8 Best Face Oils with SPF for Skin Care and Glowing Skin

Better than tanning oil—it protects you from the sun.

A new kind of face oil is emerging that offers that extra protection you can’t live without. Face oils with SPF are trending—and they’re just as radiant. Forget chalky sunscreens and heavy formulas! These velvety, lightweight sunscreens absorb quickly and are suitable for all skin types and tones.

Best of all, they offer broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection for maximum coverage. Joie Tavernise, aesthetician and founder of JTav Clinical Skincare in New York City, recommends face oils with SPF as an ideal option for both dry and oily skin.

“Face oils with SPF are extremely beneficial for the skin, especially in cold weather. The oil acts as a protective barrier against environmental influences while locking in precious moisture and nutrients,” says Tavernise. SPF is an extremely important part of any skincare routine.

Therefore, it is a valuable product to use in combination with a facial oil if you want to moisturize and strengthen your skin. Facial oils with SPF contain chemical or mineral filters that provide invisible coverage while maintaining a fresh glow.

Best Product Overall: Mele No Shade Sunscreen Oil SPF 30

Discover the silkiest sunscreen you’ve ever seen. It absorbs instantly into the skin and leaves a radiant glow. Formulated by dermatologists for all skin types and tones, this lightweight sunscreen oil protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays.

No Shade absorbs quickly to form an invisible barrier of SPF 30. For best results, apply 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours to maintain effectiveness.

Best Value: Vacation Chardonnay Oil SPF 30

Want a glass of Chardonnay oil? Here’s your chance—for just $20. Made with Chardonnay grapeseed oil, this lightweight SPF oil nourishes and protects the skin. Passionfruit, jojoba, and marula oils repair the skin barrier, lock in moisture, and instantly give skin a glow.

With an SPF 30 sun protection factor, this SPF oil protects skin from both UVA and UVB rays. It comes in a handy bottle. A small amount goes a long way, which we especially appreciate since it’s suitable for both face and body.

We love the smells of summer—coconut, banana, pineapple, pool water, and lycra—but perfumed products aren’t for everyone. Note that this product is scented before purchase.

Best drugstore: L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Face Oil (SPF 30)

When the temperatures drop, it’s a race against time to get the right humidity. This face oil contains a blend of eight essential oils that retain moisture and provide a lasting glow. It has a broad-spectrum SPF 30 that protects skin from the sun and environmental effects with chemical UV filters.

This drugstore skincare is suitable for all skin types, especially mature, dry skin. Slather a few drops on your face and neck for a healthy glow. Top Pick: Dr. Brandt Skincare Liquid Sunscreen Daily Brightening Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

This liquid sunscreen is infused with lavender oil, orange peel oil, and clary sage for a radiant complexion. Made with 100% mineral sunscreens, zinc oxide provides broad-spectrum sun protection. This SPF goes a step further to protect skin from HEV/blue light (from screens) and environmental pollution.

The lightweight feel, youthful glow, and invisible finish make this liquid an absolute steal. Top Pick for Dry Skin: Supergoop! Daily Dose of Hydrating Ceramide Boost Sunscreen Oil + SPF 40

Ceramides are essential for dry skin to retain moisture and strengthen the skin barrier. This thirst-quenching face oil goes one step further: It’s infused with hyaluronic acid and squalane to improve hydration and lock in moisture all day.

Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G. Hyaluronic acid: a key molecule in skin aging. Dermatoendocrinology. 2012;4(3):253-258. doi:10.4161/derm.21923

It also forms an invisible layer of broad-spectrum SPF 40 that works well on all skin tones. For very dry skin, apply this oil after a water-based serum or moisturizer to provide extra hydration.

Tavernise loves ceramides in skincare, saying, “This product moisturizes my skin without weighing it down.”

Best for Oily Skin: Habit No41 Mister SPF 41 Spray

As an esthetician with more than a decade of experience, I’ve always stressed that getting clients to use (and reapply) sunscreen is the hardest part—until now. This easy-to-use, easy-to-follow face oil with SPF is truly a game changer.

Made with geranium, rosemary, and lavender oils, this spray is antioxidant and soothing, making it suitable for all skin types. 4 What’s especially great about this product is that it can be applied under makeup and can be easily applied throughout the day. For optimal sun protection, spray at least seven times on your face and neck.

For sensitive skin: True Botanicals Everyday Skin Tint SPF

The daily face tint contains squalane and plant oils to nourish the skin and relieve inflammation. This sunscreen with non-nano zinc provides broad-spectrum sun protection, perfect for those who prefer physical filters.

Not only is this versatile product suitable for sensitive skin, but it also provides beautiful coverage and can be easily applied to all skin types. You can choose from 18 colors.

For body care: Cay Skin Isle Body Oil SPF 30 with Sea Moss and Squalane

This SPF-enabled body oil is packed with a variety of nutrient-rich active ingredients that act as a multivitamin for the body. Formulated with sea moss, squalane, shea butter, argan oil, and other botanicals, this body oil with SPF glides on easily and leaves skin feeling silky smooth.

Free of synthetic fragrances, it’s suitable for all skin types and provides SPF 30 UVA/UBA protection.

Conclusion

An oil with SPF can be a great solution for avoiding white spots while providing hydration and protection. Mele No Shade Sunscreen Oil is our top pick. Dry skin may prefer a formula with added skin-boosting ingredients, such as Supergoop Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost, while oily skin may prefer a spray like Habit N41 Face Sunscreen Spray.

What to look for when choosing a face oil with SPF

SPF 30 or higher

The sun protection factor (SPF) indicates how well a sunscreen protects. When choosing a sunscreen, look for an SPF of 30 or higher. Don’t be fooled by SPF 100, because starting at SPF 30, the protection no longer increases by whole steps, but only by small percentages.

SPF 30 provides about 97% protection (6) (SPF 50 is 98%), which is adequate as long as you apply it regularly throughout the day.

Broad Spectrum Protection

You may have heard of UVA and UVB rays, both of which can cause sunburn and breakdown of skin collagen. For the best protection, make sure the product you use is effective and provides multiple layers of protection for your skin. Using a broad spectrum SPF ensures that the UV filter protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

Consistency

The great thing about facial oils with SPF ingredients is that they do not leave your skin matte or sticky. These facial oils absorb into the skin instantly, leaving it refreshed and hydrated. Whether you have dry or oily skin, facial oils are a great choice for both face and body care.

The most important things to consider when choosing the right product are consistency and active ingredients. If you have dry skin, you need a richer oil to retain moisture. For oily skin, a light oil is better.

FAQ

At which step of your skincare routine should you use a facial oil with SPF?

It is best to apply a facial oil with SPF at the end of your skincare routine. The facial oil locks in moisture, and the sunscreen protects against UV rays. Depending on how dry or oily your skin is, your routine will differ. If you have dry skin, apply a facial oil with SPF after using a water-based moisturizer.

If you have oily skin, cleanse your skin and then apply a facial oil with SPF. For best results, apply a facial oil with SPF every morning, even on cloudy days. And don’t forget to reapply the oil!