Whether your outdoorsy or more outdoor-ish, a body and face sunscreen should be an essential part of your everyday beauty routine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. And, nearly every skin concern can be exasperated by too much sun exposure, including visible signs of aging like uneven skin tone, blotchy skin and wrinkles.
Yet, applying sunscreen is one of those steps we often avoid because we simply don't Iike our sunscreen.
That's where this guide comes in. We've tried and tested every natural sunscreen in our collection—and we're here to help you find a formula you love wearing.
Whether you’re looking for a lightweight clean sunscreen for your face, or a sweat proof formula for sports, we’ve got you covered from head to toe.
Each mineral based sunscreen in our collection is cruelty free and vegan friendly. These natural sunscreens are also free of phenoxyethanol (a commonly used clean preservative that has been shown to inhibit reef re-growth), benzenes, PEGs, and other marine pollutants. They're a safe choice to wear in places like Hawaii and Australia that have implemented suncare safety standards.
Is a higher SPF always better?
In our view, the best sunscreen for your face is the one you will actually use, daily.
Under ideal conditions (like lab testing), higher SPF sunscreen offers better protection against sunburn than sunscreens with lower SPF values.
But, real life is not in a lab. In real life, products with high SPFs often feel heavy or greasy, or don’t blend easily. Most of us don't apply enough and don't always reapply which, of course, defeats the purpose. Even the highest SPF sunscreen won't protect you if you don't use enough or it wears off.
While a higher SPF is preferable when you're outdoors hiking a trail or at the beach, many prefer a lightweight sunscreen or tinted formula for less active days. Especially if you wear makeup.
Good to know:
- SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
- SPF 25% blocks 96% of UVB rays
- SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays
- SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays
What is the best mineral sunscreen?
Hiking, swimming, going for a walk? Mineral (or physical) sunscreens provide broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. Unlike chemical sunscreens which are absorbed into skin, mineral based sunscreen (with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) sits on top of the skin acting as a physical barrier.
While some physical sunscreens have a thick white cast, the best mineral sunscreens don’t feel heavy or greasy on the skin, and blend in easily without leaving a white cast (even on darker skin tones). They are also great for sensitive skin since they tend to cause less irritation.
The reef safe sunscreen brands in our collection are gentle on both your skin and the environment. Instead of harmful chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate that can harm coral reefs, these mineral only sunscreens are made with non-nano Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide.
Our Top Picks
Most of our sunscreens are suitable for all skin types so feel free to mix it up depending on your activity level and preferences. See below for full details.
- Best Daily Sunscreen: Hynt Beauty SunPrep SPF 25, Honua Malu Day Cream SPF 30
- Best Sport Sunscreen: Kinfield Daily Dew SPF 35, Kinfield Cloud Cover SPF 35
- Best Tinted Sunscreen: Kinfield Sunglow SPF 35
- Best Sunscreen For Dry Skin: Kari Gran Essential SPF 30
- Best Sunscreen For Oily Skin: Hynt Beauty Sun Prep, Kinfield Sunglow
- Best Sunscreen For Body: Kinfield Cloud Cover SPF 35
- Best Lip Balm With SPF: Hurraw Sun Balm SPF 15
Hynt Beauty Sun Prep Broad Spectrum SPF 25, $65
SPF Level | SPF 25
Active Ingredients | Titanium Dioxide (9%)
Texture | Lightweight, fast-absorbing lotion
Key Ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, Organic Aloe Vera, Sesame oil, Rhatany Root Extract and Organic Green Leaf Tea. Vegan
Size | 50ml / 1.7oz
Hynt Beauty Sun Prep is a gorgeously textured sheer mineral sunscreen that looks and feels natural on your skin. Perfect for daily use when light protection is needed. Its light, silky smooth finish makes it a wonderful makeup primer as well. The light non-comedogenic formula makes it suitable for all skin types.
