Style Skincare Suncare Sunscreen Oil Is the SPF Hack to Avoiding a White Cast—Here are the 10 Best Don’t mistake this sun-protecting product with tanning oil. By Wendy Rose Gould Wendy Rose Gould Instagram Website Wendy Rose Gould is a freelance lifestyle reporter based in Phoenix, Arizona. For the last 10 years, she's covered beauty, health, wellness, and travel for leading lifestyle outlets, including NBC, The Zoe Report, Bustle, Glam, TripSavvy, and others. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 30, 2023 Medically reviewed by Hadley King, MD Medically reviewed by Hadley King, MD Hadley King, MD is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is also a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.Dr. King is a highly sought after dermatologist in New York City, where she has been treating patients for almost twenty years. She has won numerous awards including Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor, Top Doctors New York Metro Area, New Beauty Top Beauty Doctor, and RealSelf Top Doctor. Learn More Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Ultra Not to be confused with tanning oil—which actually heightens sun exposure to promote an unhealthy tan—sunscreen oils pack a mighty dose of SPF to shield your skin from the sun while moisturizing. Best of all, they don’t leave behind any streaks or a frustrating white cast. “Sunscreen oils are generally chemical-based because the oil vehicle is ideal for providing a clear, vanishing application without the whitish film that mineral-based sunscreen lotions are prone to,” explains Deborah Spey, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group. “Additionally the oil itself can be infused with hydrating and antioxidant ingredients, such as marigold extract, aloe vera, grape seed, acai, argan, and coconut oils.” Long story short, since the oil itself is clear and formulated with clear SPF (versus physical sun blockers such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide), the end result is an invisible product that vanishes into the skin and lends a luminous glow. Dr. Spey says you should still reapply every two hours, or every time you get out of the water or have been sweating. Also, make sure you’re using a sunscreen oil with an SPF of 30 or higher and don’t confuse them with a tanning oil, which does the opposite of what you want. Keen on trying one? Here are 10 of the best on the market. Supergoop! Glow Oil SPF 50 Buy on Ulta Loaded with antioxidants, this hydrating body oil protects your skin from the sun with SPF 50 while shielding from free radical damage. It’s a lightweight formula that lends the perfect amount of glowy sheen, and it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Mele No Shade Sunscreen Oil Broad Spectrum for Melanin Rich Skin SPF 30 Buy on Target Mele was developed specifically to fill the gap in skincare for Brown and Black people. Its No Shade sunscreen oil has an SPF 30 and delivers a streak-free, ultra-glowy finish. The formula absorbs quickly without leaving behind a film of oil or residue. Vacation Chardonnay Oil SPF 30 Buy on Ulta Retro-inspired Vacation is known for its incredible smelling, photogenic sunscreens and its Chardonnay Oil is no exception. Formulated with chardonnay grape seed oils, it has a clear finish, has an SPF 30, and has a luxurious old school beachy scent. Plus, it's compliant with the Hawaii Reef Compliant Act 104. Cay Skin Isle Body Oil SPF 30 with Sea Moss and Squalane Buy on Sephora Model Winnie Harlow launched Cay Skin in 2022 with the goal of making sure everyone had access to sunscreen without a white cast that they actually looked forward to applying. The brand’s Isle Body Glow does exactly that. The non-greasy formula features coconut, argan, and grapeseed oils along with nutrient-dense sea moss and hydrating squalane. Kopari Rose Gold Sun Shield Body Glow SPF 45 Buy on Ulta For a dose of shimmer along with your sun protection, slather on Kopari's Rose Gold Sun Shield Body Glow. It packs an SPF 45, has a luxurious and lightweight consistency that melts onto skin, and is also transfer proof. The subtle shimmer effect will make you feel like a glowy goddess wherever you’re headed. Sun Bum Original SPF 30 Sunscreen Oil Buy on Ulta If you prefer a spray-on sunscreen oil, try this option from Sun Bum. It has an organic coconut oil base that deeply hydrates skin, and protects with an SPF of 30. It's also vegan, cruelty free, and is Hawaii Act 104 Reef Compliant. Coola Classic Liplux Organic Hydrating Lip Oil Sunscreen SPF 30 Buy on Dermstore Your lips need SPF, too, and sun care brand Coola can help with that. Made with 70% certified organic ingredients and lightly tinted, this shiny, organic lip oil delivers an SPF of 30 to shield your lips from skin cancer and sun-related premature aging. Hawaiian Tropic Weightless Hydration Oil Mist SPF 30 Buy on Amazon Here's another spray on option for you, which is perfect for touch ups and hard-to-reach spots. The dry oil formula has a non-greasy, super lightweight feel but still lends an SPF 30 and 12 hours of moisture. Naked Sundays SPF50 Clear Glow Radiant Sun Serum Buy on Revolve Yep, there are even sunscreen oils for your face. Naked Sunday’s invisible sun serum formula features watermelon seed oil as its primary ingredient along with jojoba seed oil, squalane, kakadu plum, and tomato fruit extract. Along with protecting your face from the sun, it doubles as a grippy, skin-smoothing primer. Soleil Toujours Solstice Shimmer Oil Sunscreen SPF 30 Buy on Thirteenlune.com For another luminizing sunscreen oil, try this shimmer-infused sunscreen oil from Soleil Toujours. It leaves behind a subtle glow that catches the light in the prettiest way, plus it boasts nourishing key ingredients such as acai, cotton seed and sunflower seed oils, and ultra-moisturizing cupuaçu butter. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit