We Tried 12 Natural & Mineral Sunscreens. Here’s What We’d Rebuy.

This guide contains product recommendations, and we may receive compensation through affiliate links. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!

My Non-Toxic Sunscreen Thoughts In A Nutshell:

I’ve tried many a non-toxic sunscreens and straight up zinc formulas over the years and these brands have really taken it to the next level. I enjoyed trying all of them and will continue to use them! 

Even my husband said these brands are better than any other natural option I’ve purchased in the past. 

All of these formulas are hydrating and, though zinc-based, they did not leave an annoying white cast. I did notice, however, that many of them left a little white in my husband’s beard when he used them on his face.

If you’re nervous about making the switch, any of these will be great options. But since I know different people have different priorities, I’ve sorted them by factors like cost, packaging, and other factors that may make a difference in your decision. 

Sunscreen vs. Sun Balm vs. Sun Block

Before we get into actual sun protection reviews, let’s review some terminology. 

Sunscreen is a chemical filter that absorbs UV rays before they can reach (and damage) the deeper layers of your skin.

Sun block is a mineral barrier, usually zinc or titanium dioxide. It sits on top of your skin and physically deflects UV rays instead of absorbing them.

You’ll see a few sun balms in here as well. 

Sun Balm is water-free, so instead of it feeling like a lotion, it’s going to be richer and more lipid-based. Think ingredients like tallow, beeswax, and plant butters that are mixed with a mineral barrier — most commonly non-nano zinc oxide. It’s doing double duty as a moisture and UV barrier. 

Non-Nano Zinc Oxide: you’ll also see this a lot throughout this post. This is basically the safest active ingredient approved for use in sunscreen in the United States. The “non-nano” part means the particles are too large to be absorbed into the bloodstream or inhaled, which is important for reef and general safety concerns.

For the full breakdown of active ingredients, nanoparticles, and what to avoid, we’ve got that covered in our complete non-toxic sunscreen guide. In this post I’ll be reviewing specific brands. 

A Quick Note On ‘Greasy’ In Sun Protection

I want to address this because almost every product on this list says ‘non-greasy’. 

I’ll be using that term as well, but please note that these are natural, mineral-based formulas (see definitions above). They’re made with oils, tallow, and rich moisturizing ingredients which means they’re going to feel different than a conventional chemical sunscreen. 

So when I say ‘non-greasy,’ I don’t mean matte. You will still look and feel like you put on a moisturizer or a balm (because you did). 

What I’m looking for is everyday comfort. Can I put it on and then get dressed? Can I move through my day without feeling like I’ve been oiled up? If the answer is yes, then I’ll let it have the “non-greasy” label.

*Also, side note: some people recommend skipping the tallow-based sunscreen if you’re getting into the ocean, as the fats could potentially attract marine predators like sharks. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but wanted to mention it as a word of caution.

My Skin Type

And of course, my skin color and type affect my reviews and how these products work for me versus you!

While I am light-skinned, maybe leaning toward the lighter side of medium (check my color on the Saie tinted moisturizer), I do not have fair or pale skin that quickly burns. 

My face is more on the sensitive-side and a little more acne-prone and I spend the majority of my energy keeping my face out of the sun. 

I will burn but it’s not immediate and, of course, it depends on direct and prolonged sun exposure. My most sensitive areas are my shoulders, neck and chest — those will burn and that’s usually where I’m wearing sunscreen.

I know it’s not good sun hygiene, but I don’t usually put sunscreen on the rest of my body unless I plan to be getting direct and long-term sun (like laying out at the pool or beach).

I let my partner test a few of these too, especially since he has darker skin than me. Mineral-based sunscreens used to be notorious for leaving a white cast, which was even more prominent on darker skin. But honestly, sunscreen manufacturers have come a LONG way in the past decades and are now formulating mineral-based sunscreens with much less white cast.

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My Reviews On Non-Toxic Face & Body Sunscreens 

All Good Mineral Sport Sunscreen, SPF 30

My pick for best overall zinc oxide sunscreen.

Packaging: plastic squeeze tube (although they do have low-plastic tin options too)

Formats: The one I tried was just a regular lotion, but they do have sprays, sticks, and balms too.

Scent: It has a very subtle smell that I can’t put my finger on but it’s mild enough that it goes away once it’s on. 

While I don’t play sports outside, I do go to the pool and the beach, and I like this body sunscreen for those days!

Of all of the mineral sunscreens I’ve tried, this one goes on the easiest! It doesn’t have the thickness of other mineral sunscreens, it moves well, and it starts rubbing in almost immediately. I love aloe in my skin products and I could tell immediately this is aloe-forward. 

My skin soaks this up quickly without leaving me greasy or really leaving any texture behind. I actually just put some on my leg while I was writing this and after 2 minutes I can barely tell it’s there. 

