20 Best Mineral Sunscreens Reviewers Love
The wildly popular Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick, which might just be THE gold standard in the solid sunscreen department. No really, it's the top-selling sunscreen stick in the US! So why do people love it? Reviewers say it's truly invisible once applied to the skin, and it's formulated to never leave a white cast, even when you sweat! It also includes the high-end ingredients Shiseido is known for, like soy lecithin and licorice extract to help brighten and even out your complexion.
Cetaphil's Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Face Drops — it's truly one of those Sephora-quality at drugstore-prices products. It has the lightweight, serum-like texture you'd expect from a high-end formula and also packs in some vitamin E to lock in moisture. It's also sensitive-skin friendly and dries down to a matte finish, so you won't have to worry about an overly shiny look.
Or Cetaphil's Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Stick, which is super convenient for swiping on when you're in a hurry to take a walk before the sun goes down. The thicker balm-like formula makes it especially great for areas like the lips and eyes — because tasting liquid sunscreen and rubbing your stinging eyes are not on the summer agenda.
Thinksport's mineral sunscreen is perfect for any hikes or biking trips you have planned — it's designed to stay on your skin even when you're sweating up a storm! One reviewer even called it "the best body sunscreen," and more than 5,000 other reviewers seem to agree. Plus, the fragrance-free formula is made with sensitive skin in mind!
Blue Lizard's mineral sunscreen that includes organic aloe to help soothe sensitive skin. It's also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so you can splish and splash like a carefree lizard for more than an hour. That's the kind of summer you deserve!!
Or Blue Lizard's sunscreen stick that's also made with sensitive skin in mind. Aloe is the very first ingredient, which will help keep it from getting irritated — because greasy, red, itchy skin will certainly ruin a perfect beach day.
A lightly tinted sunscreen from dermatologist-fave brand Cerave, which might be one of your best bets in the drugstore price range. There are only three shades to choose from, but each is designed to seamlessly blend into a variety of skin tones, so don't worry if it looks a little too light or dark out of the bottle. Like almost all CeraVe products, this one includes ceramides to help restore the skin barrier and hyaluronic acid to keep your skin from drying out while you're frolicking in the sun.
Or the CeraVe sunscreen stick that comes in an ultra-portable tube that's practically begging for a spot in your pocket. It's formulated with a micro-fine form of zinc oxide so it spreads easily and remains undetectable on your skin. It's also oil- and fragrance free, so those with sensitive skin can swipe it without worry.
A lightweight sunscreen from popular Korean beauty brand Innisfree that packs in an amazing bonus feature — a green tint to help neutralize redness! This ~satin~ finish also makes it a perfect base for makeup, so you can go ahead and skip the primer.
An SPF 46 EltaMD face sunscreen, which reviewers say is a game changer for acne-prone and sensitive skin since it absorbs super quickly without any residue. The inclusion of niacinamide helps reduce redness and irritation, and it's also a perfect base for makeup, thanks to its fast-absorbing formula.
Supergoop! Mattescreen with a buildable tint that's so mattifying and blurring, many reviewers say they skip makeup when wearing it (although it does work perfectly as a primer!). It goes on whipped and airy, so it'll basically feel like there's nothing there.
SPF: 40Promising review: "Finally a MATTE sun product from Supergoop! — A brand that really works for me. I am so happy with this — it feels like NOTHING and mattes down like a primer, but it's SPF and tinted. I am very fair-skinned, burn easily, and so far (one week of using daily) nothing but clear matte skin." —truth alwaysGet it from Amazon for $24+ (available in two sizes).
Tatcha's The Silk Sunscreen, which will make you forget everything you knew about the thick, pasty mineral sunscreens of yesteryear. Reviewers say this is downright luxurious thanks to its silky-smooth finish, fast-absorbing formula, and a slight tint that helps to minimize any white cast.
The Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen from beloved French pharmacy brand La Roche-Posay. This one is oil-free, so it's super duper lightweight and extra friendly to your pores. Some reviewers have even had luck using it to cover redness from rosacea and irritation. Lightweight with decent coverage?? I believe we've finally found the actual definition of je ne sais quoi.
