid.<\/p>\n
What you should avoid in sunscreens<\/h3>\n
Try to find a sunscreen that\u2019s free from<\/p>\n
\n- Myristyl myristate<\/li>\n
- Isopropyl myristate<\/li>\n
- Ethylhexyl palmitate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are 3 highly comedogenic skin care ingredients, commonly used as solvents i.e. ingredients which make the sunscreen easier to apply. When found at the top of your sunscreens ingredient list they have strong potential to worsen your acne.<\/p>\n
![\"3](\"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/399440_SunscreenPinterestImagesPart2-4_032919-261x400.png\")
<\/p>\n
In general alcohol or denatured alcohol is often used in sunscreens to improve it\u2019s spreadability and absorption. Although it is commonly used, alcohol de-greases your skin and often cause dryness and irritation<\/strong>.<\/p>\nChoosing a 100% mineral protecting sunscreen will also make sure you\u2019re sunscreens free from photoallergy<\/a> causing and therefore acne worsening chemical sunscreen filters like oxybenzone aka benzophenone-3. <\/p>\nPro-tip:<\/strong> Don\u2019t believe once-a-day sun protection claims. Sun protection can be used up faster in direct sunlight, rubbed away or sweated off.<\/p>\nShould you buy waterproof sunscreen?<\/h3>\n
In one word – yes, so long as your waterproof sunscreen ticks all of the best sunscreen for acne prone skin boxes first. Waterproof sunscreens help your sunscreen be most effective whether playing sport, having a water fight or swimming.<\/p>\n
However rather than the claim waterproof, what you\u2019re most likely to find is a sunscreen which claims to be water resistant – as in the recommendations you find here. These words are a much fairer description of what a sunscreen can offer your skin. No sunscreen can be 100% waterproof, but instead they absolutely can be water resistant.<\/p>\n
Warning about natural or DIY sunscreens<\/h3>\n
Truth – some natural ingredients have an SPF-like effect.<\/p>\n
\n- Studies show raspberry seed oil<\/a> can have an SPF of up to 28 against UVB light but has minimal protection against UVA light. <\/li>\n
- Acai oil, buriti oil and andiroba oil<\/a> have an SPF of 1. <\/li>\n
- Shea butter<\/a> with a specifically high triterpene content has an SPF of 3 to 4. <\/li>\n
- Coconut oil<\/a> an SPF of 8. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
However use these natural oils to make DIY sunscreens and you will never be sure of the SPF you\u2019ve created<\/strong>.<\/p>\nCreating a sunscreen with SPF 30 is not as simple as using ingredients with SPF 30 – which when it comes to natural oils are very hard to come by. Instead sunscreen efficacy also depends on how well a formula spreads onto your skin, how well it\u2019s retained in the top layers of your skin and how well it resists rubbing off.<\/p>\n
Note:<\/strong> This can change every time you DIY make a sunscreen formula even though the ingredients you\u2019re using are the same.<\/p>\nThe best natural sunscreens for acne prone skin are tested by independent laboratories to confirm their SPF effects. For example Derma E\u2019s Skin Care Oil Free Face Antioxidant Spf 30<\/strong><\/a> or Australian Gold\u2019s Botanical Sunscreen Mineral Lotion, Non-Greasy, SPF 30<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t risk it. Stay skin safe. Use SPF proven and pre-made natural sunscreen.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/264081_BestSunscreenForAcne_QuoteImages-7_072718-267x400.png\")
<\/p>\n
Why acne-prone skin needs sunscreen<\/h2>\n
Sun exposure will worsen your acne symptoms. Do not listen to anybody telling you otherwise. Here are the facts;<\/p>\n
UV light causes your skin inflammation<\/strong><\/h3>\nAcne is an inflammatory skin condition so any skin care product or environmental stressor which causes your skin more inflammation will make your acne worse.<\/p>\n
Sunlight can cause your sebum levels to become highly comedogenic<\/strong><\/h3>\nYour skin’s sebum is naturally designed to help protect skin – however there\u2019s only so much it can take. Take squalene<\/a> for instance, it\u2019s a major constituent of your skin\u2019s sebum making up around 13% of your skin\u2019s natural oils.<\/p>\nOn exposure to excessive amounts of UV light it oxidises<\/a> into squalene monohydroperoxide a highly comedogenic, inflammation causing and acne worsening ingredient.<\/p>\nUnprotected sun exposure depletes skin\u2019s natural antioxidant levels<\/strong><\/h3>\nAntioxidants help your skin resist the damaging effects of sun exposure i.e. they help stop skin lipids like squalane from \u2018going off\u2019. When your sebum loses precious antioxidants, it becomes prone to oxidation and therefore can become acne worsening.<\/p>\n
UV light worsens acne scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation<\/strong><\/h3>\nRemember those dark marks acne spots leave behind? Dermatologists call this post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) i.e. acne scarring. This darkening of skin is caused by the exact same pigments which give your skin tone colour.<\/p>\n
Skin creates more of these ingredients in areas it thinks need extra protection. It\u2019s the reason you get a tan. Exposing your acne prone skin to sunlight without sun protection will cause you darker and more noticeable PIH and acne scarring.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/264081_BestSunscreenForAcne_QuoteImages-8_072718-267x400.png\")
