Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin: Matte, Light and No Grease

The best sunscreen for oily skin is a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher with a gel, fluid or silicone base that dries down without shine. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 is our pick for wearing under makeup. Biore UV Aqua Rich SPF 50 has the most watery feel, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55 holds up to sweat, and Cetaphil Oil Absorbing SPF 30 is the budget matte option.

Before you buy, you can check any of these against your own skin type by scanning the barcode or label with the ingredient scanner in Pori.

This list is about finish: how each sunscreen feels, how it sits under foundation and how easy it is to reapply on a shiny face. If breakouts are your main worry, our list of the best sunscreens for acne-prone skin covers that. We compared US Drug Facts labels, ingredient lists, brand claims and listed prices. We did not test these products on skin. Prices are US listings as of October 2026.

What makes a sunscreen good for oily skin?

A good sunscreen for oily skin has a light base, no added oils, ingredients that absorb or blur shine, and broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says gels are good for oily complexions, and its oily skin page advises people with oily skin to still moisturize and to look for a moisturizer that contains broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, which a matte sunscreen-moisturizer does in one step.

• Base: water-light gels and fluids, or silicone gels built on volatile solvents such as isododecane that evaporate after you apply them.
• Oil-absorbing powders: silica, polymethyl methacrylate, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate and similar ingredients soak up surface oil and soften shine.
• What to avoid: the AAD's oily skin page suggests avoiding sunscreens that contain fragrance or oils, mainly to prevent breakouts.
• Water resistance: helpful if you sweat or live somewhere humid, since it tells you how long the film should last on wet skin.

The FDA requires water-resistant sunscreens to say whether they last 40 or 80 minutes when swimming or sweating, and notes that no sunscreen is waterproof.

Which sunscreens are best for oily skin?

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40: best under makeup

Unseen is a clear gel. Its Drug Facts label starts with isododecane, a solvent that evaporates quickly, followed by silicone crosspolymers and polymethylsilsesquioxane, the same kind of ingredients makeup primers are built from. No water appears in the ingredient list, and with no zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, there's no white pigment to leave a cast. That smooth, slightly velvety base is why it suits wearing under foundation.

Watch for: the list also includes meadowfoam estolide, shea butter and jojoba esters, so very oily skin may still shine by mid-afternoon. A newer SPF 50 version has its own label with different filter levels (homosalate 7%, octocrylene 9%) and a slightly different base, so check which one you're buying. Our Supergoop Unseen review goes deeper.

Biore UV Aqua Rich SPF 50: lightest feel

The US version is labeled Biore UV Aqua Rich Weightless Facial Moisturizer SPF 50. Its label lists alcohol denat. right after water, which explains the watery texture and fast dry-down that people with oily skin like. A Glow Enhancing version adds niacinamide, mica and iron oxides and is sold as glow enhancing and tone evening, according to its label.

Watch for: it contains fragrance and fragrance allergens (citral, geraniol, limonene, linalool), and the alcohol can sting irritated skin. It isn't water resistant. Our Biore Aqua Rich review covers the formula in detail.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55: best for sweat and outdoor days

This drugstore staple is the one to grab for hot days, sport or long stretches outside. Its label lists water resistance for 80 minutes, with silica and a styrene/acrylates film-former that give its dry-touch finish. It also comes in SPF 30, 45, 70 and 100+ versions.

Watch for: it contains fragrance and beeswax, it's thicker than the others here, and the label warns it may stain some fabrics. Under makeup it can feel heavier than Unseen or Biore.

Cetaphil Oil Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30: budget matte moisturizer

If you'd rather use one product than a moisturizer plus sunscreen, this fits. Target lists it, under its older DermaControl name, as oil-free, non-comedogenic and made with no added fragrance, in a 4 fl oz bottle. Its label pairs three chemical filters with silica, polymethyl methacrylate and aluminum starch octenylsuccinate to soak up oil.

Watch for: some Target reviewers say it doesn't stay matte on them, and SPF 30 is the lowest here, so apply a full amount.

Which sunscreen works best under makeup on oily skin?

A silicone gel like Supergoop Unseen usually works best under foundation, with Biore a close second if you want something thinner. Silicone gels fill in texture and leave a smooth surface, while alcohol-based fluids dry down fast and leave very little on the skin. Lotions with more emulsifiers and waxes, like the Neutrogena, may pill under some foundations.

1. Apply sunscreen as the last skincare step and give it a few minutes to set.
2. Use the full amount. The AAD recommends at least 1 teaspoon for the face.
3. Choose makeup made for oily skin. The AAD suggests oil-free, water-based makeup, and products labeled "matte" to reduce shine.
4. If foundation pills, use less of the products underneath it, or pair a silicone sunscreen with a silicone foundation and a water-based sunscreen with a water-based foundation.

For the full prep order, see our guide to skincare before makeup.

How do you reapply sunscreen on oily skin, especially over makeup?

Blot first, then press on a thin layer of fluid sunscreen or swipe on a stick, and reapply about every two hours when you're outside. The AAD says to reapply approximately every two hours, or after swimming or sweating. If you're indoors away from windows, a dermatologist writing for the Skin Cancer Foundation says reapplying every four to six hours is enough, though sitting by a window counts as sun exposure.

• Blot before you reapply. The AAD recommends pressing blotting paper on your face for a few seconds without rubbing, which lifts oil without moving your makeup.
• Press, don't rub. Dot a fluid like Biore over your face and press it in with a clean damp sponge.
• Try a stick. Supergoop also makes an Unseen Sunscreen Stick SPF 40 with the same four filters. The AAD notes that sticks are good to use around the eyes.
• Swap formulas for sweat. On gym or beach days, use a water-resistant sunscreen like the Neutrogena and reapply after the time on the label.

Gel, lotion or serum: which texture is best for oily skin?

Gels and watery fluids feel lightest on oily skin, silicone gels give the smoothest base for makeup, and matte lotions suit people who want to skip a separate moisturizer. The AAD names gels as good for oily complexions and creams as better for dry skin. Texture is personal, though. The AAD's own advice is that the best sunscreen is the one you'll use again and again, so pick the texture you'll actually wear every day.

How do you keep oily skin from shining through sunscreen?

Pair your sunscreen with a gentle routine and blotting papers. Stripping skin with harsh products tends to make shine worse. The AAD recommends washing up to twice a day and after sweating, and moisturizing even when you're oily. It also warns that harsh face washes can irritate skin and trigger more oil. Choose one oil-control step, either a matte sunscreen or a mattifying primer, so you aren't stacking several layers that pill. Our oily skin routine puts the whole morning and evening plan together.

At night, wash sunscreen off fully. Water-resistant formulas like the Neutrogena cling on purpose, so an oil-free remover or a first cleanse before your regular wash helps. The AAD's oily skin advice is plain: don't sleep in your makeup, and the same goes for a day's worth of sunscreen.