To find the best sunscreens, we spoke with cosmetic chemists, dermatologists, and other medical professionals.

We read studies on FDA-approved active ingredients, investigations into how people apply sunscreen (spoiler: poorly), and several literature reviews examining ingredients approved for use in sunscreens sold in the US and abroad. Over years of work on this guide, we have consulted the FDA several times to learn more about its regulation of sunscreens.

Although we previously considered independent SPF test results shared by manufacturers, plus those published by Consumer Reports, we’ve concluded that lab simulations tell us very little about sunscreen efficacy during real-world use.

When seeking shade and covering up with protective clothing are not enough, sunscreen is essential to protect skin from the potentially harmful effects of the sun.

Sunscreen is for everyone over 6 months of age, including people with darker skin. Experts recommend keeping young infants out of the sun altogether; if that’s impossible, using sunscreen is better than not.

“Just because some cultures don’t have a long-standing history of wearing sunscreen doesn’t mean there can’t be a benefit from wearing it,” said Vinod Nambudiri, a dermatologist in Boston. “Darker-skinned people can absolutely get skin cancer as well as other skin problems caused by UV ray damage.”

Applied properly, sunscreen lowers your risk of skin cancer and helps prevent wrinkles; it’s arguably the most effective “anti-aging” skin-care product available. You’re getting hit by a fair amount of the sun’s rays every day, even overcast ones, “unless you are a spelunker,” said Rachel Herschenfeld, a Wellesley, Massachusetts–based dermatologist. “I put it on every single day. I will leave the house in smelly workout wear, but I never leave the house without my sunscreen.”

Many sunscreens meet the basic expert recommendations: a listed SPF of 30 or higher and broad-spectrum protection. If you’re satisfied with what you already use, and it’s not past its expiration date, continue using it. Particularly if you’ve developed an allergic reaction to a certain formula in the past, you ultimately know which sunscreen is best for you.

For this guide, we considered chemical and mineral sunscreens containing FDA-approved active ingredients that are widely available for purchase in the US. We focused our search on:

• sunscreens with a listed SPF of 30 or higher
• sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum protection
• sunscreens that are water-resistant, per the American Academy of Dermatology’s recommendation

We favored lotion formulas without added fragrance, which can be a potential skin irritant, but did not exclude those that contain it.

Although we’ve tested continuous-spray sunscreens in the past, we don’t recommend any. While aerosolized sprays seem like an appealing option for covering hard-to-reach parts of your body, every expert we asked said that you can’t just spray your own back and be good to go (you still have to rub the sprayed sunscreen into your skin).

Aerosol-spray sunscreens are also easy to accidentally inhale, posing a significant health risk. “If you can smell your spray sunscreen, you’re inhaling it,” warned pediatric dermatologist Lawrence Eichenfield.

Along with continuous sprays, we also skipped sunscreen foams and powders, since those formats are less common, and it can be hard to tell how much to apply.

Stick sunscreens are semi-solids, so their formulas often differ from the lotion versions from the same brands. We’ve tried a variety of stick sunscreens and concluded that they are best for spot treatment. No stick we’ve tried is the best choice for full-body application, and all of them cost significantly more per ounce when compared with sunscreen lotions.

Altogether, we’ve evaluated more than 100 sunscreens since 2015 (including over 25 reef-safe formulas and even more facial sunscreens).

We considered but ultimately decided against commissioning commercial lab testing of SPF, broad-spectrum, and water-resistance claims because the results of even the most sophisticated lab tests can’t predict how a given sunscreen will perform in the real world, where application amount and frequency matter much more than a subtle difference in SPF.

“Most people underapply sunscreen or don’t reapply it frequently enough,” said dermatologist Susan Taylor, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. “So they’re getting a much lower SPF on their skin than what is on the label.” She suggested that people who are concerned about getting adequate SPF (at least 30) consider buying lotions with higher SPF to account for common user errors, such as not applying enough sunscreen and not reapplying as often as directed. However, sunscreens with very high SPF values (such as “50+” or higher) can lead to a false sense of security.

“Purchasing a sunscreen you will use is the most important factor in sun protection,” Taylor continued. For this guide we’ve focused on the factors that affect people’s sunscreen use: namely, how the formulas look and feel. We have, of course, continued to use all our picks long-term, slathering them on ourselves and our families for time spent in the sun.