I wore this for a full pool day and it held up well against sweat. I didn’t feel like I needed to reapply at any point. This was also my husband’s top choice!

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Saie Slip Tint Tinted Moisturizer, SPF 35

For a non-toxic tinted face sunscreen, this is hands down my favorite!

Packaging: plastic foundation-pump style.

Format: liquid foundation style. (They also have a product called Sunvisor, which is not tinted. It’s a serum, oil, moisturizer, and SPF 35 sunscreen rolled into one.)

Scent: The smell is slightly makeup-like but mostly skincare. I have a weird sensitivity to makeup smells and this doesn’t bother me. 

My Color: Three—light to medium peach

I love this face sunscreen! It’s been at least a decade since I’ve used a tinted moisturizer so this really was like a first go-round for me. 

I used the shade finder quiz as I was struggling to figure it out and it nailed it. 

The texture is more like a hybrid between a foundation and a moisturizer. It hydrates like a moisturizer but sits on the skin more like a foundation. If you’re not used to wearing anything foundation-like, it might take a few wears to get used to it. 

Saie recommends one to two pumps, though it wasn’t clear how much you actually need to hit the full SPF 35. For me, one pump is perfect, I don’t know if I could use two. So this will have to work!

It’s meant for everyday wear which works for me. I sometimes wear something foundation-adjacent, so this fits into my routine easily. I quickly started reaching for it over my usual foundation because it provides enough of the coverage I want from a ‘foundation’ while also giving me sun protection. 

It’s moisturizing enough that my skin looks a little glossy after, in a good way, not a greasy way.

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evanhealy Sheer Mineral Face Sunscreen, SPF 30

Lauren’s favorite for non-tinted zinc sunscreen for face.

Format: lotion

Scent: no smell!

Packaging: plastic tube

I love this face sunscreen and it’s probably my favorite non-tinted! This is an easy, permanent addition to my routine.

Another amazing product from Evan Healy and like everything else I’ve tried from them, it’s really hydrating. 

It comes out as a thin, liquid-y consistency. It’s not thick or paste-like the way a lot of zinc formulas are. 

It applied easily on my face and needed only slightly more rubbing than a regular moisturizer, not enough to bother me, and not enough that I was digging around my eyebrows trying to work it in.

The first day I wore it, I put it on in the morning and completely forgot I had sunscreen on until the end of the day, which I think says it all. 

It layers well under and over the rest of my skincare, and it strikes that balance I’m always looking for: not drying, not greasy.

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Freaks Of Nature Peak Performance Sunscreen, SPF 50

This is my #1 pick for outdoor sports or surfing.

Format: I tried the regular lotion, but they also have a stick and a spray.

Scent: It has a subtle scent while applying, more plant-y than fragranced, and I couldn’t smell it once absorbed.

Packaging: plastic tube that’s made with 100% ocean-bound recycled plastic. (love that!)

This one is fun! While I appreciate the fun and doing something different with the bottle, I don’t love the pump. Both my husband and I separately experienced that the formula is a little harder to get out in this format. I’m also interested to see how it goes when you get to the end of the bottle because you can’t open it and access the formula.

Overall this is a good formula. They’re leaning into water and sweat resistance, so if you’re someone who likes to be active in the sun, this is for you. It’s also Hawaii Reef Compliant (Act 104) which I love (even though I have no reefs on Lake Michigan). 

However, the tradeoff for that extra protection is a thicker formula. It’s not unreasonable, but of everything I tested, this was the thickest and took the longest to rub in. This was also my husband’s note, but he did say it’s still good and he would use it again.

Once it’s on, it’s nice! Not greasy, but hydrating, and definitely sweat-proof.

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Ritual Organics Whipped Tallow Sun Balm

This is my favorite tallow-based one so far!

Format: balm

Scent: lavender (which comes from organic lavender oil). It’s nice and light—not overpowering.

Packaging: glass jar

This is my second tallow-based sun balm and I also enjoyed it! This one is much smoother and lighter than the Toup & Co, the texture is creamier and it’s most similar to a moisturizer straight out of the jar.

I used it on my face and my usual burn spots at the pool.

It still has that underlying tallow smell, but the essential oils push it more toward a skincare scent than a food one.

Almost as soon as I put this on my skin, the white cast went away. It feels more like an oil-heavy moisturizer when applying and I found it perfect for applying to large areas like my arms and chest. 

Just like the other tallow-based one, once I started sweating, this one lifted a bit too. It got slightly greasier and the white of the zinc became a little more visible. A quick re-rub fixed it both times, so for me it’s not a huge deal.

I also wore this on my face specifically, and it worked well there too. In the summer, this could genuinely double as a moisturizer and sun protection in one.

