Your Guide to The Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin
Having sensitive skin makes finding the perfect sunscreen a challenge. When you apply sunscreen, you want a formula that doesn’t make your skin react and that feels nice too. Don’t fret. We’re sharing what you need to know about SPF ingredients so you can easily find the best sunscreens for sensitive skin.
Mineral vs. Synthetic Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin
The ingredients present in mineral and synthetic sunscreens vary. Mineral sunscreens (often called “physical sunscreens”) list titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide as their only active ingredients. Both are incredibly gentle ingredients known to be well-suited for sensitive skin. They absorb into the very surface layers of skin where they deflect, scatter, and absorb the sun’s harmful rays. In the past, mineral sunscreen formulas were thick and noticeably opaque, which is why it was tricky to find one that looked and felt good.
Fortunately, modern-day innovations have improved the way mineral sunscreens are formulated so they can have a luxe look and feel. Such skin-restoring ingredients or skin-replenishing ingredients help to protect sensitive skin without triggering unwanted reactions. Paula’s Choice Skincare takes advantage of these advances, so we can confidently state that the best mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin include:
- CALM Restoring Moisturizer (Normal/Dry) (hydrating, cushiony texture + soothing plant extracts).
- CALM Restoring Moisturizer (Oily/Combination) (lightweight, skin-calming formula with a non-greasy feel and shine-free finish).
- RESIST Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 (the best tinted moisturizer with SPF for sensitive skin).
Synthetic sunscreens (often called “chemical sunscreens”) also scatter and deflect the sun’s harmful rays, but they work primarily by converting UV rays into heat and “deactivating” them before they can damage your skin. Common synthetic sunscreen ingredients include oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone.
It's easier to achieve a lighter-weight feel and imperceptible (no white cast) finish with this type of sunscreen, which is part of the reason they are widely used in SPF products. However, synthetic actives also can trigger sensitising reactions for some people, which is why we (and dermatologists around the world) recommend mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin.
To be clear, synthetic sunscreens are great and many people can use them—they’re just generally not the best bet for sensitive or redness-prone skin.
Why Fragrance-Free Sunscreen Matters for Sensitive Skin
One other important thing to note: Fragrant ingredients are often used to mask the natural smell of sunscreen actives, but that’s bad news for all skin types, especially very sensitive skin. Fragrance ingredients impart their scent through a volatile reaction, which almost always causes a sensitising reaction on skin (whether or not you can see it, it’s happening). In fact, research has established that fragrance in skincare products is among the most common cause of negative skin reactions. Replacing such products with fragrance-free products can help you avoid skin inflammation and premature skin ageing.
All Paula’s Choice Skincare products, including our moisturizers with sunscreen, are fragrance free—something we stand by unequivocally. Shop Paula’s Choice range of sunscreen products for sensitive skin available for sale in Singapore now.
Learn more about sensitive skin.
References for this information
Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 2013, pages 140–146
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, and Photomedicine, April 2011, pages 58–67
Cosmetics & Toiletries, February 2006, pages 63–68
Contact Dermatitis, 1997, pages 57–85
