Discovering merchandise that play properly with delicate pores and skin could be difficult, particularly while you set your sights on dependable solar safety. You most likely know there are some sunscreens it’s essential to keep away from—fragrance-laden lotions, lotions with irritating energetic elements, and sprays that sap moisture—however the excellent news is that there are nonetheless loads of choices. We spoke with board-certified dermatologists about what makes a sunscreen good for delicate pores and skin and which merchandise are price a attempt.

What must you search for in a sunscreen that’s appropriate for delicate pores and skin?

It’s not unusual for individuals with delicate pores and skin to wrestle with discovering a sunscreen that’s each efficient and non-irritating, Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified medical, surgical, beauty dermatologist and founding father of Ocean Pores and skin & Vein Institute in Manhattan Seashore, California, tells SELF. Paying shut consideration to a product’s ingredient checklist and method could make your search a little bit simpler.

Elements

Chemical sunscreens (which work by absorbing and dissipating the warmth from the solar’s ultraviolet (UV) rays) comprise energetic elements, like oxybenzone or octinoxate, that may be harsh on the pores and skin, Dr. Shokeen explains. They could trigger stinging, redness, and different indicators of an allergic response, particularly amongst individuals with sure pores and skin situations, together with rosacea and eczema.

Alternatively, there are mineral sunscreens, which Dr. Shokeen recommends for delicate pores and skin. Also called bodily sunscreens, these merchandise really block UV rays from penetrating the pores and skin when utilized correctly, as SELF beforehand reported. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the 2 most typical energetic elements in mineral sunscreens and so they’re thought-about non-irritating.

That mentioned, you don’t need to rely out all chemical choices, if that’s your most popular sort. Dr. Shokeen says it helps to search for merchandise with the energetic ingredient avobenzone, which is usually gentler and fewer prone to irritate delicate pores and skin than oxybenzone or octinoxate.

Lastly, be careful for added perfume, Blair Murphy Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Laser & Pores and skin Surgical procedure Middle of NY in New York Metropolis, tells SELF. Elements below the “perfume” umbrella are frequent allergens or irritants that may trigger or exacerbate a foul response to a brand new product, and so they go by many names. Although you possibly can search for merchandise which are “fragrance-free,” this labeling can generally be deceptive. A “fragrance-free” product can get away with having elements like sure important oils in the event that they’re not outlined as a scent, so make sure that to scan the elements label rigorously for potential irritants.

Components

The formulation of a sunscreen may also contribute to the way it impacts your pores and skin, Dr. Rose says. Particularly, she notes that sprays normally comprise extra alcohol than heavier merchandise like lotions, which may make them extra drying—and, in flip, doubtlessly extra irritating. Lotions, particularly ones that comprise added moisturizing elements like oils, will really feel gentler and extra soothing on delicate pores and skin, in keeping with Dr. Rose.

Even when you discover a sunscreen that ticks these bins and appeals to your private preferences, it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to patch take a look at it, Shari Sperling, DO, board-certified dermatologist and founding father of Sperling Dermatology in Florham Park, New Jersey, tells SELF. Simply rub a quarter-size skinny layer to the within of your forearm, reapply at the very least as soon as (comply with the reapplication directions on the product’s label), and look ahead to reactions like itching, swelling, irritation, or a rash, which may point out it’s not the proper method for you.

The perfect sunscreen for delicate pores and skin

With all that steering in thoughts, we’ve chosen the most effective sunscreens for delicate pores and skin, primarily based on dermatologists’ suggestions and glowing critiques from SELF’s Wholesome Magnificence Award testers.