What You Really Need to Know About "Natural" and "Organic" Sunscreens (2025)

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (4.9%), Zinc Oxide (6.7%) | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$3.82

The top-rated of all the mineral sunscreens in the GH Beauty Lab’s most recent body SPF test, coconut oil-infused Hawaiian Tropic was loved for its smooth application, transfer resistance and “deliciously tropical” scent. The light milky lotion was the least likely to stain or rub off on fabrics of any mineral SPF, effortless to apply, non-drying and rinsed off easily.

Testers praised the pump bottle, though it was smaller than others; the formula also felt oily to some testers. Many raved that the drugstore value SPF's "scent was amazing" and "application process was clean."

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (10%) | Water resistance: 40 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$28.23

Natural mineral SPFs can be just as elegant to use as chemical formulas. Case in point: This milky Colorescience liquid, which a winner of the GH Beauty Lab's most recent face sunscreen test. True to its name, it proved to be "no-show," earning the highest score for not leaving a film on skin or interfering with makeup, applying easily and not stinging skin.

While it is above average in price, testers sang its praises: "Absolutely loved this sunscreen and will be a customer for life," a fan reported. Another said "it became a seamless part of my beauty routine and it left my melanated skin looking natural instead of pale or cakey."

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (11%) | Water resistance: 40 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$23.50

If you like your natural mineral SPF with a tint to subtly even skin tone and reduce the telltale white cast, turn to La Roche-Posay, a GH beauty editor favorite. Former GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn called it her "everyday go-to" and GH's beauty director also appreciate its "featherlight feel" and that it's "very gentle on skin." One drawback is that although the formula now comes in three additional shades (medium, medium deep and deep), the SPF level of those formulas is 40 rather than 50.

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SPF: 30 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (2.4%), Titanium Dioxide (5.3%) | Water resistance: 40 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$12.05

This natural mineral Sun Bum face sunscreen was gentle and wore almost flawlessly on skin in GH Beauty Lab testing. It received a near-perfect score for not causing redness or irritation, plus ranked high for not being tacky or oily, interfering with makeup or running into eyes. "I absolutely loved this! The silky texture went in like a makeup primer and worked as such," one tester said. Other users raved that it is "silky" and "looks so natural." Note, though, that it can leave a white film and be drying on skin.

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (18%) | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$24.70

Smooth on Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare's mineral face sunscreen with moisturizing hyaluronic acid to soften and protect skin at the same time. A top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing, it received the highest marks for making skin feel hydrated, having no burning sensation and being simple to apply.

"It melted into my face and my dry skin felt protected and actually moisturized," a tester said. A second agreed: "Very hydrating; I didn't need additional moisturizer." Two drawbacks are the higher price point and that the cap doesn't stay attached to the tube well.

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SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (18%) | Water resistance: None | Price per ounce: ~$23.66

Skin types susceptible to breakouts need not fear sunscreen; this Dr. Jart lotion was a top performer in GH Beauty Lab face SPF testing at tackling acne-prone skin concerns. Testers gave it top points for not causing breakouts or redness and leaving a shine-free finish (though it can have a white cast on some skin tones). They also loved its "amazing" citrus fragrance that "didn't have a whiff of sunscreen smell." A user commented: "It left my face looking smooth and matte."

RELATED: Best Acne-Fighting Skincare Routine

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc oxide (11%) | Water resistance: 40 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$21.47

A top performer in GH Beauty Lab face sunscreen testing, Isdin's pure zinc oxide formula has a matte finish, making it great for oily skin. Testers found it didn't leave an oily or tacky feeling on skin and it provided a shine-free finish.

Although it's a splurge, the liquid SPF was also gentle on skin and didn't irritate eyes. "I liked that it did not feel greasy or oily and also that it had a matte finish to it," a tester commented. GH Beauty Lab note: Be sure to shake the bottle before dispensing to mix the formula.

