7 Best Powder Sunscreens for Mattifying, Grease-Free Sun Protection
All the SPF coverage, none of the oil.
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We've all heard it a thousand times: You really need to wear sunscreen — and you need to wear it every single day. But did you know that you should also reapply throughout the day? That seems pretty easy, but if you have a full face of makeup on, then slathering on a layer of goopy, white sunblock just doesn't seem ideal.
But there’s a way to have your sun protection and keep your makeup intact. Meet your new sun-care BFF: powder sunscreen.
What Is Powder Sunscreen?
As the name suggests, powder sunscreen is a powdered form of sunblock that gives you the same SPF protection as regular liquid and creams, without the greasy residue or streakiness. Plus, it makes it easier to protect an important area where liquid sunscreens just don't cut it: your scalp.
“Powder sunscreens make it much easier and more comfortable to keep your scalp protected,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur, M.D. “You can swipe the powder onto your roots, leaving you with an SPF-protected scalp, and even cover up some unwanted oil in the hair for a more refreshed look.”
The Best Powder Sunscreens
How to Shop
Skin Type
Powder sunscreens are usually made to absorb oil on your face, so oily skin types will love just about every formula on this list. However, drier complexions may need to opt for a lighter powder formula so your face won't look dry and ghoulish throughout the day. As for sensitive skin types, using a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic option is crucial to avoid an allergic reaction. And as always, with any new skincare product, make sure you patch test on a small area of unexposed skin to make sure your complexion won't get irritated.
Powder Shade
Just like traditional liquid sunscreen, whiter shades of powder can leave an ashy, unflattering finish on deeper skin tones. Thankfully, many brands offer a variety of tinted powder shades to choose from, so you can find your perfect match with ease. Other formulas that don't have extensive shade options usually have a universally tinted shade, which works for a larger range.
Application
Although powder sunscreens are an awesome way to touch up your SPF protection throughout the day, they shouldn't be your only source of sun protection. You should start your pre-makeup routine with a conventional liquid sunscreen to give yourself a base layer of SPF to protect your skin. Then feel free to top off your makeup with one of these powder formulas every two hours — remember, SPF reapplication is key to keeping your skin guarded.
And while these powder sunscreens are tinted, most of them won't act as a full-coverage powder foundation. If you're a complexion product minimalist, then swiping these powders on is a great way to reduce oil without leaving a white cast or ashy finish, but if you need full coverage, then stick to your usual foundation and apply your powder sunscreen after your entire makeup routine.
SPF Coverage
Just as the American Academy of Dermatology recommends, you should always use an SPF of at least 30 to protect your skin. While you technically can use powder sunscreens as your main form of head-to-toe sunscreen, Marmur recommends using both liquid and powder for an optimal SPF guard. She advises, “Make sure you're spreading the product evenly in order to keep the SPF consistent,” says Marmur.
Ready for some fun in the sun? Then don't forget to pack one of these powder sunscreens — take a look at some of our favorites below. In addition to some expert recommendations, we included products selected by our beauty editor for their impressive ingredient list, user reviews, and how they work with different skin tones and types.
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Beauty Awards package.
Jennifer is the former beauty editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse. Her work has been featured in Allure, Byrdie, HelloGiggles, and more. When she’s not swatching eyeshadow all over her arms, you can find the NYC-based editor scouring for hours on end for vintage finds, eating pad thai, and hanging out with her cat, Chunks.
Ashley is the beauty and style editor at BestProducts.com, and her work has been featured on Cosmopolitan and Town and Country. She has an obsession with designer handbags, Liberty prints, 1960s fashion, and owns more shoes than she’s willing to admit. She's been using her learnings from owning a boutique and her shopping addiction for good since 2015. She’ll never accept that black isn’t a color. Away from the computer, you’ll likely find the Texas native binging on a British period drama or theorizing over Game of Thrones. She has yet to find a real cup of queso in NYC.
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