11 Fragrance-Free, Alcohol-Free Face Sunscreens For Reactive Skin

AD info | This post isn’t sponsored, but I have been fortunate enough to receive some of these products in PR. This does not change my opinion of the product nor the way I review it. Sunscreens that have been gifted are marked with an asterisk (*).

A couple of months back I wrote a post about my favourite Korean sunscreens for sensitive skin. In it, I talked about the chemical/hybrid sun creams that work for my skin and the ones I thought might suit others with a similar skin type.

While I mentioned in each section whether a product contained fragrance or not, I felt it would be helpful to write a whole new post dedicated to sunscreens that are completely fragrance-free (since this can be an irritant for hypersensitive skin).

Just to make sure these options are as suitable for sensitive skin as possible, I decided to narrow it down further by only including alcohol-free sunscreens too!

For clarity, when I’m talking about ‘alcohols’, I’m mainly referring to denatured alcohols rather than fatty alcohols. Not all alcohols are bad for the skin… in fact, fatty alcohols can actually have many skin benefits!

Even denatured alcohol in small amounts isn’t going to ruin your skin barrier. But it’s true that people with very sensitive skin might find simple alcohols to be drying and irritating, which is why many people prefer to avoid this ingredient altogether.

All the sunscreen options listed below don’t contain denatured alcohol, as well as being completely free from fragrance and essential oils too. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Etude House Soon Jung x Director’s Moisture Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++

Developed in collaboration with beauty content creator Director Pi, Etude House’s Soon Jung x Director’s Moisture Sun Cream is an essence-like sunscreen that provides light, even coverage without any irritation or white cast.

It contains five different UV filters: Uvinul T 150, Mexoryl SX, Uvinul A Plus, Polysilicone-15 and Tinosorb S. You’ll also find a bunch of soothing ingredients in here, such as centella asiatica, allantoin, panthenol and madecassoside, all of which have wound-healing and redness-reducing properties.

Out of all the chemical sunscreens I’ve tried, this one has the most skin-like finish. It’s not overly dewy and it’s not super matte either. I feel like this one would be suitable for most skin types, whether your skin is sensitive or not! It’s an underrated sunscreen formula for sure!

*Dermatica SPF 50 Photodamage Defence Sunscreen

If you’re a fan of rich, creamy SPFs, Dermatica’s Photodamage Defence Sunscreen is a really solid option. Dermatica is mostly known for its personalised retinoid treatments, but their other derm-approved skincare products are definitely worth a try too.

This sunscreen has six UV filters – Octocrylene, Avobenzone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ensulizole, Tinosorb S and Uvinul T 150 – which together provide broad-spectrum protection. It also contains glycerin and panthenol to keep the skin moisturised. The ingredients list is actually pretty short, which is great for sensitive skin types as it minimises the chance of running into an ingredient that your skin might not get on with.

If you’re used to Korean sunscreen formulas, this does feel slightly thicker (especially on application). But, after letting it sink in, I wouldn’t say it feels noticeably heavier on the skin.

If you want to try this one, use my discount code THESUMMERSTUDY2 for 10% off 😊

Ultra Violette Lean Screen Mineral Mattifying Fragrance Free Skinscreen SPF50+

If you’re more of a physical sunscreen person, Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen is a must-try. This is a zinc-only formula that has a matte finish, making it well suited to combination or oily skin types.

Though this has a beige tint to it when it comes out of the tube, this isn’t actually marketed as a tinted sunscreen – presumably because the sunscreen itself doesn’t conceal redness or provide any coverage. The initial beige colour sort of helps to minimise the white cast that usually comes as part and parcel of wearing a mineral sunscreen!

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF30

Lightweight, scentless and completely invisible, Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen is a game changer if you usually struggle to find fragrance, alcohol and white cast free sunscreen options. It’s water resistant for up to 40 minutes so this is a great one to wear poolside… though I do wish the the SPF protection was higher!

UV filter-wise, this contains Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate and Octocrylene. These filters don’t tend to pop up as much in Korean sunscreen formulas, but that’s not to say they’re any less effective!

One thing to note is that this sunscreen does contain silicones which, while offering a velvety primer-like finish, can sometimes interfere with the makeup you choose to apply over the top.

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotic SPF50+ PA++++

Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun has a huge following… and for good reason. It’s perfect for sensitive skin types that are looking for a lightweight, low-irritation chemical sunscreen. It’s completely free from fragrance, alcohol and essential oils. It also doesn’t cause any eye stinging, which is great if you’re someone (like me) who brings your sunscreen practically up to the lash line.

