Editor’s Picks: 19 of the Best Mineral Sunscreens to Protect Your Skin All Year Round
You already know that sunscreen is essential to shield your skin from sunburn, skin cancer and premature aging. But unless you’re using a mineral formula, your SPF may not be as safe or as effective as you think.
Get this—out of the 16 different sunscreen filters available in the US, the FDA regards only the mineral ones, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, to be “GRASE” (Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective). The other, chemical sunscreen filters (including avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene and ecamsule) were delisted in 2019 based on a lack of safety data regarding their absorption into the body and the long-term effects.[1]
Not only are mineral sunscreens safer, they can also give you incredible protection. Zinc oxide happens to be the single most effective ingredient for filtering UVA rays, which are the most harmful and account for up to 95% of the UV light that reaches our skin.[2]
But not all mineral sunscreens are created equal—and that’s why I created this guide. Read on to find out exactly what to look for, and the best products I’ve found.
Editor’s Picks (At a Glance)
Best Budget | |
Best Multitasking | Ghost Democracy Invisible Lightweight Daily Sunscreen SPF 33 |
Best Non-Whitening | |
Best Brightening | |
Best Mattifying | REN Clean Skincare Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Mattifying Face Sunscreen |
Best Non-Greasy | |
Best Hydrating | Odacité Sun Guardian Oceanic Glacial Water Day Crème SPF 30 Naturally Serious Mineral Sun Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 |
Best Protection | CyberDerm Simply Zinc Lite Untinted Transparent Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 |
Best for Acne-Prone Skin | Kinship Self Reflect Probiotic Moisturizing Sunscreen Zinc Oxide SPF 32 |
Best for Sensitive Skin | First Aid Beauty Mineral Sunscreen Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 30 |
Best Oil-Free | |
Best Priming | |
Best Water-Resistant | Solara Suncare Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 30 Kinship Self Reflect Sport SPF 60 Triple Ceramide Moisturizing Sunscreen |
Best Refillable | Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer SPF 30 |
Best Clean Beauty |
What to Look for in a Mineral Sunscreen
The Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2022
Best Budget: Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Best Multitasking: Ghost Democracy Invisible Lightweight Daily Sunscreen SPF 33
Best Non-Whitening: EleVen by Venus Williams Unrivaled Sun Serum SPF 35
Best Brightening: EltaMD UV Glow Broad-Spectrum SPF 36
Best Mattifying: REN Clean Skincare Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Mattifying Face Sunscreen
Best Non-Greasy: Salt & Stone Lightweight Sheer Daily Sunscreen SPF 40
Best Hydrating: Odacité Sun Guardian Oceanic Glacial Water Day Crème SPF 30
Best Protection: CyberDerm Simply Zinc Lite Untinted Transparent Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Kinship Self Reflect Probiotic Moisturizing Sunscreen Zinc Oxide SPF 32
Best for Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Mineral Sunscreen Zinc Oxide Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Best Priming: Kypris Pot of Shade: Heliotropic SPF 30
Best Water-Resistant: Solara Suncare Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 30
Best Refillable: Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer SPF 30
Best Clean Beauty: Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30
Best Hydrating: Naturally Serious Mineral Sun Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30
Best Non-Whitening: Ava Isa Sun-é-Serum Drops SPF 35
Best Oil-Free: Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer
Best Water-Resistant: Kinship Self Reflect Sport SPF 60 Triple Ceramide Moisturizing Sunscreen
Best Clean Beauty: Cocokind Daily SPF Facial Sunscreen Lotion SPF 32
Further Reading
- Food and Drug Administration. (2019, February 26). Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use. Federal Register.
- UV Radiation & Your Skin. Skin Cancer Foundation.
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