It’s summertime, and the livin’s, well, not quite easy (when is it ever?), but at least it’s warm and sunny now.
Ofc, all this sunshine means we need to be extra diligent about using sunscreen. We’ve tested dozens of SPFs over the past couple months, and we’ve rounded up the ones we’re keeping in our beach and pool bags this summer.
Mineral—aka physical—sunscreen uses zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide to form a physical barrier between your skin and the sun that reflects UV light. Because of this, mineral sunscreens used to be goopy, messy, and would leave you with a pasty white cast. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way and brands have figured out how to make mineral sunscreens that dry clear and don’t make a mess.
Keep scrolling to shop our top picks.
Everyday Mineral Lotion
Price: $22
Seaweed Bath Co.
SPF: 40
Other highlights: Leaping Bunny certified, vegan, cruelty-free, water-resistant for 80 minutes
Why we love it: In addition to protecting your face and body from harmful rays, this sunscreen also contains sustainably harvested, vitamin- and mineral-rich bladderwrack seaweed and prebiotics. It also has a natural, ocean-inspired scent with notes of sea salt and bergamot.
UV AOX Mist
Price: $45
EltaMD
SPF: 40
Other highlights: Non-comedogenic, air-powered spray nozzle, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic
Why we love it: Air-powered spray nozzles can be pretty hit or miss, so we were super impressed with this one’s 360-degree spray-ability. The sunscreen comes out white (so you can see where you’re applying it) and then quickly absorbs into the skin and turns clear.
Mineral Lotion
Price: $20
Vacation
SPF: 30
Other highlights: Fragrance-free, cruelty-free, vegan, packaging made with recycled materials
Why we love it: We’re big fans of Vacation’s mineral sunscreen because it’s gentle on skin and dries remarkably clear. And the brand’s packaging is always *chef’s kiss.*
The Mineral Melt
Price: $30
Dune
SPF: 30
Other highlights: Cruelty-free, vegan, non-comedogenic, sustainable packaging
Why we love it: This doctor-developed formula is packed with nourishing, brightening, and hydrating ingredients like carrot seed extract, vitamin E, and sunflower extract.
Vinosun Protect
Price: $39
Caudalie
SPF: 50
Other highlights: Fragrance-free, silicone-free, vegan, recyclable packaging
Why we love it: Another sunscreen/skincare hybrid, this one contains antioxidant-rich Viniferine (a natural extract derived from vine sap) and niacinamide to help brighten skin. We also found that this sunscreen plays nice with makeup, meaning it didn’t cause any pilling, melting, or greasiness.
Mineral Unseen Sunscreen
Price: $40
SuperGoop!
SPF: 40
Other highlights: Cruelty-free, vegan, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free
Why we love it: This is the new mineral version of the tried-and-true Unseen Sunscreen we all know and love. Since it’s mineral, it’s creamy, but we found it to be an excellent formula for the face.
Sunglow
Price: $28
Kinfield
SPF: 35
Other highlights: Cruelty-free, vegan, packaging made entirely from recyclable materials
Why we love it: This comes out of the tube a purple-y pink color, sending us briefly back to the purple SPFs we begged our parents to buy us in the ‘90s. Unlike those sunscreens of yesteryear, thankfully, this one doesn’t stay purple. It blends into the skin, leaving behind a sunkissed, glowy look. It’s also lightly scented with a 100% natural fragrance of bergamot, mandarin, petitgrain, pink grapefruit, and lime.
Clear Skin Oil-Free Moisturizer
Price: $48
Coola
SPF: 30
Other highlights: Organic, non-comedogenic
Why we love it: We found the oil-free formula (which is clinically proven to provide breakout-free protection for acne-prone skin) of this sunscreen to be lightweight and easy to apply. The bottle is also super pretty.
Force Shield Superlight
Price: $20
Hero
SPF: 30
Other highlights: Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, silicone-free
Why we love it: Another great option for acne-prone skin, this sunscreen has a lightweight, gel-like texture that doesn’t feel like it’s stifling the skin. We especially love that it has a green tint that helps blur and hide redness.
Sun Barrier
Price: $22
Prequel
SPF: 50 PA++++
Other highlights: Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic
Why we love it: If you have super sensitive skin that needs lots of moisture, this is about to be your new jam. It’s accepted by both the National Rosacea Society and National Eczema Association, and it contains bioactive antioxidant compounds and bisabolol to help reduce irritation and redness. It leaves skin looking extra dewy, so we found it to be best suited for drier skin types.
Silky Sun Drops
Price: $56
Kora Organics
SPF: 30
Other highlights: Cruelty-free, vegan, certified organic, climate neutral certified
Why we love it: The serum texture of this sunscreen feels practically weightless when applied, it’s packed with antioxidant-rich botanical extracts, and it leaves skin looking glowy.
Every Sun Day Mineral
Price: $40
Dr. Jart+
SPF: 50+
Other highlights: non-irritating formula
Why we love it: Us Pooshies who were looking for a matte finish were super impressed with this formula. It’s lightweight and helps control oil without being chalky. It also wears well under makeup.
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the author only, and Poosh does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
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