23 Best Sunscreens Without a White Cast (Tested and Reviewed in 2024)

Considered the holy grail of all sunscreens by beauty editor-at-large Julee Wilson, deputy beauty director Lauren Balsamo, and myself, EltaMD UV Clear is genuinely the GOAT. This creamy, chemical sunscreen formula might look white when you pump it out of the tube, but it smooths on entirely clear on every single skin tone. Oh, and if our obsession doesn't convince you, just take it from dermatologist Jeannette Graf, MD, who pretty much exclusively recommends this to her patients, regardless of skin type.

• SPF: 46
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "I've been using the Elta MD all this summer and couldn't be more pleased with the results. I still wear a hat because we all know no sunscreen protects 100%, but most importantly, my skin has actually gotten clearer."

There's a reason this chemical sunscreen became a cult-favorite overnight: The clear gel formula absorbs into your skin without a trace, leaving you with the broad-spectrum protection of SPF 40. Plus, it's formulated with lightweight ingredients like jojoba oil and shea butter to hydrate without the usual grease or shine.

• SPF: 40
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "It absorbs into my skin immediately with no greasy or sticky residue… and I can apply my makeup immediately. Best of all: it has no odor, and it has not caused a single breakout."

If you like a sunscreen that doubles as really-good skincare, call off the search. "Neova’s Silc Sheer is a game-changer," says board-certified dermatologist Mary Lupo, MD, who recommends it to patients all the time. "It helps prevent burns and reduce dark spots like other sunscreens, but also has added DNA-repair technology that goes an extra step to protect the skin from cancers."

• SPF: 40
• Type: Mineral and chemical

Glowing customer review: "I love sunscreen and consistently have a handful that I rotate daily, until I got this. Smooth formula, not greasy, melts into the skin. It is lightly tinted so it just neutralizes some redness. It’s perfect under makeup, or without because it leaves a beautiful satin finish. My skin has been smooth and plump and glowy. The perfect daily sunscreen."

Aesthetician Ivey Rogers says many of her clients love this moisturizing chemical sunscreen, so I immediately added it to my rotation. Turns out, it's loaded with moisturizers (like aloe vera, sunflower seed oil, jojoba oil, and cocoa butter) that really nourish and soften my skin. It's so hydrating that I actually skip moisturizer on the days I'm wearing this.

• SPF: 30
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "It's lightweight, non-greasy, and absorbs beautifully into the skin. No more dealing with that dreaded white cast that many sunscreens leave behind. This sunscreen truly lives up to its promise of no white residue, which is a huge win for me."

"This is my absolute favorite sunscreen," says Rogers. "I love it because it's the first totally mineral sunscreen I've used that goes on completely sheer." She loves using it as a moisturizer in the mornings (since it's loaded with safflower seed oil to help moisturize), but also uses zinc oxide to block UV rays, as well as fights free radical damage and inflammation with antioxidant-rich grapefruit extract. "It gives my skin a beautiful glow when I apply it too," she adds.

• SPF: 30
• Type: Mineral

Glowing customer review: "Love how after applying this I don’t need to wear makeup because this leaves my face glowing with no white residue. This is now the only SPF I’d use for my face."

You already know you need sunscreen every single day if you wanna limit fine lines and wrinkles. But this formula actually helps plump and firm your skin too with peptides. TBH, temporary deputy beauty director Deanna Pai calls this her holy grail sunscreen because it entirely blends into her tan skin tone. It combines chemical and mineral filters to help protect her skin from UVA and UVB rays without feeling goopy or looking ghostly.

• SPF: 40
• Type: Chemical and mineral

Glowing customer review: "I adore this sunscreen. I am very reactive to many ingredients in sunscreen, but this one screams clean. This does not pill. It covers smoothly, is not drying, and provides a fabulous primer for those with sensitive skin. I will not be without it, if I can help it."

