10 Best Sunscreens for Mature Skin That Protect and Plump Skin All at Once

Our skin care non-negotiable will always be sunscreen, regardless of your age, skin type, or season (yes, even if you’re indoors). The best sunscreens for mature skin, however, offer more than just sun protection—they’re also the key to unlocking brighter, smoother skin. Beyond providing a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher, these formulas are chock-full of nourishing ingredients (Niacinamide! Ceramides! Hyaluronic acid!) that can help soften signs of skin aging, like fine lines, sun spots, and laxity. Mind you, we celebrate aging in all of its forms, but we also believe in investing in your skin care and choosing heavy-hitting ingredients that do more than simply hydrate. So we tapped editors and board-certified dermatologists to break down formulas that particularly work well with mature skin and won't accentuate anything you'd prefer not to shine a spotlight on. Let's dive in!

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46, $44
• Best Tinted Sunscreen: SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50, $42
• Best Mattifying: SkinMedica Essential Defense Everyday Clear Sunscreen SPF 47, $40
• Best Mineral-Based Sunscreen: Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Sunscreen SPF 50+, $73
• Best Chemical-Based Sunscreen: Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen, $38
• Best for Oily Skin: Cosrx Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+, $23
• Best for Sensitive Skin: Dr. Loretta Universal Glow Daily Defense SPF 40, $60
• Best for Dry Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer SPF 30, $25
• Best Sweat-Resistant Sunscreen: Colorescience Total Protection No-Show Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, $45
• Best for Fine Lines: Philosophy Hope In A Jar Smooth-Glow Multi-Tasking Moisturizer SPF 30, $49

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does sunscreen benefit mature skin?
• What ingredients should I look for in sunscreen for mature skin?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46

Why it's worth it: Allure editors never stop raving about the Best of Beauty-winning EltaMD's UV Clear SPF 46, and James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles, loves it, too. He calls this mineral-based facial sunscreen "one of the lightest and silkiest skin-care products on the market." Its star ingredient, niacinamide, is an essential part of this formula for its complexion-brightening, moisture-replenishing properties. To tackle dryness-related wrinkles, this formula also features hydrating hyaluronic acid to plump skin and "fill in" fine lines. Though it’s ultra-hydrating, this sunscreen’s matte finish, oil-free formulation, and inclusion of lactic acid—a skin-tightening and pore-unclogging alpha-hydroxy acid that’s gentler than other exfoliating options—make it a great option for people with acne-prone and oily skin types, too. (Menopause acne is real.) Since we’re on the topic of skin types, those with sensitive skin will love that it’s fragrance-free, too.

Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (9%), octinoxate (7.5%), niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, lactic acid | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Tinted Sunscreen: SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50

Why it's worth it: UVA and UVB rays don't stand a chance against the dermatologist-approved SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50, which has been a long-time favorite of Joel Lamm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Hicksville, New York, for both mature and sensitive skin types. This sunscreen guards against sun damage with the help of mineral UV blockers, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide, while antioxidant-rich plankton extract protects delicate skin against environmental aggressors. This matte-finish formulation adds a sheer, barely-there tint that's especially flattering for anyone with a greasy complexion by midday. Another critical ingredient is plankton extract, which helps your skin resist heat-induced stress, sometimes leading to melasma.

Tester feedback: “Mineral sunscreen, a high SPF, and a sheer tint that evens out redness on my fair skin tone—SkinCeuticals’s Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 has everything I look for in a daily sunscreen and then some,” says deputy beauty director Elizabeth Siegel. “It gives just enough coverage, with a natural (not sunscreen-y) finish, that I can skip base like concealer.”

Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: titanium dioxide (6%), zinc oxide (5%), plankton extract | Fragrance-free: Yes

Best Mattifying: SkinMedica Essential Defense Everyday Clear Sunscreen SPF 47

Why it's worth it: Made specifically for grease-prone skin types, the SkinMedica Essential Defense Everyday Sunscreen SPF 47 is an ultra-mattifying wonder that makes mid-day oiliness a thing of the past. You won’t find a drop of oil or fragrance in this sunscreen, but you will be treated to niacinamide, which happens to have oil-balancing properties (as well as the ability to soothe inflammation and fade dark spots). Like your skin, this formula features a hybrid combination of chemical and physical sunscreen filters for optimal broad-spectrum UV protection.

