Is Chemical or Physical Sunscreens Better for Acne-Prone Skin?

Feb 28, 2025

In a recent Acne Anything (AMA call) with me, a participant asked if chemical or physical sunscreens were better for acne.

Check out our conversation below!

And for more insight and specific recommendations, keep reading...

Let's first explore the difference between a physical and chemical sunscreen:

The main difference between physical and chemical sunscreens lies in how they protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays – and the ingredients they use to do that. Here's a general breakdown of the differences between physical and chemical sunscreens:

Physical Sunscreen (a.k.a. Mineral Sunscreen)

Active Ingredients: Common ingredients include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These minerals are naturally occurring and create a barrier on the skin.

User experience: Tends to be thicker and can leave a white cast on the skin, though some newer formulations are less noticeable. (Personally I love tinted physical sunscreens for this reason – even for my male clients).

Pros:

Works immediately upon application.
Less likely to irritate sensitive skin or eyes.
Ideal for those with sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea.

Cons:

Depending on which one you get, it can feel heavier on the skin and may be more visible. There are physical sunscreens that are not thick and wonderful to use. I'll cover some of those recommendations below! ;)

Chemical Sunscreen

Active Ingredients: Common ingredients include avobenzone, octinoxate, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and homosalate.

User experience: They tend to be lighter, spread more easily, and are often less visible on the skin, making them a popular choice for daily wear.

Pros:

Lighter feel, typically no white cast.
Good for people who don't mind frequent reapplication or need a more lightweight option.

Cons:

Takes about 20 minutes to fully absorb and start working.
Some chemical sunscreens may irritate sensitive skin or eyes
More likely to cause skin irritation, redness, or reaction for those with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema.
Some chemical SPF ingredients have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive issues - YIKES!

Summary

Physical sunscreens are ideal for those who care about toxicity issues and/or have sensitive skin.

Chemical sunscreens are lighter and less noticeable, but they come with increased sensitivity issues. Some have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and hormone disruption. In my opinion, not worth it when there are healthier options readily available!

Is physical or chemical sunscreen better for acne?

Whether your sunscreen is physical or chemical has no bearing on your breakouts.

What does matter is whether the sunscreen you use has comedogenic ingredients or not.

Comedogenic ingredients are pore-clogging substances that can cause textured, bumpy whiteheads to appear from using the cosmetic products that contain them.

These pore-clogging ingredients are common. When checking my client's skincare and makeup, more than 80% of their cosmetic products clog pores. The beauty market is not very safe for acne-prone skin types!

That said, my recommendation in general for most people's skin is a physical sunscreen – whether you have acne or not. This is due to the toxicity issues that come with using a chemical sunscreen. It may be easier to use sometimes, but the health issues to me are not worth it.

Wondering which sunscreens are best for acne?

The most up to date science we have on this and I agree:
Ones that are 100% non-comedogenic!

It doesn't matter to your acne if a sunscreen is chemical or physical (though your overall body health may be a different story).

What your acne-prone skin cares about is that there are no pore-clogging ingredients.

There are over 120+ scientifically confirmed comedogenic ingredients that are commonly used in cosmetic products.

Here are just some of the ingredients you might find lurking in your sunscreens that can cause acne and clogged pores:

coconut oil
olive oil
avocado oil
soybean oil
cetearyl alcohol
stearic acid
cetyl alcohol
oleth-3 phosphate
and many more...

To get the full list of comedogenic ingredients, visit my full blog on that here.

My list of the best sunscreens for acne:

Having covered what not to use, let's talk about what you can use!!

I have checked thousands of cosmetic products for my clients over the past 15 years. While most come up comedogenic, there are several safe options I have found that I am happy to share with you!

Here is a list of some acne-safe sunscreens I recommend. My highest personal recommendation is the Suntegrity Tinted SPF 30. I have personally been using it for over 10 years!

The founder, Tricia, lost her mom to skin cancer. Her personal mission to provide the best non-toxic sunscreen is strong – Suntegrity has won top non-toxicity awards with the Environmental Working Group (EWG). And yay to a woman-owned small business (and their excellent customer service over the years!).

SPF - physical (face)

SPF - chemical (face)

SPF (body)

Want to check your own products? Learn how to use my favorite (and free) online comedogenic checker tool, InciDecoder, here.

Whatever you use, I hope you find a sunscreen you LOVE and makes your skin happy!
May we all access clear, healthy, vibrant skin :)

In love, health, and community,

Elise May, CN + LE, is a holistic esthetician, acne nutritionist, and founder of Skin Nutritious. Since 2011, she has helped over 1,800 clients finally overcome acne with a unique blend of holistic skincare, treatments, and wellness coaching.

Work with Elise at her San Francisco acne clinic or virtually worldwide! View services + book online here.

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