Sunscreen costs can really add up. The authors of a 2026 study estimated an annual expense of up to $1,429.42 for one adult, “depending on unit price and other sun protective strategies used.” So in choosing our picks, we also considered each sunscreen’s price per ounce, prioritizing those that look and feel great and that typically cost less than the competition.

Most chemical sunscreens available for sale in the US contain varying concentrations of the FDA-approved active ingredients avobenzone, ecamsule, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, or some combination of these. The FDA is evaluating additional data to further determine the safety and efficacy of these ingredients.

In June 2026, the agency added bemotrizinol to its roster of active ingredients approved for use in sunscreen, deeming it “generally recognized as safe and effective.” Bemotrizinol, a photostable filter that provides broad spectrum protection against both UVB and UVA rays, has long been used in sunscreens manufactured elsewhere in the world. We’ll evaluate sunscreens containing bemotrizinol as they become widely available in the US and will update this guide with our findings.

Banana Boat Sheer Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 50

Top pick

Top pick, A superlative chemical sunscreen Banana Boat Sheer Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

Banana Boat Sheer Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

This easy-to-apply lotion lives up to its name, as it rubs in with a dry, sheer finish and appears nearly colorless on skin. It has no added fragrance.

Buying options: $9 from Amazon, opens in a new tab

$9 from Walmart, opens in a new tab

The broad-spectrum, water-resistant Banana Boat Sheer Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 50 stood out as the overall favorite chemical sunscreen in our 2026 brand-concealed evaluations. In addition to being less expensive than our mineral sunscreen picks, we like the Sheer Sensitive formula because:

You can forget you’re wearing it. This formula is easy to apply, absorbs quickly, blends well, and has a nongreasy, dry finish that is sheer and free of any white cast.

There is no added fragrance. All sunscreens have some sort of scent, but once this formula is dried down on the skin, our testers felt that there was hardly any scent whatsoever (in particular when compared to Equate, which has added fragrance).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It’s not available in a larger size. Currently, this formula only comes in a 6-ounce tube with a seal-tight cap.

It’s less elegant on the skin than our former top pick. This formula is shinier on the skin than its beloved predecessor, Banana Boat Light As Air SPF 50+, which we recommended for years. However, it’s still drier and more matte than most sunscreens — especially among those under $2 per ounce.

Key specs

• SPF: 50
• Type of protection: chemical
• Active ingredients: avobenzone (2.7%), homosalate (7.5%), octisalate (4.5%), octocrylene (5%)
• Broad spectrum: yes
• Reef-safe: no
• Price per ounce (at the time of publication): $1.67 (6-ounce tube)

Equate Sport Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Value Size SPF 50

Top pick

Top pick, An inexpensive chemical sunscreen in a big pump bottle Equate Sport Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Value Size SPF 50

Equate Sport Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Value Size SPF 50

This store-brand lotion feels surprisingly good: It rubs in easily and looks nearly invisible on the skin. However, its polarizing fragrance may be a dealbreaker.

Buying options: $12 from Walmart, opens in a new tab

(32 ounces)

Walmart’s Equate Sport Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Value Size SPF 50 earned top marks in our brand-concealed panel testing, which was surprising considering it's the least expensive sunscreen we’ve ever tested at just 41 cents an ounce (when purchased in the 32-ounce pump bottle).

It compares to sunscreens that cost more than 10 times as much. The majority of testers loved how easy it was to apply and considered it nearly as comfortable, translucent, and nongreasy on the skin as our top pick from Banana Boat (as well as other sunscreens that cost over 10 times as much per ounce, including Supergoop Play Everyday SPF 50).

It comes in a huge, 32-ounce pump bottle. It’s our only body sunscreen pick that comes in a value-size format. Though in our testing, even when the container was properly closed, a small amount of sunscreen leaked out when it was jostled around.

But you can buy less if you want. This formula is also available in an 8-ounce tube and a travel-friendly 1.5-ounce bottle with an attached carabiner.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It contains fragrance — a stronger-than-most scent that not everyone likes. Like our picks from Banana Boat and Thrive, Equate’s sport sunscreen contains added fragrance, which proved polarizing during our testing. Some testers either didn’t notice it or enjoyed its short-lived medicinal smell (“reminds me of childhood,” one tester said). Others — in particular those who only needed to purchase sunscreen only for themselves instead of a household — refused to consider it for long-term use despite giving its feel and appearance positive marks, all because of the “hospital-esque odor.”

