The Best Matte Sunscreen for Your Face

While the glowing, lit-from-within sheen from radiance-enhancing sunscreens is undeniably beautiful (and trendy), sometimes a matte finish sunscreen is more desired. Whether that interest springs from caring for oily-prone skin and just wanting to curb the inevitable shine that occurs midday or desiring the look of a flawless and poreless-looking face, matte sunscreens are rapidly gaining popularity. The best matte sunscreen can not only give a flawless appearance, but also provide a blurred finish, helping to shield imperfections while protecting from the sun’s harmful rays. Keep reading as we uncover what a matte sunscreen is, its benefits, how to find the ideal formula for your skin type, and the best mattifying sunscreen.

What Is Matte Sunscreen?

Matte sunscreen is a sunscreen formulated to absorb oil and provide a matte texture, in contrast to shine-enhancing sunscreen, which contains glowing ingredients, like mica or pearl powder. But for matte products, the formulas have a lot of ingenuity. Mattifying formulas aren’t just lacking sheen, they likely have oil-absorbing ingredients, like clay, powder, and rice starch, that work to attract the oil on the skin’s surface and absorb it. So your mattifying sunscreen not only provides a matte texture and finish, but it also likely contains an absorbent ingredient that minimizes oiliness on the skin altogether.

This cleverness of matte sunscreen is beneficial for anyone seeking a flawless finish on their skin, but especially for those with oily skin. The best sunscreen for oily skin is matte because it can help minimize oil production, of course, but also usually feels more lotion-like when applied on the skin. This is important for some users as some sunscreens can have a sticky, oily, or greasy texture, which makes it less enjoyable to use and look more shiny, discouraging users from applying it altogether. The best matte sunscreen can not only help you achieve a shine-free appearance, but also makes protecting your skin from UVA and UVB rays enjoyable.

Benefits of Matte Sunscreen

The main benefit of any sunscreen is shielding the skin from sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer. But matte sunscreen has a few added pros that make it a pleasure to slather on every single day (yes, you should wear sunscreen every day, even when it’s cloudy). 

Lightweight Texture 

Sunscreen is still shaking off the (outdated) reputation of being gloopy, sticky, thick, and potentially leaving a white cast. Today’s iterations, especially the best matte sunscreen for oily skin, are lightweight, high-tech, and packed with ingredients that improve the skin’s health and appearance. Matte sunscreens are particularly innovative in this category, giving skin a blurred, matte effect, while feeling light as air. This light-as-air texture not only feels satisfying instantly on the skin, but wears throughout the day with more comfort and longevity than some of its hydrating sunscreen counterparts. 

Innovative Ingredients 

Speaking of skin-bettering ingredients, many modern formulas have ingredients beyond sun protection that work to aid your skin while sitting atop of it. Whether it’s botanical ingredients that visibly minimize pores, like wild rose, to natural innovations that balance the skin, like niacinamide, SPF now can multitask while being born through each and every day. Seek out a matte finish sunscreen that touts benefits you’re looking for, whether that be all-day shine control or balancing pores. 

Non-Comedogenic

While not every formula is ideal for acne-prone or oily skin, most matte sunscreens are made to be non-comedogenic, meaning they won’t clog pores. This is beneficial for all skin, but especially for oily and acne-prone skin because it will help reduce the chance of a sunscreen causing blemishes and excessive oiliness. While it’s less common today, previous versions of SPF had ingredients that triggered clogged pores (and thus potential acne), so seek a formula that proudly confirms its non-comedogenic status. At Tatcha, we proudly have an entire category dedicated to non-comedogenic formulas, which are made with gentle, natural ingredients that minimize clogged pores and reduce excess oil without over-drying skin.

How To Choose the Best Matte Sunscreen

There are many mattifying sunscreens, but not all are created equal. Here are a few key things to look for when considering a mattifying sunscreen.

The Best Matte Sunscreen Is Broad Spectrum 

The absolute most important classification your sunscreen needs is the phrase ‘broad spectrum’. According to the FDA, the term broad-spectrum sunscreen means a product that can protect from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. UVA has a longer wavelength and is responsible for damaging skin’s DNA and aging the skin, while UVB affects the top layer of the skin, resulting in tanning or burning the skin and is most associated with skin cancer development. You want a sunscreen that shields from both forms of rays, so you are protected from DNA damage as well as sunburns and potential skin cancer. For a sunscreen to receive the broad-spectrum label means it is FDA-tested and -approved. Take it from the experts, aka American Academy of Dermatology, who recommend only using a broad-spectrum sunscreen, as it protects skin more thoroughly.

The Best Matte Sunscreen Is SPF 30+

SPF, which means sun protection factor, identifies how well sunscreen can protect from a sunburn, specifically by filtering out UVB rays. The AAD recommends a sunscreen have an SPF of 30 or higher. This ensures the sunscreen can shield you properly from the sun, providing UVB protection as promised. Anything lower cannot provide the full coverage needed and will need to be reapplied more often and thoroughly. However, some formulas with less SPF coverage, like certain SPF makeup products, are intentionally designed to be layered with other sunscreen products—like an SPF 25 lip tint, which can be reapplied often and layered atop a facial sunscreen on the lips. Last – but certainly not least – if you find yourself out in the direct sun, aim to reapply sunscreen every two hours and in the correct order within your overall skincare and beauty routine. 

The Best Matte Sunscreen Should Be Customized for Your Needs

Examine your top priorities for a matte sunscreen: Are you looking for a formula that doubles as a makeup primer or a sunscreen that has skin-bettering ingredients in it? Perhaps you’d like a silky Japanese sunscreen that hydrates while providing a matte finish? Anything is possible in today’s exciting field of sunscreen, the trick to narrowing down the search of finding your dream SPF is first identifying your needs.

The Best Matte Sunscreen

There are a bounty of mattifying sunscreen options, but only a handful are worthy of the title of the best matte face sunscreen. At Tatcha, we have one formula that is broad-spectrum, non-comedogenic, and mattifying. Here’s your perfect match.

Silken Pore Perfecting SPF 35 Sunscreen

Dreaming of a creamy, mattifying sunscreen with both physical and chemical sun protection? Try Tatcha’s bestselling option, the Silken Pore Perfecting SPF 35 Sunscreen. The non-comedogenic and non-irritating formula features skin-loving ingredients that not only protect the skin, but also help minimize the appearance of pores, smooth skin texture, and calm visible irritation. This is accomplished through a combination of botanical ingredients, including wild rose, that allow the formula to glide on and then multitask all day long. The Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen also features our beloved silk extract for a silky feel, allowing the sunscreen to apply flawlessly. If that wasn’t enough, the matte formula acts as an impeccable primer, refining and minimizing the look of pores and allowing any products applied afterward to stay on effortlessly and seamlessly.

Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers

Find your skin a tad oily mid-day, no matter how selective your skincare and sunscreen choices are? Utilize a blotting paper, like our Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers, which are made of 100 percent natural abaca leaf and gold flakes. The papers help to address unwanted oil production and absorb excess oil without disturbing the skin’s natural hydration. It’s a useful product for those with both oily and combination skin and perfect while on the go. (Fun fact: These sleek and versatile blotting papers were Tatcha’s first product!)