Dr. Jart's Every Sun Day is a must-try if a matte finish is at the top of your list for sunscreen must-haves. Reviewers say this one looks white when you first apply it, but don't be alarmed — if you use the recommended dime-size amount, it should blend in naturally after a few seconds of massaging it in. We love a less-is-more formula!
Or! A Dr. Jart+ SPF 40 sunscreen stick that's not only super convenient, but also glides across your skin without ruining your makeup. 🤯 It's also mattifying and pore-blurring (oh, and moisturizing thanks to the hyaluronic acid!), so this is basically the ultimate touch-up companion.
Eucerin Tinted Mineral Sunscreen, enriched with five antioxidants that'll help protect your skin from any long term sun damage. It's also formulated with hypoallergenic zinc oxide, perfect for sensitive skin and daily usage!
InnBeauty Project's Mineral Sun Glow that truly delivers on the glowy promises in its name. If you're tired of sunscreens making you look matte and flat, this was basically formulated just for you. You'll even get a dose of vitamin C to help brighten your skin tone and some peptides to plump and firm.
A water-resistant ~Face Shield~ from Colorscience, which features tiny beads of pigment that "bloom" when you rub the product between your hands. The four shades are designed to be flexible to adapt to a variety of skin tones, and it's easily buildable if you like fuller coverage.
Neutrogena's Mineral Ultra Sheer stick that's designed specifically with sensitive skin in mind, so it's perfect for anyone whose skin breaks out at the mere mention of SPF. The zinc oxide-based formula is designed to absorb super quickly and is made without any added fragrances that might lead to irritation.
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Cosmopolitan
2 days ago
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Taryn is a beauty writer and editor in digital media with more than 10 years of experience. She has covered the newest and most innovative skincare and beauty products, aesthetic treatments, and plastic surgery trends. Her stories touch on everything from the best products to treat hyperpigmentation to why fat grafting is the better alternative to filler. In addition to Cosmopolitan, she currently contributes to Allure, InStyle, PS (formerly POPSUGAR), Marie Claire, The Zoe Report, and Bustle. In addition to her writing, Taryn directs, produces, and writes short films that have appeared at numerous film festivals around the country. Whenever she has a free moment, you can find her hopping around New York City with her Maltese pup, Bryn, and probably daydreaming about being at the beach. Follow her on Instagram for the latest.
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Hyaluronic acid is found in most skincare formulas, so you may not need a separate one. However, if you're looking for extra hydration that still feels lightweight, it can be a nice addition to your routine. This one by Belif uses seven different kinds of hyaluronic acid for better performance, and is laced with calming allantoin. Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
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A convenient set of dual-textured toner pads made with lactic and salicylic acid to gently exfoliate skin and refine the appearance of those T-zone pores you swear can be seen from a mile away. A fragrance-free CeraVe eye cream because you've seen this holy grail product evveerrryyyyyyywhere and wanna know what all the hullabaloo is about. Here's the deal — the non-greasy formula was developed with dermatologists and helps combat puffiness and dark circles with a nourishing combination of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. A bottle of professional-grade callus-removing gel so you can quickly get your feet ready to be seen by removing years' (I repeat, YEARS') worth of hard calluses without endless scraping and scrubbing. Time to schedule a date with your strappiest sandals! A reviewer-loved Juno & Co.'s Clean 10 Cleansing Balm if disposable wipes just can't seem to cut through your most stubborn mascara, foundation, and SPF. 