5 Best Sunscreens for Men with Oily Skin

To get started here, I know, applying sunscreen every morning is annoying. And what’s more annoying is having to apply sunscreen to your body, and then a separate, gentler one to your face. But when you have oily and sensitive skin, you definitely should have two separate sunscreens. Most products formulated for your body will irritate your face and cause breakouts.

For my money, the answer is Jack Black’s oil-free sunscreen. This sunscreen is super sweat-resistant, so you can wear it out to the beach or on runs. It’s also gentle enough to wear on the face in a pinch. Most other sunscreens take way too long to absorb into the skin, and you get left with that heavy residue and sticky skin. Jack Black’s formulation dries quickly and leaves the skin looking plump and dewy.

It’s also mineral based, meaning it sits on top of your skin and creates a physical barrier to protect from sun damage. That’s opposed to chemical sunscreens, which absorb the UV rays after sinking into the skin. If you have oily skin, my advice would be to try out mineral based options as they are generally less likely to clog your pores.

Mineral sunscreens work great, but they can leave that slight white cast on your skin. If you don’t love looking like a ghost after applying, let me introduce you to Supergoop, which has already gotten a full writeup from Esquire.

As the name suggests, it really does go on unseen. Off the back of its viral facial sunscreen, Supergoop created this version formulated for your body. While this is a chemical based option, it offers the benefit of absorbing super quick due to that gel texture. In addition to the quick drying formula. It’s also scentless. Plus, because the gel is clear where most sunscreens are white, you avoid the dreaded white cast. Those are three wins in the world of sunscreen when you’re trying to avoid irritation.

So, it might not be the best sunscreen for all oily skin. But if you’re looking for a sunscreen you can throw on and forget you’re wearing, there is no better option.

Korean summers are notoriously hot and humid, and anyone in the skincare world knows a lot of the world’s best value products come from South Korean brands. So trust me when I tell you how incredible this Skin1004 sunscreen is.

This mineral sunscreen is extremely light and hydrating, which is perfect for fighting off signs of aging while keeping your oil production in check. If you’re an oily dude, the last thing you want is to lather a thick, greasy layer of SPF. This sunscreen goes on like a light moisturizer, which is rare for mineral-based options. For me, it’s perfect. It’s also odorless, which makes it a great daily sunscreen, and contains centella asiatica, which helps with calming your skin to prevent redness and irritation.

This one does just about everything for under $20. You simply can’t beat that.

For the days when you’ll be getting bit more activity, check out this option from EltaMD. With SPF 50+ and an 80-minute water resistance, it’s perfect for shirtless running and long days beach bumming.

That said, you’ll want to apply this a good 15 to 20 minutes before any activity though, as it may take a bit longer to absorb, but the payoff being that you won’t need to reapply as often. Though when the time comes, you should always reapply. Gone are the days of nasty sport sunscreens that immediately run-off into your eyes.

This is a pricier option compared to the rest of the list, but Tatcha’s Silk Sunscreen offers benefits to justify the price. The key ingredients here are hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Hyaluronic acid helps to retain moisture in the skin. If you struggle with excess oils, this helps to keep the skin hydrated so your oil production does not need to work as hard. You stay you dewy, but don’t get slick. And niacinamide helps to brighten the skin. And if you, like me, struggle with hyper pigmentation or dark spots, this will help even out your skin tone over time.

These benefits are good. What’s great is getting these benefits in a product with a truly luxurious texture. There’s a lot to be said about products you use that feel like you’re wearing nothing at all, there’s even more to be said about products that feel incredible and just may have you looking forward to wearing sunscreen. Yes, this is more of an investment, but what investment is more important than your face?