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7 best non-comedogenic sunscreens that won’t cause breakouts
Thick, gloopy, pore-clogging sunscreens are officially a thing of the past
As acne-prone beauty editors, we at Cosmo take our skincare routine very seriously. I mean, we literally have our very own Acne section full of advice and run every new product that crosses our desks through pore-clogging ingredient checkers before it gets anywhere near our faces. So when something passes the test and actually earns a permanent spot on the shelf, it’s a pretty big deal. Face sunscreen, however, is one of the trickiest categories to find a favourite. We need to wear it every single day (obviously), but so many formulas are either way too greasy or packed with pore-clogging ingredients.
So lemme intro you to the best non-comedogenic sunscreens that are tested and approved by a bunch of acne-prone editors. These formulas are total game changer for our skin—they are lightweight and breathable and, most importantly, won’t clog up pores. Yes, protective SPF that actually feels good on your skin does exist. Take a peek at some of the best non-comedogenic sunscreens out there:
Our top picks for non-comedogenic sunscreens in 2025:
Ultra Violette Future Fluid SPF50+ Superlight Mineral Skinscreen™
Read review
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Hyaluronic Cloud Moisturizer
Read review
With any of these, slathering on SPF won’t feel like a chore. In fact, it might just become your favourite skincare step (it certainly is mine). Want clear, protected, glow-worthy skin? Keep scrolling for all of Team Cosmo’s faves.
BTW, our Summer Beauty Bible is on newsstands now. Don’t miss your chance to grab your guide full of helpful tips and product recs – buy now, keep forever.
This multitasking SPF protects skin with SPF 46 and it’s loaded with niacinamide to help calm inflammation and regulate oil production along with hyaluronic acid to provide lightweight hydration. And if you prefer your sunscreen to have a nice blurring effect, this comes in a sheer tinted version too.
Protection level: SPF 46
Sunscreen type: Mineral and chemical
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
One Cosmo editor says: “This glorious SPF leaves no white cast, doesn’t burn my eyes, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated (but not shiny or sticky). The lightweight formula doesn’t break me out at all. TYSM, DRMTLGY.” —Kara Miller, designer
Beauty editor Beth Gillette loves DRMTLGY’s acne-friendly formula for everyday wear.
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: Ultra Violette literally makes some of the best face sunscreens on the market right now. If you have acne-prone skin, don’t sleep on Future Screen. The fluid-like texture is ultra-lightweight and has a dewy finish that makes skin glow without clogging pores.
Protection level: SPF 50
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Key ingredients: Vitamin E, squalane
One Cosmo editor says: “Only one SPF is coming in my carry-on: Future Screen. I used it the entire time on a recent trip to Fort Lauderdale (where the UV index was an 8, TYVM) and I didn’t get an ounce of colour on my face thanks to the SPF 50 made of 20 percent zinc. Plus, the texture is so nice and silky that I didn’t mind applying and reapplying it all day long—and the sheer tint helped blur my breakouts so my skin looked more even without makeup.” —Lauren Balsamo, beauty director
This is beauty director Lauren Balsamo’s go-to acne-safe SPF for beach days.
This tinted sunscreen is loved by dermatologists and editors. The lotion-like formula blends into the skin seamlessly and comes in two flexible shades that provide sheer coverage to help even out your skin tone and camouflage any breakouts. I personally love using it as a base under my foundation.
Protection level: SPF 46
Sunscreen type: Mineral and chemical
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamde
One Cosmo editor says: “When you discover an SPF like this one that fully protects your skin from the sun and blends beautifully into the deepest of skin tones, then you definitely award it and tell the world to stock up!” —Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large
Blends in like a dream.
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Hyaluronic Cloud Moisturizer
If you’re looking for as much hydration as possible in your sunscreen, lemme put you onto Peter Thomas Roth’s Water Drench SPF. It’s packed with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides for some serious moisturising benefits that’ll give your skin a juicy glow. Given all the hydrating effects, this an excellent pick for anyone with dry or dehydrated skin that doesn’t want to use a formula full of heavy, pore-clogging ingredients.
Protection level: SPF 46
Sunscreen type: Chemical
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
One Cosmo editor says: “My acne-prone, sensitive, and ultra-dry skin is obsessed with this sunscreen. Whether I’m wearing it in the dry winter or on a beach when my face is getting super crusty and thirsty, it replenishes and protects my skin with ease.” —JH
It makes my dry skin look glowy as heck.
The first time I tested this sunscreen, I had to double check the bottle just to make sure it was actually sunscreen—I’ve never come across such a high mineral SPF that felt like *nothing* on the skin. The super-silky formula works like magic to gently hydrate while boosting radiance with a mix of glycerin and antioxidants. It doesn’t supply any sort of coverage, but it does give the confidence to go fresh-faced on any given day.
