The Best Mineral Sunscreens

If I could give my younger self one piece of skin care advice, it would be to wear sunscreen! I was a child of the 70’s and 80’s and we knew about wearing sunscreen, but we didn’t fully understand how vitally important it was. Ladies, it’s never too late to start wearing sunscreen and today I’m sharing my favorite mineral sunscreens that can be worn alone or under makeup.

I adhere to a complex skin care routine (see it here). I always tell women not to waste their time or money on a skin care routine unless you are going to wear sunscreen EVERY SINGLE DAY! It’s that important. This time of year, I get a lot of questions about what sunscreens I wear, so here are my favorite mineral sunscreens, which I primarily wear on my face and neck.

About Sunscreen

As you probably already know, there are basically two types of sunscreens…chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays and then converting them to heat and then releasing them from the body. Mineral sunscreens create a barrier on your skin that reflects the UV light. Mineral sunscreens are generally less irritating, so I recommend using them on your face and neck.

The Dreaded White Cast From Mineral Sunscreens

The biggest obstacle to overcome with mineral sunscreens is the dreaded white cast that they can leave on your skin. No one wants this look, but now there are so many new tinted formulas that this problem is easy to deal with. You just need to find the right tint and formula for your skin. Read on for my recommendations.

What is SPF?

The Sun Protective Factor (SPF) is a measure of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from harmful UVB rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends as SPF of 30 or higher.

What Does PA+ Mean?

You might have noticed that many sunscreens have a PA rating. This is the protection grade of UVA rays. So the higher the PA+ rating the better it blocks the UVA rays.

PA++ = Moderate UVA protection. PA+++ = High UVA protection. PA++++ = Extremely High UVA protection.

How Much Sunscreen Should You Use?

“To get the protection labeled on the product, you would need to replicate the application they do in the lab, which is 2 milligrams per square centimeter for the average person. That translates to half a teaspoon on face and neck combined — a quarter teaspoon each — and 1 teaspoon per arm and leg each, front and back,” says board-certified dermatologist Ranella Hirsch. “Realistically, people use somewhere around half of that amount.”

I would recommend keeping a measuring spoon in your bathroom until you get used to what this amount really looks like.

My Favorite Mineral Sunscreens For Mature Skin

I have tested several mineral sunscreens, and I can recommend a few of my favorites for you. I use mineral sunscreens on my face and neck because it is less irritating to the skin, does not cause breakouts, and isn’t greasy feeling.

Mineral sunscreens are notorious for leaving a white cast on the skin, so I always use a tinted mineral sunscreen to avoid this. Also, my mineral sunscreen must wear well under makeup because I wear sunscreen every day…all year around.

Undefined Beauty R&R Sun Serum

First is this R&R Sun Serum Tinted Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen. It has an SPF of 50 and a PA++++ rating. It has a thin consistency and is very moisturizing. If you have oily skin, you probably won’t like this one. My skin is mostly dry these days, and I find that it works well for my skin even in the summer.

This wears beautifully under foundation and retails on Amazon for just $27.99 for 1.7 oz.

Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46

This is one of my all time favorites, and I’ve been recommending this mineral sunscreen to friends for years. It’s a little expensive, but worth it in my opinion. Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 retails for $36 for 21.18 oz. It has an SPF of 46 and wears well under all the foundations I have worn. Plus, it also contains some good skin care ingredients!

Neutrogena Purescreen + Mineral UV Tint

I’m excited to share this newer one with you! I’ve been looking for a more affordable option and I found this Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint. It comes in four shades from light to deep. I use the shade light in the fall and winter, and medium in the spring and summer.

This has a thin consistency that applies easily and wears well under makeup. I really like this one for summer because it’s less expensive and it’s not uncommon for me to shower twice a day and reapply. It retails for approximately $18.99 for 1 oz and has an SPF of 30.

Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50

If you have very dry skin, this might not be hydrating enough for you, but this is definitely still on my list of favorites for mature skin. It’s $12.74 for 3 oz. making it very affordable. Australian Gold Mineral Sunscreen comes in 4 shades. I wear the shade fair/light under makeup, and the medium/tan alone on a no makeup day.

Mineral Powder Sunscreen

This is the Derma-E Sun Protection Mineral Powder in SPF 30, which is a nice product to carry in your purse for touching up your makeup if you get shiny during the day. If you like powder foundations, you could substitute this instead.

My mature skin looks better with a liquid foundation and sunscreen, but I do like to keep this for reapplying over my makeup if needed.

Neutrogena Purescreen Mineral Invisible Daily Defense Face Liquid

The newest mineral sunscreen formula that I have tried is the Neutrogena Mineral Invisible Daily Defense Face Liquid. This sunscreen offers an SPF 30 and goes on with a slight tint that dries down invisible on your skin. You will love the price on this one…only $11.79 for 1.4 oz. This does not have enough tint for me to wear alone; however, it blends well under makeup.

What are some of your favorite mineral sunscreens? Share in the comments down below!

Shop Today’s Post: