chemical (probably) face sunscreen without avobenzone

April 16, 2023 10:48 AM

Can you recommend an avobenzone-free facial sunscreen that's not greasy, thick/white and powdery, or super expensive? I have no scientific objections to avobenzone but it makes me break out. Primarily/solely mineral sunscreens are chalky and hard to get to absorb (especially at above 15 spf), moisturizers with SPF like my current best choice, Olay Complete are a bit greasier than I'd like. Is there anything else left that's not super pricey? I'm guessing this will be a chemical sunscreen or at least not solely mineral.
posted by needs more cowbell to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (24 answers total)

I'll be honest and tell you I'm very pale (sensitive skin, etc etc), but Avene is high quality and I love it. It's expensive for sunblock, but very cheap re quality in the skincare "space". Their link, I usually find it cheaper from Amazon. This is that "French drugstore" stuff US people tend to fetishize. But also it lives up to the (reasonable) claims.
posted by atomicstone at 11:22 AM on April 16, 2023

I’ve been really happy with this Beauty of Joseon sunscreen. Feels like nothing once it absorbs and definitely leaves no white cast (and is pretty inexpensive as these things go).
posted by Empidonax at 11:23 AM on April 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

Have you tried the EltaMD Clear SPF 46? It doesn’t have avobenzone. I am extremely breakout-prone and this one actually improves my skin. It’s a mineral sunscreen but I promise it truly is clear as long as you have the genuine product. I have gotten counterfeits off of Amazon but if I buy it from my dermatologist or an authorized online dealer then it’s totally clear. (Be warned that Dermstore are assholes about returns though.) Expensive but lasts a long time so maybe not that expensive? Also shockingly effective, I accidentally went on a 26-mile high-altitude bike ride on a blazingly sunny day while using prescription retinoids and I didn’t even get pink.
posted by HotToddy at 11:53 AM on April 16, 2023 [4 favorites]

Altruist (available in the USA from Amazon) is really good. I use it every day. I use the general SPF50 sunscreen on my face, rather than the facial fluid, and it absorbs quickly with no white cast and zero irritation on my very sensitive skin.
posted by essexjan at 11:53 AM on April 16, 2023

Response by poster: Unfortunately it seems Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (in the Altruist sunscreen) is another name for avobenzone, sigh.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:07 PM on April 16, 2023

Re: the Avene sunscreen mentioned above, I have to caution you: try before you buy. I have light-ish Asian skin, and it made me look like I had white clown paint on. I passed it along to a white friend and she also found it made her face bright white. So, YMMV. I have used Avene products that worked well for me, but not that one.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:25 PM on April 16, 2023

EltaMD probably falls into the category of super expensive, but the texture and appearance are the best I've tried. One bottle lasts a long time unless you're in a situation where you're having to apply it heavily several times a day because you're getting heavy sun all day. I'm not, so one bottle lasts me a long time.

I buy it from LovelySkin, which is an authorized EltaMD retailer. It's never cheap, but they seem to have frequent coupons, if that makes a difference.

I've tried and like the UV Daily and the UV Clear on my face. I tend to alternate between them for no particular reason. I've got very flaky skin, so I apply moisturizer before I put this on. It absorbs quickly and nicely within bringing out any of my natural flakiness or looking very greasy.
posted by wondermouse at 12:47 PM on April 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

Perhaps this one from Senka or Biore? I got both from Taiwan and they don't have a white sheen when I use it.
posted by extramundane at 12:48 PM on April 16, 2023

I guess I am now trying to push the Avene stuff, but if you apply and then wait 5 min (get your coffee), the white cast does disappear. I'll (ghostly) see myself out now.
posted by atomicstone at 1:16 PM on April 16, 2023

You might look into Eucerin Daily Protection sunscreen.

I've been using this for years. It's non-greasy. It does leave a slight white residue, but this absorbs within a few minutes. And it's inexpensive.
posted by aquamvidam at 2:35 PM on April 16, 2023

I use Cerave AM Facial Moisturizing lotion (SPF 30). I am not super pale, and I don't find it leaves a white cast on me.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:06 PM on April 16, 2023

Anessa is popular in Asia. I use this one.
posted by airmail at 4:43 PM on April 16, 2023

My sunscreen problems are exactly like your sunscreen problems. Greasy sunscreens don't work for my skin, I don't like chalky mineral sunscreens, and most sunscreens make me break out or have other skin reactions. The best one I've found is La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid. It's on the expensive side, but a little goes a long way (one bottle lasts me about half a year). For me personally, it's cheaper to just buy one bottle of this than to buy ten bottles that I have to throw out because they don't work for me.

