Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of brandsSave this storySave this story
Whether dryness stems from the weather, aging skin, hormonal changes, or medication, the best sunscreens for dry skin provide instant relief and hydration, smoothing flakiness and rough patches while leaving an illuminating glow. “When choosing a sunscreen for dry or sensitive skin, it’s important to find one that protects and hydrates the skin barrier,” says Mona Foad, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Cincinnati. These can include ingredients like “hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, or ceramides,” which attract and lock in moisture while soothing irritation, says Ashley McGuinness, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Chesterfield, Missouri. Both chemical and mineral sunscreens fit the hydrating bill; however, mineral UV filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are overall kinder to sensitive skin.
Our Top Sunscreens for Dry Skin
- Best Overall Chemical: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense SPF 50 Sunscreen with BEMT, $40
- Best Overall Mineral: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 60+, $26
- Best Lightweight: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45, $38
- Best for Redness: EltaMD Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50, $53
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- Which sunscreen is best for dry skin?
- Do you put moisturizer or sunscreen first?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Allure editors test tons of sunscreen formulas—both chemical and mineral—all year round, but these are the formulas that go beyond UV protection, offering moisturizing ingredients and antioxidants that give you a glowing, hydrated complexion. We’re spilling our top picks that glide on like a dream while keeping your skin moisturized all day.
Best Overall Chemical: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense Sunscreen SPF 50
Save to wishlist
La Roche-Posay
Anthelios UVDefense Sunscreen SPF 50
Amazon
La Roche-Posay
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense Sunscreen SPF 50
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: There's a new UV filter in town, and it's kind of a big deal. Meet bemotrizinol (BEMT), the first new sunscreen filter approved by the FDA in more than two decades—and La Roche-Posay is among the first brands to bring it stateside. Anthelios UVDefense SPF 50 Sunscreen features 2% BEMT, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays and is photostable, meaning it doesn't break down as easily when exposed to sunlight. The brand’s patented Cell-Ox Shield technology combines sunscreen filters with an antioxidant blend of litchi extract, alteromonas, cassia senna alata, and vitamin E to help fend off free radicals caused by UV exposure and pollution. Dry skin gets a hydration boost, too, thanks to moisture-attracting glycerin and butylene glycol, plus dimethicone, which helps seal in moisture and smooth over rough, flaky patches.
Of course, even the most impressive sunscreen ingredients won't mean much if you dread putting the stuff on. Luckily, this one also gets high marks for how it feels. "It feels silky on the skin with no white residue," says Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, who gave it the ultimate sweat test during the Chicago Marathon. "I generously reapplied all over my face, neck, and arms at the halfway point," she says, adding that it felt lightweight and smooth without getting greasy or stinging her eyes, even after a second application. If it can hold its own through 26.2 miles, your morning commute should be a breeze.
Han after applying the La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense Sunscreen SPF 50
Sarah Han
Han after applying the La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense Sunscreen SPF 50
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
LargeChevron
"La Roche-Posay does it again. I love sunscreens that are on the more fluid side—think serum-like textures—and the Anthelios UVDefense SPF 50 Sunscreen with BEMT clearly falls under that umbrella! Like everyone in the beauty world, I'm ecstatic about a new UV filter, but I'm also hoping *taps watch* that the next approval doesn't take another 36 years. (We need to keep up with our global counterparts who are light-years ahead!!) Anyway, back to this formula. It's so lightweight and elegant that it practically disappears on contact, especially when you're applying two finger lengths' worth (the standard guideline). I was a little extra for this particular demo and used three fingers, so it did take a beat longer to fully rub in. Either way, the formula feels like nothing on the skin—and outside of the depths of winter—my combo skin and I don't need a standalone moisturizer because this doubles as both! The finish is definitely not as glowy as the UVAir serum, but these days, I kind of prefer a more ‘natural’ and ‘balanced’ look." —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
LargeChevron
- Type: chemical
- Key ingredients: 2% BEMT, 3% avobenzone, 5% octisalate, 6% octocrylene, 11% homosalate, Cell-Ox Shield technology (litchi extract, alteromonas, cassia senna alata, and vitamin E), glycerin, butylene glycol, dimethicone
- Tinted: no
- Water-resistant: not disclosed
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Who it’s for: all skin types, though those with particularly sensitive skin may want to patch-test the formula first, as chemical UV filters can sometimes cause irritation
Best Overall Mineral: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+
Save to wishlist
Shiseido
Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+
Amazon
Nordstrom
Sephora
Allure senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor applying the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+
Jesa Marie Calaor
Why it’s worth it: When you want your sunscreen to feel more like soothing skin care—and less, well, sunscreen-y—Shiseido’s Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+ is the answer. The 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner has a lightweight, lotion-like texture that glides on smoothly and dries down to a non-greasy, invisible finish. It’s spiked with skin-loving ingredients like raspberry extract, witch hazel, glycerin, and five types of algae to keep your complexion hydrated and calm. Our tester swears by how seamlessly it layers under makeup—and while the bottle is on the smaller side, a little does go a long way.
Calaor before applying the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+
Jesa Marie Calaor
Calaor after applying the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+
Jesa Marie Calaor
Tester feedback from senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
LargeChevron
"With my extra-dry complexion, I am always looking for hydrating products that leave me with a summery, dewy glow. This sunscreen gives me exactly that. The mineral formula is more like a fluid than a lotion, and quickly melts down to blend in with my medium-tan skin." —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
More to know
LargeChevron
- Type: mineral
- Key ingredients: 5.7% titanium dioxide, 5.9% zinc oxide, raspberry extract, witch hazel, glycerin, algae
- Tinted: no
- Water-resistant: 80 minutes
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Who it’s for: people with extra-dry skin
Best Lightweight: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45
Save to wishlist
Belif
The True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45
Amazon
Sephora
Shop
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it’s worth it: What if your favorite moisturizer came with a side of SPF? That's the idea behind Belif's Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45: it takes everything fans love about the brand's editor-favorite The True Cream Aqua Bomb Moisturizer and adds broad-spectrum sun protection. Like the moisturizer, it's packed with moisture-boosting glycerin, soothing panthenol, brightening niacinamide, and Belif's botanical blend of oat seed, calendula, and other calming herbs.
The biggest difference comes down to texture, which has a “creamy consistency that feels so classically K-beauty,” says Dr. Yoo. That signature Korean beauty feel comes courtesy of lightweight silicones and smoothing polymers, which give the sunscreen a silky, almost primer-like finish. It glides on without feeling heavy or greasy, making it an easy addition to your morning routine (or a replacement for a separate moisturizer, depending on your skin type). "It's refreshing and quick-absorbing while still leaving skin feeling plumped and comfortable," she says.
Lee before applying the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45
Christa Joanna Lee
Lee after applying the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45
Christa Joanna Lee
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
LargeChevron
“I have yet to try the famous Belif Aqua Bomb Moisturizer (I know—sacrilege), but after practically emptying my tube of Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45 in just a couple of weeks, I'm not sure I need to. This sunscreen checks every box on my wish list: It's incredibly lightweight and moisturizing, has a cream texture yet absorbs with the speed and ease of a gel, and leaves behind absolutely zero white cast. The results may not be dramatic in my demo, but the difference is immediately noticeable once it's on your skin. I couldn't ask for much more from a sunscreen.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
LargeChevron
- Type: chemical
- Key ingredients: 2.7% avobenzone, 9% homosalate, 4.5% octisalate, 9% octocrylene, glycerin, panthenol, niacinamide, oat seed, calendula
- Tinted: no
- Water-resistant: not disclosed
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Who it’s for: everyone, especially for people with dry skin
Best for Redness: EltaMD Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50
Save to wishlist
EltaMD
UV Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50
Amazon
Dermstore
Calaor applying the EltaMD Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50
Jesa Marie Calaor
Why it’s worth it: A little color theory goes a long way when it comes to tackling redness: Green cancels out red. EltaMD's UV Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50 puts that art-class lesson to very good use. A 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner, this mineral sunscreen has a sheer green tint that helps neutralize visible redness. But it does more than color-correct: The formula features soothing Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica), an amino acid complex of taurine, arginine, and glycine to help stressed, irritated skin bounce back, and ceramides to reinforce the moisture barrier and keep dryness in check. The lightweight, non-greasy texture is great for sensitive, redness-prone skin, whether you're dealing with a temporary flare-up, a naturally flushed complexion, or irritation brought on by cold, dry weather.
Allure content director Sophia Panych before applying the EltaMD Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50
Sophia Panych
Panych after applying the EltaMD Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50
Sophia Panych
Tester feedback from senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor
LargeChevron
“I love how this green sunscreen tones down the redness I typically experience around my nose and on my cheeks. It feels so good—like a moisturizer—and never ever leaves a white cast.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior editor
Tester feedback from content director Sophia Panych
LargeChevron
“After my morning cleanse, vitamin C serum, and face cream, I applied two to three pumps of the stuff on my face. It goes on green, then immediately turns white, and then sheers out as you rub it in. On days when I wore makeup, I’d wait about five minutes before applying my favorite base (Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation, Monika Blunder Blunder Cover, or the Lisa Eldridge Enhancing Skin Tint). The EltaMD UV Skin Recovery worked well with all of them and didn’t pill throughout the day. I'm in my late 30s, have combination skin, and live in a city with very hard water that dries you out from head to toe. I loved that this sunscreen left my complexion looking dewy, something I’ve never seen from an all-mineral sunscreen.” —Sophia Panych, content director
More to know
LargeChevron
- Type: mineral
- Key ingredients: 12.9% zinc oxide, amino acids, cica, ceramides
- Tinted: yes (green tinted)
- Water-resistant: no
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Who it’s for: anyone dealing with redness
Best Dewy Finish: Supergoop Dewscreen Hydrating Primer SPF 50
Save to wishlist
Supergoop
Dewscreen Hydrating Primer SPF 50
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Shop
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Supergoop Dewscreen Hydrating Primer SPF 50
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: Some days, sunscreen is the only thing you have time (or energy) to put on your face. Other days, you're going all out with a full face of makeup. Either way, Supergoop's Dewscreen Hydrating Primer SPF has you covered. This chemical sunscreen doubles as a makeup primer, creating a smooth, grippy base that helps foundation apply evenly and stay put, without leaving a white cast. The finish is fresh and dewy without feeling greasy, even on our tester's combination skin, which tends to get oily in certain areas. Peptides help skin look plumper and bouncier, while hyaluronic acid and tremella mushroom provide plenty of hydration without making skin feel slick. The only minor trade-off? It takes a little longer to rub in than some other sunscreens, but for this much moisture, those extra few seconds are well worth it.
