We Tested Over a Dozen Body Sunscreens — These Are the Best for Full Protection

Best Overall

Sun Bum Daily 50 Body Lotion

$24 $21 at Amazon $24 at Target $24 at Ulta

Why We Like It

We loved that Sun Bum Daily 50 Body Lotion absorbed quickly, moisturized our skin, and didn't have any white cast. Since this is a body lotion with SPF, it's a great choice for daily use to both moisturize and protect. During testing, it left our skin hydrated and glowing. And although it has a slight sunscreen scent, it was never overpowering or bothersome.

A little goes a long way with this light and creamy pick, so even with daily use the bottle will last you a while. You don't need much of this since it spreads so nicely, and the pump bottle design makes it even easier to apply. We appreciated that it fully absorbed into our skin and didn't leave behind any oily residue. Plus, at the end of the day our skin felt extra moisturized.

It's Worth Noting

• Compared to other daily body lotions this took a bit of work to rub in.

Product Details

• SPF: 50
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical

Best Spray

Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Spray

$19 $16 at Amazon $18 at Target $19 at Ulta

Why We Like It

Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Spray is one of the easiest SPFs to use that we've tested. It absorbs in a flash, leaving no white cast behind. It was very convenient to use at the pool and on the beach, providing reliable protection without feeling heavy. It's lightweight and didn't cause irritation, even on eczema-prone skin. We also really enjoyed the pleasant beachy scent of this sunscreen spray.

This pick has a continuous, steady spray stream and covers a large area at once, making application quick and painless. It goes on feeling and looking pretty wet, which we found convenient to see if we missed any spots on ourselves or our wiggly kids. It gave our skin a slight sheen but didn't feel too greasy or oily, making it a great pick for the whole family to use.

It's Worth Noting

• This goes on feeling pretty greasy, so be careful about what you touch before it fully absorbs.

Product Details

• SPF: 30
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical

Best Stick

Banana Boat Sport Ultra Sunscreen Stick

$12 $8 at Amazon

Why We Like It

If you're on the hunt for a sunscreen that's quick and easy to apply, the Banana Boat Sport Ultra Sunscreen Stick is for you. The fast stick application process made it perfect for outdoor family activities, and it worked just as well for kids as it did for adults. We really appreciated that the surface size of the stick was larger than other sunscreens we've used, allowing for faster application.

This sunscreen absorbed quickly into our skin and left very minimal oily residue behind. While it feels a bit greasy going on, it rubs in well with minimal effort and that feeling all but disappears. We didn't experience any irritation either, even on sensitive skin and with multiple reapplications throughout the day. Plus, this stick sunscreen didn't leave any white cast on dark skin.

It's Worth Noting

• This left behind a small amount of oily residue, which can get on clothing and furniture and may stain dark colored fabrics.

Product Details

• SPF: 50+
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical

Best for Everyday Wear

Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion

$36 at Amazon $36 at Ulta View on Supergoop.com

Why We Like It

Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion is a great option for people who are outside often and need to slather up daily. Ask any dermatologist and they will tell you to wear sunscreen every day, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. This lightweight pick goes on smoothly and absorbs fast, making it a no-brainer for daily wear.

This sunscreen doesn't leave a white cast, felt almost invisible on our skin, and provided excellent protection during outdoor activities. It's important to note that while we tested the SPF 30 version of this sunscreen, it's also available in SPF 50. As one of their bestsellers, the SPF 50 version is available in a large pump bottle as well as smaller sizes.

“I love that this product comes in a jumbo size with a pump top, which helps people apply the amount of sunscreen needed to fully protect the body (a shot glass),” explains Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology. “Most people don't apply enough, and a smaller bottle only makes that worse as it feels wasteful to finish a bottle of sunscreen so quickly! This product is also water and sweat resistant, which is a nice feature to have in a body sunscreen, especially in warm weather.”

It's Worth Noting

• This may feel a bit pricey for an everyday body sunscreen, but Supergoop! does offer a value size bottle.

Product Details

• SPF: 30
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical

Best for Darker Skin

Black Girl Sunscreen

$11 $8 at Amazon $16 at Target $18 at Walgreens

Why We Like It

Black Girl Sunscreen is a light, water-resistant pick that not only offers UVA and UVB protection, but is also made specifically for darker skin. This was easy to apply and absorbed into our skin fast, and it kept our dry skin moisturized. Even in a hot and sticky heatwave this performed great, never making us feel too slick or oily.

