There’s no doubt that sunscreen is one of the most important products we can use to protect our skin. Unfortunately, many options on the market are either tested on animals or contain animal-derived ingredients, such as beeswax (produced by bees), collagen (made from animal connective tissue), or lanolin (derived from sheep’s wool).
The good news is that it’s entirely possible to keep your skin protected without harming animals. So we’ve rounded up some of the best vegan, cruelty-free sunscreens available, organized into three categories: everyday protection, sensitive skin, and face. All offer SPF 30 or higher—the minimum level generally recommended for prolonged outdoor activity during the warmer months (and year-round, if you’re following dermatologists’ advice).
At the risk of sounding like a parent (or your mom friend), don’t forget to reapply. Every two hours. After swimming. After heavy sweating. After towel drying. Just reapply, okay?
Best for everyday protection
Sun Bum
1 Sun Bum Sunscreen Spray
Designed to be easy to apply and quick to absorb, Sun Bum’s lightweight sunscreen won’t leave your skin feeling greasy like many traditional formulas. With SPF 70, it offers broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. It’s also formulated with vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps soothe the skin and combat the effects of UV-induced damage.
Shop Amazon, $18.49
Good Molecules
2Good Molecules Sheer Mineral Sunscreen
Designed for all skin tones and types, this SPF 30 mineral sunscreen features a transparent, non-greasy formula. It’s easy to apply and packed with nourishing ingredients, including grapeseed oil, tucuma seed butter, and hyaluronic acid, to help keep skin hydrated and comfortable throughout the day.
shop amazon, $11.99
Supergoop!
3Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen
Supergoop! has built its reputation on making sun protection easy to wear every day, and its best-selling broad-spectrum Unseen Sunscreen is a prime example. With SPF 30, the clear, weightless gel formula blends invisibly into the skin without leaving a white cast or greasy residue.
shop amazon, $38
Alba Botanica
4 Alba Botanica Sunscreen Spray
This SPF 50 sunscreen comes in a lightweight spray formula that feels comfortable on the skin without leaving behind a greasy residue. It’s also packed with nourishing ingredients, including coconut extract, safflower oil, and aloe vera, to help keep skin soft and hydrated while you stay protected from the sun.
shop Amazon, $148.89
Kopari
5 Kopari Beauty Sun Shield Body Glow Gel
Not everyone enjoys the feel of thick, heavy creams on their skin. If that sounds familiar, this gel sunscreen from Kopari Beauty is worth a look. With SPF 50, the weightless formula glides on easily and is infused with nourishing oils and antioxidants to help keep skin hydrated and protected. It also features a light coconut scent for a subtle tropical touch.
shop Amazon, $42
Live Tinted
6 Live Tinted Invisible Sunscreen Stick
Live Tinted has made sun protection as easy as possible with this convenient sunscreen stick. Simply swipe it onto your skin, toss it in your bag, and you’re ready to go. The hydrating SPF 50 formula is ideal for on-the-go reapplication and leaves skin with a healthy, dewy glow rather than a chalky finish.
shop amazon, $30
Best for sensitive skin
Attitude
7Attitude Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Those with super-sensitive skin often need to be a little more selective when choosing sunscreen. Fortunately, this unscented mineral formula from Attitude is gentle, smooth, and easy to apply, thanks to the stick format. Free from chemical UV filters like oxybenzone and octinoxate, as well as artificial dyes, it’s enriched with soothing oat extract to help care for delicate skin. With SPF 30, it offers broad-spectrum protection from the sun’s harmful rays while remaining gentle enough for everyday use.
shop amazon, $22.95
Pipette
8 Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Spray
Few things are more frustrating than applying sunscreen only to be left with a sticky, greasy feeling afterward. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Pipette’s family-friendly mineral spray. With SPF 30, the lightweight formula absorbs quickly and delivers plenty of moisture thanks to sugarcane-derived squalane. Gentle enough for a baby’s delicate skin, it’s also effective at protecting adults and older children from the sun’s harmful rays.
shop amazon, $17.99
Blue Lizard
9 Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen
This Australian sunscreen brand is a popular choice for those with sensitive skin because it’s free from potentially irritating ingredients like fragrances, parabens, and harsh chemical filters. It’s also enriched with vitamin E to help moisturize and soften the skin, while mineral UV filters like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide work by reflecting the sun’s rays. Arguably, though, the coolest feature is the bottle itself. It turns blue when exposed to UV rays, serving as a handy reminder to apply sunscreen. If it’s cloudy and the bottle is still blue? You know what to do.
Shop amazon, $15.99
Bubble
10Bubble Sun Rise Stick
Sunscreen sticks are one of our favorite ways to apply SPF. They’re easy to use, feel moisturizing on the skin, and can be just as effective as lotions and sprays when applied correctly. This option from Bubble not only glides on effortlessly, but it’s also gentle, lightweight, and formulated without common skin irritants. Another bonus? The packaging is undeniably cute.
Shop Ulta, $15
Naturium
11 Naturium UV Reflect Antioxidant
This gentle formula from Naturium does more than protect against the sun’s harmful rays. Thanks to the brand’s InfraGuard technology, it also helps defend against infrared radiation, blue light, and pollution. Meanwhile, a bio-fermented powder blend helps blur the appearance of pores and uneven texture for a soft-focus finish, while raspberry ketone helps soothe sensitive, irritated skin and squalane delivers lightweight hydration.
Shop amazon, $25.49
Best face sunscreens
Black Girl Sunscreen
12 Black Girl Sunscreen Make It Matte
Sunscreen is essential for every skin tone, but many formulas—particularly heavier creams and lotions—can leave an unwanted white cast on darker skin. Black Girl Sunscreen was created to address that issue, helping people of color stay protected year-round without the chalky residue. With SPF 45, this lightweight, gel-like formula is designed specifically for the face and delivers both hydration and broad-spectrum sun protection. It’s also water-resistant, making it a practical choice for everyday wear.
shop amazon, $14.95
e.l.f.
13E.l.f. Suntouchable! Whoa Glow Sunscreen
E.l.f. may be best known for its cosmetics, but its skincare offerings are worth a look, too. This lightweight SPF 30 sunscreen helps protect and nourish the skin while doubling as a makeup primer, making it ideal for everyday wear. It’s also infused with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and squalane to help keep skin smooth, moisturized, and ready for makeup application.
shop amazon, $15
Coola
14Coola Organic Face Sunscreen
If you’re looking for a reliable organic sunscreen, this Coola formula is a strong contender. Made with more than 70 percent organic ingredients, it offers SPF 50 broad-spectrum protection and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, making it a great choice for beach days, poolside lounging, and other outdoor adventures. Just remember: after 80 minutes in the water, or every two hours in general, it’s time to reapply.
shop amazon, $32
MyChelle
15 MyChelle Sun Shield Liquid SPF
This liquid SPF is a multitasking dream for skincare enthusiasts and minimalists alike. The lightweight, mineral-based formula provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays while subtly evening out skin tone with a sheer tint. Easy to blend and comfortable to wear, it helps streamline your routine by combining sun protection and complexion-enhancing coverage in one step.
shop amazon, $27.55
Naked Sundays
16 Naked Sundays SPF Setting Spray
Nobody wants to ruin a full face of makeup with a heavy sunscreen reapplication. That’s where this setting spray from Naked Sundays comes in handy. With SPF 50+, it helps protect your skin from the sun while locking makeup in place. The lightweight mist is also hydrating and easy to apply, making touch-ups throughout the day quick, mess-free, and makeup-friendly.
Shop amazon, $27
For more on vegan skincare, read:
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