Key specs

• Active ingredients: avobenzone (3%), homosalate (15%), octisalate (5%), and octocrylene (7%)
• Broad spectrum: yes
• Reef-safe: no
• Price per ounce (at the time of publication): 41 cents (32-ounce jug)

Mineral sunscreens (also known as physical sunscreens) available for sale in the US contain varying concentrations of the FDA-approved active ingredients zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both. The FDA recognizes these ingredients as safe and effective.

Thrive Bodyshield SPF 50

Top pick

Top pick, A mineral sunscreen that rubs in easily Thrive Bodyshield SPF 50

Thrive Bodyshield SPF 50

This lotion is formulated with non-nano zinc oxide, an active ingredient that is considered safer for marine life. It’s not just for beach trips, though: Compared with most mineral sunscreens, this one is easier to apply, and it has a closer-to-sheer finish once it’s fully absorbed.

Buying options: $35 from Wirecutter Store, opens in a new tab

(5.8 ounces)

$35 from Amazon, opens in a new tab

(5.8 ounces)

$35 from Thrive, opens in a new tab

(5.8 ounces)

Thrive’s Bodyshield SPF 50 is a reef-safe mineral sunscreen that’s easy to rub in and water-resistant. And compared with many other mineral sunscreens we’ve tested, it doesn’t leave as pronounced a white cast, including on people with darker skin or lots of body hair.

Formulated with non-nano zinc oxide (23.5%), it offers broad-spectrum protection and was a crowd favorite in our panel tests.

It rubs in easily. Testers found it easy to apply — easier than any of the other 20 mineral sunscreens intended for full-body application we’ve tested. This sunscreen rubs in almost as smoothly as a chemical sunscreen, and most people find this formula to be nearly colorless on the skin, once it’s fully dried down.

It’s reef-friendly. Our testers appreciated that this sunscreen is formulated with non-nano zinc oxide, so it’s considered safer for marine life, and it is okay to use in places that have strict sunscreen parameters intended to prevent further coral reef destruction.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It’s pricey. Thrive’s sunscreen lotion costs more than double our chemical pick from Banana Boat, and it costs more than 10 times as much per ounce than our budget chemical pick from Equate.

It heavily scented. While this formula is free of added fragrance, leaves a strong, sweet smell on the skin that can take hours to fully dissipate.

Key specs

• Active ingredient: non-nano zinc oxide (23.5%)
• Broad spectrum: yes
• Reef-safe: yes
• Price per ounce (at the time of publication): $4.82 (pack of three 5.8-ounce tubes)

Badger Adventure Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 50

Top pick

Top pick, A moisturizing mineral sunscreen Badger Adventure Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 50

Badger Adventure Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 50

Containing just four ingredients, with no added fragrance, this creamy formula is especially moisturizing. It is more difficult to rub in, though, and more likely to leave a white cast on skin.

Buying options: $19 from Amazon, opens in a new tab

$20 from REI, opens in a new tab

For people who want a fragrance-free, reef-safe sunscreen with minimal ingredients (four total, including the active ingredient), we recommend Badger Adventure Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 50.

It applies more like a cream than a lotion. It’s a little harder to rub in than our top pick from Thrive, but despite the formula’s substantial amount of non-nano zinc oxide (25%), this “sunscreen cream” (a thicker-than-most lotion) leaves a minimal white cast that is nearly imperceptible on most skin tones. However, it can feel heavy on the skin, and testers were split as to whether or not this was a positive (testers with drier skin appreciated it).

It contains only four ingredients — with no added fragrance. So you have a lower chance of experiencing skin irritation. The tradeoff is that this oil-based formula may look and feel too greasy for some.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is likely to leave more of a white cast. Compared with Thrive Bodyshield, the Badger Adventure Mineral is more difficult to fully rub in, and for some panelists, was more visible on skin. For other panelists, it appeared nearly transparent once fully dried down.