Made by women of color for women of color, this sunscreen is a good pick for those with darker skin tones because it doesn't leave behind any white cast. It's very lightweight, and it made our skin feel smooth and soft all day long.

It's Worth Noting

• This sunscreen may cause breakouts on oilier skin.

Product Details

• SPF: 30
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical

Best Water Resistant

Blue Lizard Sport Mineral-Based Sunscreen

$35 at Amazon

Why We Like It

We really liked that the Blue Lizard Sport Mineral-Based Sunscreen absorbed fairly quickly and didn't leave even a trace of white behind, which is impressive for a mineral sunscreen. It made our skin feel moisturized, and while it felt a bit like wearing a heavy lotion it wasn't uncomfortable to wear all day. This creamy sunscreen was easy to apply because it rubs in so evenly, and despite leaving a slightly oily residue it never transferred to our clothing.

Blue Lizard uses a unique dye in their packaging that changes color when exposed to UV light. As soon as your bottle changes color, you know you're being exposed to UV rays and it's time to apply some sunscreen. We appreciated the reminder to reapply throughout the day when we noticed the bottle's color.

It's Worth Noting

• This pick has a heavier, oilier feel than many of the chemical sunscreens on our list, which isn't uncommon for mineral-based sunscreens.

Product Details

• SPF: 50+
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Mineral

Best Lightweight

Coola Clear Sunscreen Spray

$12 at Amazon $28 at Sephora $28 at Sephora

Why We Like It

Coola Clear Sunscreen Spray is super lightweight and absorbed into our skin immediately. It's non-greasy formula didn't leave a white cast anywhere on our bodies. In fact, it basically felt like we weren't wearing anything. This sunscreen is very easy to rub in, not that it even needs much rubbing. Since it soaks in so easily we never had problems with it getting on clothing or furniture, making it a good everyday pick as well. It also left our skin with a nice glow sans stickiness or greasiness.

We really loved using this at the beach because it kept our skin feeling hydrated while being in the sun all day. Plus, no sand stuck to us like it does with other sunscreens we've used. This is easy to reapply for all-day wear and never gave the feeling of product building up on our skin.

It's Worth Noting

• For the relatively high price, we found this to be pretty on par with drugstore sunscreens we've used.

Product Details

• SPF: 50
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical

Best for Oily Skin

Cay Skin Isle Nourishing Body Mist

View on Cayskin.com

Why We Like It

The fast-absorbing Cay Skin Isle Nourishing Body Mist left our oily skin with a lovely matte finish. This non-greasy formula quickly became our go-to spray SPF during testing, and we highly recommend it whether for beach vacations or for daily wear. It left us with a subtle glow and no oily feeling, perfect no matter our plans for the day.

We were seriously impressed with the smooth matte feeling this gave our skin immediately after spraying it on, which was unlike anything we've experienced with a sunscreen before. It was hassle-free to reapply every couple hours and never transferred to our clothes. As an added bonus, this didn't require any rubbing in and absorbed almost instantly. For someone with oily skin, this sunscreen will provide a healthy glow without any greasy discomfort.

It's Worth Noting

• This has a strong scent that reminded us a bit of rubbing alcohol, which could be off-putting.

Product Details

• SPF: 50
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical

Best for Dry Skin

EltaMD UV AOX Mist

$46 at Amazon View on Eltamd.com $46 at Bluemercury.com

Why We Like It

EltaMD UV AOX Mist is another great spray sunscreen we tested, and it's especially good for drier skin because it leaves skin feeling silky and hydrated. We used this sunscreen for daily broad spectrum protection and on beach trips, and it performed well in both scenarios. It also left our dry skin feeling extra moisturized after a few days of use and didn't irritate sensitive skin either.

The lightweight, non-greasy formula absorbs so well that we forgot we had any sunscreen on at all. Plus it never left any white cast, making it great to spray and go in the morning. The spray stayed put on humid days and during sweaty activities, too.

This sunscreen mist has a very continuous spray stream, making it easy to reapply even on a windy beach. We found it perfect for quickly spraying on and rubbing in before going into the water, and never got that sticky sandy feeling that we often associate with a beach day.

It's Worth Noting

• This sunscreen is relatively expensive compared to others on our list, but we feel it performed well enough to justify the price.

