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A hand model applies sunscreen to their wrist area Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

The Best Organic Sunscreens of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

A hand model applies sunscreen to their wrist area Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

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Product image of Two Peas Organics Mineral-Based Sunscreen

Two Peas Organics Mineral-Based Sunscreen

An organic formula with a short ingredient list, Two Peas Sunscreen is a thick high-zinc oxide sunscreen that requires a bit of rubbing to blend in. Read More

Pros

  • NSF certified
  • Short ingredient list
  • U.S. sourced and bottled

Cons

  • Thick formula
  • Leaves a white tint
Product image of Goddess Garden Organics SPF 30 Everyday Sunscreen

Goddess Garden Organics SPF 30 Everyday Sunscreen

Currently
Unavailable

If you’re looking for a EWG-endorsed sunscreen with a low hazard rating, Goddess Garden Organics has several options with less zinc. Read More

Pros

  • NSF certified
  • Small business
  • Lower zinc

Cons

  • Formula tends to separate
  • Difficult to rub in
Product image of Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Sunscreen

Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Sunscreen

For a mineral-based sunscreen spray, the Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Sunscreen offers a fragrance-free option with some organic ingredients. Read More

Pros

  • Cruelty-free guarantee
  • Organic botanical additions
  • Fragrance free

Cons

  • Not certified organic
  • Issues with sprayer
Product image of Raw Elements Certified Natural Sunscreen Face + Body SPF 30

Raw Elements Certified Natural Sunscreen Face + Body SPF 30

For a plastic-free option, the Raw Elements sunscreen offers a high-zinc oxide formula with a unique scent. Read More

Pros

  • 95% certified organic
  • Reusable tin

Cons

  • Smells odd to some
  • Waxy feel
Product image of Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 50+ Sunscreen

Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 50+ Sunscreen

The Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen is lightweight and comfortable to wear, but it’s hard to rub in and even harder to remove in the shower. Read More

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable to wear

Cons

  • Chemical smell
  • Hard to reapply
  • Noticeable white cast

The best organic sunscreens

The best organic sunscreens protect your skin from sunburn while also minimizing your impact on the environment—the reefs, animals, and the rest of the ecosystem. Ideally, the sunscreen is certified organic with an endorsement through the USDA or NSF, but the percentage of organic ingredients varies from one product to the next. While all the sunscreens on this list advertise that they do not test on animals, only some are certified through Leaping Bunny or endorsed by PETA. As far as reef-safe requirements, we used the HEL list to eliminate some sunscreens and noted whether a given sunscreen also contained the three chemicals that’ll be banned in Hawaii beginning in 2023.

To help you find the right sunscreen, we dug through thousands of reviews for a variety of great options available online. Based on our research, these are some of the best organic sunscreens you can get right now.

Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Product image of Two Peas Organics Mineral-Based Sunscreen
Two Peas Organics Mineral-Based Sunscreen

With only nine components, the Two Peas Organics chemical-free mineral sunscreen has an appealingly short ingredients list. The high amount of zinc oxide appears to make it show up very visibly on your skin, so be prepared to buff this one in. Reviewers liked the feel of the formula, but noted you might need to work it in the tube a bit before trying to apply it. Like the other sunscreens on this list, Two Peas uses non-nano zinc oxide, so this formula is reef-safe. The organics claim is supported by NSF, verifying it contains at least 70% organic ingredients. Leaping Bunny certifies that this sunscreen is not tested on animals. This sunscreen is also available in an SPF 50 version.

Pros

  • NSF certified

  • Short ingredient list

  • U.S. sourced and bottled

Cons

  • Thick formula

  • Leaves a white tint

Product image of Goddess Garden Organics SPF 30 Everyday Sunscreen
Goddess Garden Organics SPF 30 Everyday Sunscreen

As a small business, Goddess Garden Organics is starting to build a reputation for their great organic sunscreens. This sunscreen is endorsed by the EWG as a-low hazard product, using titanium dioxide (6.4%) and zinc oxide (6%) for active ingredients. With a lower zinc oxide percentage, this improved formula should have a reduced white cast and show up less on darker skin. Some reviewers preferred the spray version, noting it smoothed on easier than the tube. Other shoppers felt that the consistency was fairly normal and suggested keeping an eye on the expiry date, since the consistency changes then.

