6 Best Sunscreens for Dry Skin 2026 to Hydrate and Protect

Whether dryness stems from the weather, aging skin, hormonal changes, or medication, the best sunscreens for dry skin provide instant relief and hydration, smoothing flakiness and rough patches while leaving an illuminating glow. “When choosing a sunscreen for dry or sensitive skin, it’s important to find one that protects and hydrates the skin barrier,” says Mona Foad, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Cincinnati. These can include ingredients like “hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, or ceramides,” which attract and lock in moisture while soothing irritation, says Ashley McGuinness, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Chesterfield, Missouri. Both chemical and mineral sunscreens fit the hydrating bill; however, mineral UV filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are overall kinder to sensitive skin.

• Best Overall Chemical: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense SPF 50 Sunscreen with BEMT, $40
• Best Overall Mineral: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 60+, $26
• Best Lightweight: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45, $38
• Best for Redness: EltaMD Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50, $53

Allure editors test tons of sunscreen formulas—both chemical and mineral—all year round, but these are the formulas that go beyond UV protection, offering moisturizing ingredients and antioxidants that give you a glowing, hydrated complexion. We’re spilling our top picks that glide on like a dream while keeping your skin moisturized all day.

Best Overall Chemical: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense Sunscreen SPF 50

Why it’s worth it: There's a new UV filter in town, and it's kind of a big deal. Meet bemotrizinol (BEMT), the first new sunscreen filter approved by the FDA in more than two decades—and La Roche-Posay is among the first brands to bring it stateside. Anthelios UVDefense SPF 50 Sunscreen features 2% BEMT, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays and is photostable, meaning it doesn't break down as easily when exposed to sunlight. The brand’s patented Cell-Ox Shield technology combines sunscreen filters with an antioxidant blend of litchi extract, alteromonas, cassia senna alata, and vitamin E to help fend off free radicals caused by UV exposure and pollution. Dry skin gets a hydration boost, too, thanks to moisture-attracting glycerin and butylene glycol, plus dimethicone, which helps seal in moisture and smooth over rough, flaky patches.

Of course, even the most impressive sunscreen ingredients won't mean much if you dread putting the stuff on. Luckily, this one also gets high marks for how it feels. "It feels silky on the skin with no white residue," says Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, who gave it the ultimate sweat test during the Chicago Marathon. "I generously reapplied all over my face, neck, and arms at the halfway point," she says, adding that it felt lightweight and smooth without getting greasy or stinging her eyes, even after a second application. If it can hold its own through 26.2 miles, your morning commute should be a breeze.

Best Overall Mineral: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+

Why it’s worth it: When you want your sunscreen to feel more like soothing skin care—and less, well, sunscreen-y—Shiseido’s Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+ is the answer. The 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner has a lightweight, lotion-like texture that glides on smoothly and dries down to a non-greasy, invisible finish. It’s spiked with skin-loving ingredients like raspberry extract, witch hazel, glycerin, and five types of algae to keep your complexion hydrated and calm. Our tester swears by how seamlessly it layers under makeup—and while the bottle is on the smaller side, a little does go a long way.

Best Lightweight: Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45

Why it’s worth it: What if your favorite moisturizer came with a side of SPF? That's the idea behind Belif's Aqua Bomb Sunscreen SPF 45: it takes everything fans love about the brand's editor-favorite The True Cream Aqua Bomb Moisturizer and adds broad-spectrum sun protection. Like the moisturizer, it's packed with moisture-boosting glycerin, soothing panthenol, brightening niacinamide, and Belif's botanical blend of oat seed, calendula, and other calming herbs.

The biggest difference comes down to texture, which has a “creamy consistency that feels so classically K-beauty,” says Dr. Yoo. That signature Korean beauty feel comes courtesy of lightweight silicones and smoothing polymers, which give the sunscreen a silky, almost primer-like finish. It glides on without feeling heavy or greasy, making it an easy addition to your morning routine (or a replacement for a separate moisturizer, depending on your skin type). "It's refreshing and quick-absorbing while still leaving skin feeling plumped and comfortable," she says.

Best for Redness: EltaMD Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50

Why it’s worth it: A little color theory goes a long way when it comes to tackling redness: Green cancels out red. EltaMD's UV Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting SPF 50 puts that art-class lesson to very good use. A 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner, this mineral sunscreen has a sheer green tint that helps neutralize visible redness. But it does more than color-correct: The formula features soothing Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica), an amino acid complex of taurine, arginine, and glycine to help stressed, irritated skin bounce back, and ceramides to reinforce the moisture barrier and keep dryness in check. The lightweight, non-greasy texture is great for sensitive, redness-prone skin, whether you're dealing with a temporary flare-up, a naturally flushed complexion, or irritation brought on by cold, dry weather.

Best Dewy Finish: Supergoop Dewscreen Hydrating Primer SPF 50

Why it’s worth it: Some days, sunscreen is the only thing you have time (or energy) to put on your face. Other days, you're going all out with a full face of makeup. Either way, Supergoop's Dewscreen Hydrating Primer SPF has you covered. This chemical sunscreen doubles as a makeup primer, creating a smooth, grippy base that helps foundation apply evenly and stay put, without leaving a white cast. The finish is fresh and dewy without feeling greasy, even on our tester's combination skin, which tends to get oily in certain areas. Peptides help skin look plumper and bouncier, while hyaluronic acid and tremella mushroom provide plenty of hydration without making skin feel slick. The only minor trade-off? It takes a little longer to rub in than some other sunscreens, but for this much moisture, those extra few seconds are well worth it.

Best Tinted: Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow

Why it’s worth it: Iris & Romeo’s Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow comes in four flexible shades—Universal, Cool Glow, Warm Glow, and Bronze Glow—designed to flatter a range of skin tones while delivering a noticeable glow. The formula leans heavily into brightening, thanks to a potent mix of vitamin C, vitamin E (to help keep that vitamin C stable), and niacinamide for a more even-looking complexion over time. The texture is on the richer side, so it wears more like a tinted moisturizer than a barely-there sunscreen, which we love for light coverage days.