What Is Dry Touch Sunscreen and Who Should Use It?

Key takeaways:

Sunscreen is an important, everyday tool for protection against skin damage and skin cancer.
Dry-touch sunscreens work just like traditional sunscreens, but they have a lighter, drier finish.
Some types of dry-touch sunscreens are also less likely to leave a white cast.

No matter the season, spending time outside exposes your skin to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. If you’re not protecting your skin, this could increase your risk of skin cancer. Anyone can get skin cancer. In fact, it’s estimated that 1 in 5 people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer before the age of 70.

Thankfully, there are many ways to protect our skin and prevent skin cancer. These include sun-protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunscreens.

But if you cringe thinking about the sticky feeling of some sunscreens, then you may be excited to learn about dry-touch sunscreen.

How does dry-touch sunscreen work?

Dry-touch sunscreen — like other sunscreens — provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreens can contain chemical (organic) substances, physical (inorganic) substances, or a combination of both. They block, absorb, or reflect UV rays.

Chemical sunscreens contain substances like:

Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
Octisalate
Avobenzone

These chemicals absorb the UV radiation and convert the energy into safer, lower energy wavelengths. This saves your skin from the harmful effects of the UVA and UVB rays.

Physical sunscreens are also known as mineral sunscreens. They act as a reflective layer on the skin. The most common ingredients in physical sunscreens are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

How is dry-touch sunscreen different from traditional sunscreen?

Dry-touch sunscreen works like other sunscreens to prevent UV rays from affecting the skin, but it feels different. It’s easy to use and leaves the skin feeling dry to the touch, rather than sticky or tacky. It doesn’t feel greasy or leave a white, pasty residue on your skin.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

Pick the sunscreen that’s right for you. Learn about the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens.
Make it a habit. Why dermatologists say you should wear sunscreen every day.
Cover all your bases. Here are five ways to protect your skin in addition to wearing sunscreen.

In addition, dry-touch sunscreen is non-comedogenic, meaning that it won’t clog your pores. So it can be a good choice for many skin types.

What are the advantages of dry-touch sunscreen?

There are many reasons to reach for dry-touch sunscreen.

“Dry-touch sunscreen can be a great go-to sunscreen, especially during hot and humid summer months,” said Dr. Maria Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist. “The lightweight and non-greasy formula absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving a sticky or oily residue.”

Who should use dry-touch sunscreen?

Dry-touch sunscreen seems to be safe for everyone, including children, said Dr. Brian Clista, a general pediatrician

“But like any sunscreen, dry sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours and after kids have been swimming or sweating,” Dr. Clista said.

How to choose the right sunscreen

When choosing a sunscreen, it comes down to personal preference. But if you have oily skin, sensitive skin, or acne-prone skin, you may benefit from dry-touch sunscreen over a physical sunscreen. The dry-touch sunscreens are usually formulated so that they do not clog pores. But experts recommend reading the ingredient label just to be sure.

Whatever you choose, Dr. Clista points out some things that you should look for in all sunscreens:

Broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays
SPF of at least 30
Water resistant
Doesn’t contain para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), which can cause skin reactions

The bottom line

Sun protection can reduce your risk of skin cancer and skin aging. Many people want to protect their skin, but they don’t enjoy feeling greasy or sticky after applying sunscreen. Dry-touch sunscreen may be a great option that provides important UVA and UVB protection, while leaving your skin feeling dry and smooth.

why trust our exports reliability shield

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Meredith Grace Merkley, DO, FAAP

Meredith Grace Merkley, DO, FAAP, is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with over a decade of work in community health. She serves as the medical director of a school-based health clinic at a federally funded health center.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts

References

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.