If that's too pricey, the closest drugstore dupe I've found is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen. Sometimes this one makes my skin break out, but it doesn't seem to contain avo- or oxobenzone, so it might be ok for you.
posted by ourobouros at 5:09 PM on April 16, 2023 [5 favorites]

Another vote for the EltaMD clear. I have facial hyperhidrosis and it is the only sunscreen that I can apply daily without sweating. It really doesn't have that filmy/sticky feel that most brands have. In the summer, I wear it by itself; in the winter, I can get away layering with a moisturizer. It is so expensive but worth it to me.
posted by ailouros08 at 5:34 PM on April 16, 2023

I guess I am now trying to push the Avene stuff, but if you apply and then wait 5 min (get your coffee), the white cast does disappear. I'll (ghostly) see myself out now.
posted by atomicstone

I absolutely believe this was your experience, but for both my friend and me, it never did go away despite enthusiastic blending and waiting. For my friend, the effect lasted through an entire golf game, prompting her to tell me, “I looked like a ghost out there.”
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:36 PM on April 16, 2023

Have you tried tinted mineral sunscreen? I use Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen Tinted Face SPF 50 (available from Target or amazon) and even though it doesn't absorb, it doesn't get chalky white either and holds up well with sweat. I wear it in the AZ sun playing tennis. The only downside is that it does rub onto towels, but so does the chemical and the white stuff, just leaves different colors/residues!
posted by Tandem Affinity at 6:53 PM on April 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

There was a recent question with similar parameters except the ingredient restriction, my answer has the ingredient you’re avoiding but you could check the other suggestions?
posted by ellieBOA at 1:00 AM on April 17, 2023

Response by poster: The Neutrogena & La Roche products mentioned above both contain Avobenzone. Unfortunately for me, it’s a very common broader-spectrum chemical sunscreen.
posted by needs more cowbell at 3:10 AM on April 17, 2023

You can investigate Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defence

Here is a list of ingredients.

It has a nice gel-like texture and no white cast.

I did a Ctrl+F for Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Avobenzone and didn't get any results.

You can also look at Ultra Violette Lean Screen.
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:03 AM on April 17, 2023

I love love Tocobo’s bio watery sun cream. It leaves no white cast on me (I’m black) and isn’t imo greasy at all.
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 7:24 AM on April 17, 2023

Canmake Mermaid
posted by bangles at 10:49 AM on April 17, 2023

La Roche Posay has a mineral version of that same sunscreen. It is amazing and doesn't leave a cast at all. (Also - if you have flex spending for health, you can buy sunscreen with it!)
posted by beyond_pink at 11:26 AM on April 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

Paula's Choice Essential Glow Moisturizer is nice.
Rovectin makes some really great mineral suncreens - seriously they feel great on. I like the Skin Essentials Double Tone-up UV Protector SPF50+ PA++++ version the best, it's lightly tinted.
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel is very, very nice.
Bioré - UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence is also nice.

Any sunscreen manufactured outside of North America is going to feel a million times better on your skin. I've ordered the Rovectin, Isntree and Biore ones from StyleVana. You might be able to get them on Amazon but sometimes they are fake.

Look for Charlotte Palmerino on Instagram or TikTok (@charlotteparler on both). She has lots of great sunscreen explainers.
posted by velocipedestrienne at 12:50 PM on April 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

I’m restricted to zinc-only sunscreens, and cannot believe how great ThinkBaby SPF 50 is. It has some light oils in it that make for an initial shine, but it dries down after literally a minute. It is not tacky, chalky, greasy etc. like other zinc sunscreens I’ve tried.

https://www.amazon.ca/Thinkbaby-Sunscreen-Broad-Spectrum-Protection/dp/B004CDQ73K

If you don’t need that level of protection, I also recommend Burt’s Bees Calming Day Lotion SPF 30. It’s also great, but when it’s really humid and over 25C, I sweat it off. Excellent for less sunny days and winter.

https://www.burtsbees.com/product/spf-30-sensitive-solutions-calming-day-lotion/

No noticeable white cast with either (albeit my skin tone is around Mac NC20).
posted by cotton dress sock at 3:21 PM on April 18, 2023