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Toups & Co Tallow Sun Balm

Format: balm

Scent: vanilla! I like it.

Packaging: glass jar

This was my first tallow-based sun balm and I liked it, though it made me a little hungry. 🤭 The vanilla extract gives this balm a faint frosting-like smell, which is pleasant.

I used this mostly on my burn-prone spots and over my tattoos at the pool. The texture is more zinc-heavy right out of the jar, but once it warms up, either from your fingers or leaving the jar in the sun (which I did by accident but it worked out well), it softens and applies easily. 

It takes a little extra to fully work in, but it’s really hydrating, so it’s more like rubbing in a heavy moisturizer. 

It doesn’t leave a white cast and it’s not greasy going on, though it does leave that same rich feeling you get from a cocoa or shea butter. Once I started sweating, it did lift a bit and felt slightly greasier, but I just re-rubbed it in and it was fine.

I also got the sun stick and I like this as well! It’s compact and portable and has been living in my bag for face touch-ups.

One more note: I did try this on my face, and it works there too. In summer especially, this could probably double as your moisturizer and your sun balm in one step. I personally prefer keeping it for my chest, shoulders, and tattoos, and using something lighter on my face day to day.

Here’s our full Toups & Co review.

And code THEFILTERY will get you 15% off.

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Earth Mama Lady Face Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Face Stick, SPF 40

Format: I tried the stick, but Earth Mama also carries SPF lotions as well.

Scent: It’s fine. It’s a mix of the zinc smell and a foundation smell that fades once it’s on. 

Packaging: plastic push tube

This tinted face sunscreen comes in a solid formula in a little tube, like a chubby chapstick. I am skeptical that one color works for everyone, but this one did work for me. 

To be totally honest, I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it.

I like the stick format. It’s so easy when I’m in a hurry, which is generally always. The process of application is fine and the color is fine too.

What I don’t like is how matte the formula is. If you don’t warm it up on your skin first (and sometimes even then), it’s kind of rough going on. I have to push and drag and it doesn’t glide easily. Then, once I’ve begun to blend it out with my fingers, it makes my skin look dry and flaky. 

Which is weird because I wouldn’t describe my skin as dry or flaky. 

Because of that reason, I’ve only been able to wear it by itself a couple of times. Usually, I end up using this as a base layer and adding the Saie on top. This makes it all act more like makeup and the Saie makes me glowy. 

Overall I’m not a fan of this one.

It’s also worth noting it does come in a lotion format that I haven’t tried!

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Cocokind daily sunscreen, SPF 32

Format: Lotion

Scent: Fragrance-free

Packaging: plastic squeeze tube (sugarcane-derived and recyclable)

I think Cocokind’s daily sunscreen applies really nicely. While it is thick, it’s not that pure zinc oxide formula that feels impossible to move around. It does take a little bit extra time to rub it in but it will get to a point with no white cast. 

While I think the formula is nice and it does layer well with skincare, it’s just a bit too heavy for me for everyday use. I’ll probably use it for days when I’m intentionally going out and spending a lot of time in the sun, as opposed to using it as a daily sunscreen.

p.s. see my full review on cocokind skincare

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Now for Abbie’s reviews! Here are the natural sunscreen brands I have tried and liked:

Ogee Skin Enhancing Primer SPF 40

Format: Liquid. (Opaque glass bottle with plastic pump lid)

Scent: So good. It’s free from synthetic fragrance, but includes natural raspberry ketones.

Packaging: Glass bottle with plastic lid (and foundation-style pump dispenser)

I LOVE this face SPF.

First of all, it smells good. It’s free from synthetic/undisclosed fragrance, but it contains natural raspberry ketones. The smell is light enough that it’s not overpowering (and goes away a couple minutes after applying), but it’s really pleasant putting it on.

Second, it’s slightly tinted. I am not usually one for tinted SPF, to be honest (just my preference), but I really like this one. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be makeup if that makes sense. It’s very subtle.

It rubs in very smoothly. It has a serum feel to it—just a very high-quality texture. Zero grit and very little oily feel. And no white cast at all.

The active ingredient is non-nano zinc oxide. It’s also got a bunch of other skin-nourishing ingredients in it, including microalgae extract (which also helps shield against blue light!), upcycled cranberry seed oil to deliver antioxidants, and jojoba oil for nourishing fatty acids. It’s also certified to contain 74% organic ingredients.

I will totally be re-buying this one.

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Primally Pure

Format: They have four options—Regular SPF sun cream (SPF 30), a mini stick (which I basically leave in my purse all summer long; it’s SPF 25), a tinted serum (SPF 30), and an SPF lip balm (SPF 15)

Scent: I’ve tried both the Lavender Mint and the Unscented and I like them both! The Lavender Mint is actually refreshing, and I like that it’s does not have that typical sunscreen smell. It’s smells more like skincare or lotion.

