Every dermatologist I’ve ever (and have) talked to a lot-occupational hazard) gave me exactly the same skin care advice: wearing sunscreen every day is the first way to prevent premature aging. They all also told me that I have sensitive skin and pointed me to mineral SPF formulas. Board-certified dermatologist Jessie Cheung, MD, supports that sentiment, previously telling MC that it’s great for “all skin types and concerns,” especially for active or acne-prone skin because zinc oxide is “naturally soothing.”
Minerals, also known as sunscreens, get their name because of their active ingredients. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are minerals that provide a sunscreen feature, and work by creating a physical barrier on the skin to deflect and disperse the rays. Because the ingredients mentioned above are so accessible, you can find good mineral SPFs at very affordable prices—at the drugstore, even.
Read on to discover my 10 favorite drugstore SPFs, from the ones I love for my face to the body sunscreens I’ll pack for every boat and picnic day I carry on until the end of time.
My Last Favorites
Although mineral sunscreens have long been associated with a ghostly white cast, today’s formulas are more complex; A lot has changed in sun protection over the years. The next two options—one for the face and one for the body—are staples in my closet.
The natives
Mineral Sunscreen With Zinc oxide
Native’s line of mineral sunscreens is amazing, full of fragrance (lychee! pear! coconut water!) and broad spectrum beauty. However, the original uncoated version, made up of 17 percent active zinc oxide, will always be my favorite. The brand recently improved the formula and added a spritz-on formula, but I’d rather go the old fashioned way.
CeraVe
Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Face Lotion With Sheer Tint SPF 30
The key to removing white casts is adding a tint, and CeraVe has done a great job with its formulation. Depending on my summer bronze, I like to mix both light and medium shades and wear this as my makeup. I also take comfort in the fact that it’s formulated with hydrating and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
Face It First
According to Dr. Cheung, the “best” mineral SPF formulations tend to be “lightweight liquids, gel-creams, silicone-enhanced lotions, and tinted emulsions”—good news for people who are picky about face cream textures. You can think rubbing old, chalky SPF on your face, or even body? It won’t be me.
Neutrogena
Ultra Sheer Liquid Mineral Sunscreen
I can trust Neutrogena with every part of my daily SPF routine. This mineral sunscreen has a comprehensive formula with a maximum SPF rating of 70. It doesn’t feel greasy and sets nicely and quickly for a matte finish.
A holiday
Shake Shake SPF 50 Mineral Milk Face Sunscreen
While Holiday makes great (and really delicious) SPFs overall, most of the formulas I love include a chemical component. Not this one, though. Shake Shake is a super lightweight, water-based SPF “milk” that provides broad-spectrum SPF 50 streak-free protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
Stick to Em
Ahh, the humble sunscreen stick—it’s great to throw in your bag and pull out when you need to reapply immediately. Think about it: It’s easier to make sure you’re using enough SPF if you can measure it (use enough to cover the length of your middle and index fingers!). When you swipe these sticks, make sure you swipe them thoroughly so they are fully absorbed so you don’t miss any spots.
Babo Botanicals
Daily Sheer Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Dermatologist tested and EWG certified (ie, it meets strict safety, health, and transparency standards), this sunscreen stick is tinted to remove any white cast. It also includes plant-based ingredients like argan oil, vitamin E, rosehip oil, and avocado oil to nourish and hydrate while providing the SPF protection you want.
It’s a bubble
Sun Rise Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 40
The beautiful, bright packaging on this Bubble stick lets me enjoy the sunshine color in all its glory while remaining completely safe from it. Lightweight and non-greasy, the SPF mineral bubble stick offers a lightweight feel and velvety (not sticky!) shine with a soft satin finish that won’t interfere with your makeup.
Body Heroes
I can talk about SPF for the face all day, but we also can’t ignore those elbows, knees, and toes. They see (almost) as much sun in the summer as your cheeks do and deserve daily use—and reuse!—too.
A bottle of MadHippie Body SPF on a beach in Hawaii.
(Photo credit: Sophia Vilensky)
Crazy Hippie
Body Sunscreen SPF 40
Check out: Another great packaging situation courtesy of Mad Hippie. This sunscreen is water resistant for up to 80 minutes and blends beautifully. I also like its non-zinc oxide ingredient formulation. Milk thistle! Quercetin! Squalane! Sea-buckthorn berry! My shoulders and legs (don’t forget to use the back of the knees) are there you are lucky.
The Blue Lizard
Sport Mineral Sunscreen Spray
While all of Blue Lizard’s drugstore SPF options are great, I want to give this one a shout out for a few reasons. First: It’s a spray, which people love. Second: It’s a sports formula, which means it will remain water-resistant for 80 minutes. You can swim and sweat to your heart’s content then, safe in the knowledge that SPF 50 is taking good care of you.
Pucker Up
There was the time I went to Mexico, put on lip gloss before hitting the pool, and woke up the next day with blisters on my lips. That won’t happen to me, and you, either, with these drugstore mineral SPFs that protect one of the most forgotten—but necessary—organs of the body.
Sun Bum
Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30
Sun Bum is a drugstore SPF superstar brand, and they do good or naturel lip balm. This zinc-based tube protects your pout from UVA and UVB rays while moisturizing your lips.
EltaMD
UV Lip Balm SPF 36 Sunscreen
Another all-time sunscreen brand: EltaMD. Although the product offerings are available at the drugstore, they are much more expensive than the other options on this list. However, this is not the lip balm. The luminous zinc oxide formula provides both instant and long-lasting moisture, helping to restore your lips’ softness and smoothness while protecting them.
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