The 12 Best Powder Sunscreens for People Who Hate Thick, Goopy SPF
Practice safe sun.
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Whether it’s blazing hot or you’re bundled up in layers of fall sweaters and scarves, wearing sunscreen daily is a must, both for the look of your skin and its overall health. Regardless of skin tone, sunscreen is a daily, year-round essential because clouds and even windows don’t block all UV rays. Many can still get through and damage your skin. In the short term, that can manifest as hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and even acne. Long term, UV damage can lead to premature signs of skin aging (fine lines and wrinkles) and cause skin cancer.
Still, the temptation to occasionally skip daily SPF application, and especially reapplication, is real, which is where powder sunscreens come in handy. Instead of slathering another layer of liquid sunscreen onto your already made-up, sweat-beaded complexion, you can simply dust on a lightweight powder dispensed out of a tube with a built-in brush.
“Powder sunscreens are a great solution for people who don’t want to mess up their makeup or hair by reapplying sunscreen,” says dermatologist Dr. Hadley King. “They also absorb excess oil, so can serve a dual purpose as a setting powder.”
Even more reasons to get on board? Powder sunscreens provide easy, mess-free application on the scalp—a necessary but often-neglected area to keep protected—are easy to pop in your bag on the go, and can double as dry shampoo thanks to their oil-absorbing properties.
According to celebrity esthetician Dr. Rahi Sarbaziha, powders are best used in conjunction with liquid sunscreens. But if you insist on going the cream-free route, King mentions you can get away with wearing powders sunscreen alone by applying a sufficient amount to achieve the product’s advertised SPF (a somewhat difficult task, especially when covering larger areas of the body). To do this, King suggests going over the area with powder several times until you can see a visible coating.
Ready to try a formula for yourself? Here, we’ve consulted a range of experts to compile 12 of the best powdered sunscreens you should be wearing all day, every day.
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
- Pricey
In addition to working on all skin types and skin tones, sans chemicals, this translucent SPF is also cruelty-free (like all Tarte products). It’s formulated with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—the two FDA-approved mineral sunscreen ingredients—which both actually “exist naturally as a powder” and work on the surface of the skin as a shield to block UV rays, explains dermatologist Dr. Marisa K. Garshick.
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
- Product can be hard to dispense
Per hundreds of stellar Amazon reviews, this SPF 30 powder sunscreen is an all-around winner: The self-dispensing brush doesn’t spew out any excess formula, and it feels lightweight and natural. It also offers the added benefit of being sweat and water- resistant for up to 80 minutes and “contains zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and antioxidants to protect from free radicals and infrared rays,” King says. Another bonus: It’s vegan and cruelty-free.
Mineral Fusion Brush-On Sun Defense SPF 30
Pros
- Gentle
Cons
- May be too dark for very light skin tones
This gentle hypoallergenic powder sunscreen works both for pore-minimizing and controlling oil—all while blocking out harmful rays that can damage the skin. The powder is translucent, making it ideal for most skin tones, too.
Eminence Organic Skin Care Organic Sun Defense Minerals SPF 30
Pros
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Pricey
This water-resistant SPF 30 powder is formulated with vitamins A and E for double the fine line-fighting power. Equally important is what you won’t find: parabens, sulfates, gluten, and phthalates.
Pros
- Long-lasting
Cons
- May be too dark for very light skin tones
Infused with UV-blocking zinc oxide, moisturizing vitamin E, and soothing green tea and chamomile extracts, this powder combines the benefits of skincare and makeup. Your skin is left with a smooth finish that lasts all day.
Colorescience Brush-On Sunscreen
Pros
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Pricey
The price tag may be steep, but this OG brush-on powder sunscreen is top-rated for a reason. It provides remarkably long-lasting SPF without any allergens, has antimicrobial bristles, and even protects against blue light via non-nano zinc oxide, iron oxides, and antioxidants. “I love this product because it lasts a long time and has hint of color, so can slightly cover up imperfections in the skin,” Sarbaziha adds. Keep one in your purse or your car, and swipe it onto your face, neck, and chest for extra UV protection without any caking.
Pros
- Hydrating
Cons
- Limited shade range
This compact has a cream-to-powder formula that is lightly tinted for all your sun-protecting needs. With SPF 50—and a small mirror for on-the-go application—you really have no excuse not to reapply every two hours.
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Pressed Powder SPF 30
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
- Limited shade range
Physicians Formula is known for its buttery soft powders that aren’t the least bit chalky. This compact is where makeup meets skincare, so you can dab on a little in shiny spots on your face, while knowing that you’re also adding a fine layer of SPF to protect from the sun’s rays.
Jane Iredale Powder-Me SPF 30 Dry Sunscreen
Pros
- Anti-aging
Cons
- Pricey
“This all-mineral powder sunscreen contains pomegranate extract, which is rich in antioxidants that can help diminish the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines,” King says. Available in four shades, it also comes with vegan bristles and recyclable refill canisters to minimize waste.
Supergoop! (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder Sunscreen SPF 35 PA+++
Pros
- Invisible
Cons
- Limited shade range
Supergoop! is known for its innovative SPF formulations, and this popular powder is no different. The silky, fine-milled formula goes on smoothly and is “great for mattifying shine,” King notes. It comes in three different shades—light, medium, and deep—as well as translucent, which works on all skin tones. For long days spent under the sun, the brand also makes Poof Mineral Part and Scalp Powder, an amazing little bottle filled with a translucent powder that is equal parts dry shampoo and sunscreen for your hair and scalp.
Pros
- Mattifies
Cons
- Pricey
If you’re new to powder sunscreens and want to test out a translucent, fool-proof option, this option from Ilia is for you. It provides SPF 20 coverage while simultaneously soaking up excess shine and nourishing skin, thanks to the passion fruit and rosemary oil in the formula. It’s a favorite of Sarbaziha’s, too, thanks to its super-soft, lightweight feel.
Pros
- Translucent
- Reef-safe
Cons
This zinc-based sunscreen is reef-safe, easy to apply, and refillable, so you can say goodbye to purchasing entire bottles of SPF every time you run out. Plus, the groovy vibe of the packaging is enough to brighten up anyone’s vanity.
How much powder sunscreen should I apply?
“For both powdered and liquid sunscreens, the amount of protection, known as the sun protection factor (SPF), depends on how much product is applied,” says Garshick. “In general, people do not apply a thick enough layer of the powder to offer the protection that is on the label.” This is precisely why powdered SPF should generally be layered on top of liquid sunscreen—on top of your makeup, even—in order to “offer a great extra layer of protection,” Garshick says. And as with other types of sunscreen, it’s important to reapply powder formulas every two hours and after swimming or sweating, King notes.
Can you use powder sunscreen on your whole body?
Because you need a thick layer of sunscreen for maximum protection, powder SPF is not the best choice for head-to-toe coverage. Instead, “it is best to use a liquid sunscreen for the whole body and reserve the powdered sunscreen options for reapplication to specific areas,” Garshick says. Specific areas include the face, neck, ears, upper chest, arms, hands, and hair part—or other small body parts.
Are all powder sunscreens reef-safe?
“Most high-quality powder sunscreens on the market are mineral-based, meaning they’re safe for reefs and also very effective in protecting your skin from sun damage,” Sarbaziha says. Common ingredients to look for include “non-nano zinc oxide, iron oxides, and antioxidants,” King adds.
Meet the Experts
Dr. Marisa K. Garshick is a board-certified dermatologist with MDCS Dermatology in New York.
Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist in New York.
Dr. Rahi Sarbaziha is a celebrity esthetician and integrative aesthetics specialist with offices in California and New York.
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