<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve just mentioned 4 impelling reasons why you should avoid leaving your house without any sunscreen on. So go on, find the best fit for your sensitive acne prone skin and you are prepared to enjoy the sunlight!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Unprotected sun exposure will make your acne worse\u2026 but using sunscreen can also do the exact same thing. Sunscreen and acne, It\u2019s a catch 22. Use no sunscreen and your acne gets worse. Use sunscreen and your acne gets worse. But\u2026 use the right sunscreen – a sunscreen that won\u2019t cause acne – and not … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6779,"featured_media":10837,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"generate_page_header":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10826"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6779"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10826"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11918,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10826\/revisions\/11918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
It\u2019s non-greasy, fast absorbing, non-comedogenic, fragrance free, sensitive skin friendly. All best sunscreen for oily, acne prone skin boxes are ticked – while it\u2019s pricey the ease of use and high protection are worth it.<\/p>\n
Bonus:<\/strong> Murad\u2019s city block also helps protect your skin against pollution damage<\/a>, a key suspected cause of oilier skin and altered sebum production – both of which cause acne.<\/p>\n Oil free, silicone free, mattifying and natural.<\/p>\n Derma E\u2019s Antioxidant SPF30 is fantastic for oily, acne prone skin types. Effectiveness relies solely on 20% zinc oxide – a physical sunblock. Zinc<\/a> is a perfect ingredient for oily skin types because studies show zinc\u2019s able to help reduce your skin’s oil\/sebum production. If you want to read more about zinc and acne you can click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> After application you may experience slight white cast. As you can see from this video<\/a>, it fades fast.<\/p>\n Tinted formula for medium skin tones, high SPF, with nicotinamid<\/a> known to help fight acne. <\/p>\n SunSense sensitive matte formula makes the perfect pick for acne prone skin types. It\u2019s sensitive skin friendly, free from commonly used comedogenic skin care ingredients e.g. Isopropyl palmitate and has an added tint to help eliminate white cast.<\/p>\n Fragrance free, oil free, high SPF, water resistant, sensitive skin friendly.<\/p>\n Aveeno is a skin care brand whose defining difference is their use of oat extracts to help treat sensitive skin types, so it comes as no surprise their oil free mineral sunscreen is a winner for problematic skin.<\/p>\n Irritation will make your acne worse, however anti-inflammatory oat extracts<\/a> can help do the exact opposite. How? By calming symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions i.e. acne. <\/p>\n Fragrance free, oil free, extremely easy reapplication, non-greasy.<\/p>\n Surprise – sunblock does not have to arrive as a greasy cream. In fact, sunblock ingredients are solid particles so they can perfectly be used in face powders or brush on blocks. If you\u2019ve applied makeup after sunscreen, brush on block makes for a perfect reapplication.<\/p>\n Non-greasy, non-sticky, natural ingredients.<\/p>\n No-one takes sunscreen more seriously than the Ozzies. This is a great general, purse-friendly choice for acne prone skin using a combination of zinc oxide, titanium dioxide plus all-natural ingredients with added SPF benefits.<\/p>\n Want a simplified skin care routine for acne prone skin? Is your complexion unable to handle multiple-products? Want to be sure you\u2019re using SPF protection 356 days a year?<\/p>\n The best SPF moisturizers for acne prone skin can do all of the above<\/strong>. They\u2019re non-comedogenic, mineral based, at least SPF 30 and much, much easier to use than mineral sunscreens i.e. white cast and absorbability are usually not an issue.<\/p>\n Lightly tinted, fragrance free, non-comedogenic, anti-ageing, best absorbability, zero white-cast.<\/p>\n This has to be the easiest to use, best SPF moisturizer for acne prone skin. There\u2019s absolutely no white cast, the formula is free from fragrance (fragrance can irritate acne prone skin), full of antioxidants (protects your sebum against oxidation<\/a> – a cause of acne) and dries to a soft, matt finish – a must have for oily\/combination skin types. <\/p>\n Fragrance free, sensitive skin friendly, redness relieving, easy to use.<\/p>\n Paula\u2019s choice really do blow it out of the park when it comes to finding a best SPF moisturizer for acne prone skin. This formula has minimal white cast, is lightly moisturizing, non-comedogenic and helps relieve pesky, inflammatory redness caused by acne.<\/p>\n Natural, organic, oil free, non-comedogenic.<\/p>\n Designed for blemish prone skin types, you can be sure Juice Beauty\u2019s SPF 30 oil free moisturizer is a tried and tested non-comedogenic sunscreen.<\/p>\n This formula is is bursting with naturals plus it\u2019s also full of antioxidants – ingredients which stop your skin\u2019s natural oils from becoming comedogenic, which would worsen your acne.