Sunscreen type: hybrid (chemical and physical) | Key ingredients: octinoxate (7.5%), zinc oxide (12%), niacinamide | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Mineral-Based Sunscreen: Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Sunscreen SPF 50+

Why it's worth it: The Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Sunscreen SPF 50+ is an excellent choice for all skin types (including sensitive!), but its gentle feel and calming formulation are a boon for sun-damaged skin. This mineral-based, antioxidant-packed sunscreen prevents and repairs UV-related skin damage, which can include fine lines and sun spots. "This formulation contains patented DNA repair technology that repairs existing sun damage caused by years of unprotected sun exposure," says Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, New Jersey, who’s a personal fan of this sunscreen. The repair technology in question is derived from plankton extract, rich in damage-minimizing antioxidants.

Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (11%), plankton extract | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Chemical-Based Sunscreen: Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen

Why it's worth it: The bouncy formula behind Shiseido's Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen delivers an equal dose of vitamin C and your must-have sun protection. The brightening power of this hero antioxidant helps with smoothness and softening the look of pores, while hyaluronic acid helps lock in moisture. The water-in-gel formula means the combined benefits of a water-based sunscreen and an oil phase to create a non-greasy, easily absorbed final product.

Tester feedback: "My complexion looked diffused—as if I had a soft, blurring filter on my skin—and glowy when the sun hit it," senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor said in her review.

Sunscreen type: chemical | Key ingredients: avobenzone (2.3%), homosalate (10.0%), octisalate (5.0%), octocrylene (5.0%) | Fragrance-free: no

Best for Oily Skin: Cosrx Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+

Why it's worth it: Korean skin-care brand Cosrx's Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ stands out for its hero ingredient, antioxidant vitamin E, which protects against free radical damage and provides much-needed moisture replenishment. "Free radicals can contribute to premature aging, so the presence of vitamin E may help maintain the health and vitality of maturing skin," says Dr. Wang, who’s just as much of a fan of this sunscreen as our editors. It also contains mattifying silica and cotton extract, which curbs excess oil.

Sunscreen type: chemical | Key ingredients: octisalate, avobenzone, vitamin E, silica, cotton extract, coca extract | Fragrance-free: no

Best for Sensitive Skin: Dr. Loretta Universal Glow Daily Defense SPF 40

Why it's worth it: If dryness, flaking, and dehydration-induced creasing are holding you back, slather on Dr. Loretta's Universal Glow Daily Defense SPF 40, an ultra-moisturizing formulation with a subtle peach tint that negates white cast. The brand's proprietary antioxidants, Lipochroman, and ectoin protect your skin from free radical damage and external stressors (that can lead to progressed signs of aging). Also at work is a blend of four powerful botanicals—frankincense, gotu kola, white birch bark, and knotweed—to calm stressed, sensitive skin.

Tester feedback: As an avid user of mineral sunscreens, shopping director Shanna Shipin majorly approves of this peach-tinted SPF. "It has an amazing light-reflecting luminosity that blurs the skin while providing straightforward zinc oxide protection," Shipin noted in our roundup of glowy sunscreens. Regarding the tint, which she was initially skeptical about, she said that "it melts in instantly, leaving nothing but a beautiful veil of glow behind."

Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (17%), lipochroman, ectoin, coconut oil, jojoba oil | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Dry Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer SPF 30

Why it's worth it: Prepare to quench your thirsty skin with La Roche-Posay'sToleriane Double Repair Moisturizer SPF 30. This moisturizing sunscreen is one of Dr. Wang's favorite drugstore formulations for its trifecta of skin enhancers, including hydrating glycerin, irritation-calming niacinamide, and moisture-sealing ceramides. Its lightweight, lotion-like texture blends seamlessly into any skin tone, and, most importantly, it provides broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection. Most importantly, it saves you an extra skin-care step in the morning. "This is easy to apply and combines SPF with moisturizing ingredients and ceramides to help restore the skin's natural protective barrier," Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Manhattan, New York, and Englewood, New Jersey, previously attested.

