Incase you haven’t heard, sunscreen is an absolute must to include in your daily routine. Whether it’s summer or winter, sunny or cloudy, etc., there’s no excuse to skip out on sunscreen. After all, it protects your skin in so many ways which we will get into in a bit. What some people don’t know is that not all sunscreens are the same. Keep reading to learn the mineral sunscreens you need to know about.
Disclosure: This post may contain some affiliate links which means I receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase from one of my links. Also, I am not a doctor or a scientist, just a girl doing her best to learn using the resources she’s got. Therefore, it’s important to always do your own research.
Before jumping into the products, let’s get a little background info…
What is the difference between mineral sunscreen and chemical sunscreen?
First things first. What is mineral sunscreen? Board Certified Dermatologist, Mauren C. Locke, MD describes mineral, or physical, sunscreens as sunscreens that create a barrier on top of the skin by BLOCKING UV rays. The active mineral ingredients found in these sunscreens are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These two ingredients are broad spectrum so they block UVA and UVB rays that are associated with skin aging as well as skin burning.
On the other hand, chemical sunscreens ABSORB sun rays and contain ingredients like octocrylene, octinoxate and oxybenzone. Though Dr. Locke states chemical sunscreens can also effectively block UVA and UVB rays, she points out that some chemicals in these sunscreens have been found to be absorbed into the blood stream when used in high amounts. Like I said, I’m not a doctor or a scientist, so please feel free to do your own research.
Are mineral sunscreens better for you?
There is a lot of confusion regarding sunscreens, especially around ingredients found in chemical sunscreens such as oxybenzone. Many believe this chemical to be a hormone disrupter, but according to Harvard Health Publishing, there is no conclusive evidence to prove this. I personally prefer a mineral sunscreens since I’m more comfortable with the ingredients, but talk to your doctor or dermatologist to learn more.
The important thing to remember is that you should always wear some type of sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30. Other important things to keep in mind about sunscreen include: making sure you apply enough, making sure to reapply, and to wear sun protective clothing in addition to wearing sunscreen.
What else to look for in sunscreens?
Looking for a mineral sunscreen is just one thing to consider when browsing the shelves with dozens of SPF options. Some other things to look out for include:
- Water Resistant– If a sunscreen is water resistant the SPF can be maintained for a certain amount of time in the water, typically 40 or 80 minutes. It also helps sunscreen from sweating off.
- Broad-Spectrum – I mentioned this above, but just incase reading in twice helps in sink in. Broad-spectrum SPF protects against UVA and UVB rays. Both play in role skin cancer, but more specifically UVA rays are responsible for premature skin aging and UVB rays are responsible for sunburns. You can read more about UVA and UVB rays here.
- Be cautious of the term “mineral base” – Mineral base sunscreens are not bad, but they may also contain chemicals in addition to minerals. If you are trying to avoid chemical sunscreens completely, look for sunscreens that are 100% mineral sunscreens.
- Reef safe – If a sunscreen is reef safe, it is free of oxybenzone and octinoxate which studies have found can cause coral bleaching. If you are using a true 100% mineral sunscreen, it will be free of those chemicals but will also typically state “Reef Safe” on the bottle. There’s still a lot to be learned about reef safe sunscreens, but this article does a good job of summarizing what we know so far.
- Sprays Vs Lotions – Spray sunscreens are loved by many since they are quick, convenient and can cover hard to reach areas like the back of the body. However they do have their cons. For example, there’s a possibility of inhaling the ingredients when using sprays, and many people only end up applying 1/4 of the needed amount of sunscreen when using a spray. So, lotion may be a better option for you. You can read more in-depth about all of this on Harvard Health Publishing if you want to learn more. I just wanted to share this piece of info for those who didn’t know!
Mineral Sunscreen Options
Now that you know a little bit more about mineral sunscreens, here are some mineral sunscreen options to consider. This post is broken down into three categories: body, face and lips so that your SPF needs are covered. After doing my own research, I found that these options check a lot of the boxes if you are looking for a good mineral sunscreen option. As always, it’s never a bad idea to always read the labels and do your own research. 🙂
Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
Bare Republic was my first experience with mineral sunscreens. I remember making the switch to mineral sunscreens a few years ago and this was one of the only options available at Target. Though there are a number of brands to choose from now, this mineral sunscreen from Bare Republic is still a solid choice. It has UVA/UVB protection, has 80 minute water resistance, is reef friendly, and is paraben free. It does have a coconut vanilla scent so just take note of that. However it does not contain synthetic fragrances. You can also find this sunscreen at Target and Amazon which is super convenient.