<\/p>\n The best sunscreen for your acne prone skin will always be;<\/p>\n Out of the thousands of sunscreens available to you, there are just 2 key types. Sunscreens which work by using;<\/p>\n Chemical sunscreen filters absorb skin damaging UV light before your skin can, whereas physical sunscreen filters have the ability to reflect it away.<\/p>\n While chemical sunscreen filters also known as organic sunscreen filters are very effective, they can have side effects for your acne prone skin. An chemical sunscreen works by absorbing UV light and is sacrificed during this process.<\/p>\n When chemical sunscreens, such as oxybenzone,protect your skin, specific molecular bonds\/moieties are able to react with photons of light and preventing them from reacting with your skin. This reaction releases heat energy, in addition to being a key cause of photoallergy<\/a>. <\/p>\n Essentially chemical sunscreens have the potential to aggravate<\/a>, sensitize<\/a> and inflame your acne prone skin. <\/p>\n Yes, chemical based sunscreens have potential to flare your acne.<\/p>\n Why take the risk when instead you can use a perfect for acne prone skin physical sunscreen. The most common physical sunscreen ingredient is zinc oxide – a sunscreen ingredient with more than just sun protection benefits for acne prone skin.<\/p>\n In addition to being sensitive skin friendly, zinc<\/a> may help reduce sebum production in addition to helping skin heal – it\u2019s key in helping your skin process vitamin A<\/a>, which is the vitamin (as retinoic acid) clinically proven to help resolve acne. <\/p>\n Yes, physical sunscreens can help prevent UV oxidation of skin lipids into highly comedogenic actives, in addition to preventing UV caused inflammation. Acne is an inflammatory skin condition therefore sunscreens with additional anti-inflammatory ingredients are especially helpful.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve picked up a great mineral sunscreen – fantastic. Now you\u2019ll also want to be sure it has a minimum SPF of 30. This is the dermatologist recommended gold standard for effective sun protection. Sunlight can quickly cause oxidation of your skin\u2019s sebum turning it from helpful to highly comedogenic – acne causing.<\/p>\n Bonus: <\/strong>A minimum SPF 30 also ensures you a very effective sunscreen for acne scars. This level of sun protection will help you stop common, sun induced darkening of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Meaning that the dark marks left behind after an acne spot have healed.<\/p>\n The science bit: <\/strong>SPF simply stands for sun protection factor. Take SPF 30 as an example, say it takes your acne prone skin 10 minutes to burn without sunscreen in direct sunlight – using SPF 30 will protect your skin against burn for 30 times longer i.e. you\u2019d be able to enjoy the sun worry free for up to 300 minutes. It also means only 1 in every 30 UV rays gets to interact with your skin giving you a reliable and effective UV protection level of 97%.<\/p>\n Making sure you\u2019ve chosen a mineral\/physical sunscreen perfect for your acne prone skin is extremely simple when looking at an ingredients list. There\u2019s only 2 currently known and used actives;<\/p>\n See either of these 2 listed under \u2018active ingredients\u2019 on a sunscreen label and you\u2019re in the safe and clear\u2026 almost – be sure to read this next bit on what to avoid.<\/p>\n Try to find a sunscreen that\u2019s free from<\/p>\n These are 3 highly comedogenic skin care ingredients, commonly used as solvents i.e. ingredients which make the sunscreen easier to apply. When found at the top of your sunscreens ingredient list they have strong potential to worsen your acne.<\/p>\n In general alcohol or denatured alcohol is often used in sunscreens to improve it\u2019s spreadability and absorption. Although it is commonly used, alcohol de-greases your skin and often cause dryness and irritation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Choosing a 100% mineral protecting sunscreen will also make sure you\u2019re sunscreens free from photoallergy<\/a> causing and therefore acne worsening chemical sunscreen filters like oxybenzone aka benzophenone-3. <\/p>\n Pro-tip:<\/strong> Don\u2019t believe once-a-day sun protection claims. Sun protection can be used up faster in direct sunlight, rubbed away or sweated off.<\/p>\n In one word – yes, so long as your waterproof sunscreen ticks all of the best sunscreen for acne prone skin boxes first. Waterproof sunscreens help your sunscreen be most effective whether playing sport, having a water fight or swimming.<\/p>\n However rather than the claim waterproof, what you\u2019re most likely to find is a sunscreen which claims to be water resistant – as in the recommendations you find here. These words are a much fairer description of what a sunscreen can offer your skin. No sunscreen can be 100% waterproof, but instead they absolutely can be water resistant.<\/p>\n Truth – some natural ingredients have an SPF-like effect.<\/p>\n However use these natural oils to make DIY sunscreens and you will never be sure of the SPF you\u2019ve created<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Creating a sunscreen with SPF 30 is not as simple as using ingredients with SPF 30 – which when it comes to natural oils are very hard to come by. Instead sunscreen efficacy also depends on how well a formula spreads onto your skin, how well it\u2019s retained in the top layers of your skin and how well it resists rubbing off.