This formula contains four UV filters, the majority of which are new generation. The combination of Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150, Tinosorb M and Iscotrizinol provides high UVA and UVB protection without leaving a white cast. Nourishing ingredients like rice bran extract, green tea and kelp extract also help to keep the skin looking and feeling healthy and soft.

Like the Etude House sunscreen, I can see this working for most skin types, though super dry skin might need something a bit more moisturising and oily skin might prefer something a little less dewy.

Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF 50+ PA++++

The Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel is an excellent choice for hybrid sunscreen lovers. As the name suggests, this has a lightweight gel consistency that absorbs into the skin with ease. Though this is white when it comes out of the tube, it quickly turns clear, leaving no white cast when it’s fully blended.

It’s five UV filters (Octinoxate, Uvinul A Plus, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide and Tinosorb S) offer both UVA and UVB protection. And moisturising ingredients like arginine, hyaluronic acid and jojoba esters help keep the skin looking bright and hydrated.

*Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++

Much like their viral toner, Anua’s Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sunscreen has been formulated with sensitive skin in mind. The star ingredient, heartleaf, is well-loved for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties which make it a great choice for acne-prone skin too.

You get broad spectrum protection with five chemical UV filters: Uvinul T 150, Mexoryl SX, Uvinul A Plus, Polysilicone-15 and Tinosorb S. This sunscreen also contains loads of soothing ingredients, aside from heartleaf, that allow it to be incredibly gentle. There’s grape fruit extract, green tea, panthenol and niacinamide.

What’s also great is that, while this isn’t a mattifying formula, it is supposed to prevent excess oil production. You get just the right amount of dewiness and, without the shine, your makeup stays in place all day!

Ultra Violette Clean Screen Sensitive Skinscreen SPF30

Ultra Violette does sunscreens so well, it’s no surprise that another one of their products ended up on this list! Clean Screen is a lightweight sun cream that contains a mixture of chemical and mineral UV filters.

Titanium dioxide, Tinosorb M and Uvinul A Plus are all photostable which means that they won’t degrade (well, they won’t degrade rapidly) when exposed to sunlight. This formula also contains a couple of moisturising ingredients like glycerin and plant-derived pentavitin to keep the skin happy.

Again, I would love this sunscreen to be higher than SPF30. Nonetheless, it’s still a pretty reliable option for acne-prone, reactive skin – just make sure to reapply regularly! Also, be aware that the mineral filters may leave a slight white cast!

Isntree Hyaluronic Watery Sun Gel SPF50+ PA++++

If you’re looking a sunscreen that’s suited to dry skin, the Isntree Hyaluronic Watery Sun Gel is a great place to start. This has an ultra lightweight gel texture that blends into the skin pretty effortlessly. The ingredients list is seriously impressive too…

It has six UV filters: Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Homosalate, Tinosorb S, Tinosorb M, Polysilicone-15 and Uvinul A Plus. It also contains tons of skin-nourishing ingredients like centella asiatica, purslane extract, niacinamide and adenosine. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention that there’s eight types of hyaluronic acid in here!

Dear Klairs All-day Airy Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++

I don’t see many people talking about the Dear Klairs All-day Airy Sunscreen, but this is such a great fragrance and alcohol-free option for sensitive skin. It’s lightweight and dewy without feeling sticky or greasy. It really is one of those sun creams that basically just feels like a moisturiser!

Broad spectrum protection is provided through its four UV filters – Uvinul A Plus, Polysilicone-15, Uvinul T 150 and Tinosorb S. You’ll also find calming ingredients like aloe, adenosine and purslance extract in here, as well as niacinamide to brighten the skin.

Kaine Green Fit Pro Sun SPF50+ PA++++

Kaine is a new-ish vegan and cruelty-free Korean skincare brand with a focus on sustainability. Their first sunscreen, Green Fit Pro Sun, offers SPF50 protection through a combination of mineral and chemical filters: Titanium Dioxide, Uvinul A Plus, Tinosorb S, Uvinul T 150, Polysilicone-15 and Mexoryl SX.

With it’s lotion-like texture, this feels calming and cooling when applied. Ingredients such as green tea, panthenol, allantoin and bamboo water in particular help keep the skin feeling hydrated and soothed.

This isn’t water resistant but it is sweat proof, so it’s an ideal formula to choose if you’re going for a run or working out. As it is a hybrid sunscreen, this may give off a slight white cast though.

There you have it – my top alcohol-free and fragrance-free sunscreen picks for sensitive/reactive skin. Do you know of any other sunscreens that should go on this list? Let me know in the comments!