Best Sunscreen for Melasma and Hyperpigmentation: A Complete Guide You Need

This La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sunscreen is an amazing option for people who know that they have sensitive skin because it has been designed with different skin conditions in mind. It is a broad spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen that also contains several types of antioxidants. When used by people who have melasma, it can prevent more dark patches of hyperpigmentation from forming on the face. Without sunscreen, they would.

We would advise that you apply this sunscreen at least half an hour before you are exposed to the sun. You should then try to reapply it every two hours. If you are planning on going swimming, then you should plan accordingly and reapply it more often. The manufacturer states that it offers water resistance for up to 80 minutes. 

What We Love:

A lot of the beauty tips that can be found across the internet advise that you put your skin care before anything else. You could easily do this by incorporating your sunscreen into your daily routine, something that is made even easier when you choose to use a tinted sunscreen. Just try to be careful and make sure that you take your own skin tone into account when you are choosing one, as some simply won’t be suitable for certain skin tones.

This is a pretty unique tinted sunscreen because it is a physical one and not a chemical one. This means that it sits on top of the skin once it has been applied. The formula contains zinc oxide, which is an ingredient that every melasma sufferer should look for because it can scatter, absorb and reflect UVA and UVB rays. We would also like to note that this sunscreen does not leave a horrible white cast! 

When you suffer from a condition like melasma, you need to make sure that you are choosing a sunscreen that can really protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. This Neutrogena Water Resistant Sunscreen is an important product to consider because it has been brought to us by a brand that is also a household name and it contains Helioplex, which is a formulation of broad-spectrum ultraviolet skin protection (UVA and UVB).

We would like to note that this sunscreen is lightweight when applied and it has a beautiful matte finish. This means that your skin won’t look or feel greasy after you have applied it. We believe that you should try to apply this sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you are due to be exposed to the sun. You should also reapply it every two hours or more frequently if you are planning on going swimming or participating in any water sports. 

What We Love:

We love the fact that most of the Neutrogena sunscreen products that are readily available on the market have been specially formulated to decrease the risk of skin cancer. Remember that this will only happen if you use your sunscreen as directed. If you do not reapply it frequently enough, then you will not see as many benefits. This sunscreen comes in both a spray and a stick form and it only leaves a slight white cast when you apply too much.

If you suffer from hyperpigmentation and you are currently looking for a product that has been recommended by plenty of dermatologists, then you should take a look at this EltaMD UV Tinted Facial Sunscreen. It consists of an oil-free formula that has been specifically put together to protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays that could otherwise damage it.

Try to make sure that you follow all of the directions that come with this sunscreen if you would like to use it to prevent more dark patches from forming. Dark patches will frequently form if you do not protect your skin. We would like to mention the fact that this sunscreen is also actively recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation because it is an effective broad-spectrum sunscreen.

It is also worth noticing that this sunscreen contains a lot of zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is one of the most important ingredients to look for if you suffer from melasma. This is because zinc oxide can actually sit on the surface of the skin and scatter, reflect and absorb some of the UV rays that hit your skin. Whereas, certain chemical ingredients would simply degrade.

What We Love:

This sunscreen has been designed with troublesome skin in mind. It contains ingredients that can calm the skin and prevent things from happening, including breakouts, rosacea and discolouration. Naturally, this makes it a brilliant option for melasma sufferers.

When applied, this sunscreen feels like it doesn’t exist. It does not contain any fragrances, oils or parabens. It is tinted and the colour that is present tends to blend in well with most skin tones, but it might not be suitable for people who are really pale or people who have really dark skin tones. 

This is the non-tinted version of the product that can be found first in this list of melasma prevention sunscreens. If you are currently looking for a non-tinted sunscreen, then this one could be a really good option for you. Naturally, using a sunscreen like this one can help to decrease and prevent further hyperpigmentation and melasma on the face. It can also help to decrease the risk of skin cancer and premature aging.

If you do decide to go with this sunscreen and you are looking to manage the effects of hyperpigmentation, then you should also make sure that you follow the recommended application instructions. We would advise that you apply this sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you know that you are going to be exposed to the sun. You should then reapply it every two hours (or more frequently if you know that you are going to be in the water).

What We Love:

We love the fact that this sunscreen combines both UVA and UVB filters with unique antioxidants that can help to protect the skin from free radicals. It contains both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. If you suffer from hyperpigmentation, then these are two ingredients that you should definitely be looking for when you go to choose a sunscreen.

We have found that this La Roche-Posay Sunscreen feels quite light on the skin. It doesn’t seem to be oily like a lot of sunscreens are and it doesn’t leave your skin with a horrible residue after it has been applied. This makes it a great option for people who have sensitive skin and people who are prone to breakouts. 

