The best sunscreen for your skin type

As a reformed high school tanning-bed user (I know, I know), I like being a nice tan as much as the next bronze-obsessed girl, but now I know the cost of such vanity. So for the past few years, I've sworn off tanning salons (and preached to others on their dangers) and converted to spray tans, self-tanners, and bronzers.

And whether I'm in the sun or not, I usesunscreen every day. I know I sound preachy, but this is important stuff. There is sunscreen in my moisturizer, my makeup, and my body lotion (plus, I see my dermatologist yearly for a skin check). But in all honesty, sunscreen was a hard thing to love.

I tried formulas that were messy, thick, white, and pasty, and I lived in constant fear of a breakout. But on the upside, it saves lives. So there's that. Plus, there is now a sunscreen for every skin type imaginable. To help you find the perfect sunscreen, I got tips from dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. Here's what he says.

If your skin is...

Look for a sunscreen that's “oil-free,” meaning that it uses dimethicone instead of petrolatum. Dimethicone helps absorb oil on the skin’s surface and can actually help it appear less oily.

Some good ones:

CetaphilDermaControl Moisturizer SPF 30 ($15.99), with zinc and licorice root extract, as well asNeutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen ($10.50), with botanical extracts.

Anti-inflammatory botanical extracts in sunscreens may help soothe irritated skin.

Try Aveeno Ultra Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 15($16.99); it contains feverfew, a botanical similar to chamomile, which helps reduce irritation.

Eucerin Redness Relief Daily Perfecting Lotion SPF 15 ($14.99) has been formulated with licorice-root extract, which also soothes red skin.

The creamier, the better.

Try CeraVe AM($12.99), which provides SPF 30 protection and contains a ceramide-rich formulation that may help repair skin-barrier function.

If you can't tolerate chemical sunscreen ingredients, opt for a strictly physical blocker like SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50, 50 mL ($32), which contains zinc and titanium but no chemical sunscreen ingredients.

Also nice: Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby Faces SPF 50+($11.50) contains only physical blockers and is fragrance-free and tear-free.