Sunscreen should be more than just a last-minute addition to your beach bag. In fact, it should be a daily step in your routine — regardless of the weather — because it “protects the skin from sun damage and skin cancer,” says Dr. Fayne Frey, a New York–based dermatologist and the author of The Skincare Hoax. It comes in two main forms: chemical and natural. The latter contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which act as a physical barrier between your skin and the sun, says Craig A. Downs, an ecotoxicologist and executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. These minerals are considered more environmentally safe than those used in most chemical sunblocks, which can create an “oil-slick-type situation that suffocates, bleaches, and kills reefs,” says Ashlee Piper, a sustainability expert and the author of Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet.
While these formulations have gotten a bad rap for leaving a chalky or pasty residue, we found some standouts that blend in without a trace — and come recommended by board-certified dermatologists, celebrities, and makeup artists, plus our own writers and editors. Below, we’ve curated a list of the best natural sunscreens we’ve written about, all of which contain at least one of the key ingredients and are SPF 30 or greater. (For more specific sun protection, see our guides to the best ones for lips, face, and children; we’ve even got some picks for bald heads.)