Don't wanna spend a ton on sunscreen? I completely understand, which is why I urge you to pick up Solar Mate from Bubble. This inexpensive mineral formula goes on sheer and smooth, protecting my skin from UVA and UVB rays and moisturizing with raspberry seed oil.

FWIW, my 11-year-old cousin told me this is her favorite sunscreen, so if you care about impressing the teenagers on your family vacay this summer, roll up with this in your beach bag.

• SPF: 40
• Type: Mineral

Glowing customer review: "This is the best suncreen I've ever used!! I use it all the time and it never makes you look pale, I definitely recommend!!"

Not to be a teacher's pet or anything, but if beauty editor-at-large Julee Wilson likes a product, I immediately grab it from the closet and try it myself... and that's exactly how I discovered this would become my go-to after she featured it in her column, Yours. Mine. Ours. It requires zero rubbing in and gives my skin a pretty glow, c/o hyaluronic acid and beta glucan.

• SPF: 30
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "This has got to be the BEST SPF I have ever tried! I like to wear SPF every day, but have had such a hard time finding the right one that wears well both by itself and under makeup. This is 1000x better than any of the higher-end products I have tried."

I look for clear sunscreen formulas that hydrate and plump my skin without making me look oily... which was, shockingly, a challenge until I found this bb. This watery cream immediately sinks into skin, leaving behind no residue, yet it seriously moisturizes with hyaluronic acid and coconut water. I pat this onto my face in the mornings when I want to look fresh-faced and hydrated AF.

• SPF: 50
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "This is by far the best sunscreen and moisturizer I’ve ever used. It’s so easy to apply light and weightless. Has very little scent and is conveniently packaged to use the product. 10 outta 10 for me!"

FYI: This non-aerosol sunscreen spray isn't just the best-smelling sunscreen on the planet—it totally is—but it also has no white cast at all whatsoever. I spray it my entire body (which is really easy, by the way—the mister covers a lot of surface area), then blend it in with my fingers to get all the coverage. This duo also comes with a casual Vacation air freshener for your car.

• SPF: 50+
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "I’m obsessed with this sunscreen. It’s more natural than others. The spray comes out evenly and thick enough first try. I don’t have to go over a spot to make sure it’s covered."

Sunscreen sticks are my go-to when I'm out and about and feel the sun's rays beating down on me. But pretty much every other formula I've tested leaves me an oily mess—*except* this Shiseido stick. Instead, it goes on clear and lightweight, giving my skin an ever-so-subtle glow that doesn't make my skin look greasy. And now you simply have no excuse to not reapply your sunscreen, k?!

• SPF: 50+
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "“Great product! No white cast, easy to use over or under make up. On the go and makes my skin look hydrated as well.”

My toxic trait as a beauty editor is loading up my face with all the SPF in the world but neglecting my body. But I simply have no excuse now that I found this gel body sunscreen from Dune, which sinks in as soon as I rub it on with zero white cast. It's also quite moisturizing too, thanks to olive, avocado, and coconut oils.

• SPF: 30
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "This stuff is absolutely great. I'm a little darker so never really cared for sunscreen too much, especially since most of it is pasty and leaves white casts. I found this as a possible solution and bought a bottle for a Bali trip, and this worked amazingly. Absorbs quickly, goes on clear, smells good, and keeps me protected."

Winner of Cosmo's 2023 Clean Beauty Award for sunscreen, this mineral formula is so damn glowy and ~juicy~. It's packed with peptides, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to help plump and hydrate your skin for a smooth, soft complexion. FYI: Hailey Bieber is obsessed with this one too, so obvi it blew up on TikTok.

• SPF: 40
• Type: Mineral

Glowing customer review: "Love this stuff! It always jazzes up my skin just a little, making it look better than it did before applying. Def a fan!"

I am an O.G. La Roche-Posay sunscreen stan, but I've used barely any other formula besides this one since I took it on a trip last summer. This sheer, dry-touch, matte finish SPF is perfect for my oily skin, since it absorbs quickly—and actually blurs and keeps me from getting greasy throughout the day.

