The 4 Best Sunscreens Tested as Safe and Effective

I was recently contacted by Reviews.com about their latest tests to find the best sunscreens.  I am not being compensated for this post, but if you purchase anything through links on this page I may receive a small percentage (enough to boost my spirits!)  The bottom line is that I am sharing with you which sunscreens are the best for various purposes, such as:

• Best Coverage
• Best for Sensitive Skin
• Best for Face, and
• Best for Physical Activity.

Age doesn’t matter.  We all want to get the best for our money.  So it’s nice to have access to the results of products tested for the best, and to check reviews before buying.

We also need the sun for vitamin D.  But it’s important to make sure we’re not overdoing it, so protection against too much sun is important for balance.

I especially love this review because the winning products are safe for sensitive skin, and contain natural and organic ingredients.

After researching 135 sunscreens, Reviews.com tested 20 products for coverage and skin feel and found four favorites.

So without further ado, here are the winners:

Best Coverage

Alba Botanica fragrance-free mineral sunscreen is the winner for Best Coverage at Reviews.com.  It also was the Readers’ Choice Award Winner in the Allure beauty awards in 2017.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment.  In their research of the best sunscreens, they concluded “overall this product scores well and is a top choice for sun protection.”  However, in their 2018 Guide to Sunscreens, EWG cautions that safe sunning begins with other protections:  wearing clothes such as t-shirts and hats, wearing sunglasses, going outdoors when the sun is lower such as early morning and late afternoon, keeping in the shade, checking the UV index, and watching out not to get burned.

Review.com found that Alba Botanica fragrance-free sunscreen’s moisturizing ingredients made it silky to apply and quick to absorb.  They pointed out that there is no scent to irritate your nose or sensitive skin. And it was one of the best sunscreens at protecting against UV radiation.

According to Alba Botanica, this product contains broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection against sunburn, skin cancer and premature signs of aging. Made with mineral sunscreen ingredients, it is water resistant up to 80 minutes after it is applied. It is a lightweight lotion containing Sunflower Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil and Aloe Vera which soften and moisturize skin while Grape Seed Oil and Vitamin E provide powerful antioxidant protection. It is free of oxybenzone, octinoxate, PABA, nano-sunscreens and Vitamin A.  Alba Botanica sunscreens are free of active ingredients that may harm coral reefs.  Ultimately, it is good for sensitive skin.

Best for Sensitive Skin

According to Review.com, Badger Lavender Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 performed almost as well as the Alba Botanica in their coverage test and contains far fewer ingredients — thus fewer potential allergens. One of those ingredients, lavender oil, gives the sunscreen a strong aroma, though lavender is not an unpleasant scent. Although Alba Botanica is good for sensitive skin, Badger was chosen as best.  It has fewer potential allergens and you get the bonus of a safely scented product.  The reviewers found that the lotion was harder to get out of the tube than the Alba Botanica and took longer to fade on the skin, but they still consider it a solid choice as a milder sunscreen.

Best for Face

MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen is the most expensive of the lot here, with a 1.7-ounce tube priced around $30, so it’s a bit much to use on your entire body.  But the small tube is perfect for exclusive use on the face and coverage on the go. The 17 percent zinc oxide, two percent titanium dioxide formula was found to be thin without being runny, and it absorbed well, leaving zero white residue in its wake.  While it didn’t perform as highly in the reviewers’ sun-sensitive paper test as some other finalists, it scored points for its gentle and light feel.

MDSolarSciences is a lightweight, “barely there” broad spectrum sunscreen that provides maximum protection and leaves a matte finish. It’s silky smooth and blends quickly.  A pea-sized amount was found to be enough to cover the entire face.  Best of all, it’s hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (meaning good for you!)

Best for Physical Activity

Badger SPF 35 Sport Sunscreen Cream is chosen as best for more active endeavors.  It is designed to last up to 80 minutes of sweating and swimming. The 22.5 percent zinc oxide formula finished in the top three of Review.com’s paper test, proving its high quality coverage. (See their website for how they conducted testing.)  They noted that since Badger Sport sunscreen is formulated more for heavy-duty wear than casual coverage, it doesn’t absorb as well as its lavender counterpart and has a distinct papery smell. But for active summer days, it accomplishes its most important goal — keeping your skin safe.

One of Badger’s simplest sunscreens, this one has just 5 ingredients and no added scent.  It is 100% Certified Natural and 94% Certified Organic.  With all this and an antioxidant-rich Sunflower Oil base, it’s toughly protective and gentle on your skin.

About Reviews.com

Reviews.com is always focused on finding the best of everything.  Their top research categories include products for home, beauty, fitness and finances.  Fitness products they have reviewed include yoga mats, exercise bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines.  Beauty products that they have covered are eyeliner, eye cream, mascara and face moisturizer.  If you like their top sunscreen picks, you might like to check out their other reviews.

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