I Didn't Think Mineral Sunscreen Was for Me Until I Got My Hands on These 21

They're truly the best of the best.

Mineral Sunscreens Hero
(Image credit: @maryljean; @alllisonho)

Here's one thing you should know about me: I'm a stickler for using skincare that defends against environmental aggressors and helps heal and protect. As a Black girl growing up in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, I was always met with the popular and untrue myth that dark skin doesn't need sunscreen. I'm proud to say I knew just how magical my melanin could be from a young age and how it should be treated to keep it healthy. For me, that meant always wearing sunscreen, no matter how many days went by without the sun.

Admittedly, I wish I had known more about sunscreen and how to select one. For example, did you know there are two types of sunscreen? According to Piedmont Healthcare, the main difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens is the formula. Chemical sunscreens often contain popular sun-protecting ingredients such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, and octinoxate, while mineral sunscreens (also commonly referred to as physical) mainly feature titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

Ready to find the best mineral face sunscreen for you? Keep scrolling!

The Best Mineral Sunscreens, Listed

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(Image credit: @maryljean)

Best for Multipurpose Use: Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Best for a Matte Finish: The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30

Best for Improving Skin Appearance Overtime: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 30

Best for a Dewy Finish: Good Weather Skin The One Daly Sun Cream SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen

Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas wearing Good Weather Skin's The One Daily Sun Cream SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen

(Image credit: Courtesy of Maya Thomas)

Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas wearing Good Weather Skin's The One Daily Sun Cream SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen under a full face of makeup.

Best for a Nongreasy Finish: Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+

Best for Combating Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30

Best for a Hint of Color: MD Solar Science Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 Sunscreen

Best for a Firm, Toned Appearance: Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 45

Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas wearing Chantecaille's Ultra Sun Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 45

(Image credit: Courtesy of Maya Thomas)

Thomas wearing Chantecaille's Ultra Sun Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 45 with a full face of makeup.

Best for a Natural-Looking Finish: Hero Cosmetics Force Shield Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30

Best for Blue Light Protection: Éminence Organic Skin Care Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen SPF 30

Best for Hydration: Dr. Dennis Gross All-Physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30

Best for Acne and Rosacea-Effected Skin: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas wearing the Hero Cosmetics Force Shield Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30

(Image credit: Courtesy of Maya Thomas)

Thomas wearing the Hero Cosmetics Force Shield Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30 with a bare face.

Best for Layering: Kosas DreamBeam Sunlit Comfy Smooth Sunscreen SPF 40

Best for Addressing Hyperpigmentation: Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Refillable Invisible Face Moisturizer SPF 30

Best for Sensitive Skin: Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

What are mineral sunscreens?

Chemical and mineral sunscreens work differently to protect against sun damage. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays that hit our skin, converting those rays into heat that is released from the body. Mineral formulas, on the other hand, sit on the skin's surface and reflect the sun's damaging rays. Today, we're focusing on the many benefits of investing in a mineral sunscreen for the face, highlighting everything from formulas and ingredients to price points and popularity.

"There are numerous benefits to adding mineral sunscreen to your daily skincare routine," Love Sun Body CEO Terry Zickerman says. "Mineral filters are not absorbed into the plasma, and for consumers concerned with the hormonal effects of chemical UV filters, zinc oxide or zinc oxide and titanium dioxide formulas are best."

What are the benefits of using a mineral sunscreen?

Zickerman founded Love Sun Body to create a safe, effective, and environmentally friendly line of mineral sunscreens. In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed a clinical study had found negative effects of six popular chemical sunscreen additives entering and remaining in the bloodstream. The good news? Mineral sunscreens are safe to use on the skin and trusted to provide broad-spectrum defense against UVA and UVB rays. Not only are they a must-have for anyone with acne-prone skin, but they're also immediately effective, with no wait time required after application.

"Because of their antibacterial properties, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide UV filters can also be calming to your skin," Zickerman explains. It also helps that mineral sunscreens are less likely to clog your pores, have a longer shelf life, and can easily be combined with other skincare products for an effortless and natural-looking finish.

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(Image credit: @alllisonho)

A Few More of My Favorite Sunscreens

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Maya Thomas
Associate Beauty Editor

Maya Thomas is Who What Wear's Associate Beauty Editor based in New York City. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.