Enjoying countless hours by the beach or poolside is one of the highlights of summer and the not-so-cold months. Unfortunately, that kind of fun can come with a side of sunburn, hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and more. This is why every dermatologist will hammer into you the importance of regulating UV exposure by regularly using the best sunscreen.

Most folks only use sunscreen during the summer season because that is when the sun is at its peak, but the truth of the matter is that sunscreen should be used all year round. Just because the sun is not shining that brightly doesn’t mean that there are no harmful UV rays preying on your skin.

But then again, which is the best sunscreen to use? Before going ahead and splurging on a certain sunscreen brand just because you read about it somewhere, you should know your skin type. This is because there are different sunscreens for different skin types, like sunscreen for oily skin, dry skin, and more. Although we would love to share which sunscreen is the best for all skin types, today we are focusing on the one that’s best for oily skin, aka acne-prone skin.

Guidelines for Choosing the Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin

If you want to avoid premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer then make sunscreen a part of your daily skincare routine. We understand that having oily skin might scare you from adding something else to your already temperamental skin. But, this should not be a problem because, with the help of some friendly dermatologists, we’ve put together some simple guidelines to follow when choosing the best sunscreen for oily skin.

1. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher

SPF is short for Sun Protection Factor which is a way of measuring protection from UVB rays. You get more protection if the SPF is higher. SPF products reflect UV rays when they hit the skin. Look for a sunscreen that blends really well with your skin tone making it unnoticeable when you apply it.

2. Non-comedogenic

Look out for the term non-comedogenic on the sunscreen you intend on purchasing. This basically means that the product does not contain ingredients that might clog your pores causing further irritation, blemishes, or pimples on your skin. Also, go for an oil-free product for your daily use.

3. Choose between gels, fluids, and sprays sunscreens

Oily skin tends to absorb gels, fluids, and sprays better than lotions and creams. This is because the best sunscreen for oily skin is very lightweight. Sunscreen gels are easily absorbed fully into the skin leaving no trace behind. Apart from being lightweight, water-based sunscreens do not cause skin breakouts like creamy ones.

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4. Broad Spectrum protection

Choose a sunscreen that is labeled broad spectrum. This basically means that it protects against both the UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are the rays that damage the skin and as a result, cause premature aging as well. Overexposure to UVA rays can lead to skin cancer. UVB rays are also known as burn and tan rays. Much of the skin’s damage is attributed to these rays. There are some sunscreens that only protect against this type of ultraviolet light. Protect your skin completely from the sun by getting a product that blocks both the UVA and UVB rays.

5. Go for oil-control sunscreens

Oil-control sunscreens are specially made for oily and acne-prone skin types and usually have a very high sun protection factor. These sunscreens have sebum-regulating properties, and usually leave a mattifying effect on the skin, even in humid conditions.

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6. Avoid PABA or Oxybenzone

Stay away from sunscreens containing PABA or Oxybenzone as they tend to irritate the skin. Go for sunscreens that contain alcohol as they are less likely to aggravate the skin, although some may dry it out leading to overproduction of sebum, hence the possibility of an outbreak (we’d suggest you do a patch test first).

That said, also make sure to carefully read the active ingredients on the sunscreen and try your best to not be blinded by the pricing or label. The best sunscreen that fits your skin type might cost a fraction of the big-branded ones.