Packaging: Mostly plastic tubes

If you’re a tallow person, this is another great option. In addition to non-nano zinc oxide, they use skin-nourishing ingredients like grass-fed tallow, beeswax, and mango butter.

In my experience, this one rubs in well and I haven’t had any issues with white residue. Like pretty much every other sunscreen I’ve tried, it is a bit greasy, but it’s nothing major. I do like that it can double as a skincare product that can moisturize and strengthen the skin’s barrier while it simultaneously protects from UV rays.

P.S. Here’s our full Primally Pure review.

Code THEFILTERY will get you 10% off.

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Attitude

Scent: Unscented, Sun-Kissed Vanilla, Tropical Coco

Format(s): Lotion, stick (large and small), tinted and non-tinted, mineral lotion (which is even lighter weight), baby & kid sunscreen, SPF lip balm

Packaging: Plastic tubes. They used to have plastic-free cardboard tube options, but it looks like those have been discontinued. I bet they didn’t work well for the pool/beach because the water would damage the packaging.

I have used several of Attitude’s sunscreens over the years and overall, I’m a fan! I feel like their formulations have actually improved over time—they rub in better than they used to and the textures are smoother.

Most recently, I’ve been using their Unscented Mineral Sunscreens, which come in stick versions and lotion versions. I loooove a mini sunscreen stick that I can throw in my purse for the whole summer, to have it just in case. This one is oval-shaped, so it doesn’t take up very much space in my bag.

But they also have deodorant-style sticks (which is just a bigger version), which I like because they’re less messy.

In my experience, these all rub in really smoothly and I don’t have any issues with white cast. They also feel moisturizing, probably because they use several skin-soothing ingredients like shea butter.

I really like that they have a lot of different options to choose from, so you can shop based on your preferences. Prefer stick over lotion? Got kids or babies? Like a tinted option to go with your makeup routine? Want something that smells good? Need after-sun care? They’ve got you.

The active ingredient they use is non-nano zinc oxide.

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thinksun

Scent: Fragrance-free

Format(s): They have lotions, sticks, serums, brushes, sprays, sensitive skin formulations, baby & kid options

Packaging: Mostly plastic tubes

I think this is a great option for families because their options are practical, affordable, and relatively easy to find at big box stores like Target.

I haven’t personally tried it yet, but I think their brush-on option is intriguing, especially for people who hate getting sunscreen on their hands. They also have stick options, which I already told you I’m a fan of.

I have used various thinksun varieties over the years, and I would say their formulations have improved over time. There is less white cast than there used to be and they rub in more easily.

The most recent one I used is the thinksport Clear Face Sunscreen. I do like it, but I feel like the “clear” part is doing a lot of work… Although it doesn’t leave a white cast, it’s not really clear. It comes out of the bottle white and you still have to rub it in.

The active ingredient is non-nano zinc oxide. Some of their products are EWG Verified.

Unfortunately, I cannot really recommend their spray sunscreens, though, because they contain butyloctyl salicylate.

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Beauty By Earth Aftersun Cooling Spray

Lauren’s Review:

Packaging: Plastic spray bottle

This is really nice to have on hand! It’s not as cooling as fresh aloe straight from the plant or the gel, but if you’re like me and can never manage to keep either of those in-stock, this is a solid stand-in. 

I didn’t use this on an actual sunburn, but I did use it post-pool pre-sunburn if that makes sense. It wasn’t going to turn into a sunburn but my skin was toasty. 

While the cooling aspect is very mild, it’s definitely still there thanks to the peppermint oil, which you can also faintly smell. It doesn’t linger and it doesn’t make your skin sticky so you can absolutely get dressed after you apply. 

I also really like that the company makes everything in small batches and seems to be climate conscious. 

If you’ve never loved the texture of straight aloe gel, this is worth trying as an alternative.

Code THEFILTERY will get you 15% off.

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Final Thoughts On Mineral & Natural Sunscreen

We’ve come a long way from the days of walking around chalky and white. 🙌 If you or anyone in your family has been hesitant to try a more natural sunscreen because of old memories or fear, these are all good places to start!

It’s also worth noting that most of these brands make more than just the one formula I tested. If something here doesn’t quite work for you, there’s a good chance the same brand has another version worth checking out.

This is also not a comprehensive list of non-toxic sunscreen brands—there are more out there! If there are any specific brands you’re wondering about, leave them in the comments.

My final advice is to figure out what actually matters most to you in a sunscreen, whether that’s how easily it rubs in, how it smells, the texture, water resistance, whatever it is, and let that be your starting point. 

There’s no single ‘best’ one and what works for me might not work for you!