The 12 best sunscreens for oily skin that offer non-greasy protection, without clogging pores

RRP: £21 | Formula: Liquid | SPF: 50+ | Oil-free? Yes

Recommended to us by several dermatologists whom we consulted for this piece, this oil-free formula from La Roche-Posay takes the top spot - especially for those with acne-prone skin. Throughout our testing, we found this weightless product sinks into the skin perfectly without leaving a white cast or oily residue, Anna says: "It glides on, absorbs easily and we applied our foundation as usual without it sliding off."

The original La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF UVMune 400 tops our list of the best La Roche-Posay products of all time, but if you have oily skin, this formula will likely play better with your complexion. Plus, unlike many sunscreens designed with oily skin in mind, this doesn't have an overly mattifying, powdery finish.

Buy if: You want a lightweight finish

Avoid if: You don't want that sunscreen smell

RRP: £49 | Formula: Cream | SPF: 45+ | Oil-free? Yes

If you're after a multitasking sunscreen, this option from Murad not only protects your skin from the sun but also mattifies, absorbs excess oil and minimises the appearance of large pores. It almost sounds too good to be true, but in our experience, it does all of the above. "It's a cream formula but feels more like a soft putty when you spread it in and my skin felt instantly smooth and mattified after applying," says Anna.

If you're looking for one of the best pore minimisers and SPFs rolled into one product, you can't go wrong with this one. It's worth noting that it may be too mattifying for some because of its primer feel; we found we applied it less liberally than others, as the mattifying effect felt immediate, so the texture may not suit everyone.

Buy if: You want an SPF to wear under makeup

Avoid if: You don't like a silicone-type feel

RRP: £34 | Formula: Gel | SPF: 50+ | Oil free? No

Simply gliding on before instantly drying, this water-light formula from Kiehl's offers SPF 50+ protection while boasting a mattifying and pore-blurring effect. Formulated specifically to cope with humid weather, we put it to the test and can confirm that the non-comedogenic gel formula worked its magic. It was sweat-proof, lightweight and was just the right level of matte without drying our skin.

It's tough to fault this product, but if I was being really picky, my skin started to look and feel a little shiny after hours of wear. Sadly, even the pros at Kiehl's can't work miracles; I'm yet to find a formula that can provide an all-day mattifying effect.

Buy if: You're heading on holiday or live somewhere that's humid

Avoid if: You want an all-day matte finish

RRP: £13 | Formula: fluid | SPF: 50+ | Oil-free? Yes

Garnier is a brilliant brand for effective, well-priced skincare solutions - and this is no exception. A light fluid with a matte feel, it includes broad spectrum UVA-UVB protection as well as beta-hydroxy acids, which dissolve oil, and niacinamide, a skin-balancing ingredient.

All of this adds up to a blemish-busting formula that woman&home Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona Mckim is particularly taken with. "I regularly experience hormonal breakouts as well as congestion on my T-Zone, which can make applying SPF a bit of a hard sell - as it often makes me break out too. Knowing this fluid has oil-dissolving BHA as well as all-rounder niacinamide allays those fears and helps me stick with daily use, even in the winter. I love the watery texture and soft matte finish too.

Buy if: You want to treat spots as well as protect

Avoid if: You want shelfie-worthy packaging

RRP: £39 | Formula: Liquid | SPF: 50+ | Oil-free? Yes

"This is the sunscreen I use every day in the winter and the one I rely on while I'm on holiday," says Dionne. "Because I'm mostly worried about the ageing effects of the sun, this is the sunscreen I swear by to protect my skin from sun damage. It's the most lightweight formula I've tried and it melts into my skin instantly upon application so that it doesn't feel oily. Rather, my skin feels hydrated all day long."

This SPF 50 broad-spectrum formula protects the skin against both UVA and UVB, with added antioxidants that shield the skin from environmental stressors and minimise the signs of ageing. "I love the soft matte finish, alone or under make-up," Dionne noted after testing. If you're concerned about dark spots, breakouts or the visible signs of skin ageing, this is the one to try.

Buy if: You are concerned about dark spots

Avoid if: You want a glowy complexion

RRP: £16 | Formula: Lotion | SPF: 50+ | Oil-free? Yes

Korean brand Beauty of Joeson specialises in beautifully light-textured products packed with skin-loving natural ingredients, making this a great choice of sunscreen for oily skin that also happens to be sensitive. Particularly so because it contains skin-soothing probiotics, including a bio ferment that's specifically formulated to prevent breakouts without drying out the skin or causing reactions.

The feel of this is very refined, which makes sense given it's a chemical rather than mineral SPF, and sits somewhere between a creamy and light milky lotion. This means it hits the mark of feeling hydrating but not too rich on oily skin. The inclusion of SPF50 UVB protection and UVA is robust and what you should be looking for, and it sits nicely on the skin with a lightly matte finish that's not too heavy or powdery.

