10 Best Sunscreens for Dry Skin, According to Dermatologists & Glamour Editors

EltaMD’s sunscreen is consistently a top pick among dermatologists. Not only does this particular formula contain hyaluronic acid to perk up dry skin, but the sunscreen also contains vitamin E to help lock in said moisture. It’s safe for all skin types, including those with more sensitive skin, as it’s both fragrance- and paraben-free. It’s also noncomedogenic—a must for any acne-prone skin.

“The SPF is creamy but ultralight and doesn’t leave any sticky residue in its wake—ideal for layering under makeup daily,” says Earley. “I use it on my face and neck, and it leaves my typically very dry skin silky smooth for hours.”

Type: Chemical / Active ingredients: Octisalate, zinc oxide / Other key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E / SPF: 30+

• What we love: Lightweight; dries clear; noncomedogenic; fragrance-free
• What could improve: Not water-resistant

Sometimes you don’t want to wear makeup—especially to the beach or the pool—and this tinted moisturizing sunscreen offers the perfect alternative. It offers the slightest peachy-pink hue tint to help correct redness and leave you with a subtle glow. Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay is, self-admittedly, obsessed. “I sported this all day long in the Miami heat and humidity, and my usually finicky skin just loved it; DreamBeam is definitely one of my top spring and summertime skin-care staples.”

Dry skin, oily skin—this formula, which is packed with peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and allantoin, doesn’t discriminate. It lends dew without clogging pores or sending oil production into overdrive.

Type: Mineral / Active ingredients: Zinc oxide / Other key ingredients: Peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid / SPF: 40

• What we love: Lightweight; noncomedogenic; hypoallergenic; light tint; water-resistant for 80 minutes
• What could improve: Some users note slight pilling.

_{Original photo courtesy of Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle}

This 2022 Glamour Beauty Award winner (it was named the top clean foundation!) is technically called a foundation, but it’s so lightweight that our editors think of it more like your favorite hardworking moisturizer. It’s a one-and-done product, offering hydration, light coverage, and sun protection. Everything you need, basically. It’s powered by non-nano zinc oxide (that’s your UV blocker), plus prickly pear extract (to protect against blue-light pollution) and skin-soothing white sage extract.

“If I’m buying something that’s tinted, whether it’s a sunscreen or a foundation, you’d better believe I want coverage! And this does it perfectly,” says Glamour senior West Coast editor Jessica Radloff. “My skin looks airbrushed and smooth, making it easier to apply bronzer and blush, and it lasts all day. I’m obsessed.”

Type: Mineral / Active ingredients: Zinc oxide / Other key ingredients: Prickly pear extract, white sage extract / SPF: 30

• What we love: Lightweight; fragrance-free; noncomedogenic; comes in a variety of shades
• What could improve: Might not be suitable for combination or oily skin

_{Original photo courtesy of Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley}

On the hunt for a solid drugstore option? Look no further, says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in NYC. She recommends the mineral option for all skin types—even those with sensitivities. It’s ultragentle and lightweight, plus noncomedogenic. And in addition to broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection, the ingredient list boasts moisturizing ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to give the skin barrier the TLC it deserves.

Our editors love it too. “The consistency is thick, but after some rubbing, it settles in nicely and leaves a gorgeous glow,” says senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle. It’s also available in a clear formula, if you prefer.

Type: Mineral / Active ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide / Other key ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid / SPF: 30

• What we love: Noncomedogenic; fragrance-free; lightweight; comes in tinted and sheer formulations
• What could improve: Some users say the tint is a little dark for fair skin tones.

Pro makeup artist Judi Gabbay tells Glamour that Supergoop’s Glowscreen is the “easiest way to get glowing, natural, and protected skin.” The SPF 40 formula counts brightening antioxidants and nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin B₅, and niacinamide among its star ingredients for “a natural, glowy radiance,” says Gabbay.

“Despite editing beauty content for the past 15 or so years, I’m not a makeup girlie, which is why I adore this sunscreen so much,” says Brie Schwartz, Glamour’s director of commerce. “It functions like a lightweight foundation, blurring pores and giving me a literal freshly tanned glow as if I put highlighter in all the right places. And it requires no technique to apply (unlike makeup). I even wear it to the office on days I want to look more finished.” One word of caution: “If your face is going to be exposed to the sun for an extended period of time (wear a hat, folks!), this chemical sunscreen is not quite as powerful as mineral sunscreen,” says Schwartz.

Type: Chemical / Active ingredients: Avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene / Other key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B₅, niacinamide, sea lavender, cocoa peptides / SPF: 40

• What we love: Comes in multiple shades; a little goes a long way
• What could improve: Some users say they don’t think the SPF protection is as strong as some others.

Another favorite of Dr. Garshick’s, who notes this tinted moisturizer is one of her top recommendations because it contains “hyaluronic acid to hydrate and licorice root to brighten.” It’s also easy to apply, she tells us. Testers love it, too, saying the lightweight formula leaves skin “dewy and fresh” for hours on end. “I use this regularly, because it works well on my dry, flaky skin,” says Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin.

Type: Mineral / Active ingredients: Zinc oxide / Other key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, licorice root acid / SPF: 35

• What we love: Comes in multiple shades; lightweight; noncomedogenic
• What could improve: Some users say the pump can be finicky.

The name alone should clue you in here. Dermatologists like Nava Greenfield, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, recommend the products in Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost line because they’re “basic, but reliable” and “offer long-lasting hydration.” The moisture boost comes from hyaluronic acid, and the fragrance-free lightweight gel makes it a suitable pick for all skin types, she says.

Testers say the product dries almost immediately. “The finish is velvety smooth and creates the perfect base for makeup—especially considering the high SPF,” says Earley.

Type: Chemical / Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene / Other key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E / SPF: 50

• What we love: Lightweight; noncomedogenic; absorbs quickly
• What could improve: Some users with very dry skin say they prefer thicker lotions.

_{Original photo courtesy of Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle}

“This lightweight broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen uses zinc oxide 12%, iron oxide, antioxidants, and a patented Enviroscreen technology to protect against UVA and UVB rays, blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation, while also hydrating the skin,” says Dr. Garshick. Testers tell us the silky formula glides over skin, dry patches and problem areas included. “I use this product every day, regardless of season,” says one tester, who notes it dries to a nice semimatte finish quickly.

“It is available in four different shades, making it easy to blend with your skin for natural coverage, and it uses iron oxide pigments to adapt to your specific tone without leaving the skin feeling greasy, making it good for all skin types,” says Dr. Garshick.

Type: Mineral / Active ingredients: Zinc oxide / Other key ingredients: Encapsulated iron oxides, niacinamide, lipochroman, bisabolol, silver ear mushroom extract / SPF: 50

• What we love: Lightweight; water-resistant; available in a range of shades; water-resistant for 40 minutes
• What could improve: One of the more expensive options