• SPF: 60
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "I have oily skin, and it definitely mattes the oils. Even after a day of working and I feel like I'm sweating I'm still not shiny and oily. And great skin protection with the SPF."

This gel sunscreen comes highly recommended by our editors who love that they can get a smoothing, lightweight SPF for less than $15. It leaves a slightly matte finish on your skin, so doubles as a makeup primer in a pinch. FWIW, many reviewers dub it a dupe for the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen (IMO, Supergoop is a bit more smoothing on my skin, but this one is a quarter of the price, so take your pick).

• SPF: 35
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "I was given a tube of this as a gift and ran out and had to order more. Love putting this on my face before I put on my makeup. It's not the typical thick sunscreen and I find this very effective."

I know what you're thinking: A mineral sunscreen without white cast? More likely to get a new Rihanna album. But like magic, Cay Skin (by Winnie Harlow, btw) figured it out with these mineral SPF 30 drops. The formula might look white when I drip a few drops into your palm, but it blends immediately into my medium skin with a lightweight finish that helps hydrate my skin with squalane.

• SPF: 30
• Type: Mineral

Glowing customer review: "The Mo’ Bay Mineral Sunscreen Drops did not disappoint. Though it applies white, it settles into your skin seamlessly with the natural radiance that Cay is known for. It’s so lightweight & it also makes a great base for makeup application. I’d highly recommend!"

When it comes to blending in, chemical formulas can't be beat. "Chemical formulas are often cosmetically more acceptable for all skin tones," says Dr. Lupo. That's why a product that combines both, like this Cocokind SPF, is so dreamy. Both deputy beauty director Lauren Balsamo and I swear by this chemical/mineral combo because it feels extremely lightweight on our skin, leaving a soft finish behind, but doesn't irritate sensitive skin or cause breakouts.

• SPF: 30
• Type: Chemical and mineral

Glowing customer review: "This one is by far my favorite SPF. It doesn't feel sticky, it goes on silky smooth, and disappears within seconds with no residue. I also feel it hydrating my skin, so it doesn't feel as dry or chappy as with other sunscreens."

Sure, You could spray this directly onto your face and rub in, as this is called an SPF mist. But it's definitely more of a serum texture, IMO. I personally spray it onto my palms, then blend in with my fingers on my face. It's extremely lightweight and watery, which makes it absorb into my skin quickly with zero residue or greasiness at all.

• SPF: 30
• Type: Chemical

Glowing customer review: "The liquid itself is more watery and lighter than Hawaiian Tropic's other sunscreen but also has a lower SPF rating. I do like how it feels when applied in that it doesn't feel like I just applied sunscreen. The bottle itself is small and very portable."

Prefer a five-minute makeup routine? Combine your moisturizer, SPF, and makeup primer step in one with this sunscreen from Naked Sundays. It blurs my pores and gives me a slight glowy finish on top of preventing sun damage and burning.

• SPF: 50+
• Type: Mineral

Glowing customer review: "My sensitive 65-year-old skin loves this product. It sinks right in and works wonderfully under foundation. I'm out in the sun daily, and the SPF gives perfect protection."

“This is a really nice and elegant mineral sunscreen,” says board-certified dermatologist Purvisha Patel, MD, which, hey, is what we all want from a mineral formula. Not only does it have a generous SPF 40, but it also disappears completely as you rub it into your skin—and it's a great sunscreen for sensitive skin, given that it’s fragrance-free.

• SPF: 40
• Type: Mineral

Glowing customer review: "As a darker-skinned person, I have been on a mission to find a mineral sunscreen that is water-resistant with no chalky white cast and no sticky feeling AND no annoying fragrance. This one ticks all the boxes and it's very impressive that it wears so elegantly with 20% zinc oxide in the formula."