All Good Sport Sunscreen
This sport sunscreen from All Good is similar to the one above. It’s broad-spectrum, reef friendly, is water resistant for 80 minutes, and has no harmful additives. Since it can be found at Target, Amazon and Walmart, it accessible for most people.
Beautycounter Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
The 4.8 star rating and 900+ reviews for this sunscreen speak for itself. In addition to being broad spectrum, reef safe, and water resistant for 40 minutes, users rave how smooth and easy to blend this product is. If you don’t believe me, read the reviews for yourself!
Babo Botanical Daisy Sheer Sunscreen for Face
Babo Botanicals has a lot of great options, but this one in particular is great for your face. It has 100% mineral active ingredients so it’s broad-spectrum and reef safe. The real selling point is that it’s hypoallergenic, so it’s great for those with sensitive skin. It’s also sheer and non-greasy so it lays nicely under makeup. One thing to note is that it is not water resistant. So, try to avoid wearing this product on it’s own if you plan on being in the water.
Supergoop Mineral Sheerscreen
I’m pretty sure everyone under the sun knows about this brand by now. Supergoop’s Mineral Sheerscreen is 100% mineral (so broad-spectrum), preps the skin for makeup and also protects the skin from blue light (think computer screens, phone screen, etc.). An important thing to note about Supergoop is that they have a lot of sunscreen options in very similar packing and not all are 100% mineral sunscreens. So, if that’s a priority for you just make sure to read the label.
Biossance Squalane + Zine Sheer Mineral Sunscreen
This sunscreen is a mouthful but full of good stuff. As you can expect, it’s broad spectrum and is a non-toxic zinc mineral sunscreen, just what we like to see. It’s not water resistant nor does it protect against blue light. However, the website displays a clinical report stating the skin of 100% of users in a clinical study showed significant protection against pollution when using this product. Also 100% of users in a separate study showed clinical improvement in skin hydration. Lastly, in another clinical study, 94% of users reported this product to be non-greasy. Just some helpful things to point out if those are qualities you are looking for in a mineral sunscreen!
EleVen Perfect Form Lip Balm
Lips need sun protection too! This lip balm has 100% mineral UVA/UVB protection and has Bayberry Fruit Wax to soothe and soften the lips. It comes in clear as well as a few color options to suit your style. The shade Power Play, a sheer pink, is my top pick.
Babo Botanicals Lip Tint SPF 15
This little guy packs a punch. It’s broad-spectrum, water resistant for 80 minutes, reef safe, and has a 100% pure formula. In addition, it comes is four pretty tints to choose from.
Supergoop Cloud 9 100% Mineral Sun Balm
What’s great about this product is that you really get your monies worth since you can use it on dry hands, elbows, etc. As you can see by the name, its 100% mineral broad-spectrum so it’s going to get the job done when it comes to sun protection. The formula also contains murumuru and shea butter to help prevent the skin from loosing moisture.
Get the sun kissed skin of your dreams without sacrificing the health of your skin. Continue to lather up on sunscreen and look to these beauty essentials to achieve tan glowy skin.
very informative.
Thank you, I hope it was helpful!
Emily, thanks for taking the time to write an informative guide about sunscreen. It’s a very important topic to me, as an ocean over and health conscious person. I will be referring to this guide next time I buy sunscreen.
I’m so glad you found it helpful! It can definitely be overwhelming so I hope this guide can help you the next time you need to stock up on sunscreen. Love that you care about your health and the ocean 💕
Thanks for the clarity. This is helpful in choosing the right one.
Yay! Glad you found it helpful.
Great info. I’m too dumb in choosing proper skin care, I would choose one of these.
Choosing skincare and sunscreens can definitely be a challenge. I hope this sunscreen guide was helpful for you!
I’ll definitely trying out some of these sunscreens!
Yay! They are all such great products.
Great reccomendations.
I hope you find a mineral sunscreen you love!
Very useful! This was a good topic 🙂
glad you enjoyed!
Great recommendations, thanks! I never thought of lips – love that it’s got a little tint too!
Yes! SPF for lips are a must!