Best Overall

Ranavat Radiant Rani Daily Brightening Mineral Sunscreen

$65 at Amazon$65 at SephoraView on Ranavat.com

Type: Mineral | Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide | SPF: 50| Size: 1.7 oz| Water-Resistant: N/A| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Creamy, blendable, and lightweight, this mineral sunscreen from Ranavat came out on top during testing. While many mineral options can be chalky and leave a residue, this sunscreen absorbs smoothly—leaving the skin soft and dewy. The Ayurvedic brand prioritizes using naturally beneficial ingredients for the skin, so this formula contains over 20 adaptogens to further protect the skin from environmental damage and keep stress-related aging at bay. Alongside SPF 50, the sunscreen also has saffron—an effective ingredient for evening the skin tone and fading dark spots. It also has no white cast, making it the perfect option for all skin tones. While we love the glowy finish, it might be a little shiny for oily skin.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: “The fluid texture is lovely and applies really well. I also think the bottle is beautiful and the applicator is nice and functional.”

Best Glowy Finish

Supergoop! Glowscreen Soft-Radiance Drops Mineral SPF 40

$40 at Amazon$40 at SephoraView on Supergoop.com

Type: Mineral | Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide| SPF: 40 | Size: 1.7 oz| Water-Resistant: N/A| Cruelty-Free: Yes

We love sunscreens that leave a healthy, dewy finish on the skin, and these tinted mineral drops do exactly that. Available in two flexible shades, this sunscreen feels smooth on the skin, with a subtle glow that never looks greasy. It has a liquid-y texture that’s easy to spread around, and the color blends well without leaving a cast. We were big fans of the lightweight feel on the skin, noting that it would be easy to apply multiple layers without it feeling uncomfortable. Aside from the stellar consistency and feel, it’s also packed with hydrating and antioxidant ingredients to keep the skin luminous, including blue pea flower, strawberry oil, and probiotics.

Shannon Stubbs, writer with dry skin: “I love that this makes my skin naturally glowy and healthy, like I’ve just gotten 12 hours of sleep and drank a green juice.”

Best Fast Absorbing

Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Mineral SPF 50+ Sunscreen

$73

$66 at Amazon$46 at Sephora

$73

$46 at Dermstore

Type: Mineral | Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide | SPF: 50 | Size: 3.4 oz | Water-Resistant: Up to 40 minutes | Cruelty-Free: No

This formula by Isdin uses straight-up zinc oxide for powerful protection. It also relies on DNA repairsomes, which are powerful enzymes from plankton that help reverse previous sun damage (ideal if you haven’t been so on top of your sunscreen game in the past). It’s a favorite of Dr. Garshick’s. “This ultralight zinc sunscreen absorbs so well it’s often hard to believe it contains zinc,” she says.

Give it a good shake before applying, then prepare to be amazed by how quickly and easily it disappears. After wearing it for multiple weeks, our testers loved how light and liquidy the texture was, making it easy to both apply and reapply throughout the day. It sat perfectly under makeup without pilling or leaving the skin greasy. Some reviewers online shared that they weren’t fans of the tropical scent, but we didn’t mind it.

Stacey, tester with very dry skin: “This sunscreen spread like melted butter, and I loved how seamlessly it applied to the skin.”

Best Lightweight

Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 Sunscreen Serum

$40 at SephoraView on Ultraviolettespf.com

Type: Mineral | Active Ingredients: Japanese zinc oxide| SPF: 50| Size: 1.7 oz| Water-Resistant: N/A | Cruelty-Free: Yes

From the buzzy Australian SPF brand Ultra Violette, Future Screen is an ultralight sunscreen that blends into the complexion seamlessly. It has a runny, serum-like consistency, and it leaves a natural, nongreasy finish—making it a great option for oily and combination skin. Its superpower is Japanese zinc oxide, an innovative ingredient that feels more lightweight than standard zinc oxide. It also has squalane and vitamin E to add moisture for a balanced complexion. The tinted formula comes in one shade, so it might not blend well on darker skin tones. However, we still love its weightless feel and hydrating consistency.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor: “I love everything about this SPF—the texture, finish, and wear are all fantastic.”

Best for Sensitive Skin

Tower 28 SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen

$32 at Sephora

$32

$18 at Kohls.com$32 at Revolve

Type: Mineral | Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide| SPF: 30| Size: 1.7 oz| Water-Resistant: N/A| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Chemical SPF filters can irritate those with sensitive skin, so choosing a mineral formula is probably your best bet. We love this gentle sunscreen from Tower 28 for skin that gets sensitized easily. It has a light, easily blendable consistency, and it doesn’t feel heavy on the complexion. The formula contains ingredients like allantoin and bisabolol to soothe and reduce redness, and it also has ceramides to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. The natural finish doesn’t become greasy, and it plays well with other skincare and makeup—aka no pilling in sight. It does have a somewhat strong smell, but it faded after a couple of minutes of wear.