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A soothing piercing solution because you've been watching that bump growing on your new piercing for weeks, and it's time to take action. This aftercare formula is designed to reduce the size of your keloid over time with 2–3 daily applications. Plus, a two-ingredient Briotech spray reviewers have used to soothe inflammation of all kinds, from angry piercings and acne to stubborn rashes and rosacea. It uses hypochlorous acid, an ingredient found naturally in our white blood cells, similar to the much pricier Tower 28 spray. An exfoliating mitt if you love the delightful feeling of disgust that comes with seeing dead skin slough away right before your eyes and knowing that your skin is going to feel SO SMOOTH after. A gentle pore-clearing cleansing oil that's so effective at removing makeup and other residue that reviewers say you can actually see bits of gunk leaving your pores. WILD. It's suitable for all skin types and is formulated with heartleaf extract to help you get that *glowy* glass skin look. Or a mega-popular CeraVe hydrating facial cleanser so you can keep your skin clean and clear with one simple product that won't leave your face feeling stripped and dry afterward. It also doubles as a bodywash if you're struggling with bacne, chestne, or buttne. A powerful 2% BHA salicylic acid exfoliant if harsh scrubs haven't done your skin any favors. This helps to clear skin and unclog pores by gently sloughing away dead skin to reveal the texture-free glow hiding underneath. A blemish-busting Mario Badescu drying lotion to take on pimples while you sleep with an effective blend of salicylic acid, sulfur, calamine, and zinc oxide. It'll feel like Christmas morning when you jump out of bed to check out your gifts. In this case, the gift of smaller pimples and a more clear complexion. Plus, a pack of nose pore patches for making your skincare dreams a reality by expunging gunk and excess oil from troublesome hot spots like your nose or chin. The hardest part will be resisting the urge to touch your post-treatment skin now that it's as smooth as a baby seal. A gentle LilyAna Naturals retinol cream because retinol is a skincare workhorse that can do wonders for the appearance of fine lines and uneven texture. Combine that with a slew of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, organic green tea, and jojoba oil, and you've got a daily moisturizer that feels closer to a magic potion. A bottle of fragrance-free Goami rice toner so you can add an extra dose of hydration to your skincare regimen when you need it without shaking up your entire routine. A Shea Butter Vanilla Cashmere body lotion if you're still on the hunt for a moisturizer that's hydrating, lightweight, and soothing. Allow me to introduce you to this delicious-smelling formula at a price that's just * chef's kiss.* Or a retinol body lotion jam-packed with dermatologist-recommended ingredients like retinol and ferulic acid that promote skin cell turnover to target common complaints like wrinkles and rough, crepey texture. And that's on top of just being a nourishing, non-greasy moisturizer you can use allllllll over. A hydrating snail mucin repairing essence for soothing *all* skin types (reviewers love how gentle it is) with the potential to help heal acne scars, fade dark spots, and smooth fine for under $20!! An oil-free La Roche-Posay daily face moisturizer to seal in hydration with a fragrance-free formula that does more than just moisturize with ceramides and niacinamide to help repair the skin barrier. And you can get it with or without SPF 30?!? Pinch me. A wildly popular Bio-Oil because real-life magic (aka science) has gifted us this powerful blend of moisturizing oils and vitamins to help fade the scars and stretch marks you thought were going to stick around for the foreseeable ever. An anti-bacterial butt acne-clearing lotion made with tea tree oil that'll finally give your booty the same blemish-busting TLC you treat your face to. A cruelty-free intense-therapy lip balm to take even chronically irritated lips from dry and cracked to hydrated and smooth while protecting them from future damage. Plus, a vegan and cruelty-free lip scrub because your favorite lipstick will go on much smoother with a bit of extra skin prep. Scrub away any dry, flaky layers with this nourishing combination of coconut, sugar, avocado oil, and jojoba oil. A vegan exfoliating body scrub for anyone who struggles with persistent KP. This buffs away bumps by combining the benefits of a chemical peel and microdermabrasion into one gentle, at-home treatment. A pack of two dark spot corrector soap bars because they're packed with all the skin-loving good stuff (vitamin C, turmeric, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and MORE) to help even out skin and diminish dark spots wherever they pop up. And a multi-tasking, plant-powered vitamin C serum with over 97,000 5-star ratings that can help minimize the appearance of a long list of skin woes like dark circles, sun spots, redness, and even breakouts.