Key specs

• Active ingredient: non-nano zinc oxide (25%)
• Broad spectrum: yes
• Reef-safe: yes
• Price per ounce (at the time of publication):$6 (2.9-ounce tube)

Chemical sunscreens

If you want one of our favorite face sunscreens for full-body wear: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 100 (active ingredients: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 15%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 10%) exceeded panelists’ expectations, particularly for a sunscreen with such a high SPF rating. People with facial hair especially appreciated this lotion, but at almost $8 per ounce (in a 5-ounce tube), it’s much costlier than our body sunscreen picks. Read our full review here.

If you want a clear-gel sunscreen that practically disappears into skin: The Trader Joe’s Invisible Gel Body Sunscreen SPF 40 (active ingredients: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 12%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 6%) resembles the near-identical Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 we recommend in our review of face sunscreens. The Invisible Gel Body’s water-resistance rating (40 minutes) is half that of all of the picks in this guide. Still, it’s a great value for a beloved, practically invisible sunscreen.

If you want a pump bottle of luxe sunscreen: Consider Vacation Classic Sun Jug SPF 50 (active ingredients: avobenzone 2.8%, homosalate 9.8%, octisalate 4.9%, octocrylene 9.5%), which testers praised for its superior absorption, dry down, skin feel, and scent. In a brand-concealed, jug-to-jug evaluation, Supergoop Play Everyday SPF 50 (active ingredients: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 7.5%) was a close runner-up. People who applied both formulas found the Vacation Classic smelled more like “tropical paradise” than the Supergoop Play's “citrusy” and, for some, “more clinical” fragrance. (Supergoop Play is also one of our favorite face sunscreens.) At the time of publication, Vacation Classic costs less per ounce in its largest size — at 20-ounce jug — than Supergoop Play in its largest — an 18-ounce jug.

Mineral sunscreen

If you want a lower-cost option and are okay with a sunscreen that isn’t reef-safe: Coppertone Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 (active ingredient: zinc oxide 23%) is about half the price of Thrive Bodyshield SPF 50. Like our top picks, it’s rated water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. But our testers found its look and feel inferior. Coppertone Sport Mineral dries down with a more matte finish, which may feel too dry for some people. It also has a less appealing scent, according to our panel testers.

All sunscreens have a sun protection factor, or SPF. It’s a measure of how well sunscreen protects against UVB rays, the type that causes sunburn.

Many sunscreens also protect against UVA rays, the type of rays that cause wrinkles. Both types of radiation can lead to cancer, and sunscreens that protect against both are labeled “broad spectrum.” The SPF rating, though, only applies to UVB protection.

The relationship between SPF and protection is not linear: SPF 15 filters 93% of UVB rays, whereas SPF 30 filters 97%, and SPF 50 filters 98%. No sunscreen blocks 100% of UVB rays. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing sunscreens that list a minimum SPF of 30. However, your chances of getting an effective SPF above 30, regardless of what the label claims, are better if you buy a sunscreen labeled SPF 50 or even 70. (All of our body sunscreen picks are labeled SPF 50.)

A sunscreen with a higher SPF can’t make up for poor application. An SPF 15 lotion that you apply liberally and often can protect you better than an SPF 50+ lotion that you put on only once in eight hours.

There are two main types of sunscreen formulas. These are mineral sunscreens (also known as physical), which contain UV blockers that reflect rays away from your skin. Then there are chemical sunscreens, which contain UV filters that soak up rays so your skin doesn’t. Some companies also make combination sunscreens, which have both chemical and mineral active ingredients.

Mineral sunscreens tend to be thicker and go on whiter. Chemical sunscreens (which are sometimes called “organics” because of the structures of the molecules they’re made of, not because of how the ingredients are sourced) tend to be greasier but go on translucent. Most combination sunscreens strike a balance between those textures and appearances.

Mineral sunscreens deflect UV rays using the active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, often in tandem.

• Zinc oxide protects against both UVA and UVB. It tends to make sunscreen whiter. Dermatologists often recommend this active ingredient because it does a great job of protecting against the whole spectrum. Look for formulas with 5% or more zinc oxide.
• Titanium dioxide protects against UVB and some UVA rays.

These FDA-approved active ingredients often come in micronized — finely ground — nanoparticles, which, according to cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson, are easier to apply and more sheer on the skin. Sunscreens that rely on non-nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide tend to be thicker and more chalky. But the trade-off is that those larger particles cannot penetrate the skin (there is no published evidence that nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are harmful, except, possibly, when inhaled).