Shannon Stubbs, writer: “This SPF has a smooth, light texture. I love that its lightweight, and it also makes my skin feel hydrated and soft to the touch.”

Best Hybrid Formula

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

$45

$43 at AmazonView on Dermstore$45 at Target

Type: Mineral & chemical | Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide, octinoxate | SPF: 46 | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for a formula that contains both mineral and chemical SPF, consider this lightweight option. It blends zinc oxide and octinoxate, a chemical sunscreen ingredient, both of which are chemically proven to prevent UV damage. We love how the formula goes on clear—so there’s no white cast—and it dries almost immediately. We also appreciate it as an option for acne-prone skin, as it’s oil-free and contains anti-inflammatory niacinamide, along with gently exfoliating lactic acid. During testing, we appreciated the healthy glow it gave us (which, might we add, lasted all day long) and the fact that it didn’t cause any irritation. It’s not the most hydrating, so we suggest applying moisturizer before use to ensure your skin stays hydrated throughout the day. 

Lauren Pardee, senior editor with combination skin: “The finish felt calming on my skin, and it didn’t cause any redness. I also liked that it didn’t make my skin feel tight or leave a sticky cast behind, which sometimes happens when I use formulas with zinc oxide.”

Best Tinted

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint

$48 at Amazon$48 at Sephora$48 at Ulta

Type: Mineral | Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide | SPF: 40 | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This formula is part serum, part skin tint, and part SPF, allowing you to combine three steps into one (although we recommend applying a separate layer of SPF underneath for extra protection). It contains plant-based squalane and two types of hyaluronic acid, which penetrate various levels of the skin to impart tons of hydration. We found the coverage to be gorgeous, sheer, and glowy, and we were impressed by the fact that it comes in 30 shades. (Pro tip: The color does change a little after you apply it, so we recommend letting it sit for 30 to 60 seconds before blending.) Plus, its broad-spectrum SPF 40 sun protection formula contains plenty of zinc oxide to keep the sun damage at bay.

Star Donaldson, social media director with acne-prone skin (not shown): “For a skin tint, Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint has a surprising amount of coverage—I would call it medium. It has an oily texture, but it’s oil-free, which makes it safe for my acne-prone skin. It blends out seamlessly and really feels like you’re wearing nothing.”

Best Powder

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield

$69

$66 at AmazonView on Dermstore$69 at Nordstrom

Type: Mineral | Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide | SPF: 30 to 50 | Size: 0.21 oz | Water-Resistant: Up to 80 minutes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This powder protector is not only perfect for travel (no gloopy spills here) but also makes reapplication easier than ever (Dr. Garshick recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours). “This is a great option, as it can be easily applied over makeup and can be used on the go,” says Dr. Garshick. “It contains zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and Enviroscreen technology to protect against UVA and UVB rays, pollution, blue light, and infrared radiation.” These all can wreak havoc on the skin and lead to wrinkles, dark spots, and more. Simply apply the powder for at least 60 seconds to ensure adequate protection. It comes in four different shades and blends beautifully, providing a soft glow while soaking up any oily spots. Just keep in mind that it’s a powder, so it can cling to dry patches. Be sure to layer on a good moisturizer before application if you have dry skin. 

Shannon Stubbs, writer: “I love that it reduces shine without making my complexion look flat, and that it doesn’t feel heavy or dry on my skin.”

Best Under Makeup

Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50

$64

$61 at Amazon$64 at Sephora$64 at Ulta

Type: Mineral | Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide | SPF: 50 | Size: 1.7 oz | Water-Resistant: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This mineral sunscreen from Tatcha provides SPF 50 protection along with a subtle tint and a healthy glow. It’s chock-full of skincare benefits, as it’s formulated with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and allantoin. After using this sunscreen daily, Associate Editor Emily Cieslak saw a noticeable improvement in her skin’s texture—dehydration lines disappeared, and pores shrank.

All in all, it makes for a perfect base under makeup, as it blends smoothly into the skin. It’s also a great choice for days when you want to go sans makeup but still give your skin a little color. The only thing we wish we could change is the fact that the tint is only available in one shade. We’d love to see more options so that everyone can find a more suitable match. 

Karla, writer with dry skin: “It has a subtle beige tint that just melts into your skin, leaving no white cast at all. It feels super lightweight—as though you’re wearing nothing at all—which is perfect for everyday wear. The formula delivers a radiant finish without excessive shine. I appreciated that it didn’t cause my foundation or concealer to cake. As I kept using it, I started noticing some real improvements in my skin. I had a more even tone, and my skin felt notably softer.”