9 Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin in Australia for 2025
We try Ultra Violette's new product launch and see why it's quickly become our new "everyday favourite for the summer time".
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Sunscreen has come a long way. Where once we just used an all-over body formula (and only when we were at the pool or beach), we now have sunscreens designed for different skin types, different parts of the body and every application you can imagine.
However, if you have sensitive skin, you may find a lot of sunscreens irritate your face, and feel like all this variety is for nothing since you can’t find a sunscreen that feels comfortable on your skin.
We've rounded up our top picks including the newly released Ultra Violette Future Fluid SPF 50+ Superlight Mineral SKINSCREEN - the innovative formula makes it a total "game changer" to what you thought you knew about mineral sunscreens.
OUR TOP PICKS
Always read the label and read the directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun and wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
EDITOR’S PICKS: BEST SUNSCREENS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN TYPES
Future Fluid SPF 50+ Superlight Mineral SKINSCREEN, $52 at Ultra Violette
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Senior Shopping Writer
I've tried plenty of mineral sunscreens and the texture has always been thick and sometimes hard to work with. So you can imagine my excitement when this new Ultra Violette launch landed on my desk, promising all the amazing benefits of a mineral sunscreen, coupled with a fluid-like texture that I already love and use everyday.
The Future Fluid sunscreen has become a new everyday favourite for the summer time. Giving plenty of sun protection, while nourishing and hydrating my skin barrier and providing a subtle skin tint to reduce redness? This is a game changer!
The fragrance-free and innovative zinc SPF comes from Japan and is what gives it the super lightweight texture. The brand has also added vitamin E, squalene and pentavitin to provide your skin with loads of hydration.
This sunscreen can easily pop this on as a base, put a bit of concealer on, blush, mascara and you're out the door - too easy!
Tried and Tested by Philippa Tonkin, Shopping Writer
I've been a fan of everything Ultra Violette for years now so when they announced they were releasing a new zinc sunscreen but in liquid form, I was very keen to try it out. Now UV does already have a zinc sunscreen, the Lean Screen, but a lot of people found it simply too thick. I used to have very oily skin and Lean Screen was a favourite of mine so I was interested to see how the fluid version would compare. Fair to say, I'm very impressed.
Like other mineral sunscreens, it leaves the skin with a natural, slightly tinted finish that I was obsessed with. While it's not coverage in the sense of a foundation it does slightly correct any redness and I found it perfect for non-makeup days.
These days, my skin isn't quite as oily as it used to be and in winter when my skin gets a bit more dry I'll probably swap back to my other favourite UV sunscreen, Fave Fluid for that extra hydration. In saying that, I found Future Fluid perfect for summer and didn't notice any unwanted oiliness or stickiness that can be associated with other sunscreens.
Always read the label. See directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF 50+, $25.32 (down from $37.95) at Amazon Australia
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, Shopping Writer
The La Roche Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+ has become my new favourite for every day. Incredibly lightweight and runny in consistency, this broad spectrum sunscreen absorbs into the skin really effortlessly, doesn’t leave a white cast and has no unpleasant scent whatsoever. While it’s technically for those with normal to combination skin, it went on smoothly and did not irritate my dry, sensitive skin at all.
My makeup applied SO seamlessly over it and I did not look greasy at all throughout the day which is so impressive.
The TikTok girlies really didn’t lie about this one, it’s truly worth the hype and price!
Always read the label. See directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
BEST TINTED SUNSCREEN FOR SENSITIVE SKIN TYPES
Naked Sundays SPF50+ Collagen Glow 100% Mineral Perfecting Priming Lotion, $39.95 at Naked Sundays
What You Need To Know
The Naked Sundays Mineral Perfecting Priming Lotion is best suited for sensitive skin.
This award-winning sunscreen contains vegan collagen, watermelon extract and has a tinted colour that buffs out easily to a beautiful, whitecast-free natural finish.
Five star reviews say it “works great on my sensitive and breakout-prone skin” and is lightweight on the skin.
Always read the label. See directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
BEST SUNSCREEN FOR OILY, SENSITIVE SKIN TYPES
Ultra Violette Lean Screen Mineral Mattifying Fragrance Free SKINSCREEN SPF 50+, $52 at THE ICONIC
What You Need To Know
This lightweight sunscreen is perfect for oily, combo or sensitive skin types. The zinc-only formula is free from parabens, and oxybenzone and doesn’t have the sticky white consistency of traditional sunscreen.
Always read the label. See directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
Avène Sunsitive Sunscreen Serum SPF 50+, $44.99 at Priceline
What You Need To Know
A gentle sunscreen designed for sensitive skin types, this product uses hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and aloe vera to help maintain hydration, while the product leaves a non-sticky, non-greasy invisible finish.
Always read the label. See directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
Ultra Violette Clean Screen Fragrance Free Sensitive Facial SKINSCREEN SPF 30, $49 at The Iconic
What You Need To Know
Ultra Violette offers two options for sensitive skin types – Lean Screen, which is SPF 50, and Clean Screen. I included Clean Screen here as it also has a mattifying effect, thanks to its gel-cream texture that’s partly mineral, partly organic sunscreen ingredients.
It’s worth noting that you should use the highest SPF you can, so 50+ of broad spectrum protection is ideal. However, many mineral sunscreens will only go to SPF 30.
Always read the label. See directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun and wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
BEST HYDRATING SUNSCREEN FOR SENSITIVE SKIN TYPES
Natio Rosewater Hydration Moisture Balance SPF 50 Day Cream, $21.95 at Myer
What You Need To Know
This bills itself as a daily moisture treatment with SPF 50+ as well as rosewater and nourishing skin extracts to keep your face nourished and hydrated.
Always read the label. See directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
Bondi Sands Sunny Daze SPF 50 Moisturiser, $22.99 at Bondi Sands
What You Need To Know
This is a two-in-one product, working as a hydrating moisturiser and SPF 50+. The non-greasy formula is ideal for wearing under makeup and it’s non-comedogenic making it good for sensitive skin.
Always read the label. See directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
BEST AFFORDABLE SUNSCREEN FOR SENSITIVE SKIN TYPES
NIVEA Sun Sensitive Protect SPF50 Sunscreen Lotion, $10.75 (down from $21.50) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This is a great, affordable option and the 200ml bottle means you can use it all-over, if you like. Fragrance-free and formulated with aloe vera and camomile to help soothe skin, it’s a good one for the beach bag.
Always read the label. See directions for use. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Frequent reapplication is required for effective sun protection.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING SUNSCREEN FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
When choosing sunscreens for sensitive skin to include in our list, we evaluated several factors:
Budget: While most of the sunscreens on the list aren't too expensive, we made sure to include a wide range of prices to suit different needs and wants.
Formula: Do you prefer a more lightweight, liquid type of sunscreen or a more, rich cream? Both types and everything in the middle are included.
Finish: We made sure not to include any products that leave behind the unwanted white cast and only included products that shoppers say leave a great finish.
Skin types: From oily, sensitive skin to dry, sensitive skin, there is something for all sensitive skin types on this list.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY DO SOME SUNSCREENS IRRITATE SENSITIVE SKIN?
It’s hard to know for sure, but it comes back to tolerance levels of skin and makeup products in general. If you’re sensitive to sunscreen, it’s likely you struggle with other topical skin products, too. You may see this as redness, dryness, peeling or little bumps that look like hives. Or there might be no visual evidence, but you’ll feel stinging, itching or burning when using certain products.
HOW CAN I TELL IF SUNSCREEN WON’T IRRITATE MY SKIN?
Again, without knowing what your skin is specifically irritated by, it’s a bit of trial-and-error. If you are concerned, seeing a GP or dermatologist is the best course of action.
In general, though, some ways to avoid common sensitivity triggers are avoiding products with fragrances, products with preservatives and going for mineral-based products. Two popular non-comedogenic sunscreen ingredients to look out for are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
It’s also worth noting that prolonged sun exposure and heat can irritate sensitive and/or acne prone skin types, so to further protect yourself it’s always worth covering up, sticking to shady spots and keeping cool during summer.
WHAT ARE CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SUNSCREENS?
Something you might hear a lot of when it comes to sensitive skin and sunscreen is the difference between chemical and physical. Many people will swear that the only sunscreen they can use on their sensitive skin is physical sunscreen, which usually uses zinc oxide to reflect away UV rays.
More Coverage
Chemical sunscreen, on the other hand, penetrates your skin and absorbs UV rays, then turns them into heat. It’s this function that some sensitive skin sufferers find irritating to their skin, but it won’t be the case for everyone. While we can’t promise you that mineral sunscreen or chemical sunscreens won’t irritate your sensitive skin, we can share some top-rated, well-loved sunscreens that people with sensitive skin have claimed worked well for them.
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