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I'll admit, I'm pretty diligent about applying sunscreen after my skincare routine. I'll also (hesitantly) admit that I'm not so diligent about reapplying said sunscreen. I mean, let's be real, I don't want to put on a full face of makeup only to mess it up with an oily goopy lotion. Enter: Powder sunscreen for your face—i.e., the quickest, easiest product for reapplying SPF throughout the day without messing up your makeup.
Powder sunscreens are essentially setting powders with UV blockers (like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) that can be easily brushed on skin when you need to reapply your SPF. Also cool: Depending on which one you try, powder sunscreens are actually pretty excellent for mattifying oily skin or even adding a little bronzed glow to your face. Genius, right? So to help you pick the right one, I personally tested and reviewed 10 brush-on sunscreens and chatted with board-certified dermatologists, Joshua Zeichner, MD; Elyse Love, MD, Shereene Idriss, MD; board-certified plastic surgeon, Ash Soni, MD; and esthetician Rachel Roff on what to look for.
Our top picks for the best powder sunscreens in 2024:
Now keep reading for the full breakdown of the best powder sunscreens, according to product reviewers, my personal testing, and tips from dermatologists on how to choose the best powder sunscreens, plus what to look for before you buy.
Pros
- Water-resistant formula
Cons
- May be best for oily/combo skin due to it being a bit drying, some testers say
Whenever I talk to a dermatologist about powder sunscreens, this top-rated one from Colorescience always comes up in the convo. The tried-and-true mineral formula protects skin against UVA/UVB rays, infrared radiation, and blue light, says Dr. Soni, “And unlike many powder SPFs out there, this one is water-resistant for 80 minutes too.”
- SPF: 50
- Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide (SPF); grape seed extract, green tea extract (soothes, protects with antioxidants); glycerin (hydrates)
THE REVIEW: "I had skin cancer a few years ago and now I am a pro about protecting my skin," one tester notes. "I love this because you can reapply so easily throughout the day without having to add additional layers of lotions over your makeup."
Pros
- Helps hydrate skin with moisturizing jojoba oil and vitamin E
- Comes in three shades (light, medium, and deep)
Cons
- A few testers wished it had a bit more coverage
Topping my dry AF skin with powder is something I've grown to avoid at all costs, but sometimes you need a quick method to reapply sunscreen over makeup. The answer? This moisturizing formula from ZO Skin Health, which protects my skin from UVA and UVB rays with 25 percent zinc oxide, but also helps hydrate and nourish my skin with jojoba oil, vitamin C and E, and bisabolol.
- SPF: 45
- Key ingredients: Zinc oxide (SPF); vitamin E, vitamin C, jojoba oil, bisabolol (moisturizes)
THE REVIEW: "Great product. I use this out and about. It improves the look of my skin throughout the day! It’s just a wonderful powder, easy to use, to carry, and it takes care of my skin! Love it!"
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Pros
- Most affordable option
Cons
- It has added fragrance
Powder sunscreens aren't something you can typically find at the drugstore (read: they're usually pricey asf), so when I discovered this affordable option from Hawaiian Tropic at my local Target, I was excited, to say the least. The mineral formula goes on clear, so it works on all skin tones and protects skin with SPF 30.
- SPF: 30
- Key ingredients: Zinc oxide (SPF); ceramides (moisturizes)
THE REVIEW: "I experience oiliness all around my face, especially the T-zone area, and this powder sunscreen helps mattify everything," writes one tester. "It also does not make me break out and blends naturally as if I'm wearing nothing on my face!"
Pros
- Free of a bunch of potentially sensitizing additives
Cons
- Not widely available for purchase
If you have sensitive skin, you want to look for an SPF free of potentially sensitizing additives, like this one from AziMD Skincare. "I am legit obsessed that this powder SPF has only four ingredients in it—one of which is just pure 25 percent zinc oxide," deputy beauty director Chloe Metzger says. "My skin is so sensitive that I can't handle a bunch of sparkles and active ingredients, so I love that this is essentially just SPF and nothing more."
- SPF: 50
- Key ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide (SPF)
THE REVIEW: "Love this!" notes one tester adding, "I don’t like creams so this is awesome—it's super easy to use!"
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Pros
- Contains hydrating ingredients
Cons
- It's the most expensive option on this list
Most powder sunscreens are either translucent or leave behind a very sheer wash of color, but this one from Clinical provides genuinely good coverage. The silky smooth SPF 40 formula comes in five buildable shades (including ivory, cream, beige, bronze, and deep) that help minimize the look of redness, dark spots, breakouts, and more.
- SPF: 40
- Key ingredients: Zinc oxide (SPF); glycerin, cogon grass root extract (hydrates)
THE REVIEW: "Perfect add-on for the beach bag—love the tinted powder and spf!" one tester writes. "I got this based on a recommendation from an influencer and it is very handy for travel and wears well over my makeup!" another adds.
Pros
- Protects your skin from environmental aggressors thanks to vitamins A & E
Cons
- Testers note that it's hard to get product out of the applicator
Love all-natural and organic skincare? This powder sunscreen is a legit great option for anyone who is into the clean, green beauty scene. Buff it in to protect your skin from UV rays, smooth skin with vitamins A and E, and take down shine and excess oil too. And did I mention it leaves skin with a soft, matte finish that looks freaking poreless? 10/10 recommend.
- SPF: 30
- Key ingredients: Zinc oxide (SPF); vitamins A and E (protect with antioxidants)
THE REVIEW: "Feels great; goes on flawlessly, there's no skin irritation that you would normally get from sunscreen moisturizers, and it serves as a great base for makeup when you don't feel like wearing a full face!" writes one reviewer. "Perfect for humid climates!"
