If you’ve ever struggled to find an SPF that works for oily or sensitive skin, I get it. I have oily skin, and my husband has sensitive skin – so between us, we’ve tried a lot of sunscreens. Most of them either felt too greasy, caused breakouts, left a white cast, or just didn’t sit well under makeup. For my husband, it’s caused red and soreness.
Then we found Dermatica’s SPF 50 Photodamage Defence, and honestly, we both love it. It’s now our daily go-to, and here’s exactly why…
It doesn’t leave a white cast
This is such a big one for me. I’ve used SPFs before that made me look like a ghost, especially when layering over skincare. But this one disappears into the skin with zero white residue. No streaks, no chalky finish – just smooth, invisible protection.
Sinks in easily and quickly
One of the reasons I love this SPF is how fast it absorbs. It’s lightweight, not sticky or thick, and doesn’t feel like it’s sitting on my skin. I apply it after my morning skincare, and within minutes it’s settled in – no waiting around before I can do my makeup (although I do wait around 10 minutes for everything else I’ve put on to settle).
Leaves skin dewy, not tacky
As someone with oily skin, I was worried about any added shine. But this sunscreen somehow manages to give a natural, healthy glow without feeling greasy or heavy. It leaves my skin looking fresh and dewy – not oily, and definitely not tacky. My husband’s sensitive skin also likes it; it’s soothing, not irritating, and never causes any redness.
Great under makeup
This is one of the few SPFs I can comfortably wear under makeup. It doesn’t pill, flake, or mess with foundation at all. In fact, it almost acts like a primer – my base goes on more smoothly when I wear this underneath. And because it doesn’t leave a cast or get shiny, I don’t have to use as much powder to fix it.
Skin-loving ingredients
It’s not just a sunscreen – it’s skincare too. The formula includes:
- Glycerin to hydrate
- Panthenol (vitamin B5) to soothe and support the skin barrier
- Vitamin E for antioxidant protection
I love that it does more than just protect me from the sun – it actually makes my skin feel smooth and like I’m wearing amazing moisturiser.
Perfect for oily and sensitive skin
SPF for oily skin – a good one is hard to find!
This is such a rare find: a sunscreen that works for both oily and sensitive skin skin. It’s fragrance-free, gentle, and doesn’t clog pores or cause breakouts. We’ve both had reactions to other SPFs in the past, but with this one, we’ve had zero issues. Just calm, protected, happy skin.
I’ve got oily skin especially on my forehead, where I break out easily. My husband has dry, very sensitive skin, and has rosacea. We both use this SPF every morning. I’m a few years in, and he’s a few months. He’s extremely picky, and it’s taken a long time for him to find something that doesn’t irritate his skin.
One thing I love is that it’s fragrance-free. This is something I really don’t like in products – it’s unnecessary ingredients and they can be quite drying.
It doesn’t make you sweat!
I’m sorry if this is TMI, but some sun creams in the past have made my face sweat SO MUCH. I’m not overly sweaty, but if it’s hot out running or walking, yeah, I will sweat. Sometimes on walks when I haven’t been hot, I’ve started sweating purely from the horrible pore-clogging ingredients in others I’ve used.
How I use it
Every morning, I apply one pump (very convenient) after moisturiser and bronzer. It layers effortlessly, and I feel happy knowing I’m protected from UVA and UVB damage. If I’m out during the day, I reapply every couple of hours – though it’s so lightweight, it never feels like too much.
I wait 10 minutes before putting makeup on. I’ve never noticed a problem with foundation being cakey, and it’s worked well with primer.
I take it with me whilst out or on holiday, because it’s perfect for my face and small enough to fit in a bag. I use other sun creams on my body but I’ll only use Dermatica’s on my face – others are horrible & oily!
It’s recommended to re-apply every 2 hours especially after swimming or sweating.
How much is it?
50ml is £15.95. This lasts me 2 months.
Use my discount code AHOY2 to get 10% off your order.
Who are Dermatica?
Dermatica is a UK-based skincare company founded in 2018 to make dermatologist-grade skincare more accessible and affordable. They offer personalised treatment plans and evidence-based products, developed by an expert team of dermatologists, pharmacists and scientists. Whether it’s acne, pigmentation or sun protection, their formulas are backed by science and tailored to real skin needs.
They are alcohol-free, fragrance-free, 100% vegan, cruelty-free.
At first I started with their personalised formula to help my melasma, and over the years I now have several of their products including:
- Vitamin C
- this SPF
- Collagen
- Lip balm
- Cleanser
Final thoughts
I genuinely can’t recommend Dermatica’s SPF 50 Photodamage Defence enough if you’ve got oily or sensitive skin (or both in your household, like us!). It’s lightweight, invisible, hydrating, and gives brilliant protection without any of the usual SPF drama.
It’s dermatologist-designed, packed with skincare benefits, and it actually makes me want to wear sunscreen every day. And if my picky, sensitive-skinned husband loves it too, you know it’s a winner.
