By Protect your skin from harmful rays with the best mineral sunscreens available. These chemical-free sunscreens are ideal for most skin types. If you prefer mineral over chemical sunscreens, this guide will help you choose the best option. Mineral sunscreens, also known as physical sunscreens, are free of chemicals that may be harmful to your skin, especially if your skin is sensitive or irritable. While the zinc oxide in mineral sunscreen is considered safe and effective by the US Food and Drug Administration, recent studies have raised concerns about ingredients in chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone, homosalate, and octocrylene. Although these studies consider large amounts of these ingredients, chemical sunscreens use only small amounts. Regardless, if you’re concerned about these differences or prefer to avoid chemicals entirely, finding the best mineral sunscreen with the right SPF is the way to go.
Mineral sunscreens reflect UV rays instead of absorbing them like chemical sunscreens. They use zinc oxide to create a physical barrier on the skin, which experts believe provides better protection against sun damage.
Here are our top picks for the best mineral sunscreens for face and body right now:
The 15 Best Mineral Sunscreens
- Tested on hot, sunny summer days in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Best Overall Mineral Sunscreen: Kinship Self Reflect
- Pros: Blendable, Hydrating, No white cast, Non-greasy
- Cons: No matte version, No fragrance-free version, Can be a bit sticky
- SPF Level: 32
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22.4%
- Consistency: Creamy
- Finish: Glowy
- Price: $28 at Credo Beauty
Kinship’s Self Reflect probiotic moisturizing sunscreen is easy to blend and hydrating. It contains turmeric and jojoba esters for soothing and moisturizing the skin. Made with Kinbiome, a plant-based probiotic, it minimizes skin irritation and supports blemish-prone skin. This vegan, cruelty-free formula is safe for all skin types.
Best Mineral Sunscreen for Face and Body: Aveeno Protect and Soothe Mineral Sunscreen
- Pros: Lightweight, Blendable, Non-greasy, Fragrance-free
- Cons: Slight white cast, May not work well for darker skin tones
- SPF Level: 30
- Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 6.5%, Zinc Oxide 18.7%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Matte
- Price: $10 at Amazon
Aveeno’s Protect and Soothe is lightweight and rubs in nicely, leaving a soft, matte finish with minimal white cast. It’s sweat and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and is oil-free, noncomedogenic, fast-absorbing, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and dye-free.
Best Clean Mineral Sunscreen: Indie Lee Mineral Sunscreen
- Pros: Hydrating, Fragrance-free, Travel size
- Cons: Thicker consistency, Takes time to blend
- SPF Level: 30
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20%
- Consistency: Creamy
- Finish: Matte
- Price: $42 at Amazon
Indie Lee’s Mineral Sunscreen is creamy and rubs in well, despite its thicker consistency. Water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, it contains sunflower seed oil, cluster pine bark extract, pomegranate seed oil, and aloe vera leaf juice to hydrate the skin.
Best Reef-Safe Mineral Sunscreen: Coola Mineral Sunscreen Stick
- Pros: Lightweight, Blendable, Glowy finish, No white cast, Fragrance-free
- Cons: Not for people who prefer a matte finish, Some complain of grainy texture
- SPF Level: 50
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 13.63%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Natural
- Price: $26 at Amazon
Coola’s Mineral Sunscreen Stick is Hawaii Reef Compliant and applies smoothly. It’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and enriched with antioxidants. It also contains sunflower, raspberry, and meadowfoam seed oils to keep skin moisturized and soft.
Best Glowing Mineral Sunscreen: Grown Alchemist Natural Hydrating Sunscreen
- Pros: Lightweight, Blendable, No white cast
- Cons: Takes time to blend, Slight white cast, Small amount of product
- SPF Level: 30
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 19.5%
- Consistency: Ultra-lightweight
- Finish: Glowy
- Price: $42 at Credo Beauty
Grown Alchemist’s Natural Hydrating Sunscreen is lightweight and blends into the skin easily, leaving a glowing finish. It’s certified toxic-free, vegan, reef-friendly, cruelty-free, and gluten-free.
