We Tested More Than 20 Mineral Sunscreens, and These Are the 12 We Recommend for Summer

This sunscreen goes on thick, so it won’t leave you wondering if you’ve got all your exposed skin protected. But don’t worry, it absorbs quickly, and we didn’t experience any white cast or residue after a minute or two. “Because of the creaminess and the whiteness upon application, I felt pretty confident that I used the amount I was supposed to fully cover up my exposed skin,” says tester Jessica Migala. “This is different compared to other products that disappear into your skin quickly — with those, you hope that you covered your skin appropriately with a good amount. This one leaves visible evidence if you did, and the thicker cream made me feel as if I got better coverage.” We also love that this sunscreen offers 50+ SPF, and that it’s readily available at many local drugstores.

This product is also great if you prefer unscented sunscreens, and it’s free of any added oils, oxybenzone, and parabens. It’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes, and is advertised as hypoallergenic, so those with sensitive skin should be in the clear. We did have to spend a bit more time getting this one to absorb, but it’s worth it for the great sun protection.

We were a bit surprised by the consistency of this sunscreen. While mineral sunscreens typically have a thicker consistency, Shiseido’s version is quite runny and needs to be shaken before use. But we found that the thinner lotion was easy to rub in and absorbed quickly. “This sunscreen is so easy to apply, and absorbs very quickly,” says tester Katie Tuttle. “I did not have to worry about it transferring to my clothes, and truly didn't feel like I was wearing sunscreen at all. It played nicely under my makeup, though the added moisture may not be as welcome for folks with an oilier complexion.”

This one is great for everyday use and feels more like a moisturizer than a mineral sunscreen, which is why I chose this sunscreen as the best product for faces. It leaves a greasy feel for the first few minutes, but then absorbs well.

Some prefer a spray-on sunscreen for ease of application, and we found Coola Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Spray to be a great mineral sunscreen alternative to the many chemical options out there. It’s a non-aerosol lotion spray that comes out white upon application. “I generally love all Coola sunscreens,” says Migala, “I have used them for years (this is my first time with this specific product) and they all perform really well, feel good on skin, and have pleasant scents.” While this one is advertised as fragrance-free, Migala said that she noticed a very light, pleasant scent. It does not have a chemical scent, as many fragrance-free sunscreens do.

“It incorporates into skin nicely without leaving a white cast like some mineral sunscreens, so it's extremely pleasant to apply,” she said. “Tacky upon application but takes less than a minute to dry.” This sunscreen makes reapplication easy, and could be great for parents with active kids who just can’t wait to get into the water, as well.

Eucerin Tinted Sensitive Mineral Face Sunscreen touts that it’s “blendable with all skin tones.” “It is easy to apply,” says writer, LT, after testing this product for Everyday Health. “Since I ordered one of the darker skin tone tints, I was surprised by how light it looked when I started rubbing it into my skin. I felt like it took a bit of rubbing to get the lightness and any white cast to start to disappear. But then it did disappear, and my skin felt soft and moisturized.” The tint can serve as a very light foundation for underneath makeup, and LT likes the soft, silky feel of this sunscreen, which she said made her skin feel hydrated after use.

“I like the pump feature that allows the sunscreen to come out in one fluid motion,” LT says. “I also like that the product notes that it comes in a variety of skin tone options.” This is great for those with sensitive skin, as the lotion isn’t abrasive or harsh, and it was developed with dermatologists to ensure top quality. It’s hypoallergenic, free of parabens, dyes, fragrances, phthalates, PABA, oxybenzone, and octinoxate.

It comes in SPF 35, so if you want a higher level of sun protection, this product may not be the one for a long day outdoors. It’s also important to note that this product is not water resistant.

While this sunscreen’s consistency is thick, Tuttle found that it absorbs well enough to be worn underneath makeup. “It seemed to protect my skin as I went about my day, and I didn't notice any transfer or pilling after a long day,” she says. However, this product does smell like a traditional sunscreen, which might not be to everyone’s liking.

“I think this sunscreen delivers on its promises,” LT says. “It says it is an extremely sheer sunscreen that leaves no white residue, and that was definitely the case.” LT noticed a barely detectable fragrance, though this product is advertised as fragrance-free. “I didn't notice any smell initially,” she says. “After a few days of use, I noticed a very, very, very light smell — extremely mild and not over the top.”

Note that this sunscreen is SPF 30, so be sure to reapply after a few hours in the sun. It is water resistant for up to 80 minutes, so wearers should be protected whether swimming or working up a sweat.

The product absorbs quickly and protects well against sunburn. Ziegler says this product is great for anyone with thinner hair or anyone who doesn’t want to wear a hat outdoors, but still wants scalp protection. This sunscreen is water resistant for 80 minutes and includes aloe and jojoba for hydration. She also mentioned that she used this product on her 5-year-old daughter with eczema, who didn’t have any adverse reactions to the sunscreen.

While most sunscreens leave skin looking a bit shiny for at least a few minutes, Supergoop Mineral Mattescreen has a wonderful mattifying effect, which makes this our pick for best mineral sunscreen for use under makeup. It can double as a primer, and will effectively grip whatever makeup you put atop it, but it’s tinted and has a blurring effect itself, so it helps to obscure any skin imperfections you might want to hide. “It's a blurring sunscreen, so that helps with my discoloration, but it's not specifically made for this reason,” Ziegler says.

“It's super lightweight, it almost has a whipped, airy texture. It's smooth on the skin — doesn't leave my skin looking or feeling greasy.” It’s water resistant for up to 40 minutes, so this SPF 40 sunscreen plays well during workouts or if swimming or a workout is in the cards.

We’ll lead with the best part. This is the only powdered sunscreen recommended for active use by the Skin Cancer Foundation. That’s enough to gain our trust that this sunscreen has us protected. This product is great for touch-ups or for over makeup, and is the perfect size to fit in your purse, backpack, or to stash in the car. It has a mattifying effect and is available in several shades, including “fair,” “medium,” “tan,” and “deep.”

“I was impressed by this powder's staying power,” says Tuttle. “I was very skeptical that I wouldn't sweat this off within 20 minutes, but it held up quite well during regular walks.”

We do recommend that you use this after applying an SPF lotion. While Tuttle says she did feel protected using this, she thinks it may be difficult to apply enough powder to be fully protected from the sun’s harmful rays. For sunscreen to be as effective as possible, wearers should be applying about an ounce of sunscreen lotion to their bodies, says Dr. Moghaddam. That’s about a shot-glass-sized amount.

Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. I tested this at a water park with my two kids during midday, and we all came out without burns. I found it to be a bit greasy at first, but it absorbs quickly, and isn’t overly thick, as many high-SPF sunscreens are, so it’s easy to apply on squirmy kiddos.

While the scent isn’t prominently displayed on the front of the product, the back mentions “natural fragrance oil.” I loved the citrusy scent, but wish there were more details on the fragrance and that it was mentioned on the front so that parents of sensitive kids are in the know.

“While using this product as directed (reapplying every 80 minutes), I did not burn,” says tester Ashley Rowe. “I even tested it at a pool party and the sunscreen seemed to work well throughout use in the water. It works well as a body sunscreen and lives up to its ‘sport’ name.” She says the product didn’t leave her skin greasy, but it does require a little extra rubbing to get it to blend during application.

“With no added fragrance which makes it a good candidate for people with sensitive skin,” Rowe says.  But we did find that the ingredients include octinoxate and octisalate, often used in chemical sunscreens, as well as zinc oxide, so buyers take note if you’re looking for a purely mineral sunscreen.