The Best Mineral Sunscreens for Effective Sun Protection

Time Stamped Shopping contributing writer Maya Dollarhide tried this sunscreen out, along with a few others on this list. “I love how this feels on my face and the hint of color it provides. My friends and I used this (and tried some others) while spending an entire day at an outdoor spa because it is water—and sweat-resistant,” she says. “It kept our faces protected and minimized our pores, and each of us said it felt good and was not sticky on our skin.”

“We replenished as needed and used it after our day in the sun as a base before we headed out to dinner. This is my new go-to mineral sunscreen; it is SPF 40 protection (a must for me) and an oil-free formula that is good for my usually oily skin. I plan to throw this into my bag when I head to the Pacific this summer because it is also reef-safe, so it’s a solid pick for the beach. As a cruelty-free option in a creamy consistency, you’ll probably want to use it beyond your vacations.”

Sometimes, you just don’t have two days to wait for an online order to show up. When the sun is shining and you’re out of sunscreen, just swing into a local drugstore like CVS for this mineral sunscreen. Neutrogena is a popular brand in stores like Target and Walmart also, so it’s easy to find this product in several retail stores.

A zinc oxide sunscreen with SPF 50, it’s also hypoallergenic and oil free. You won’t find parabens, fragrance, phthalates, or even dyes in the formula, although it doesn’t seem to be a cruelty-free option. We do like that the price is slightly lower than many other lotions, but it’s also a small product at two ounces.

This mineral sunscreen was also tested by Dollarhide: “I have oily skin, so when I look for sunscreen (mineral or otherwise), I want something that doesn’t increase the shine,” she says. “Vacation’s Shake Shake is a milky white, feels extremely soft on the skin, goes on clear (a little goes a long way), and it didn’t feel sticky or heavy, like some mineral sunscreens. I actually forgot I had it on my face one afternoon.”

“It’s an easy product to layer. I wore it as a base layer and then added my favorite coverup with SPF protection for some added color instead of foundation. I like that the SPF for this face lotion is SPF 50 plus. It keeps my face hydrated and moisturized even after a day in the sun, which means I can wear it in the heat of the day without too much worry. Re-application is easy, thanks to the shape and size of the bottle. I did find that the lotion comes out fast despite the product’s claims of ‘Precision flip spout allows for controlled pour’, so to avoid getting too goopy, just open the flip top carefully before you turn it upside down! The first time I tried, I got more than a dot of mineral milk! The scent reflects its ingredients of cucumber and aloe vera (two things I personally love) but if you want something completely unscented, try another product. Personally, I loved the smell.”

“Kiddos definitely need sun protection, and this is a great find,” Dollarhide said. “At just $12, you get six ounces of lightweight sunscreen that’s free of fragrance and chemicals like oxybenzone. It’s easy to procure while on vacation at a local drugstore, too. Your kids will get SPF 50 sun protection, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing it’s safe for little ones. My kids love the coconut-like smell, and it’s easy to apply to sensitive skin, which my oldest son has; plus, it has earned the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. Also, it comes in a spray can that makes it easy to get onto squirmy or impatient toddlers and kids.”

Don’t forget about baby when you’re enjoying the summer sun this year! This mineral sunscreen brings in at least SPF 50 to protect your littlest ones from painful sunburns. It’s also water resistant for as long as 80 minutes, so you won’t need to wrestle with applying sunscreen quite as often. It comes recommended by pediatricians, according to the brand, and it’s free of parabens and fragrance, so it’s a smart choice for protecting infants from UV rays this summer. Plus, the bottle actually turns pink when it’s exposed to sun, which acts as a prompt for you to reapply.

“Coola makes some of my favorite sunscreen so I was looking forward to trying out this mineral sunscreen stick,” Dollarhide says. “It went on easily and only left a faint white residue before blending into my skin. The size and weight of the stick make it easy to pop into a small purse or even the pockets of swim or board shorts. It’s fragrance-free, which my teen, who tried it out, appreciated. I don’t mind a scent, but some people do! It’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, which is a plus in the hot sun given that the stick size is small. It will go further than products that you have to keep reapplying every hour. It’s also Hawaii-reef compliant, so if you’re headed to the ocean, this is the stick to bring.”