Buy if: You have skin that needs soothing

Avoid if: You prefer mineral sunscreens

RRP: £49 | Formula: Lotion | SPF: 50+ | Oil-free? Yes

Yes, the sun can cause the skin to show signs of ageing, but it can also worsen existing skin damage, such as pigmentation - which is where this powerful formula from SkinCeuticals comes in. Offering high UVA and UVB protection with advanced UV filters, these help to prevent any UV-induced hyperpigmentation, dark spots and collagen breakdown.

It's also super lightweight and fast absorbing, which is especially good for oily skin, however, it isn't the most hydrating one we've tried, so you'll probably want to rely on a hydrating facial serum and one of the best face moisturisers underneath this particular sun protection formula.

Buy if: You want to treat dark spots

Avoid if: You're on a budget

RRP: £35 | Formula: Cream | SPF: 30 |Oil-free? No

Speaking of nifty multitaskers, this mattifying, smoothing sunscreen from Supergoop is seriously impressive. Not only does it work hard offering a velvety smooth finish and high levels of sun protection, but it also has a 100% mineral formula. In fact, the ingredient list is actually better defined by what it doesn't contain, the brand's "no list" includes over 1,300 ingredients, including octinoxate and oxybenzone.

However, what this cult sunscreen does contain is meadowfoam seed extract which aims to hydrate, frankincense to soothe and red algae to neutralise blue light. Just when you thought its credentials stopped there: it's also both sweat- and water-resistant as well as reef-safe. The only downside to note is that it is only SPF 30, whereas SPF 50 is more ideal particularly in the summer months.

Buy if: You want a reef-safe option

Avoid if: You want an SPF 50+

RRP: £34 | Formula: Cream | SPF: 50+ | Oil-free? Yes

When finding the best sunscreens, you can trust Australian brand Ultra Violette to have a formula for every skin need, including an impressive range of skincare for oily skin. In particular, this skinscreen multitasks as a sun protection, moisturiser and primer all in one. "I hated wearing SPF until I tried this, but I've used this every day for a year now and I haven't found one that tops supreme screen," says Dionne.

"I've tried so many different formulas that have only made my oily skin worse and my makeup slips off by lunchtime", she continues. "I forget this is even sunscreen; it's that brilliant. I use it instead of my moisturiser and primer and I love the clean scent. It's meant for normal to dry skin, but this is the only one that doesn't ruin my makeup, gives me a satin finish and keeps my skin shine-free all day". If you prefer a mineral sunscreen and a matte finish, the lean screen version is just as great.

Buy if: You're looking for a shine-free finish

Avoid if: You're on a budget

RRP: £8.99 | Formula: Cream lotion | SPF: 50+ | Oil-free? No

For under £10, we rated this as one of the best affordable sunscreens for oily skin because you get UVA and UVB protection, SPF 50 and a lotion so hydrating you could easily skip moisturiser. The Australian brand has formulated this product with ethically sourced algae to make for a super hydrating, comfortable sunscreen. It's also fragrance-free, paraben-free and reef-friendly, so you can jump in the sea without a worry.

This affordable option is also non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores, making it an ideal option for blemish-prone complexions. It's also an excellent sunscreen for oily skin as it dries down without a white cast and leaves a shine-free finish. At less than £10 it's well worth a go – though if for any reason it doesn't work as well for you as it did for us it could be used up on the neck and shoulders.

Buy if: You're on a budget

Avoid if: Your skin is more sensitive

RRP: £37 | Formula: serum | SPF: 50+ | Oil-free? Yes

Alpha H flies slightly under the radar here, but this Aussie skincare brand is huge south of the equator - and no wonder. As well as creating one of our favourite skincare acid exfoliators (Liquid Gold, if you're asking) this SPF-serum hybrid is well worth a look too.

"Trust the Aussies to come up with sun protection that's genuinely a joy to wear all day, every day," says Fiona. "This has the slippery, silky texture of your best hyaluronic acid serum, but offers broad spectrum UVA/B protection and a boost of niacinamide, which is known to regulate oil production as well as refine skin texture. Due to its unique texture, this spreads on beautifully without dragging and dries down to a very lightly radiant - but not at all slick or shiny - finish. Most sunscreens for oily skin are very mattifying so this is unique in its flattering juicy-looking effect. Love."

Buy if: You want skincare benefits and a radiant finish

Avoid if: You prefer richer cream textures

RRP: £13 | Formula: Mist | SPF: 50+ | Oil free? No

Once you've applied your sunscreen and makeup, the last thing you want to do is layer more product on top of it. "As a pale-skinned Scottish person who is basically allergic to the sun, I meticulously cover every part of myself in sunscreen before leaving the house. But I always struggle with the 2pm top-up," says Anna. "I basically have a bottle of this in my bag at all times. It's lightweight, non-greasy and gently sits on top of your make-up without causing it to run or pill," she continues.

Containing hyaluronic acid and glycerin, this handy SPF 50 mist is super hydrating and makes for easy (and mess-free) applications on-the-go. Due to its invisible formula, it can be hard to tell if you've applied enough so I wouldn't rely on it as my sole sunscreen, but it is one of the best top-ups I've used.

Buy if: You want a mist to top up coverage

Avoid if: You're looking for a base layer