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Kinfield Sunglow Tinted Sunscreen SPF 35, $28
SPF Level | SPF 35
Active Ingredients | Zinc Oxide (20.3%)
Texture | Lightweight tinted lotion
Key Ingredients | Glycerin, jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, rosemary extract. Vegan
Size | 2 oz
Named 'Best Face Sunscreen' by 2022 Bustle Beauty Awards.
Kinfield Sunglow is the first-of-its-kind luminizing tinted sunscreen. Lightweight, hydrating, and lightly tinted for a sunkissed look that's glowy (never glittery!), all year round. This vegan sunscreen blends seamlessly across all skin tones. No color matching required. No white cast in sight.
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Kari Gran Essential SPF 30, $54
SPF Level | SPF 30
Active Ingredients | Non-Nano Zinc Oxide 18%
Texture | Oil based sunscreen lotion
Key Ingredients | Organic French plum oil, red raspberry seed oil, macadamia and kukui nut oil
Size | 30ml / 1 oz
Kari Gran Essential SPF 30 goes beyond simple sun protection, providing much needed hydration to dry or menopausal skin. This oil based sunscreen is made with skin loving botanical oils and zin oxide to protect and nourish skin at once.
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Kinfield Daily Dew SPF 35, $26
SPF Level | SPF 35
Active Ingredients | Zinc Oxide (20%)
Texture | Medium weight lotion
Key Ingredients | Sea kelp, glycerin, aloe vera, sunflower extract. Vegan
Size | 2 oz
Named 'The Best Sunscreen' of 2023 by SELF magazine!
Think moisturizer meets sporty sunscreen. Kinfield Daily Dew is a hydrating, sweat and water-resistant mineral sunscreen formulated with outdoor recreation in mind. Whether you're out for a run or headed to the beach, this mineral sunscreen stays put—so it won’t streak or run off when you sweat or get wet.
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Honua Skincare Malu Day Cream SPF 30, $42
SPF Level | SPF 30
Active Ingredients | Zinc Oxide (12%)
Texture | Cream
Key Ingredients | Aloe Vera, oat bran, Hawaiian plantain, noni fruit extract
Size | 30ml / 1 oz
Malu is a moisturizing day cream with SPF 30. This clean sunscreen is lightly scented and leaves a nice, dewy finish. Malu combines Hawaiian botanicals with non-nano zinc oxide to leave skin soft, smooth and protected.
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Kinfield Cloud Cover Body Sunscreen SPF 35, $28
SPF Level | SPF 35
Active Ingredients | Zinc Oxide (20%)
Texture | Lightweight, fast-absorbing lotion
Key Ingredients | Aloe vera, glycerin an sea kelp
Size | 50ml / 3.4 oz
Kinfield Cloud Cover is a broad spectrum mineral body sunscreen which absorbs super easily and quickly without leaving a greasy film. Whether you're the type to do a 10 mile run or prefer drinks by the pool, this reef safe, water resistant sunscreen has got you covered.
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Hurraw Sun Balm Lip Balm SPF 15, $5
SPF Level | SPF 15
Active Ingredients | Zinc Oxide 16%
Texture | Balm
Key Ingredients | Red raspberry, pomegranate and sea buckthorn oils
Size | .17 oz
Just like the skin on your face and body, your lips needs protection from the sun. Hurraw Sun Balm is a mineral based SPF 15 lip balm which glides on silky smooth like their regular balms, but is formulated to be extra thick and creamy for longer staying power while out in those shining rays!
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After sun lotion
Soothe and soften skin after too much fun in the sun.
Free + True Skincare Body Prophet Body Serum, $48
Texture | Body lotion
Key Ingredients | Aloe vera, olive leaf extract, pumpkin seed oil and sea buckthorn berry
Size | 6.8 oz
Voted best body serum by The Beauty Shortlist 2022!
Soothing organic aloe vera and comfrey along with antioxidant rich pumpkin and sea buckthorn berry help replenish dry and dehydrated skin. Body Prophet body lotion is best applied before or after sun exposure and year-round to soothe and hydrate parched skin. The fresh, summery scent is a proprietary blend of organic essential oils that nurture your skin from head to toe.
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