11 Best Sunscreens, WIRED Tested and Reviewed
I haven’t always been a fan of sunscreen. Even the best sunscreens felt gross and made me break out. Like so many millennials, I didn’t understand the risks of turning into a lobster at the beach when I was in high school or spending hours in tanning beds before prom. I know better now and thankfully sunscreens have come a long way in terms of formula and feel. I now put it on every day, hoping to undo my sun-worshipping sins, or at least prevent further damage.
“Wearing sunscreen is so important because it protects us from harmful UV rays that can lead to sunburn, premature aging, and even skin cancer,” says Ellen Marmur, board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare. “Because of these risks, I recommend wearing sunscreen every day. Whether you drive your car, go to the beach, or even just fly, sunscreen plays a vital role in protecting your skin.”
OK, so we’ve established that sunscreen is important. But once you commit to daily wear, choosing sunscreen can be a daunting task. There are many options and they are really very different. If you want to explore further than our top pick, Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreenwe spoke with skincare experts and tested them throughout the year. Here’s what you need to know to help you choose the sunscreen that’s right for you, plus our top picks for the best sunscreens available today.
For more outdoor guides, check out our guides to the best lightweight hiking boots, the best merino wool clothing, and the best electric cargo bikes.
Updated May 2026: We’ve added new options from La Roche-Posay, Good Weather Skin, and Tubby Todd. We’ve also moved some older recommendations to an honorable mentions list and updated links and prices.
Mineral vs. Chemical sunscreens
Sunscreen can provide protection in two main ways: physically or chemically. Mineral sunscreens create a physical barrier that sits on the skin and reflects UV rays away from you. Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients that penetrate the skin and absorb UV rays, converting them into heat released by your body. Some sunscreen formulas use a hybrid of mineral and chemical ingredients.
There are pros and cons to each type of sunscreen. Mineral formulations leave a white cast (unless tinted) and tend to be thicker and heavier than chemical sunscreens. They’re often gentler and are less likely to cause irritation, making them a good option for people with sensitive skin, says Marmur. They are also safer for the environment and cause less damage to coral reefs.
Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, do not leave marks and are lighter on the skin. Because they sink deeper, you may find that they hold up better to sweaty activities, says Marmur. The downside? Some ingredients in chemical sunscreens can cause skin irritation for some.
“Avobenzone destabilizes when exposed to light and is a possible cause of dermatitis,” says Marmur. Some products contain stabilizing agents to help prevent this. Two other chemical sunscreens, oxybenzone and octinoxate, have been banned in Key West, Florida and Hawaii due to their harmful impact on marine life, and there are concerns that these ingredients may cause hormonal disruption in humans, although there is not enough evidence to support this hypothesis.
SPF stands for sun protection factor, and the rating refers specifically to how well a product combats UVB rays. “The difference in protection percentage between SPF 30 and SPF 100 is quite small, and probably much smaller than you would expect,” says Marmur. For example, SPF 30 ensures that 97% of UVB rays are blocked, while SPF 50 increases this percentage to 98 and SPF 100 increases it to 99%. So higher is technically better, but there’s not a huge difference in the protection you get.
“That being said, I would recommend using sunscreen with at least SPF 30, because it typically has a similar percentage of protection as an SPF as high as 100,” adds Marmur. Regardless of the SPF rating, you want a product that provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
Given what we know about sunscreen and the safety of common ingredients, “the benefits of wearing it far outweigh the risks,” says Marmur. Not only is wearing sunscreen regularly a matter of safety, it’s one of the best things you can do to prevent premature aging. “Good SPF habits are now like money in the bank, insurance against expensive lasers to remove sun damage or, even worse, surgery and scarring from skin cancers,” says Marmur.
Many of the concerns raised about oxybenzone are related to studies done on rats, in which the animals were fed the compound. According to an analysis by the Archives of Dermatological Research, it would take a human 277 years of oxybenzone sunscreen use to get an equivalent dose of the chemical that caused adverse effects in rats. Oxybenzone is also found in many products used, such as nail polish, hairspray and plastics. “There have been no reported cases of proven adverse systemic reactions to sunscreens,” says Marmur. “But there are millions of skin cancers each year, directly linked to the sun’s UV rays that damage the skin’s DNA.”
That being said, there are certain ingredients you should avoid.
Marmur recommends avoiding added fragrance in sunscreen products, especially for people with sensitive skin. Avobenzone, a common chemical ingredient in sunscreens, can cause skin irritation in some people. Retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A used in some sunscreens, has been reported to increase the risk of skin cancer when exposed to the sun. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are particularly harmful to coral reefs. None of the sunscreens on this list contain oxybenzone, octinoxate, or retinyl palmitate.
What are reef safe sunscreens?
The designations “reef safe” and “reef friendly” are not regulated. So brands can use these terms as marketing tools without getting certification, and that doesn’t mean a product won’t cause problems. any harm the environment. However, there are certain sunscreens that have less impact on marine ecosystems than others. In general, mineral sunscreens are less damaging to corals than chemical creams.
