13 best reef-safe sunscreens that are eco-friendly and kind to skin

This is the second mineral sunscreen that’s been added to Pai’s incredible line-up of sensitive skin solutions but they’ve dialled up the glow in this one – making it ideal for anyone looking for a radiance boost. This comes courtesy of natural light-reflecting pigments called mica (ethically and sustainably sourced) that instantly illuminate the skin. So much so, it encouraged us to go make-up-free when using this SPF. Although, it’s actually a primer-SPF hybrid that’s formulated to pair well with make-up — we can confirm it does this incredibly well, too. Its light, non-greasy texture provides a smooth, even canvas for foundation that stays flawless, with no piling or blotching under coverage.

One pump of this, like all Hawaiian Tropic products, transports you to a tropical paradise – if you’re a fan of coconut-fragranced products, this one is for you. The ultra-light, and (you guessed it) milky texture, disappears in an instant on the skin, leaving a mineral shield of zinc oxide to protect you from the sun. We were super impressed with this accessible, affordable and effective offering from the brand, and all without any ingredients harmful to the ocean and sea life. Pair it with the face formulation, for the perfect holiday duo.

For a beauty brand with exceptional green credentials, turn to UpCircle’s collection of organic, vegan, cruelty-free formulas that use by-products from other industries and are housed in recyclable packaging. A stand-out product from the brand is this mineral face SPF that we found surprisingly lightweight, moisturising and super blendable, leaving no white cast behind.

Infused with upcycled raspberry seed oil that’s left over by the juicing industry, the formula is also high in antioxidants to fight free radical skin damage. What makes this even more eco-friendly than its competition is, if you send the glass jar back to the brand, it will refill it for £22.39.

The banana bright eye cream and vitamin C serum from Ole Henriksen are so well-loved that we had high expectations for this new mineral SPF, but it still managed to exceed them. Perhaps it’s to be expected, when the UV filters are paired with powerhouse clinical-grade vitamin C in the formula: backed by science to not only protect skin from sun damage but correct it, too – making this is a powerful little tube.

It has a light, naturally zesty fragranced, and absorbs in an instant, without any ashy finish. Instead, it leaves behind a beautiful instant glow, thanks to its light-reflecting mineral pigments. It’s further enhanced with skin-hydrating and soothing niacinamide and aloe leaf juice. Meanwhile, vitamin C’s skin-brightening and rejuvenating abilities make this ideal for those concerned about dark spots or signs of ageing.

For those who like a pared-back routine, we found this mineral SPF so moisturising you could skip day cream and use it on its own during the summer months. The hydration comes courtesy of niacinamide and vitamin E, while antioxidants and non-nano zinc oxide work together to protect the skin. Super lightweight, the gel-cream formula absorbs in an instant and doesn’t leave any residue behind – making it ideal for all skin tones and types. We found it sits well underneath make-up, making it a great everyday base as well as one to pack for the beach.

Flying the flag for physical sun creams for many years, Green People has a superb mineral sunscreen offering, including this SPF 30, which is also certified organic. Just as the name suggests, its natural line-up is fragrance-free – a bonus for those with sensitive skin or those who suffer from inflammatory issues.

This formula is water-repellent, too, making it a great all-rounder if you’re looking for an option the whole family can use. Plus, we love that the brand gives 20p to the Marine Conservation Society for every bottle sold – a nice touch.

A cult-favourite Australian SPF brand, Ultra Violette has a first-rate range of sunscreens, or “skinscreens”, as it calls them. This mineral formulation is designed not only for sensitive but oilier, reactive skin types, too. A next-generation zinc-only sunscreen with a subtle tint and mattifying effect, it disappears quickly into the skin, leaving zero chalkiness and just a comfortable shine-free finish.

It’s infused with Aussie favourite Kakadu plum, which is rich in antioxidants and skin-protecting vitamin C. Plus, there’s no denying the bright blue and neon packaging adds to the product’s appeal (the brand is often spotted on Instagram).

For the beauty-savvy, this brand needs no introduction. If it’s yet to cross your path, you should know the brand’s philosophy is that its skincare contains no nasties. It avoids what it calls “the suspicious six”: essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones fragrances/dyes, SLS and chemical sunscreens. It’s therefore a given, then, that the brand’s SPF offering is a mineral formula and a cracking one at that – leaving skin glowing, thanks to the added antioxidants and virgin marula oil for nourishment.

It comes in a tinted and non-tinted formula, of which our tester prefers the former – you’re likely to too, if you have a light to medium skin tone, as the tint allows you to skip applying coverage on top of the sunscreen. However, those with very fair or darker skin tones should stick to the non-tinted version.

With more than 30 years in the sun cream business, Ultrasun has produced some outstanding SPF formulations over the years – including this mineral option. Simply work it into the body and watch it disappear, leaving a mattifying effect. Available in SPF 30 and SPF 50 versions, to protect you from skin-burning UVB rays, this product also provides a high UVA filter of 95 per cent, helping to guard against signs of ageing. On top of that, it promises to protect against infrared-A and blue light. This one covers all bases.

When it comes to this much-loved Brazilian brand’s new mineral suncare trio, it’s hard to choose between the body oil, lotion and this spray. For ease of application and on-the-go topping up, however, this one has the edge. The formula is infused with the brand’s ‘Cheirosa 87’ floral fragrance, bursting with tuberose, ylang ylang and vanilla, and we spritzed it all over on the hottest day of the year and got multiple compliments.

There’s much more to this product than its heavenly scent, though. Ideal for beach holidays, the refreshing mist cools the skin on application and is water resistant for up to 40 minutes. It’s also packed with skin-loving ingredients, to hydrate and brighten the skin tone, as well as powerful antioxidants that protect the skin further from damaging UV rays.

Tatcha has once again impressed us with its game-changing product innovation – this time developing a skincare-meets-mineral-SPF formulation that’s truly lightweight. The Japanese-US fusion brand does not exaggerate when it describes this formula as being “light as air”, and it provided our skin with nothing but comfort and a silky, soft-to-the-touch complexion with a radiant finish.

The formula is loaded with some of the best hydrating actives, such as hyaluronic acid, squalane and silk extract, which is further teamed with niacinamide to minimise the look of pores and to even the skin tone. We love it so much, we only marked it down due to its price tag but, to be honest, it’s so multitasking – essentially a moisturiser, SPF and primer all in one – it’s worth every penny.

New Zealand organic skincare brand Antipodes prides itself as a scientific green beauty brand with an extensive selection of plant-powered and vegan products. The brand has just launched this broad-spectrum facial sunscreen that’s met one of the strictest standards for sunscreen protection in Australia, where only the best formulations are approved.

It gets our approval for many more qualities. It’s rich but non-greasy and may apply white but turns sheer, adding glow to the skin. This makes it sit well under make-up, without interfering with products on top. We also like that it’s enriched with skin-strengthening ceramides, to boost the skin barrier that sun exposure weakens.

Making its debut in the UK, Canadian sustainable personal-care brand Attitude has a range of vegan mineral sunscreen sticks housed in 100 per cent plastic-free, biodegradable cardboard tubes. There are face sticks to choose from (including a tinted version), and larger body sticks, including this unscented version, which is ideal for delicate skin and children, so the whole family can use it.

Initially, we were put off by the stick’s white colour, but it applied much sheerer and, once massaged in, offered white-cast free UVA and UVB protection while feeling nourishing for the skin. Apart from high eco credentials, what makes this product stand out is it offers a practical way to top up mess-free, as well as being easy to take on the go.