You’ve probably heard the term “zinc oxide” thrown around a lot recently, and it’s for a good reason. Currently, the FDA says that only two sunscreen actives are considered safe and effective: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are considered mineral (or physical) sunscreens. Unlike their chemical counterparts that work by absorbing the sun’s harmful rays, these mineral sunscreens protect you from the sun by sitting on top of skin and physically blocking or reflecting harmful rays. Just like chemical sunscreens, you should be wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day and reapplying often (every two hours and especially after swimming and sweating) when using a mineral formula.
BEST ZINC OXIDE SUNSCREEN FOR BODY
- SPF 50
- Mineral zinc oxide cream
- Water resistance: 80 minutes
- Mild on skin
- Pricey
This gentle formula from Colorescience was the best pure zinc oxide option in the GH Beauty Lab’s latest test on body sunscreens. A tester (who swears by zinc oxide sunscreen!) said this one “spread on a lot easier and did not have the thickness” of the traditional zinc oxide formulas. Others who tried the product praised its texture, saying it “melted into their skin” and that it had a “silky, powdery finish.”
- SPF 50
- Mineral zinc oxide lotion
- Water resistance: 80 minutes
- Doesn’t irritate skin
At less than $10 a bottle, this affordable, fragrance-free sunscreen from Coppertone uses pure zinc oxide as its active ingredient. 94% of GH Beauty Lab testers reported it didnt sting or irritate, and also found it moisturizing and easy to apply. “I liked that it left my skin feeling matte,” said one tester. “It wasn’t greasy, it wasn’t oily, and it wasn’t sticky or tacky — just like my regular skin but with a protective coating.”
