Taos AER SPF 30 Broad Spectrum Mineral Sunscreen | $38

This is by far the creamiest mineral SPF we tried. It’s easy to rub in, contains non-nano zinc at 20% and is water resistant for up to 40 minutes. We love how seamless it is to use, and it walks the fine line between great-for-everyday and great-for-a-beach-day. Not many SPFs can pull double-duty like that.

Speaking of double-duty, so many of the inactive ingredients in this formula are working HARD to support skin while protecting it. Plant oils like sunflower and pomegranate provide hydration and nourishment, while also creating a physical barrier on the skin. The zinc in the Taos is designed to have an invisible, dry finish, so you don’t have to worry about a greasy feel or a chalky appearance. The non-nano zinc is also reef and ocean safe.

And while we get a bit of a whiff of your standard zinc-oxide scent, what’s more standout is the earthy blend of essential oils blended to create a woodsy aroma that doesn’t overpower. A win-win-win.

EleVen Game Set Match Body Lotion SPF 50 | $38

Another home run (er, we guess another game, set, match) in the creamy SPF department is Venus Williams’ SPF 50 body lotion. We didn’t expect to like this line as much as we did (it also has a great face SPF serum), but it rubs in easily with no white cast. The low zinc oxide content of it (9.5% to many other SPFs’ 40%) probably has something to do with that.

While the additional ingredients in this formula are just fine by our standards, there’s nothing super stand-out about them either. But the SPF itself is reef-safe, offers physical protection from UVA and UVB rays, and has packaging made from 100% PCR and recyclable materials.

That, in combo with the fact that this lotion is as good for a beach day (or tennis workout) as it is for everyday use, make it a top pick.

Love Sun Body SPF 30 Tiare and Vanilla Scent | $28

Love Sun Body’s mineral sunscreens are the first and only sunscreens in the U.S. certified by ECOCERT Cosmos Natural. They’ve also been clinically tested to be hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, PETA cruelty-free certified, vegan and reef safe.

In addition, LSB products are made with the safest UVA and UVB filters—AKA non-nano zinc oxide.  

They also have a simple ingredient list that includes nourishing elements like almond oil and vitamin E. These formulas pump out white yet blend easily to clear, have a moisturizing matte finish and are water-resistant (80 minutes).

Family-friendly, easy to use and packaged in recyclable plastic, these SPFs just work and are a responsible choice for sun protection. Basically, if you’re looking for the most high-quality ingredients, this is the SPF for you.

We love the vanilla-scented option but there is also a fragrance-free option if you prefer.

Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 | $22

We love this as a family-friendly option for a couple of reasons. First, Babo Botanicals is available on-the-fly at most Target and Ulta stores. Second, they offer one of the very few #TNKapproved spray options—as well as a full line of SPFs for face, body, baby and more. 

Babo is also B Corp certified, which is a huge feat for brands and speaks to the brand’s environmental responsibility and sustainability commitments.

And Babo formulates with calming ingredients like aloe leaf juice and calendula—both of which make a perfect compliment to long days in the sun.And as with the previous brands, Babo is also vegan, Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free, and reef safe. Our favorite, the Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF50, sprays out white and needs rubbing in after spraying, but will rub into a mostly sheer finish.

Solara Go! Mineral Defense SPORT Superfruit + Aloe Sunscreen Mist, SPF 30 | $18

Solara is not only raising the bar with their adaptogen and plant-powered SPF, this North American manufactured line is also 100% recyclable including the caps and pumps and housed in FSC Certified 100% recycled outers. Their products are reef safe and formulated with incredible ingredients.

We chose this particular product—The Go! Mineral Defense SPORT Superfruit + Aloe Sunscreen Mist—because it’s unscented, non-aerosol, sensitive-skin friendly and 100% Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 30 with 80 Minutes Water Resistance. Try their new Go! line (it’s available at Target) and thank us later. Also it rubs in clear with minimal effort.

Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen Cream – SPF 40 | $15.50

Another brand you can find at Target (and definitely at Whole Foods, though that’s not what we’d classify as a “drugstore”) is Badger. This was one of the first SPFs we tried when going mineral with our SPF and it stands the test of time.

This one in particular has 98% organic ingredients, on top of being reef safe, broad spectrum, water resistant and non-nano clear zinc (which is not sheer but wears less white than regular zinc). And those 98% organic ingredients? THERE ARE ONLY 4 OF THEM. Yep, four total ingredients in an SPF 40. How do they do it?

It’s a waterless formula, so expect it to be a bit thicker, but it’ll still rub in fairly easily. It’s also packaged in a 50% PCR tube, and made with solar power.

thinkbaby Mineral Baby Sunscreen SPF 50 | $14.50

Another brand that’s available at many Target stores, thinkbaby and thinksport are great mineral SPF choices. The brand itself is EWG Verified, cruelty free, reef safe and made in the US, and the thinkbaby options seem to be the most in-store available.

Many times, a formula developed specifically for the babes contains fewer ingredients overall, making it a perfect pick even for adults. We love this one for its ability to rub in fairly easily, its relatively simple ingredient list and its accessibility. Plus, it’s broad spectrum, water resistant and uses non-nano zinc.

Best Spray SPF: Suntegrity Milky Mineral Sun Serum Spray SPF 50 | $48

Let’s start with this caveat about the best mineral sunscreens for families: Spray sunscreens are COVETED when you’re trying to wrangle SPF onto kids too excited about the pool to stand still. But no matter which mineral spray sunscreen you choose, you’re not going to get the seamless spray experience you will from a chemical sunscreen. You just won’t.

What you will get is an easier-to-apply process, with each of these sprays coming out white and being fairly easy to rub in.

We chose Suntegrity’s as the best in the spray category for a number of reasons, including that it’s vegan and cruelty free; it comes in a recyclable aluminum bottle; and it contains a few great skin-boosting ingredients like argan, squalene and karanja oils.

But most importantly, it’s the easiest to rub in of the sprays, and it has a light tropical scent that’s reminiscent of beach days.

With respect to price and accessibility, the Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 we mentioned above and Baby Skin Mineral Sunscreen Spray (non-aerosol and GREAT for the littlest littles) are also good choices, though they’re harder to rub in (Kristy’s kids use the SPF 50 to play abominable snowman at the pool after applying…).

Save: Code THENEWKNEW15 will save you 15% on your first order at The Detox Market.

Best family size: ALL GOOD SPF 30 Mineral Sport Sunscreen | $49

If your kids are very outdoorsy or swim-focused and you need the jumbotron of mineral SPFs, the best value is the ALL GOOD family size bottle. It’s 16 oz., which is massive compared to the 3 and 6 oz. we see other brands offer.

And this SPF works. It’s called a “sport” for a reason—it’s got broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and is water-resistant, while being extra hydrating, easy to rub in, and without leaving your skin chalky or greasy.

BONUS: This co. is B Corp certified, which is a huge feat for brands and speaks to the brand’s environmental responsibility and sustainability commitments. So it should go without saying that this SPF is also reef and ocean friendly. The brand is also Climate Neutral Certified, so you can feel good about your purchase.

Best stick SPF: Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sport Stick | $12.99

The Babo Botanicals line has an edge with their “clear zinc.” It’s not completely sheer but it does go on sheerer than regular non-nano zinc—and we completely see a difference. The base of this formula is solid enough that it doesn’t apply goopy but soft enough that it rubs in easily.

Also love the size. This slimmer tube is more fit for faces and kids because it can hit smaller parts of the body with precision and ease. I also like the .6 oz fill here because it’s more likely to use it all up in a season or two before it expires (two year shelf-life).

And as far as ingredients go, this 80-minute water and sweat resistant formula delivers a ton of USDA certified ingredients including skin-loving oils like avocado, jojoba and shea. And it’s truly “fragrance free” with just the natural scent of zinc. Also, third party verified for safety by MADE SAFE.