Chemical sunscreens absorb the photons of the sun’s rays before they reach your skin; the photons’ energy goes into breaking down those chemicals rather than into penetrating your skin. Avobenzone, oxybenzone, ecamsule, and octocrylene are the four main FDA-approved filters, though several other active ingredients work similarly.

• Avobenzone, like zinc oxide, protects against UVA1 — most other UV filters in chemical sunscreens do not. Avobenzone is also what typically causes some sunscreens to stain white and light-colored clothing yellow. According to scientists at Merck, avobenzone protects about as well as zinc oxide. Avobenzone also goes by the name Parsol 1789.
• Oxybenzone protects against a portion of the UVA spectrum that avobenzone does not, plus it protects against UVB rays. Many chemical sunscreen formulas contain oxybenzone. (People who experience photoallergic contact dermatitis may have an allergic reaction to oxybenzone or another sunscreen ingredient.)
• Ecamsule protects against some UVA rays and also goes by the name Mexoryl SX.
• Octocrylene protects against UVB and some UVA rays.
• Homosalate protects against some UVB rays.
• Octisalate, or octyl salicylate, protects against UVB radiation.

Currently, the FDA acknowledges the mineral active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and the chemical active ingredient bemotrizinol as generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE). The agency has said it needs additional data to determine the GRASE status of at least 10 additional active ingredients.

In June 2026, the FDA added bemotrizinol to the roster of active ingredients approved for use in sunscreen — and deemed GRASE. Bemotrizinol, which is also known as BEMT and marketed under various brand names, has been approved elsewhere in the world for decades. It’s an active ingredient in popular sunscreens, including formulas from La Roche-Posay (France) and Kao Bioré (Japan).

Bemotrizinol “is great because it has excellent UVA and UVB coverage, it’s super photostable, and it is a very large molecule that doesn’t absorb into the skin effectively,” said dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, who is a member of the Melanoma Research Foundation’s board of directors.

Globally, many other effective UV filters are approved for use as active ingredients in sunscreens. “The complexities — time, cost, toxicological tests — of getting new sunscreen actively approved in the US have left some effective molecules in limbo for nearly two decades and has deterred many companies from attempting to put other new ingredients through the process,” said Kelly Dobos, an independent cosmetic chemist who has advised personal-care companies that manufacture lotions, hand sanitizers, and SPF-containing lip balms.

“It’s a stuck marketplace,” said David Andrews, acting chief science officer of the Environmental Working Group, a research and advocacy organization that publishes annual reviews of sunscreens. “Sunscreen companies are at an impasse with the FDA.”

To improve the efficacy and appearance of their sunscreen formulas, some companies include inactive ingredients that are sometimes called SPF boosters. These, Dobos explained, are likely how sunscreens that contain differing concentrations of the same active ingredients can provide the same level of stated SPF. One commonly found SPF booster, butyloctyl salicylate, is similar to the FDA-approved UV filter octisalate. Because it is not considered an active ingredient, some so-called mineral sunscreens are functionally combination formulas. “It’s a loophole,” said cosmetic chemist Ginger King, referring to how physical sunscreens with chemical boosters can still be marketed as “100% mineral” or “mineral-only.”

Many sunscreens also contain added fragrance. You may want to avoid fragrances because they can be irritating or allergenic, and fragrance preferences are largely personal. That said, the sunscreen active ingredients themselves still have a scent, so it’s hard to find a sunscreen that has absolutely no scent (even if its formula is fragrance-free).

Sunscreen ingredients aren’t the main source of worry for coral reefs worldwide: That would be climate change.

No label denotes a totally reef-safe sunscreen, and it’s unclear if such a thing exists. Reef-safer is probably a better way to describe the options available.

Still, if you live near or are headed to a region that’s home to coral habitats, you can lessen your environmental impact by using a sunscreen without the ingredients that studies have shown to be harmful to reefs in large quantities.

In particular, some sunscreen ingredients can help viruses destroy corals faster, leading to bleaching, according to a 2008 paper published by marine ecologist Roberto Danovaro and his colleagues at Marche Polytechnic University in Ancona, Italy. The reefs most vulnerable to sunscreen damage are those in highly trafficked areas without a lot of water turnover, like coastal reefs or atolls (circular reef structures left behind after a coral island sinks), the authors note.