Best Sports Mineral Sunscreen: Badger Active Mineral Sunscreen
- Pros: Great for sports, Fragrance-free, No white cast, Blendable
- Cons: Heavy, Not for those with oily, acne-prone skin
- SPF Level: 30
- Active Ingredient: Uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%
- Consistency: Thick, creamy
- Finish: Matte
- Price: $15 at Amazon
Badger Active Mineral Sunscreen is thick and offers solid protection. It’s water-resistant for 40 minutes and contains organic sunflower seed oil, beeswax, vitamin E, and sea buckthorn fruit extract to moisturize the skin.
Best Mineral Sunscreen for Under Makeup: Beekman 1802 Milk Primer SPF
- Pros: Blendable, Lightweight, Fragrance-free
- Cons: Unpleasant smell that goes away
- SPF Level: 35
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 13%
- Consistency: Liquid
- Finish: Dewy to natural
- Price: $18 at Amazon
Beekman 1802 Milk Primer SPF is lightweight and blends easily, making it an excellent base for makeup. It hydrates the skin and is free of fragrances, sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, alcohol, phthalates, synthetic colorants, formaldehyde, and talc.
Best Mineral Sunscreen for Mature Skin: ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion
- Pros: Blendable, Lightweight, Great for mature skin, Non-greasy, No white cast
- Cons: Not fragrance-free
- SPF Level: 50+
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 11%
- Consistency: Liquid
- Finish: Natural
- Price: $59 at Walmart
ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica is designed for skin with actinic damage and contains antioxidants. It’s water-resistant for up to 40 minutes and lightweight, suitable for any skin type.
Best Mineral Sunstick: Earth Mama Lady Face Tinted Mineral Sunscreen
- Pros: Multiple shades, Lightweight, Blendable, Great for travel, Fragrance-free
- Cons: No untinted version, Tint can rub off on towels and clothing
- SPF Level: 40
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Matte
- Price: $15 at Earth Mama
Earth Mama’s Lady Face Mineral Sunscreen is weightless and blendable, available in light/medium or medium/dark tints. It’s reef-friendly, water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, and contains organic ingredients like coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, cocoa seed butter, aloe vera leaf juice, and calendula flower extract.
Best Tinted Mineral Sunscreen: Iris and Romeo Weekend Skin
- Pros: Lightweight, Blendable, Fragrance-free
- Cons: Tint colors may not work for every skin tone
- SPF Level: 50
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 10%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Dewy to natural
- Price: $50 at Iris and Romeo
Iris and Romeo Weekend Skin is a lightweight tinted mineral sunscreen that blends nicely and is free of cruelty, vegan, reef safe, fragrance-free, and hydrating.
Best All-in-One Mineral Sunscreen: Suntegrity 5-in-1 Tinted Sunscreen
- Pros: Blendable, Lightweight, Fragrance-free
- Cons: Not a wide shade range
- SPF Level: 30
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Dewy to natural
- Price: $48 at Amazon
Suntegrity’s 5-in-1 Tinted Sunscreen is a BB cream that acts as a sunscreen, moisturizer, primer, and foundation. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and made without mineral oils, synthetic dyes, sulfates, or nanoparticles.
Best Powder Mineral Sunscreen: Brush on Block Translucent Mineral Powder
- Pros: Lightweight, Blendable, Great for sports, No white cast
- Cons: Not for those with oily, acne-prone skin
- SPF Level: 50
- Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 6%, Zinc Oxide 21%
- Consistency: Powder
- Finish: Matte and sparkly
- Price: $46 at Amazon
Brush on Block’s Translucent Mineral Powder is reef-friendly, cruelty-free, vegan, and water-resistant for 80 minutes. It’s easy to reapply and can be used over makeup or moisturizer.
Best Lightweight Mineral Sunscreen: Murad Correct and Protect Serum
- Pros: Great for oily,