Pros

  • NSF certified

  • Small business

  • Lower zinc

Cons

  • Formula tends to separate

  • Difficult to rub in

Product image of Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Sunscreen
Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Sunscreen

Babo’s Sheer Zinc Sunscreen is a mineral sunscreen that uses zinc oxide (12%) to provide SPF 30 protection. While this sunscreen contains some organic ingredients, it’s not properly certified as organic. The cruelty-free claim is verified by PETA, and the company meets the standards for B Corp Certification, which implies a range of social benefits from waste management to diversity and inclusion among its workforce).

As a fragrance-free option, some reviewers verified that the smell was very faint. Reviewers liked how quickly the spray dispenses and how well it works on darker skin, though others found that the sprayer clogged easily. It’s not easy to remove, which could be a benefit or an inconvenience depending on your point of view.

Pros

  • Cruelty-free guarantee

  • Organic botanical additions

  • Fragrance free

Cons

  • Not certified organic

  • Issues with sprayer

Product image of Raw Elements Certified Natural Sunscreen Face + Body SPF 30
Raw Elements Certified Natural Sunscreen Face + Body SPF 30

With a high zinc oxide content, at 23%, the texture of this sunscreen was the focus of several reviews. Some folks noted it was very waterproof, calling it “waxy and thick” but difficult to apply. Compared to Raw Element’s other, similar tube sunscreen, the tin seems to be the preferable packaging for this product. The certified organic ingredients had one of the highest percentages on this list, and the animal-cruelty-free claim is verified by Leaping Bunny. There are no ingredients considered harmful to reefs or corals, and the packaging is tin without a plastic liner.

Reviewers commented on the unique smell, describing it as nutty and unique. Some users found the scent unpleasant, but said it dissipated quickly. With the thick texture, one reviewer recommended not reapplying it in sandy environments, but going back to a bathroom to keep sand out of the container.

Pros

  • 95% certified organic

  • Reusable tin

Cons

  • Smells odd to some

  • Waxy feel

Product image of Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 50+ Sunscreen
Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 50+ Sunscreen

Sweat and water resistant for up to 80 minutes, this updated Blue Lizard sensitive sunscreen formula is great for use on the whole family. Free of parabens and fragrance as well as chemical-free active ingredients, this sunscreen is reef safe so you can enjoy the outdoors without worrying about damaging the earth or your skin.

Blue Lizard has created mineral and mineral-based sunscreens for over 20 years with dermatologists approval so you know you can trust them to protect your loved ones. Reviews mention that this sunscreen can be difficult to apply and might leave a white cast for some but for most it seems to dry shiny. This sunscreen might also be a bit hard to wash off but we think that this speaks to the quality of coverage.

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Comfortable to wear

Cons

  • Chemical smell

  • Hard to reapply

  • Noticeable white cast

How does organic sunscreen work?

When it comes to skin protection, organic sunscreen might be a bit different than other products you’ve used. Organic sunscreen is most likely to be a form of mineral sunscreen, offering a physical barrier rather than a chemical layer for UV protection. Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide or titanium oxide for their sunblock, with non-nano-sized being preferred for reduced reef impact. For the best results, make sure your skin’s moisturized to begin with, since the sunscreen will sit on top of your skin, rather than being absorbed like a non-mineral sunblock. Apply mineral sunscreen slowly, covering one area at a time and rubbing until it’s barely visible. Products with a lower zinc oxide percentage—or ones that come in a tinted version—may be less noticeable on darker skin.

Like other sunscreens, mineral sunscreens are rated with a sun protection factor (SPF) that estimates how much sunlight you need to absorb before you get crispy. Don’t think of this as time you can spend in sunlight; think of it in terms of the sun’s brightness or intensity. And the measurement is relative to your skin tone, time of day, and other absorption factors like reflective surfaces. (I’m talking about you, reflective water that burns me quicker than concrete.) While a higher SPF offers more protection, beyond SPF 15, the amount of increased protection is small. For example, the difference between SPF 15 and SPF 70 is the difference between 93% and 98.5%. So if you can’t get your preferred SPF 70, you can relax knowing that SPF 30 will block 97% of the radiation as well.

Meet the testers

Rebecca Boniface

Rebecca Boniface

Contributor

Rebecca Boniface is a certified PADI dive instructor, full-time nomad, and DIY enthusiast.

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Ceara Perez-Murphy

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Staff Writer, Search

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Ceara Perez-Murphy is a staff writer at Reviewed. In her free time she likes trying out new recipes in the kitchen, exploring new restaurants and spending time outdoors with her dogs.

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