The 10 Best Reef-Safe Sunscreens, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

California Baby Super Sensitive SPF 30 Lotion

$26 at Amazon $26 at Californiababy.com

Active Ingredients: Titanium dioxide | SPF: 30 | Size: 1.8, 2.9, 6, 19 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those with sensitive skin know that finding a sunscreen that’s effective and nonirritating can be tricky. We love this one because it’s safe for the oceans as well as sensitive skin and baby skin. It’s free from tons of potential irritants and allergens, such as most nuts (except coconut), gluten, soy, dairy, fragrance, and chemical SPF.

While the texture is pretty thick and takes a bit of effort to rub in, it’s smooth and creamy, and it feels comfortable once applied. It’s also nongreasy and super resistant to water. It does create a noticeable white cast when first applied, but we found out that it fades pretty much completely after about 30 minutes.

Best Fast-Absorbing

Suntegrity Skincare Natural Mineral Body Sunscreen

$26 at Amazon $38 at Dermstore $38 at Credo Beauty

Active Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide | SPF: 30 | Size: 3, 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you hate the sticky feeling of sunscreen sitting on your skin, this option from Suntegrity might be your perfect match. While many of the other sunscreens boasted impressive absorption capabilities, this one was the best at melting into the skin with almost no effort required. The fluid lotion consistency makes it easy to spread around the body, and it absorbs into the skin in the blink of an eye without leaving behind a thick, chalky, or greasy residue. Though it does create a hint of a white cast upon the initial application, we found in testing that the cast quickly fades after just a moment or two.

We were also impressed with how well this sunscreen resists transfer and running when it comes into contact with water. If you’re particularly picky about finding sunscreens that don’t feel like the dry, heavy, hard-to-blend products of the past, we highly recommend checking this one out.

Best for Sensitive Skin

Pipette Mineral Sunscreen

$49 at Amazon $24 at Target View on Pipettebaby.com

Active Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide | SPF: 50 | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This sunscreen was specifically formulated for babies and children, meaning it’s gentle enough to use on even the most sensitive of skin types. If you find that sunscreen formulas irritate your skin or your eyes, this is a great choice for everyday protection. We were thoroughly impressed with how nice and easy it was to apply this sunscreen. Its lightweight, creamy texture is easy to rub in and absorbs quickly without leaving a dry or greasy feel behind. Though it comes out of the tube in a whitish color, it doesn’t create even a minor white cast—a major win considering that it’s powered by zinc oxide, which often does. 

While we did find in testing that it transfers a little onto clothing, we love that it’s pretty water-resistant and remains well intact after swimming or sweating.

Best Lotion

Hello Bello Mineral SPF 50+ Sunscreen Lotion

$10 at Amazon View on Hellobello.com $11 at CVS

Active Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide | SPF: 50 | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Considering how much sunscreen you need to use in order for it to effectively protect your skin from the sun (roughly the size of a shot glass), it’s a product that can be really pricey to continuously repurchase. That’s why having an affordable go-to is so important, and this one is fantastic. The formula contains cocoa seed butter, shea butter, calendula, coconut oil, and avocado to nourish the skin.

The creamy lotion texture rubs into the skin with ease and absorbs quickly. After rubbing it in for a few seconds, any remnants of a white cast disappear, and the skin is left feeling comfortable and nongreasy. It’s also impressive in terms of how well it resists transfer and water. One con to note about this formula is that it has a strong, lemony fragrance that some people might find overpowering, especially if they’re not a fan of lemons.

Best Lightweight

Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Sun Milk Body Lotion SPF 50

$15 at Amazon $15 at Target View on IHerb

Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide | SPF: 50 | Size: 1.7, 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’ve been searching for a weightless, reef-safe sunscreen, this is the one for you. This liquid-y formula pumps out of the bottle easily, blends into the skin with minimal effort, doesn’t leave an annoying chalky or oily residue on the skin and doesn’t transfer or run when it comes into contact with sweat. Seriously—it lasted through swimming, a workout, and the sauna despite its thin texture and weightless feel on our skin.