Protection level: SPF 70
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Key ingredients: Glycerin, antioxidants
One Cosmo editor says: “In extremely hot weather, I like a mega-high SPF, and this one feels so great on my skin. Actually, it doesn’t really feel like I have anything on my skin.” —Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Beauty editor Beth Gillette put this formula to the test all weekend in the Coachella desert.
This mineral sunscreen is so weightless, it feels more like skincare than SPF. It’s a dream for acne-prone skin—non-greasy, massages into a glowy base, and is infused with skin-loving ingredients like glycerin and vitamin C. And it’s great for all over the body like your back or shoulders where you might also be prone to breakouts.
Protection level: SPF 46
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Key ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin C
One Cosmo editor says: “My aesthetician recommended this sunscreen, and I couldn’t believe I’ve lived my whole life without it. It layers so well with my skincare routine—no pilling whatsoever—and doesn’t leave a greasy film on my face. You could also use it on your body which I appreciate when I don’t have a huge bag to lug around a bunch of body products.” —JH
I trust this formula with my life, aka while on a sunny beach.
If your acne prone skin is also v sensitive (like prone rosacea or redness) this skin-smoothing face SPF will be your sun care go-to. It boasts a colour-correcting green tint that blends out to neutralise redness. It does require a bit of effort to fully blend in, but the extra elbow grease is def worth it for calm, even, protected skin.
Protection level: SPF 45
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, cica
One Cosmo editor says: “It doesn’t matter if I’ve spent too much time out in the sun or just completed a super tough workout—my skin’s normal state of being is…red, or at least, pink. To neutralise that redness, I slather on this green-tinted mineral SPF. Along with evening out my skin tone (which some foundations can’t even do), this keeps my complexion hydrated and calm with eight different types of hyaluronic acid and soothing cica.” —BG
How do I know if my sunscreen is comedogenic?
The clearest way to know if your sunscreen is comedogenic (or rather non-comedogenic) is to see if it says so on the packaging. “If you’re unsure, you can look up the ingredient list online and use a search engine like this one to look for pore-clogging ingredients in the formulation,” says board-certified dermatologist Michael I. Jacobs, MD.
Keep in mind that the term non-comedogenic isn’t regulated, though. So what can break you out might be a dream for another acne-prone person, and vice versa. Board-certified dermatologist Nicole Lee, MD, recommends selecting water-based formulas that are lighter than other options and steering clear of formulas with cocoa butter, red dye, fragrances, essential oils, and coconut oils, as these ingredients are known to clog pores, which can lead to acne.
How to choose the best non-comedogenic sunscreen for you:
Consider your skin type
Regardless of your skin type, Dr. Lee says reaching for a non-comedogenic sunscreen is a good idea. (After all, no one wants to deal with clogged pores or exacerbate acne.) That said, some formulas are better for dry skin than oily and vice versa. If you lean dry, try opting for sunscreens that include hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin to boost your skin’s moisture. These sunscreens, can amplify the effects of your moisturiser to keep your skin smooth, plump, and comfortable throughout the day.
On the flip side, if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you’re better off selecting mattifying or ultra-lightweight sunscreens that don’t leave you feeling greasy af by midday.
Choose between mineral or chemical
There’s tons of debate over whether mineral or chemical sunscreen is better. Truth be told, both will protect your skin from the sun’s rays, so as long as you’re wearing any SPF you’re doing a great job! Still, it doesn’t hurt to know the difference between the two.
Mineral sunscreens utilise mineral filters (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the most common) to create a shield over your skin. Dermatologists often recommend these types of sunscreens because they tend to be much gentler than chemical formulas. However, they’re not always the most pleasant to apply: Mineral sunscreens have a reputation for feeling heavy and leaving a white cast, although there are plenty of options on our list that are incredibly lightweight and blend beautifully into skin.
Rather than mineral filters, chemical sunscreens use chemical filters (including avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene). These chemicals sink into skin, where they absorb the sun’s rays and convert them to heat before releasing them from your skin.
Again, whichever type you use comes down to personal preference. Dr. Jacobs says that more noncomedogenic sunscreens are mineral rather than chemical—which is something to keep in mind.
PAQ hed here
- Michael I. Jacobs, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
- Nicole Lee, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Epoch Dermatology, a boutique dermatology and aesthetics practice in New York, NY.
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan US and is super selective when it comes to choosing skincare products on her acne-prone skin. For this story, she tapped the rest of Team Cosmo and used years of knowledge testing sunscreens to pick the best non-comedogenic formulas.
Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan US with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories. She is an authority in all beauty categories and never leaves the house without sunscreen. For this story, she interviewed two dermatologists and tested dozens of non-comedogenic sunscreens to find the best options for all skin types.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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