How to Choose the Best Mineral Sunscreen
Congratulations! You’ve made the switch to a reef-friendly, mineral-based sunscreen. No more endocrine disruptors, no more synthetic chemicals and carcinogens, and no more coral reef bleaching! Now all you need to do is choose the best mineral sunscreen for you…
But Badger, you make so many incredible sunscreens! How is a person to choose the right one?
Fear not, outdoor adventurer! We have five simple categories to choose from: Active, Sport, Adventure, Kids, and Baby. Within each of these categories, we offer a variety of tins, tubes, sticks—and even an SPF lip balm! No matter the occasion, we’ve got you covered.
ACTIVE SUNSCREENS: Clean, moisturizing SPF 15, 30, and 35 mineral sunscreens for active lifestyles.
These are our most versatile sunscreens. Offering at least 40 minutes of water resistance, they’re moisturizing and won’t sweat into your eyes—the perfect pairing for all your active adventures. With a wide range of SPF values, we’ve got an option for everyone in the family.
When to use Active sunscreens: Hiking, going for a light jog, doing yard work, heading to the farmer’s market, kayaking, or jumping in the pool.
SPORT SUNSCREENS: Clean, moisturizing SPF 40 mineral sunscreens for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
Meet our most popular sunscreens! Offering 80 minutes of water resistance and boasting the reef-friendly Protect Land + Sea Certification, it’s no wonder these zinc oxide sunscreens fly off the shelves. Our Sport formula comes in an infinitely recyclable tin and a squeeze-friendly tube, both perfect for long days in the surf and sun.
When to use Sport sunscreens: Surfing, swimming, playing outdoor sports, cycling, and anywhere a delicate marine ecosystem might be nearby.
ADVENTURE SPORT SUNSCREEN: Clean, moisturizing SPF 50 mineral sunscreen in an infinitely recyclable tin—maximum protection for the boldest adventure seekers.
This is some serious sun protection. We formulated this extreme mineral sunscreen with the highest percentage of zinc oxide allowed by the FDA, so it keeps you protected on any adventure. And with just 4 simple ingredients, it’s also Protect Land + Sea Certified. Now get out there.
When to use Adventure Sport sunscreen: An all-day surf session, an intense day of skiing, a sweaty bike ride… whatever an adventure looks like to you!
KIDS SUNSCREENS: Gentle SPF 35 and 40 Kids mineral sunscreens for playful kids of all ages.
Sunscreen just got a lot more fun! These natural zinc oxide sunscreens are water-resistant for 80 minutes, so they can keep up with long days of summer camp and beach swimming. Plus, they’re formulated with organic tangerine and vanilla for a yummy, kid-approved scent.
When to use Kids sunscreens: Playing at the beach, splashing in the waves, running through the sprinkler, playing tag, or heading to the park.
BABY SUNSCREEN: Gentle, pediatrician-tested SPF 40 mineral sunscreen for babies and toddlers.
This ultra-gentle sunscreen is a favorite among Badger moms and dads. Pediatrician-tested and formulated with natural zinc oxide, it’s crafted with just 7 simple ingredients, including organic chamomile and calendula, to soothe even the most delicate skin.
When to use Baby sunscreen: Whenever you want to keep your little one protected from the sun, without harmful chemicals that might irritate their skin.
Still not sure about which sunscreen to use?
Here are a few of our most frequently asked questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Ask us in the comments below!
What’s the best mineral sunscreen for…
- My face? Just about any of our sunscreens are great options! We would suggest any of our Active sunscreens as they are the lightest sunscreens we offer.
- My baby/children? All of our sunscreens are incredibly safe to use. However, our favorites for babies and kids are our SPF 40 Baby Cream and our Kids line. We took our basic sunscreen formula and added a few extra ingredients to make options specifically for babies and kids of all ages! Need further proof that these products are safe for little ones? All of our Baby and Kids sunscreens are hypoallergenic, and our SPF 40 Baby Sunscreen Cream is even pediatrician-tested.