We do generally prefer unscented sunscreens, and this one does feature that typical beachy scent that many heritage SPF brands are known for—but it does smell nice and nostalgic. And while it does create a minor white cast, it’s fairly undetectable after about 20 minutes of wear.

Best for Beach Days

Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen

$12 at Amazon

$16

$13 at Amazon $21 at Ulta

Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide | SPF: 50 | Size: 1, 3, 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This sunscreen is a great option for beach days because it’s reef-safe (of course), features a color-changing cap that goes from white to blue or pink when exposed to UV rays to indicate it’s time to reapply, and it’s water-resistant. It has a gentle, liquid-like formula that can be a bit runny and hard to control out of the tube, but the weightless texture makes it easy to spread and comfortable on the skin. It absorbs within seconds before setting down to a radiant finish with almost no white cast in sight.

What impressed us the most about this formula is how well it performed during water-resistance and transfer-resistance tests. It stayed put almost completely, making it a great option for those who frequently do outdoor activities—especially days at the beach or pool.

Best Spray

Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Sunscreen

$22 at Amazon $22 at Babobotanicals.com

Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide | SPF: 30 | Size: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While we all know the importance of reapplying sunscreen after swimming, it can be easy to forget to top up regularly whilst lounging by the pool. If easy application is what you crave, this air-powered spray takes the hard work out of staying protected by providing a convenient mist SPF that goes on evenly and absorbs quickly. Instead of a traditional aerosol, this spray uses a bag-on-valve method that keeps the pressurized air and product separated. In addition to SPF 30, this sunscreen also contains a host of skin-nourishing ingredients such as sunflower oil to help reduce redness and chamomile to soothe and soften the skin.

Best for Exercise

Think Mineral Sunscreen

$16

$10 at Amazon $15 at Target $24 at IHerb

Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide | SPF: 50 | Size: 3, 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s nothing better than an outdoor workout. What’s not fun, however, is the sunburnt aftermath of your SPF sweating off while you were moving. Anyone who gets active outside needs to add one of these sweat-resistant sunscreens to their gym bag. Ideal for both summer and winter, this lotion has a lightweight, nonsticky feel that lasts up to 80 minutes, even in the pool. It can also be used by kids, so it’s a great pick for the whole family. Just keep in mind that it leaves a bit of a white cast.

Best Tinted

Stream 2 Sea Tinted Sunscreen with SPF 30

$22 at Amazon $20 at Walmart $20 at IHerb

Active Ingredients: Non-nano titanium dioxide, salicylic acid | SPF: 30 | Size: 1, 3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A little bit of this sunscreen goes a long way. It comes in a slightly denser texture that you need to blot between the palms of your hands and then spread across the areas you wish to protect. In addition to providing SPF 30, this lotion also has a sheer tint to it, making it a great option for reducing the appearance of spider veins on legs. 

As with all Stream 2 Sea sunscreens, this tinted version is infused with their organic aloe, green tea, wakame, and olive leaf blend to offer further protection against environmental stressors and nourish the skin while you enjoy the sunshine. We just wish it came in more than one shade.

Best Moisturizing

Reef Repair Reef Safe Sunscreen SPF 30

$20 at Amazon $20 at Reefrepair.com

Active Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide | SPF: 30 | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When undertaking a full-body sunscreen application, it’s a no-brainer to go for an extra moisturizing option to keep your skin soft and supple. The hydrating trio of avocado, coconut, and red raspberry seed oil make this transparent lotion the top choice for anyone looking to keep their skin in peak condition. We love how it glides on for a seamless application with minimal dragging or tugging to the skin, although it does take a while to absorb. Suitable for both kids and those with sensitive skin, not only does it keep your skin protected, it also leaves it looking smoother after your day in the sun.