Sunburns and skin damage shouldn’t be barriers to enjoying time under the sun this summer. You can have fun while taking care of your skin by applying sunscreen with a higher Sun Protection Factor (SPF) — a value that indicates the level of protection against sunburns, according to the Food and Drug Administration article titled “Sun Protection Factor (SPF).” The amount of options for sunscreen can be overwhelming at times, so I’m taking a close look at a few of them to make your shopping decisions easier.
1. Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Ultra Radiance SPF 30 Lotion Sunscreen – $12.89 at Target
This sunscreen is the best value on this list, but also has merits beyond that. Each bottle of sunscreen also touts its cruelty-free and vegan classifications.
As for the sunscreen itself, the vaguely tropical smell is appealing and the smooth texture allows it to be applied and blended in very easily. Being a chemical sunscreen, the formula isn’t too thick and works by absorbing UV rays, according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in an article titled “Mineral or chemical sunscreen: Which should you choose?” While the sunscreen has no apparent white cast, it does contain glittery bits of a mineral composite called mica meant to make your skin shine. Glittering under the summer sun is appealing at first, but quickly sours when you realize how difficult the glitter is to scrub off.
2. Cocokind SPF 32 Daily Sunscreen – $24.99 at Target
Packed in a small bright yellow tube, Cocokind’s mineral sunscreen is the most expensive one on this list. Much like some of the other sunscreens on this list, the sunscreen is advertised as cruelty-free and vegan. Its high price tag can be attributed to the company’s emphasis on sustainability — the tube, for instance, is made from sugarcane materials — but it can still be difficult to justify the price. Luckily, the sunscreen isn’t too difficult to spread even though it is a bit thick, so a little will go a long way.
“Mineral or chemical sunscreen: Which should you choose?” also states that mineral sunscreens create a physical barrier against UV rays, making them more effective than chemical sunscreens. However, this creation of a “physical barrier” does give this sunscreen a bit of a white cast.
3. Sun Bum SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion – $17.49 at Target
In a more minimalist white tube, Sun Bum’s mineral sunscreen stands out from the rest of the brand’s sunscreens. Similar to Hawaiian Tropic and Cocokind, the bottle also advertises the sunscreen’s cruelty-free and vegan status.
Being a mineral sunscreen, this sunscreen does leave a bit of a white cast — about the same level as Cocokind’s sunscreen. Overall, it’s still easy to spread and contains a slight but pleasant coconut smell. It is a fairly neutral option and could be a good first mineral sunscreen to try out.
4. Up & Up SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion – $11.79 at Target
As a part of Target’s generic brand, the cost of this bottle was comparatively low for a mineral sunscreen. However, there were clear failures in the formula. While the texture was relatively smooth, this sunscreen was difficult to blend in and left a very obvious white cast. Even after scrubbing at the sunscreen, it still took several days for the sunscreen to fully wash off. It certainly does create a physical barrier against UV rays, but it would not be ideal for people with darker skin.