Product Details

• SPF: 40
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 40 minutes
• Type: Mineral

Best for Sensitive Skin

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Water-Lotion Sunscreen

$38 $32 at Amazon $38 at Walmart View on Dermstore

Why We Like It

If you have sensitive skin, the cooling effect of La Roche-Posay Anthelios Water-Lotion Sunscreen may just be your saving grace. We liked that a little goes a long way with this pick. The lightweight, non-greasy formula didn't leave a white cast and the somewhat watery texture is very easy to rub in. While you can feel this on your skin, it's smooth and silky rather than greasy. We loved that as soon as we applied this sunscreen we felt a cooling, soothing sensation that was very refreshing to irritated skin and in hot weather.

Since this doesn't create any sticky feeling on skin, it's a great pick for the beach. Sand didn't get stuck to us, even right after reapplication, and sweat and water seemed to roll right off. It never left any residue on our clothing, jewelry or hair either. Reapplying was a breeze as well, as it never pilled or felt heavy even after a few applications.

It's Worth Noting

• We needed to apply this fairly frequently to feel like we were getting adequate sun protection, especially on humid days or during sweaty activities.

Product Details

• SPF: 60
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical

Best Mineral Lotion

Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance Body Lotion

$30 at Amazon View on Soldejaneiro.com

Why We Like It

The Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance Body Lotion is a mineral lotion with SPF 50 that hydrates skin while offering broad spectrum protection. It absorbed wonderfully into our skin and left a clear, subtle glow without any white cast, which is always a plus for zinc oxide SPF products. This lotion is thicker than many chemical sunscreens we've tried, but it was not as goopy as other mineral sunscreens we've used.

The thick consistency of this sunscreen lotion keeps it from getting runny and messy while applying, and the small tip of the bottle allows for very precise application.

This lotion felt luxurious to use, and its full of hydrating ingredients like cupuaçu butter and niacinamide to help brighten and even skin tone. The light-reflecting formula gave us a nice illuminating shimmer without going overboard. It also has a pleasing tropical scent, which Sol de Janeiro products are known for.

It's Worth Noting

• This lotion can feel a little heavy on the skin.

Product Details

• SPF: 50
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: No
• Type: Mineral

Best for Outdoor Activities

EltaMD UV Sport

$31 at Amazon $30 $29 at Walmart $31 at Dermstore

Why We Like It

If you spend a lot of time outside, consider reaching for EltaMD UV Sport. We love that this pick is water-resistant up to 80 minutes and never dripped into our eyes when we got sweaty. It rubs in without leaving a white cast and feels light and breathable during outdoor activities. And if you've ever felt like sunscreen causes irritation when you sweat, this pick is for you. It didn't irritate sensitive areas of our bodies and we didn't feel like it blocked our sweat either.

We primarily tested this during hot outdoor runs and intense workouts, and it kept us feeling protected without feeling coated in sticky sunscreen. This never left a greasy or oily residue behind after rubbing it in, and it also never transferred to our clothing even when we were sweating heavily. For an extra bonus, this sunscreen also has a very pleasant scent.

“My fellow derms and I love this formula. It uses a blend of mineral and chemical sunscreens to deliver SPF 50 protection, isn't greasy, and stays put on super hot days, making it great for really active individuals,” explains Dr. Yadav.

It's Worth Noting

• We wish this came in a larger bottle for the price, and it takes a bit of work to rub in on hairier areas.

Product Details

• SPF: 50+
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical and mineral

Easiest to Apply

Supergoop! PLAY Antioxidant Mist

View on Amazon $24 at Sephora $24 at Nordstrom

Why We Like It

If you're on the hunt for a sunscreen that's quick and easy to apply, Supergoop! PLAY Antioxidant Mist is the one for you. It's lightweight, non-greasy, and absorbed into our skin fast without leaving a white cast. It's a great pick for spraying on before heading out the door or reapplying during a busy day. Plus, it left us with a healthy glow all day long.

We used this spray on the beach and loved that it absorbed fast and didn't make sand stick to us like some sunscreens do. It has an airy, weightless feel, making it painless to reapply outdoors or in the middle of activities. It doesn't leave any oily residue behind as it soaks in, so it never transferred to our clothing, hair or jewelry either.

It's Worth Noting

• This spray sunscreen is a little pricey compared to others on our list.

Product Details

• SPF: 50
• Broad-Spectrum: Yes
• Water-Resistant: Yes, 80 minutes
• Type: Chemical