As a result, lawmakers in some regions require that everyone use only reef-safe sunscreens. Hawaii and Key West, Florida were among the first places in the US to ban the sale of sunscreens containing two ingredients found to be harmful to coral: oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Out of caution, some people choose to use reef-safe sunscreen all the time, and not just for reef safety. Because sunscreens marketed as reef safe contain only mineral active ingredients, zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, which the FDA recognizes as safe and effective, some people prefer these formulas for everyday wear, explained Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, chief of the pediatric and adolescent dermatology division at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.

Like most mineral sunscreens, reef-safe sunscreens are generally pricier and harder to rub in than their chemical and combination counterparts. In absence of a “reef safe” claim on the sunscreen’s label, know that reef-safe sunscreens:

• Contain only mineral active ingredients: The two active ingredients in a reef-safe sunscreen should be non-nano zinc oxide or non-nano titanium dioxide, meaning the particles have not been ground to less than 100 nanometers in size. Some sunscreens use one or the other; some use a combination of the two.
• Are water-resistant: All sunscreens eventually wash off in water. Water-resistant formulas should stick to skin longer.
• Contain no parabens: These preservatives are another virus-assisting, reef-bleaching culprit.
• And are free of other ingredients that may harm coral: Craig Downs, executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Virginia and his colleagues maintain a compendium of chemicals shown to negatively impact aquatic wildlife. In addition to oxybenzone and parabens, the list includes octinoxate, octocrylene, triclosan, para-aminobenzoic acid (known as PABA), camphor, and microbeads or other small bits of plastic.

To get the SPF listed on the bottle, the average-size adult needs roughly a shot glass’s worth (1 ounce) of sunscreen for their mostly naked body (excluding areas that swimwear typically covers). So as you may have just concluded, you are almost certainly not using enough sunscreen.

Apply your sunscreen at least 15 minutes before sun exposure, since it takes that long for the formula to fully sink into your skin. Then reapply once every hour (or two hours, per the American Academy of Dermatology), as well as after each time you work up a sweat or go in the water. Consider setting a phone alarm or a timer to remind you when it’s time to reapply.

Yes, sunscreen expires. Usually there is an expiration date stamped on the bottle. If you don’t see one, know that sunscreen is generally okay to use for up to three years from purchase. You should discard unused sunscreens that are beyond their expiration dates or more than three years old: Beyond that, the FDA warns, “There is no assurance that they remain safe and fully effective.”

Any sunscreen you’ll use is better than one you won’t. So it’s worth trying several to find the one that’s best for you. Our picks stand apart for their superlative look and feel (or their value price).

Chemical sunscreens

Amazon Basics Broad Spectrum Sheer Sunscreen SPF 55 is easy to apply and feels lightweight on skin, but at $1.80 per ounce it is more expensive than our chemical picks.

Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Body SPF 60 felt watery and difficult to rub in, with many panelists noticing a white cast after application.

Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sunscreen SPF 50+ has a highly similar formula to that of the Sheer Sensitive sunscreen we recommend from the same brand. But the Ultra Sport version includes added fragrance.

The deodorant-stick-size Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sun Stick SPF 50 is among the least expensive and most user-friendly sunscreen sticks we’ve tried, but it is still difficult to use and apply anywhere other than small swaths of skin.

Neither Coppertone Sport Sunscreen SPF 50 nor Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen SPF 70 ranked as well as our chemical picks in terms of translucence, skin feel, and ease of application.

Coppertone WaterBabies SPF 50 is easy to apply and wear, but the flowery scent of this fragranced formula isn’t for everyone.

Our testers loved the smell, feel, and shimmery look of mica-infused Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Ultra Radiance SPF 70. The fragrance evokes a classic sunscreen smell — in a good way. But if you don’t like your skin to have a little sparkle, this is not the sunscreen for you.

The Equate Ultra Light Sunscreen SPF 100 and the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 100+ each left a noticeable white cast (which is unusual for a chemical sunscreen).

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60 is a much-revered chemical sunscreen lotion. Per ounce, it tends to cost more than 10 times as much as our picks. In a practical sense, each hour spent wearing this formula on a full body costs a few dollars. For use on just the face, though, we think it’s a worthwhile investment: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt in Milk Sunscreen SPF 100 is one of our favorite face sunscreens.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45 comes in a bottle that’s small enough to toss in a purse, but despite the marketing, the feel was not significantly drier than that of other sunscreens we tried.