If you are looking for a tinted sunscreen, then you should stick around and read this section. This Obagi Sun Shield Sunscreen SPF 50 is a slightly tinted product that provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays. It is advertised as being hypoallergenic, but we would always advise that you check the ingredients and make sure that nothing is present that you already know will irritate your skin.

This sunscreen contains both zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Try to remember that people who suffer from melasma should always be on the lookout for zinc oxide when they are trying to choose a sunscreen. This formula also contains some chemical sunscreen ingredients. This means that it is both a chemical and a physical sunscreen, making it a unique option for people who have hyperpigmentation.

See our FAQ below if you would like to learn more about physical and chemical sunscreens. 

What We Love:

You probably already know that it can be quite difficult to purchase a tinted sunscreen because some of them can make you look quite poorly. This sunscreen is different because it is actually available in both cool and warm skin tone shades. This means that you can match it to your own skin.

If you do decide to go with this sunscreen, then we would advise that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and apply 2 tablespoons of sunscreen all over your body at least thirty minutes before you are due to be exposed to the sun. You should then reapply it every two hours.

If you need more coverage to cover your hyperpigmentation that is already present, then you can achieve that with this sunscreen because it is buildable. This makes it a good option for people who have sensitive skin because the slight tint adds just enough colour to cover hyperpigmentation, without making it look like you are wearing layers of concealer and foundation. 

We love how flawless matte finish sunscreens can make your skin look on a daily basis, especially when you have skin conditions. This Obagi Sun Shield Matte Sunscreen contains a high amount of zinc oxide and is free of fragrances and parabens, making it suitable for most skin types. It is also a pretty good option for people who suffer from melasma.

This sunscreen is a good option because it successfully combines both UVA and UVB protection, giving you across the board protection from both, opposed to enabling you to target just one. As a combination sunscreen (physical and chemical), this product allows you to attain the benefits that come with ingredients that can usually only be found in one or the other.

We would also like to mention that this sunscreen is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and it is a great option for people who are looking for sunscreens for sensitive skin. This sunscreen is not water resistant so you should look for a broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen that is water resistant if you are planning on going swimming. 

What We Love:

We love the fact that this Obagi sunscreen is available in several different forms. If you don’t really like the look of a matte finish sunscreen, then you don’t have to worry. It is also available in a warm tint form, a cool tint form and as a mineral sunscreen. Naturally, this is something that gives you the opportunity to tailor your sunscreen to meet your needs.

Try to remember that these sunscreens exist to minimise the onset of more patches of hyperpigmentation, but they cannot get rid of the hyperpigmentation that you have. They do allow you to deal with the hyperpigmentation that you have in other ways without more hyperpigmentation occurring. 

If you are someone who suffers from melasma or patches of hyperpigmentation and you are planning on spending some time in the water under the sun, then you will have to plan ahead. We would advise that you spend some time looking for a water resistant formula that has been proven to work.

This Zealios Sunscreen offers users a high level of water resistance and a high UV shield SPF that you will need when you are in the water. It has actually been approved by the FDA as a water resistant form of UV protection for swimming, boating and sports. This means that it has been proven to work in a clinical setting – leaving you with nothing to worry about. 

What We Love:

Remember that you have to make sure that you look for zinc oxide on the ingredients list when you suffer from things like hyperpigmentation and melasma. This sunscreen has a relatively thick zinc oxide base, meaning that it protects you from both UVA and UVB rays while you are under the sun.

We like the way that this formula feels and the way that it looks once it has been applied or reapplied. It is incredibly unlikely to leave a white cast unless you apply too much and it doesn’t leave the skin feeling oily, tacky or like it has been left covered in a residue. We have also noticed that it dries quickly and it won’t run into your eyes and make them sting while you are waiting for it to dry! 

This Fallene Cotz Plus Water Resistant Sunscreen is a unique formula that definitely deserves your attention because it only contains a few ingredients. These include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and iron oxide. As you probably already know, these are all ingredients that people who suffer from melasma are advised to look for.

There are a lot of dermatologists out there who recommend this sunscreen to people who suffer from sensitive skin. If you are planning on using it to treat melasma, then you will need to be careful and make sure that you follow the application instructions. We would advise that you reapply it every two hours. If you are going to be getting into the water, then you should reapply it every single time you get out. 

What We Love:

We love the fact that this sunscreen does not contain any chemical sunscreen filters. Melasma sufferers will probably already know that they should look for physical sunscreens and not chemical sunscreens. If you would like to learn more about this, then you can take a look at our FAQ. This particular sunscreen is mineral-based and free of dyes, parabens and fragrances.