Sunscreen type: chemical | Key ingredients: avobenzone (3%), homosalate (5%), octisalate (5%), octocrylene (7%), ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, thermal spring water | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Sweat-Resistant Sunscreen: Colorescience Total Protection No-Show Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

Why it's worth it: If you're looking for an intensive formula that'll go above and beyond sun protection, Dr. Lolis loves Colorescience's Total Protection No-Show Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, which boasts conditioning and hyperpigmentation-reducing properties. As it guards your skin against UVA and UVB rays, a combination of moisturizing bisabolol, hydrating mushroom extract, and dark spot-diminishing antioxidants whip your skin into better shape. This sweat-resistant sunscreen won’t smear or begin to sweat off as you’re relaxing in the sunshine, either (but, as with all sunscreen, you still need to reapply every two hours!). Anyone can use this formula, but people with oily or acne-prone skin should especially consider this oil-free, non-comedogenic sunscreen.

Sunscreen type: mineral | Key ingredients: zinc oxide (10%), bisabolol, mushroom extract | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Moisturizer With SPF: Philosophy Hope In A Jar Smooth-Glow Multi-Tasking Moisturizer SPF 30

Why it's worth it: Though the Philosophy Hope In A Jar Smooth-Glow Multi-Tasking Moisturizer SPF 30 is a sunscreen, it also works hard as a fine line-plumping moisturizer. This formula combines hydrating hyaluronic acid with glycolic acid, an AHA that’s beloved by dermatologists for tightening the look of sagging skin and wrinkles. “I love that this moisturizer is so hydrating and blends seamlessly into the skin,” says Mina Amin, MD, a Los Angeles–based dermatologist.

Sunscreen type: chemical | Key ingredients: avobenzone (2.7%), homosalate (8%), octisalate (4.5%), octocrylene (9%), hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid | Fragrance-free: no

Frequently Asked Questions

On top of preventing issues like skin cancer and sunburn, Dr. Lolis says applying (and reapplying) a broad-spectrum sunscreen will minimize the appearance of concerns like fine lines, sun spots, and decreased skin laxity. "Unprotected sun exposure drastically accelerates the appearance of aging skin," Dr. Lolis explains. "While mature skin is already experiencing these effects absent sun exposure, not protecting your skin with sunscreen daily only sends the aging process into hyperdrive," she adds. Message heard loud and clear.

The usual golden ingredient of maturing skin-care routines is, usually, retinol, but sunscreens usually don’t contain that ingredient (mainly due to the misconception that retinol can increase skin photosensitivity, but that’s actually a myth). So, you'll want to look for a sunscreen formulated with antioxidants, the top-tier one being a stabilized form of vitamin C. This is because antioxidants neutralize environmental aggressors, including pollution, infrared rays, and visible light, therefore they boost the efficacy of your sunscreen's protective measures. On top of that, studies have shown that when vitamin C is used topically, it can help accelerate the skin's production of collagen and elastin, the protein fibers that help keep skin plump and firm. So, in helping to promote collagen production, topical vitamin C can help prevent signs of aging of the skin, including fine lines and lack of elasticity.

Another antioxidant known for its skin-boosting benefits is niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3. Like its counterpart, vitamin C, niacinamide has a myriad of benefits, including evening tone, brightening your complexion, and minimizing the appearance of pores. Dr. Garshick previously told Allure that this antioxidant can also diminish fine lines and wrinkles, thanks to its collagen-boosting properties. Most of the formulas above are also spiked with other plumping additives, like hydrating hyaluronic acid.

• James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles
• Joel Lamm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Ever/Body's supervising physician based in Hicksville, New York
• Mina Amin, MD, a Los Angeles–based dermatologist specializing in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology at California Dermatology Specialists
• Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Manhattan, New York, and Englewood, New Jersey
• Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, New Jersey
• Caroline Robinson, MD, a Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist

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 mature 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.

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.

Read more about our beauty essentials for maturing skin:

• The 15 Best Foundations for Mature Skin
• The 13 Best Primers for Smoothing Out Fine Lines
• 13 Creams, Treatments, and Serums That Work Like Botox in a Bottle

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