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> This can change every time you DIY make a sunscreen formula even though the ingredients you\u2019re using are the same.<\/p>\n The best natural sunscreens for acne prone skin are tested by independent laboratories to confirm their SPF effects. For example Derma E\u2019s Skin Care Oil Free Face Antioxidant Spf 30<\/strong><\/a> or Australian Gold\u2019s Botanical Sunscreen Mineral Lotion, Non-Greasy, SPF 30<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t risk it. Stay skin safe. Use SPF proven and pre-made natural sunscreen.<\/p>\n Sun exposure will worsen your acne symptoms. Do not listen to anybody telling you otherwise. Here are the facts;<\/p>\n Acne is an inflammatory skin condition so any skin care product or environmental stressor which causes your skin more inflammation will make your acne worse.<\/p>\n Your skin’s sebum is naturally designed to help protect skin – however there\u2019s only so much it can take. Take squalene<\/a> for instance, it\u2019s a major constituent of your skin\u2019s sebum making up around 13% of your skin\u2019s natural oils.<\/p>\n On exposure to excessive amounts of UV light it oxidises<\/a> into squalene monohydroperoxide a highly comedogenic, inflammation causing and acne worsening ingredient.<\/p>\n Antioxidants help your skin resist the damaging effects of sun exposure i.e. they help stop skin lipids like squalane from \u2018going off\u2019. When your sebum loses precious antioxidants, it becomes prone to oxidation and therefore can become acne worsening.<\/p>\n Remember those dark marks acne spots leave behind? Dermatologists call this post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) i.e. acne scarring. This darkening of skin is caused by the exact same pigments which give your skin tone colour.<\/p>\n Skin creates more of these ingredients in areas it thinks need extra protection. It\u2019s the reason you get a tan. Exposing your acne prone skin to sunlight without sun protection will cause you darker and more noticeable PIH and acne scarring.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve just mentioned 4 impelling reasons why you should avoid leaving your house without any sunscreen on. So go on, find the best fit for your sensitive acne prone skin and you are prepared to enjoy the sunlight!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Unprotected sun exposure will make your acne worse\u2026 but using sunscreen can also do the exact same thing. Sunscreen and acne, It\u2019s a catch 22. Use no sunscreen and your acne gets worse. Use sunscreen and your acne gets worse. But\u2026 use the right sunscreen – a sunscreen that won\u2019t cause acne – and not … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6779,"featured_media":10837,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"generate_page_header":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10826"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6779"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10826"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11918,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10826\/revisions\/11918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acneeinstein.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} **Best for Oily Skin** <\/strong>Derma E Skin Care Oil Free Face Antioxidant Spf 30<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n**Best for sensitive skin** <\/strong>SunSense Sensitive Matte with SPF 50 Plus, tinted formula<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
**Best for price** <\/strong>Aveeno Natural Protection Oil-Free Mineral Sunscreen Lotion<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
**Best for reapplication** <\/strong>Brush On Block SPF 30<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
**Purse friendly, general choice for acne prone skin** <\/strong>Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen Mineral Lotion, Non-Greasy, SPF 30<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
Best SPF moisturizers – lightweight alternatives to sunscreens<\/h2>\n
**Top Choice** Paula’s Choice-RESIST Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
**Best for redness** Paula’s Choice CALM Redness Relief SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
**Best natural sunscreen for acne prone skin** Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil Free Moisturizer<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
How do I choose the best sunscreen for my skin?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nDoes sunscreen cause acne? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Does sunscreen help acne? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nWhat SPF do you really need?<\/h3>\n
Key ingredients to look for<\/h3>\n
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What you should avoid in sunscreens<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nShould you buy waterproof sunscreen?<\/h3>\n
Warning about natural or DIY sunscreens<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nWhy acne-prone skin needs sunscreen<\/h2>\n
UV light causes your skin inflammation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Sunlight can cause your sebum levels to become highly comedogenic<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Unprotected sun exposure depletes skin\u2019s natural antioxidant levels<\/strong><\/h3>\n
UV light worsens acne scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n