Our panel testers did not rate the No Ad Sport 50 Sunscreen and No Ad 85 Sunscreen nearly as highly as the less-expensive Equate Sport Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Value Size SPF 50.

Panelists found the Sun Bum Original Sunscreen SPF 70 inferior to the similarly fragranced Vacation Classic Sun Jug SPF 50 we think is worth considering.

Mineral sunscreens

Alba Botanica Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 contains no added fragrance and is generally less expensive than other nanoparticle-free mineral sunscreen lotions we considered, but most of our testers did not like it because it was difficult to rub in and made skin feel sticky.

We found that Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sensitive Skin Sunscreen SPF 50 took significantly longer to rub in compared with most other mineral sunscreens we’ve tried, and it consistently left a white cast. Aveeno’s Kids Continuous Protection Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 offers the best value among mineral sunscreen sticks we’ve considered. This Aveeno stick is larger than mineral sunscreen sticks from Blue Lizard and Thinksport — more like the size of a stick of deodorant — yet still impractical for full-body coverage.

Babo Botanicals Baby Skin Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 feels and smells good. But it’s more expensive than our pick from Thrive.

Badger Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 and Daily Mineral SPF 50 are reef-safe, unscented formulas that feel nice on skin but are rated water-resistant for only 40 minutes and left more of a white cast than our mineral picks — including the Adventure Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 50 from the same brand.

Many of our testers found Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen SPF 50 to be goopy. Although its zinc oxide percentage is among the highest of the sunscreens we tested (over 24%), most testers found that the runny formula made complete absorption nearly impossible.

Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Skin Nourishing Milk SPF 50 is a nice-feeling, near-odorless mineral sunscreen that comes in a convenient pump bottle. But it’s available only in a 3.4-ounce quantity, and leaves more of a white cast than our pick from Thrive.

Kōkua Sun Care Hawaiian Natural Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50, which contains the same concentration (25%) of active ingredient non-nano zinc oxide as our reef-safe pick from Thrive, looks and feels as nice on skin. But it costs around twice as much.

Mustela Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is a thick formula that takes a little more effort to rub in, but it eventually absorbs nicely for a mineral sunscreen. But it is more expensive than our picks from Thrive and Badger.

Supergoop Mineral Play SPF 30 left more of a white cast and is more expensive than our top picks. Somewhat confusingly, the Supergoop Play SPF 50 stick is also a mineral sunscreen. (Another Supergoop Play formula we recommend is a chemical sunscreen lotion.) We found it a bit more difficult to spread and it took longer to dry down on the skin when compared with other sunscreen sticks we liked.

Thinksport Clear Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50 (active ingredient: non-nano zinc oxide 23.4%) is a serviceable reef-safe sunscreen. Compared with our picks from Thrive and Badger, Thinksport Clear Zinc is more difficult to rub in and appears slightly chalkier on skin. Thinksport also sells a 0.64-ounce SPF 30 stick, which contains 20% non-nano zinc oxide. Due to the applicator’s size, though, it’s practical to use only on small patches of skin.

Test panelists generally like the Vanicream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+, made with 12% non-nano zinc oxide. But this formula is frequently out of stock.

We found that the following formulas were more difficult to rub in, left more of a white cast on some panelists’ skin, or were too heavily scented to have broad appeal when compared with our mineral sunscreen picks: 365 by Whole Foods Market Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, All Good Mineral Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 (available in a 16-ounce pump bottle), Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen SPF 50, Babyganics Sheer Blend SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen, Banana Boat Sensitive 100% Mineral Sunscreen, Banana Boat Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+, Banana Boat Kids Mineral SPF 50+, Banana Boat Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, Coppertone Pure & Simple Baby SPF 50, Equate Kids SPF 50, Eucerin Sun Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, Hello Bello Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, Hello Bello Mineral Sunscreen SPF 55+, Native Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Kids Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+, Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 (available in an 18-ounce jug with a pump dispenser), Toddle Prebiotic Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, and Up&Up Baby Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50.

Combination sunscreens

CVS Health Clear Zinc Broad Spectrum Sun SPF 50 is a fine choice, but it leaves a white cast on darker skin.

Panelists generally liked EltaMD UV Sport Broad-Spectrum SPF 50, rating its feel and appearance highly. But at $7.50 an ounce, it’s costlier than any of our picks.

Shannon Palus contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.