- Sensitive skin? Again, we only make simple and safe sunscreens. However, we would recommend any of our Sport sunscreens as they have the most basic formulas—only four ingredients!
Don’t forget that the best sun protection is staying in the shade and covering up with extra layers. When you’re trying to choose the best mineral sunscreen, though, no matter the occasion, we have the perfect option for you. Happy outdoor adventures!
Check out Badger’s Mineral Sunscreens.
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Badger replied:
Thank you for your questions! There is no such thing as a complete sunblock, so some sun rays will reach your skin even when you are wearing the highest SPF sunscreens. We recommend choosing a Badger sunscreen with the water-resistance and scent (or unscented) that suits you needs. All of our sunscreens are used regularly for both face and body. All of our sunscreens can be used for both face and body. Our sunscreen creams are made with a very simple base of sunflower oil and beeswax with the addition of jojoba oil and essential oils for scent in our Baby and Kids lines. Our sunscreen face and lip sticks are made with a base of olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, and shea butter with the addition of essential oils for scent in our Kids line. If you’re not sure which one to choose, try our top selling favorite SPF 40 Sport in a tube<https://www.badgerbalm.com/products/sport-mineral-sunscreen-cream-tube-spf-40> or a tin<https://www.badgerbalm.com/products/reef-safe-mineral-sunscreen-cream-tin-spf-40-unscented>! Kindly, The Badgers
Hi,
I used to love your baby sunscreen spf30. I used it on my face. I find the new Baby clear zinc spf40 is much more oily and difficult to wash off. Is it because the spf is higher, or is it because it is now made with CLEAR zinc?
Would you consider bringing back the old formula again?
Thanks!
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Badger replied:
Our apologies for the inconvenience! We’re sorry to hear the new formula does not suit you. The main difference is the increased zinc oxide, though this may or may not be the cause of your experience. Please let us know if you have any questions. Kindly, The Badgers
Could you please say more about the difference between baby and kids sunscreens? Would the kids be appropriate for a toddler?
Thanks.
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Badger replied:
Thank you for asking! All of our sunscreens are safe and effective for the whole family. The FDA recommends consulting a pediatrician or doctor when using any sunscreen on infants under 6 months of age. Our sunscreens are either scented or unscented and provide 40 or 80 minutes of water-resistance.
Active SPF 30 Sunscreen is unscented and offers 40 minutes of water-resistance. It offers the lightest consistency in our current line. Baby SPF 40 Sunscreen is scented with organic chamomile and calendula and offers 40 minutes of water-resistance. Active SPF 35 is unscented and offers 80 minutes of water-resistance. Kids SPF 35 Stick is scented with organic tangerine and vanilla and offers 80 minutes of water-resistance. Kids SPF 40 is scented with organic tangerine and vanilla and offers 80 minutes of water-resistance. Sport SPF 40 is unscented and offers 80 minutes of water-resistance. The same formula is available in the tube and the tin. Adventure Sport SPF 50 is our highest SPF, is unscented and offers 80 minutes of water-resistance.
What is the best way to remove your sunscreens? I’ve been using an oil, jojoba or coconut and follow with Kiss My Face olive oil soap.
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Badger replied:
Great question! This is a perfect way to remove the sunscreen. We suggest using what suits your skin best, typically a gentle facial soap or oil cleanser is a wonderful cleanser.
The current version of active mineral sunscreen is awesome with a minimal white cast. Would you consider continuing your tinted mineral sunscreen, for extra HEV and UVA I protection?
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Badger replied:
Hello!
Thank you for this suggestion! We would be happy to share it with our Product Development Team. That said, the clear zinc oxide provides excellent UVA and UVB protection.
Please connect with us at custserv@badgerbalm.com<mailto:custserv@badgerbalm.com> if we can be of further help. Have a great day!
Warmly,
Brenna