Han before applying the Supergoop Dewscreen Hydrating Primer SPF 50
Sarah Han
Han after applying the Supergoop Dewscreen Hydrating Primer SPF 50
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
LargeChevron
“Supergoop is a top-tier sun-care brand, but the brand really deserves its flowers with its latest creation. Dewscreen is easily my favorite Supergoop product, ever: It’s a true moisturizer-first formula with a boost of SPF, which my dehydrated skin drinks up like that, and there’s just a hint of grippiness that helps my makeup look flawless and stay in place all freaking day and night. Dewscreen makes my skin look like a dewy dumpling—no matter how tired I feel in the morning, it instantly perks up my skin. Because it’s so moisturizing, it takes a beat to fully blend out, but that’s not a con at all. I’d rather be as thorough as possible and ensure I’m applying the right amount—yes, even on the dreariest winter days.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
LargeChevron
- Type: chemical
- Key ingredients: 3% avobenzone, 9% homosalate, 4.5% octisalate, 9% octocrylene, peptides, hyaluronic acid
- Tinted: no
- Water-resistant: not disclosed
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Who it’s for: all skin types
Best Tinted: Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow
Save to wishlist
Iris & Romeo
Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow
Nordstrom
Sephora
Shop
Why it’s worth it: Iris & Romeo’s Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow comes in four flexible shades—Universal, Cool Glow, Warm Glow, and Bronze Glow—designed to flatter a range of skin tones while delivering a noticeable glow. The formula leans heavily into brightening, thanks to a potent mix of vitamin C, vitamin E (to help keep that vitamin C stable), and niacinamide for a more even-looking complexion over time. The texture is on the richer side, so it wears more like a tinted moisturizer than a barely-there sunscreen, which we love for light coverage days.
Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin applying the Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying the Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow
Shanna Shipin
Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin
LargeChevron
“It may be called ‘weekend skin,’ but I use this beauty every single day. This moisturizer hydrates, provides impressive SPF 50 coverage, and leaves me with a natural radiance that’s glowy, not glittery. I have acne scars, flakiness, and fine lines; still, Weekend Skin leaves me looking airbrushed, well-rested, and, frankly, I'm flabbergasted at how it does all I need it to do so elegantly and effectively.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
LargeChevron
- Type: mineral
- Key ingredients: 10% non-nano zinc oxide, vitamin C, vitamin E, and niacinamide
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Who it’s for: all skin types that want a bit of coverage, including sensitive skin and mature skin
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sunscreen is best for dry skin?
“When searching for sunscreens for dry skin, it’s crucial to find products with ingredients that moisturize and improve the skin barrier, like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, dimethicone, or ceramides,” says Dr. McGuinness. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are great for sensitive skin, but chemical sunscreens packed with hydrating ingredients work just as well. Extra points if your sunscreen of choice includes antioxidants (hi, vitamin E and vitamin C) to combat free radicals. And, of course, stick to lightweight, non-greasy formulas for a comfortable, glowing finish.
“In addition to making sure your sunscreen has broad-spectrum protection with an SPF of 30 or higher, people with dry skin should opt for a cream or lotion-based formula instead of gels or sprays, which can sometimes be more drying,” says Dr. Foad. Sprays commonly feature alcohol, which people with dry skin should definitely avoid, Dr. McGuinness points out.
Do you put moisturizer or sunscreen first?
For both mineral and chemical formulas, start with a lightweight moisturizer, let it fully absorb, then follow with sunscreen. That said, if your skin isn’t especially dry and you prefer chemical SPFs, you can often skip the separate moisturizer and apply sunscreen directly—many formulas are hydrating enough on their own.
Meet the experts
- Ashley McGuinness, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Chesterfield, Missouri
- Mona Foad, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati
- Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best sunscreens for dry skin, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
