The Best Clean Sunscreen for Your Skin Type

Challenges often drive innovation, a sentiment that is especially true in the beauty world. In the realm of clean mineral sunscreens—composed solely of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to physically block UV rays—there has been significant progress: they now blend seamlessly into the skin. This wasn't always the case. While chemical sunscreens, which absorb UV rays, often contain irritating and potentially harmful ingredients—including endocrine disruptors and known carcinogens—they historically blended more easily into the skin than mineral options. "The notorious white cast and heavy feel of past mineral SPFs raised questions about whether 'clean' SPF was worth it," notes Thira Burns, goop's vice president of product development. "However, these challenges propelled innovation in the category."

Clean beauty has finally caught up. "Recent advancements in mineral SPF have been multifaceted, improving both the mineral particles for better transparency and texture, as well as introducing boosters for enhanced effectiveness," Burns explains. Today's mineral SPF formulations are ultra-clean, provide broad-spectrum protection, and apply effortlessly without leaving a white cast. They often include beneficial ingredients that enhance skin health along with sun protection.

Below, we've curated a selection of clean, mineral sunscreens in the goop shop that meet our safety standards and apply beautifully without any residue.

Why We Avoid Chemical Sunscreens

Chemical sunscreens often employ a potent combination of chemicals such as oxybenzone, octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate), homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone, many of which are potentially carcinogenic, hormone-disrupting, and have higher skin-irritant effects. Endocrine disruptors are particularly scary because they’re harmful even in small doses, as they mimic the hormones that our bodies create daily and can interfere with everything from our reproductive systems to our metabolism.

What's more, chemical sunscreens are also harmful to the environment: In 2021, Hawaii banned the sale of sunscreens containing two common chemical actives, oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have both been shown to damage coral reefs and other aquatic life.

Clean Sunscreens: What to Look For

Active Ingredients: Mineral sunscreens list only zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Be wary of the term “mineral-based,” which often means zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide have been mixed with chemical sunscreen. Bottom line: If there are any ingredients listed as active besides zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (or both), then it’s a chemical SPF. The sunscreens in the goop shop are mineral-only.

Water Resistance: A sunscreen can claim to be water-resistant only if it has undergone a 40- or 80-minute test. If water resistance is not stated clearly on the label, the sunscreen will most likely wash or sweat off. Not all the sunscreens in the goop shop are water-resistant.

Broad-Spectrum: This is important because it means the sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB rays. All the sunscreens in the goop shop are broad-spectrum.

Even if the active ingredients are minerals, make sure the formula is not otherwise loaded with toxic ingredients. Red flags include phthalates, sodium laureth sulfate, fragrance, and anything ending in “-paraben.” Our picks in the goop shop are free of all of the above (and more) harmful additives.