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (15%), Titanium Dioxide (4.3%) | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$3.27

A rare sunscreen spray with naturally-derived mineral active ingredients, testers found Bare Republic easy to apply in GH Beauty Lab evaluations. It also scored well for its vanilla coconut scent, not stinging or irritating skin, not feeling greasy or drying and protecting skin from sunburn.

Note that users didn't find it fast-absorbing and reported that it left a white residue on skin. Many testers raved about its effortless application, however: "It sprayed very evenly," one noted. Another said, "I did not get sunburned, despite spending hours in the strong Colorado sun!"

SPF: 30 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (2.5%), Titanium Dioxide (5.2%) | Water resistance: 40 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$8.92

GH Beauty Lab testers gave this Bare Republic face sunscreen a perfect score for being mild on skin. They also said that it left skin matte and didn't feel sticky after application. Note that this is an emulsion formula, so you need to shake it before applying; otherwise it may dispense as a non-uniform liquid.

"I liked the milky texture of this product and it melded in with my skin in just a few minutes," a tester reported. A second said: "It was a gentle product; I did not have any irritation, stinging or bumps after using it."

RELATED: Best Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (12%) | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$12.25

This gentle SPF from Colorescience was the best pure zinc oxide formula in past GH Beauty Lab body sunscreen testing. In Lab evaluations, 95% of testers agreed it didn't cause any stinging or irritation, and 100% said it didn't irritate eyes or skin even when applied on the face.

Some users found the formula tacky or greasy and difficult to remove, though. A fan marveled that the "silky" lotion "melted into their skin," and another added that it “spread on a lot easier and did not have the thickness" of the other formulas.

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc oxide (20%) | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$6.33

Made with 20% mineral zinc oxide and naturally-derived plant ingredients, the Babo Botanicals cream SPF was a GH Beauty Lab test winner for eliminating some of zinc’s common gripes, rubbing onto skin and rinsing off easily. The formula, which can be used on adults, children and babies, rated well at applying and washing off skin effortlessly, and not transferring onto fabrics or feeling oily or drying.

Note that some users commented on its “thick” texture and it is a smaller bottle than other sunscreens, at three ounces. “It moisturized my skin without a greasy residue,” one revealed.

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (24.8%) | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$2.48

Not only is this GH Beauty Lab test-winning Coppertone body sunscreen extremely affordable, but it's also fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and uses high levels of pure zinc oxide as its active ingredient. Users found it easy to apply and moisturizing and the formula tallied near-perfect marks for effectively protecting skin from the sun. It also rinsed off well and didn’t stain clothing.

"Skin did not feel dried out like some other sunscreens," a tester noted. There were a few drawbacks, though, including that some testers found the formula sticky and oily and that application could be messy.

SPF: 35 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (6%), Titanium Dioxide (5%) | Water resistance: None | Price per ounce: ~$21.62

After trying out SkinMedica's physical sunscreen that's sheer enough for dark skin tones, several GH Beauty Lab testers said that they wanted to purchase it for themselves. The formula earned top scores for not leaving a visible residue on skin, feeling or looking oily, interfering with makeup or having a sticky feel.

"It did not leave that heavy white film," a tester reported. Another said: "Others left a white cast over my face, but this product didn't. I love it!" A caveat: The product is higher priced than some other face SPFs and not water-resistant.

SPF: 50 | Active type: Mineral | Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide (17%), Titanium Dioxide (2%) | Water resistance: 80 minutes | Price per ounce: ~$13.53

This MDSolarSciences mineral zinc oxide- and titanium dioxide-based face sunscreen is a great choice for a gentle formula that's free of obtrusive fragrance. In GH Beauty Lab testing, users gave it high marks for its fast absorption, the shine-free look that it leaves on skin, its delicate scent and that it didn’t cause skin irritation. "I like that this product had no scent and did not smell like chemicals," a tester said. Two others praised its "silky" feel, though some noted that it initially left a white film on skin.