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7
Best Powder Sunscreen for Oily Skin
Supergoop! (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder Sunscreen
Pros
- Brush has super soft bristles
Cons
- Comes with a refill, but Sephora doesn't sell it
Oily skin types, get excited. This powder sunscreen doesn’t just shield your face from UV rays, it keeps it nice and matte too. As soon as you dust the mineral formula over your skin, it’ll soak up excess oil to keep your face grease-free for hours. “It comes in translucent and multiple tinted shades, so it’s easy to find the best match for your skin tone,” says Dr. Love. Plus, it wears great over your makeup, adds Dr. Idriss.
- SPF: 35
- Key ingredients: Zinc oxide (SPF); ceramides, olive glycerides (moisturizes)
THE REVIEW: "I love loose setting powder and the fact that this has an SPF in it is such a plus," one reviewer notes. "It sets nice and smooth and I love the finish."
Pros
- Protects against blue light in addition to the sun's rays
Cons
- Testers note that only a little bit of product comes out at a time, which they don't love
This powder sunscreen shields your precious face from more than just UV rays. This multitasking formula is made with iron oxides and antioxidants to protect skin from the harmful effects of pollution and blue light (aka the visible light emitted from most screens). “It also helps mattify the skin for a natural-looking finish, without leaving behind a white cast,” says Dr. Zeichner.
- SPF: 50
- Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide (SPF)
THE REVIEW: "Goes on so sheer," reads one tester's review. "Great for touch-ups during the day on my melasma—I’m hooked."
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Pros
- Helps soothe redness and inflammation with calming extracts
Cons
- Testers note that it may leave a white cast on deeper skin tones
If you’ve got sensitive skin, this soothing powder sunscreen is for you. The gentle, non-irritating formula is made with zinc oxide to protect your skin. “It's completely translucent, and uses a blend of red algae, chamomile, and green tea extracts to help reduce redness and inflammation too,” says Roff.
- SPF: 30
- Key ingredients: Zinc oxide (SPF); red algae, chamomile, and green tea extract (helps soothe redness and inflammation with calming extracts)
THE REVIEW: "This is the most convenient sunscreen I own and I've tried many," notes one reviewer. "This lives in my purse and is a daily staple now. I use my traditional sunscreen in the morning, but this is my go-to for reapplication."
Pros
- Good value for the money due to the two extra refills
Cons
- Some testers note that it didn't give the coverage they were expecting
I love this powder sunscreen for two main reasons (beyond the fact that it shields skin with SPF 30). The first being that the brush head is removable (you can easily pop it off to clean and disinfect the brush hairs as needed) and the second is that it’s refillable (!). Once you finish up the powder, just recycle your empty powder pod and replace it with a new one.
- SPF: 30
- Key ingredient: Titanium dioxide (SPF)
THE REVIEW: "I've been using this powdered sunscreen for a year," notes one tester. "It works great, stays put all day, doesn't drip into my eyes, and is matte."
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How to choose the best powder sunscreen for your face:
Find a formula you can layer
“Ideally, you should be applying a lotion or cream with SPF 30 or more as your primary sunscreen in the morning and then have a powder sunscreen on hand for reapplying every few hours throughout the day,” says Dr. Soni. Dr. Zeicher agrees: “Think of powder sunscreen like the cherry on the top of the sundae, but without the ice cream, there’s no sundae to begin with,” he says. Bottom line: You always want to layer your powder SPF over a traditional liquid sunscreen of SPF 30+.
Consider the price
Many powders come in self-dispensed brush containers, says Dr. Zeichner. “I recommend brushing your powder sunscreen over your face multiple times to make sure you’ve got enough on. A single swipe over your face will definitely not give you enough SPF protection.” So if you’re buying a tiny, super-expensive powder formula, ask yourself if it’ll be worth the cost if you apply a generous amount multiple times per day.
Know their purpose
Powder sunscreens are ideal for city dwellers, but not for beachgoers, says Dr. Idriss. “If you’re out and about in the city, a powder sunscreen is a great way to reapply SPF without displacing your makeup.” If you’re at the beach and swimming or sweating, a regular SPF lotion or cream should be your go-to instead.
Meet the experts:
- Ash Soni, MD, is a U.S.- and UK-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon at The Soni Clinic in Ascot, UK.
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology in New York, NY.
- Elyse Love, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology in New York, NY, and trained in a wide spectrum of medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Shereene Idriss, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY, and creator of the #PillowTalkDerm series on Instagram.
- Rachel Roff is a licensed esthetician and founder of Urban Skin Rx, a skincare line that focuses on skin of color.
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Why trust Cosmo?
Siena Gagliano is an associate editor who writes beauty at Cosmopolitan and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing skincare stories, like the differences between mineral vs. chemical sunscreen and the best clear sunscreens. She regularly tests and analyzes powder sunscreens on her own skin for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists to assess new formulas and products.
Lauren Balsamo is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from laser skin tightening to the best sunscreens for oily skin. Her powder SPF picks were based on product reviews, personal testing, and information from experts.
Siena Gagliano
Associate Editor
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty, fashion, travel, and lifestyle. Wanna know how to get the best brows of your life? Gotchu. What about how to find the best fashion deals of the season, the softest sheets on the market, or exactly how to use retinol without irritating your skin? Check, check, and check. Before joining Cosmopolitan, Siena was a writer at Bustle and several other media outlets. As her 2024 goal, she has vowed to find the best (extra) dirty martini NYC has to offer—and yes, that means ~attempting~ to try every cute cocktail spot in the city (hit her up with some recs, pls). Follow Siena on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at that magazine life.
Lauren Balsamo
Deputy Beauty Director
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.