Spray sunscreens are handy when you’re on the go or traveling alone and can’t quite reach your back to apply sunblock. This mineral sunscreen is a spray formula and relies on zinc for its SPF 30 power. It’s designed to be sheer and doesn’t have fragrance, gluten, dairy, or soy, so it’s perfect for those with sensitive skin or sensitivities to these food ingredients. I like that it’s made in the United States and that it brings in vitamins as well as antioxidants with its sun protection benefits. Even though it’s a spray, be sure to rub the sunscreen into your skin for the best results (you may have to request the help of a fellow beach-goer if you’re flying solo).

“My kids are constantly complaining about the white streaks our former mineral sunscreen left on their face when I’d apply it before camp and swimming,” Dollarhide says. “That’s why we all love this lightweight facial sunscreen that doesn’t leave a trace and is designed to leave you free from a white cast. It comes out of the tube white but when you apply it seamlessly blends into your skin. My kids and I agree, it’s not sticky or heavy going onto your face either. Plus, you can also wear it under makeup, which I appreciate. It’s definitely more of a splurge, but the cruelty-free formula and being able to say goodbye to that white cast make it worth it. It’s water-resistant for 40 minutes and won’t clog your pores, either. The downside is that, like every sunscreen, you’ll still need to reapply it every two hours, which can be a bit tricky if you’re wearing makeup.”

“If you’re looking for a sunny glow along with your sunscreen, Undefined R&R Sun Serum comes in three shades, goes on smooth, is unscented, and offers SPF 50 protection,” says Dollarhide. “Plus it’s water-resistant. It did a great job of evening out my complexion, gave me a healthy glow when I applied it to my face, and felt moisturizing even in the heat of the sun. A little bit of the product goes a long way, and I used it in lieu of makeup for late sun coverage when I went out for drinks and sat outside.”

“I like how it’s a serum that sinks into your skin versus a cream. I honestly couldn’t believe it was a mineral sunscreen; there was definitely nothing chalky about this choice. After about an hour of swimming, I re-applied although the directions say that you should do it every 40 minutes if you are in the water or sweating. The brand claims it “reduces pollution-based free radicals by over 85% and boosts antioxidant activity by as much as 200%,” which means I would wear this out and about all year long, not just at the swimming pool or beach.”

“Supergoop! Play has been on rotation for a couple of summers due to its high SPF, lightweight formula, and the fact that everyone in my family will willingly wear it,” says Dollarhide. “It does leave a slight white cast, but that disappears as soon as you rub it in. I actually don’t mind seeing the lotion at first because it’s a good way to tell that my kids have applied it. My son said it has a slight lemony smell, but I didn't really notice the scent. It’s also water- and sweat-resistant for 80 minutes, which is great for adults and kids. Supergoop! makes great options for your face as well, but I have applied this everywhere — face and body — without issue on my sensitive skin. This is my family's go-to sunscreen. Even though there are cheaper options on the market, we simply make sure not to waste a drop.”

“My kids love to kayak, paddleboard, swim, and explore the shore, so not only is a sunscreen’s water-resistant capacity important to me, but it also needs to be sweatproof,” Dollarhide says. “Badger has been in their summer backpacks for a few years, so I was excited to have them try out this one. We used it during sunny soccer games and running under a sprinkler. It stayed put, kept them protected (no burns), and I liked that I didn’t need to worry about reapplying until nearly an hour and a half. It does go on a little thicker than another product our family loves, but it blends in easily, and I liked that it’s unscented and hypoallergenic, especially for my kid with sensitive skin. When we hit the beach this summer, it can go with us because it’s reef-friendly and the ingredients are 98% organic.”

“This won most portable because of its size (0.67 ounces) and high SPF 50—all in a stick small enough to slip into the tiniest pocket on my board shorts,” says Dollarhide. “It’s lightweight and goes on smooth without residue. The downside is also its size. I shared this with a friend, and we agreed it would be hard to bring this tiny stick and use it on multiple family members. However, it is good for all skin types, unscented, and doesn’t need to be reapplied (water- and sweat-resistant) for up to 80 minutes. This is definitely something I'll keep in my pocket this summer for the times I forget to apply sunscreen, or I don’t want to carry a bottle of lotion for a short swim at the local lake. It’s a great option for travel as well because like all Supergoop! products, it’s reef-safe.”

“I found this mineral sunscreen to be the best value (at least for the face) because it’s 4 fluid ounces for under $25 and offers a matte finish that didn’t irritate my skin,” Dollarhide says. “While it only provides 40 minutes of water-resistance, this is the type of sunscreen I would put on for my daily walks to protect my face while soothing my skin. Affordable at $23.95, a little goes a long way, and while not super cheap, this option (vegan and reef-safe) has just four ingredients. Plus, it tested safe for sensitive skin like mine.”