Protect your skin from harmful UV rays with one of the best mineral sunscreens available. These chemical-free sunscreens are ideal for most skin types. If you prefer mineral sunscreens over chemical ones, this guide will help you find the best option. Mineral sunscreens, also known as physical sunscreens, are free of potentially harmful chemicals, making them suitable for sensitive or irritable skin. While zinc oxide in mineral sunscreen is safe and effective according to the US Food and Drug Administration, concerns have been raised about ingredients in chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone, homosalate, and octocrylene. Though these studies consider large quantities of these ingredients, chemical sunscreens use them in small amounts. If you’re concerned about these differences or prefer to avoid chemicals, choosing the best mineral sunscreen with the ideal SPF is the way to go.
Mineral sunscreens reflect UV rays rather than absorb them, creating a physical barrier on the skin with zinc oxide. Experts believe this makes mineral sunscreens more effective at protecting your skin from sun damage.
Here are our top picks for the best mineral sunscreens for face and body:
1. 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
Kinship’s Self Reflect probiotic moisturizing sunscreen is tinted slightly pink, easy to blend, and hydrating. It contains turmeric to soothe the skin and jojoba esters to moisturize. Made with Kinbiome, the brand’s plant-based probiotic, it minimizes skin irritation and supports blemish-prone skin. The formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and safe for all skin types.
2. 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
Aveeno’s Protect and Soothe is reminiscent of its Protect and Hydrate chemical sunscreen. It has a light scent, is lightweight, and rubs in nicely, leaving a soft, matte finish with minimal white cast. It’s oil-free, non-comedogenic, fast-absorbing, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and dye-free.
3. 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
Indie Lee’s Mineral Sunscreen is thick but creamy and easy to rub into the skin. It is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes and contains sunflower seed oil, cluster pine bark extract, pomegranate seed oil, and aloe vera leaf juice to hydrate the skin. It’s offered on Credo Beauty, known for clean products.
4. Best Reef-Safe Mineral Sunscreen
Coola Mineral Sunscreen Stick
- Pros: Hawaii Reef Compliant, Fragrance-free, Great for travel
- Cons: Takes time to blend, Slight white cast, Small amount of product
- SPF Level: 50
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 13.63%
- Consistency: Lightweight
- Finish: Natural
- Price: $26
Coola’s Mineral Sunscreen Stick applies smoothly and travels well. It is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, antioxidant enriched, fragrance-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and dermatologist tested. It also contains sunflower, raspberry, and meadowfoam seed oils to keep your skin moisturized and soft.
5. Best Glowing Mineral Sunscreen
Grown Alchemist Natural Hydrating Sunscreen
- 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: 30
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 19.5%
- Consistency: Ultra-lightweight
- Finish: Glowy
- Price: $42
Grown Alchemist’s Natural Hydrating sunscreen has a glowing finish. It blends into the skin quickly, leaving no white cast and a subtle sparkle. The formula is certified toxic-free, vegan, reef-friendly, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, with ingredients like castor oil, rosehip oil, coconut oil, and parsley seed oil for hydration.
6. 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
Badger Active Mineral Sunscreen is thick and ideal for sports, offering a solid barrier with uncoated zinc oxide. It is water-resistant for 40 minutes, unscented, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and reef-friendly. The formula includes organic sunflower seed oil, beeswax, vitamin E, and sea buckthorn fruit extract for moisturizing.
7. Best Mineral Sunscreen for Under Makeup
Beekman 1802 Milk Primer SPF
- Pros: Lightweight, Blendable, Great base for makeup, Fragrance-free
- Cons: Unpleasant smell that goes away
- SPF Level: 35
- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 13%
- Consistency: Liquid
- Finish: Dewy to natural
- Price: $18
Beekman 1802’s Milk Primer SPF is lightweight and blends easily, making it a great base for makeup. The formula is free of fragrances, sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, alcohol, phthalates, synthetic colorants, formaldehyde, and talc. It is safe for sensitive skin and non-comedogenic.
8. 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
ISDIN Photo Eryfotona Actinica is designed for skin with actinic damage and contains antioxidants. The liquid formula blends into the skin quickly and is lightweight, suitable for all skin types, especially mature skin that has seen a lot of sun exposure.
9. 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
Earth Mama’s Lady Face Mineral Sunscreen is a portable sunstick that comes in light/medium and medium/dark tints. It’s weightless on the skin, blendable, reef-friendly, and water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. The formula contains organic ingredients like coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, cocoa seed butter, aloe vera leaf juice, and calendula flower extract.
10. Best Tinted Mineral Sunscreen
Iris and Romeo Weekend Skin
- Pros: Lightweight, Blendable, Fragrance-free
- Cons: Unpleasant smell, despite being fragrance-free, 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
Iris and Romeo’s Weekend Skin is a lightweight tinted mineral sunscreen that blends nicely and doesn’t leave an orange tint. It’s cruelty-free, vegan, reef-safe, fragrance-free, hydrating, and contains apple and jojoba extract. Apply it as the last step in your skincare routine or as a makeup primer.
11. 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
Suntegrity’s 5-in-1 Tinted Sunscreen acts as a BB cream, sunscreen, moisturizer, primer, and foundation. It’s lightweight, easy to blend, and works well in your skincare and makeup routine. The formula is vegan, cruelty-free, par
