I used to love dewy sunscreen. For years, I exclusively wore glow-boosting formulas that made my skin look radiant and reflective. Recently, though, I’ve had a change of heart. Blame it on my summer skin which tends to be oily and shiny, or blame it on TikTok for exposing me to soft-focus, velvety makeup trends, but I’ve been swapping my dewy SPFs for matte ones. Let me be clear. I don’t use just any matte sunscreen. I use modern matte formulas—not the traditional ones that have historically gotten a bad rap and are the reason so many people tend to associate the word ‘matte’ with thick and chalky formulas. After all, I’m a beauty editor, and I have a strict set of standards for sunscreen. I won’t put up with tough-to-blend, white-cast-creating formulas. Ahead see the 12 modern matte formulas I’ve been loving lately. They protect my skin and give it that soft, blurred, and velvety quality that I love.
This sunscreen checks all the boxes. It offers broad-spectrum SPF 40, helps filter blue light, smooths skin texture, minimizes the look of pores, and can be worn alone or under makeup as a primer.
A budget-friendly option, this is a mineral formula (it uses non-nano zinc oxide) that has a slight peach tint to prevent leaving a white cast. Sea fennel and moringa seed extract provide antioxidants, which protect the skin from environmental and blue light damage.
This sunscreen was recommended to me by Who What Wear’s beauty director, Erin Jahns. The lightweight, mattifying fluid sinks into my skin, providing it with broad-spectrum SPF 45. At the same time, a whole host of botanical ingredients offer potent antioxidant protection.
Another 100% mineral sunscreen, this one actually absorbs oil throughout the day, so your skin will stay velvety and shine-free, no matter what. Personally, I like it’s lightweight, powdery, and mousse-like texture; it makes blending easy and keeps my enlarged pores in check.
If the thought of a white cast makes you physically cringe, you should probably try this formula. It blends into the skin well, leaving no residue behind, and it boosts moisture too, thanks to coconut oil and shea butter.
What makes this sunscreen special is the “vanishing tint” that makes it look nearly invisible once it’s blended into the skin. This one won’t look chalky, promise.
This Tatcha sunscreen uses silk extract, Japanese wild rose, and loquat leaf extract to smooth texture, tighten the look of pores, and protect the skin with antioxidants. Use it as a primer, or wear it alone, for SPF 35.
For a true matte finish, look no further than this iconic sunscreen from French pharmacy brand, La Roche-Posay. It’s oil-free, lightweight, fast-absorbing, antioxidant-rich, and water resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Another oil-free option, this sunscreen uses hyaluronic acid and spirulina energy essence to help the skin retain moisture. This one never irritates my redness-prone skin.
I love the soft-focus, velvety finish that this sunscreen provides. I also love the fact that it uses organic chemical sunscreen filters that offer SPF 50. Finally, I love the fact that its water-resistant for up to 40 minutes.
Acne-prone skin types will love this heavy-duty mattifying sunscreen. It absorbs surface oil and hydrates the skin without clogging pores. Did I mention it’s water-resistant?
Coola is one of my favorite sunscreen brands. This one feels cool and lightweight on the skin, smooths lines, and provides non-greasy SPF 30.