The beige tint that is present in this formula is buildable. You could potentially use it as a replacement in your beauty routine for something like a BB cream. It doesn’t offer as much coverage as a full-coverage foundation would, but it is definitely visible once applied and more than capable of minimising the appearance of hyperpigmentation and melasma. 

This MyChelle Sun Shield Liquid Tint Sunscreen is a sheer tinted sunscreen that feels relatively lightweight on the skin once it has been applied. It is free of oils, making it suitable for people who suffer from sensitive skin. It is also mineral-based, meaning that it could potentially offer you a good level of physical protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

If you are looking to prevent further hyperpigmentation from occurring, then you should apply this sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you go outside. You should then reapply it whenever you get wet or every two hours if you are not going to be getting wet.

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This sunscreen is a fantastic option for people who really care about the environment. We all know that sunscreens negatively impact aquatic life and a lot of studies have suggested that. This sunscreen does not contain any marine-toxic chemicals, making it reef safe. It is also vegan and biodegradable.

The tint that is present in this formula blends in quite well with most skin tones. It could be worn alone (like you would wear a BB cream), or as a protective primer underneath your make-up. If you are going to be going for a full-coverage look, then we would recommend that you use this and then a primer and then your actual foundation/concealer.

It is worth noting that this sunscreen is only available in two shades. The “nude” shade is suitable for people who have light to medium skin tones and the “natural tan” shade is suitable for people who have medium to dark skin tones. Naturally, this means that people who have really pale skin or really dark skin might find that they struggle to get this sunscreen to look natural. 

We understand that sunscreen isn’t for everyone and there are people out there who would simply forget to apply their sunscreen every day, which is why we think that having a moisturiser with sunscreen could also be a good option. If you suffer from hyperpigmentation and dry skin, then you could potentially kill two birds with one stone.

This Olay Complete Daily Defence Moisturiser with Sunscreen can be used to gently condition the surface of the skin. We have found that it does not run into your eyes and make them sting while it is absorbed, which is something that a lot of people hate about using moisturisers that contain sunscreen.

If you are going to be going somewhere sunny, or you know that you are going to be spending time in the water, then you really should try to purchase a separate sunscreen and moisturiser. This is because you cannot reapply this product in the same way that you can reapply most sunscreens.

What We Love:

We love the fact that this moisturiser can still offer you a lot of protection. It helps to protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays, but it is not as effective as some of the sunscreens that can be found in our reviews.

We have found that this moisturiser is unlikely to cause breakouts because it is oil-free and fragrance-free. We would always advise that you check that you have not had any negative reactions to any of the active ingredients that are present in the past before you use a moisturiser like this one. If you have, then you should try a different product. 

This sunscreen is unique because it has been derived from natural sources, making it a pretty safe option when it comes to UVA and UVB protection. It could potentially be used to reduce the risk of premature aging and skin cancer. If you currently suffer from melasma, then you should try to apply this sunscreen liberally.

We would advise that you apply this sunscreen at least half an hour before you are due to be exposed to the sun. You should then reapply it every two hours or every time you have been exposed to water. It is worth noting that it looks a little bit white cast when it is first applied, but it gets more translucent as it dries.

What We Love:

This MDSolarSciences Broad Spectrum Sunscreen is pretty unique because you can barely feel it on your skin when it has been applied. Yet, it could potentially be used to offer you a high level of protection on a daily basis. It has a gorgeous matte finish and it blends quickly, without leaving you with any white patches.

We like the fact that this sunscreen also contains antioxidants. These include Vitamin C, green tea, cranberry fruit and pomegranate extracts. We would always advise that you check the ingredients and make sure that your skin does not react negatively to any of them as everyone’s skin is different. 

This Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen is a unique Australian product. It has been specifically designed and formulated to handle the sunny weather and unpredictable weather that can be found across the whole of Australia. It is sweat and water resistant for up to 80 minutes. If you are going to be in the water, then we would recommend that you get out and reapply it every hour to be on the safe side.

This physical sunscreen is a great option for people who suffer from melasma and people from all over the world recommend it. Dermatologists who are based in Australia have actually been recommending it for more than two decades.

What We Love:

We love the fact that this sunscreen formula contains approximately 6% zinc oxide. Remember that zinc oxide will help by scattering, reflecting and absorbing some of the UVA and UVB rays that would otherwise cause more hyperpigmentation. It also contains titanium dioxide. This means that this Blue Lizard Sunscreen has two ingredients that are really important when it comes to protecting your skin against sun damage.