We Tested Tons of Body Sunscreens And These 9 Were Our Favorites (2024)

Body sunscreen isn’t just for the beach. You wear sunscreen on your face every day, and any dermatologist will tell you body sunscreen should also be part of your daily routine—including in the winter if you're outside all day. “Using sunscreen on exposed areas of the body is no different than on the face,” says Dr. Caren Campbell, a board-certified dermatologist. “It helps prevent aging, skin cancer, and hyperpigmentation of the skin.”

On a day-to-day basis, dermatologists advise concentrating body sunscreen application on the neck, chest, and backs of hands, as well as any other exposed skin. For beach days and all-day outdoor activities (think skiing or hiking) where you’ll have more skin showing, remember the “shot glass” rule: “You need two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of the skin, which for the average person means a shot glass or two tablespoons of sunscreen to the face and body,” Dr. Campbell explains.

The best body sunscreen is one that makes daily sun protection easy and convenient. However, it can be overwhelming to find the right formula for you; the sunscreen shelves are crowded, but that’s a good thing. Everyone deserves a body sunscreen that works for their skin type, lifestyle, and activity level.

With this expert advice in mind, we tested a variety of body sunscreens: chemical, mineral, sprayable, and even shimmery. We put them through all kinds of warm-weather activities, like walking the dog and swimming, to find those that offered the best sun protection and felt good, too.

What Stands Out

  • It’s easy to apply, blends in quickly, and doesn’t leave a white cast.

What Could Be Improved

  • The formula isn’t super hydrating.

If you’re applying body sunscreen daily, you don’t want it to feel heavy or sticky on your skin. Supergoop’s daily SPF has a lightweight consistency that rubs in easily so it feels like you’re wearing nothing at all—which is why we’ve crowned it our winner.

As its name suggests, Supergoop’s Play Everyday fits into your daily life and makes sunscreen application feel less like a chore and more like fun. It’s formulated for all skin types, including oily skin, and it’s non-comedogenic, so you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores.

Even better? This sunscreen is available in several different sizes, from a convenient 2.4-ounce travel tube to a giant 18-ounce pump-top the whole family can use. Play Everyday Lotion has a light, fresh aroma of basil, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, and wild geranium.

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, sunflower extract | SPF: 50 | Size: 1–18 ounces | Water Resistant: Yes

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What Stands Out

  • The spray formula is easy to apply and leaves a subtle shine on skin.

What Could Be Improved

  • Nothing to note.

Popping into the drugstore to refresh your SPF stash or need to restock while on vacation? Hawaiian Tropic’s Weightless Hydration Clear Spray is easy to find across many retailers, making it one of our most accessible picks. It never felt oily or greasy when we applied it—it felt nice and cool on our body and didn’t drip before we rubbed it in, either.

We enjoyed the ease of application and Hawaiian Tropic’s unmistakable signature scent. The sunscreen is light and watery, easily blending into the skin with no white cast. Some things never go out of style … like a budget-friendly sunscreen from Hawaiian Tropic.

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, papaya, mango, and plumeria extracts | SPF: 30 | Size: 6 ounces | Water Resistant: Yes

What Stands Out

  • The thin, lightweight formula absorbs easily.

What Could Be Improved

  • This mineral formula left a subtle white cast and rubbed off on one tester’s black bathing suit.

If you’re looking for a mineral sunscreen formula, Blue Lizard is one of the leading brands in the category—and we’re big fans. Their sensitive skin-friendly SPF lotion has a pleasant texture and protects the skin without potentially irritating chemical active ingredients. “This is a good option for those with more sensitive skin, including kids,” Dr. Campbell says. It’s also fragrance- and paraben-free.

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are doing the heavy lifting to protect your skin from the sun; the two are most commonly used in mineral sunscreen formulas and provide broad-spectrum protection from UV rays. Blue Lizard’s Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen is also a great choice if you’re traveling, as it’s reef-safe.

While it absorbed quickly, it did leave behind a subtle white cast on our skin (and wound up our dark-colored swimsuit), so it may not be the best choice for darker skin tones.

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide | SPF: 50 | Size: 5 ounces | Water Resistant: Yes

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What Stands Out

  • This water-resistant spray formula is easy to apply, goes on clear, and lasts after a dip in the pool.

What Could Be Improved

  • The spray bottle may clog.

Many tropical travel destinations ask you to use a reef-friendly sunscreen while enjoying the ocean waves to help protect coral reefs. Sun Bum’s Original SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray is our go-to pick for those oceanside days, and every day.

We’re big fans of the coconut-banana scent and lightweight formula, which comes out in a thin, clear mist and quickly soaks into the skin so you can hit the beach faster.

As you’d probably guess given its reef-safe status, this is a water-resistant formula for up to 80 minutes. We gave it a spin during a 30-minute swim and an outdoor run in 85°F heat, and it stayed in place throughout both activities, so it’s a great choice for active days.

The spray formula makes it easy to reapply, especially if you’re chasing after little kids at the pool, beach, or park. Just note that we did find the spray bottle can clog, which can make the application a little trickier after a few uses.

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, vitamin E | SPF: 30 | Size: 6 ounces | Water Resistant: Yes

What Stands Out

  • This body sunscreen is formulated with antioxidants.

What Could Be Improved

  • The price point is a bit higher than other drugstore options.

The French brand La Roche-Posay is known for its sensitive skin-friendly formulations, and this SPF fits the bill. If you deal with redness and irritation from certain skincare products, you may want to try this alcohol-free formula. It’s infused with skin-nourishing ingredients like glycerin and a proprietary antioxidant technology to help fight free radicals and protect skin from the sun.

This spray formula goes on creamy, almost like a lotion, and while it appears very white upon application, it sinks into the skin leaving little to no white cast and a soft, silky feel.

It's a little pricier than its drugstore counterparts, but the SPF 60 protection and spray-lotion formula with La Roche-Posay’s soothing Thermal Spring Water adds a touch of French glamour to your daily sun protection.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, glycerin | SPF: 60 | Size: 5 ounces | Water Resistant: Yes

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What Stands Out

  • We loved the creamy, fragrance-free formula and hydrating feel, especially after swimming.

What Could Be Improved

  • The formula may feel heavy on certain skin types.

Summer can leave your skin feeling parched, dry, and uncomfortable, especially when chlorine and salt water are involved. Coola’s body sunscreen can restore lost moisture and treat your skin to SPF 50 protection at the same time thanks to its rich, creamy formula.

Coola’s Classic Body Sunscreen is a hydrating formula with a proprietary Plant Protection complex of raspberry seed oil, buriti oil, meadowfoam oil, and prickly pear extract to nourish skin after a day in the sun or a dip in the pool. It’s so hydrating we could even feel it after a post-beach shower, though it may feel too heavy for certain skin types.

If you’re going straight from the beach to dinner or drinks, keep this moisturizing body sunscreen in your bag to lock in lost moisture and stand in for lotion in a pinch.

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, Plant Protection complex | SPF: 50 | Size: 5 ounces | Water Resistant: Yes

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What Stands Out

  • This spray sunscreen leaves no white cast.

What Could Be Improved

  • This formula required extra rubbing in to ensure it was absorbed into skin.

With a whopping 60+ SPF, this spray body sunscreen will give you excellent UVA/UVB protection with zero white cast—hence the “invisible” name. It feels creamy (but not greasy!) on the skin, though we did have to spend a little extra time rubbing it in versus other formulas on this list.

Because the spray goes on clear and doesn’t leave a white cast, it’s suitable for all skin tones. This sunscreen also wins points for its antioxidant-infused formula, which protects skin from the skin-damaging environmental aggressors we encounter daily.

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, antioxidants | SPF: 60+ | Size: 5 ounces | Water Resistant: Yes

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What Stands Out

  • The deliciously summery scent and smooth, lightweight application make wearing sunscreen fun.

What Could Be Improved

  • The bottle is smaller than others, so you'll have to stock up more frequently.

With a name like Vacation, you know this sunscreen is going to be good. This “leisure-enhancing” sun care company with cheeky, throwback ‘80s branding has won over fans due to its signature “World Famous” scent, a blend of coconut, banana, pool toys, and swimsuit lycra. (You can even buy a perfume version.)

The sunscreen formula comes in a photogenic white, blue, and yellow tube and applies easily to protect your skin, whether you’re soaking up the sun or jumping off the deep end. Vacation Classic Lotion SPF 50 is ideal for anyone who wants to add a little luxury to their sunscreen experience; the smooth application and nostalgic scent make it fun to wear, even when you’re not swimming up to the pool bar.

However, you may want to avoid this formula if you’re acne-prone; Dr. Campbell notes that there’s coconut oil in the formula, which can clog pores. The tube is also relatively small, so it may not be the best choice for a weeklong vacation or sharing with friends.

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, aloe, banana extract, niacinamide | SPF: 50 | Size: 3.4 ounces | Water Resistant: Yes

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What Stands Out

  • Subtle shimmer gives your skin a gorgeous glow.

What Could Be Improved

  • At almost $40, it’s the most expensive option on this list.

Kopari’s rose gold mist sunscreen gets big props from both Real Simple beauty director Heather Muir Maffei and beauty editor Hana Hong due to its unique shimmer mist format and skin-loving formula. “Sunscreen is so important, but dare I say: Body formulas can get a little boring,” Maffei says. “This shimmery mist with vitamins C and E plus hyaluronic acid delivers such a stunning sheen, I actually look forward to applying it. Shake, mist, and massage into skin (and reapply every two hours) for a sophisticated (non-glittery) glow that smells like coconuts.”

As for Hong, she praises the mist as “fun, easy, and effective” and says it leaves skin glowy without sparkling like a disco ball. “I’m a spray girl all the way when it comes to body SPF, and this nozzle lets the formula soak into the skin quickly and spread around evenly,” Hong shares. “The tropical scent will whisk you away on a sensorial vacation.”

Key Ingredients: Vitamins C & E, hyaluronic acid | SPF: 42 | Size: 4.7 ounces | Water Resistant: Yes

Final Verdict

Our top pick for the overall best body sunscreen is Supergoop’s Play Everyday Lotion, which features a super lightweight feel, easy application, fresh aroma, and unbeatable sun protection. For a less expensive choice you can easily grab at your local drugstore in a pinch, we like Hawaiian Tropic Weightless Hydration Clear Spray.

Our Testing Process

To find the best body sunscreens, we tested a variety of sunscreen formulas, including chemical sunscreens, spray sunscreens, and mineral sunscreens. We applied each sunscreen several times per week, focusing on outdoor activities like yard work, dog walks, and hanging out by the water.

While testing, we paid attention to consistency and how easily the formulas absorbed and blended into skin. We took note of fragrance, potential skin reactions, water resistance, and value.

Of course, the sun protection factor was essential to a product’s success, so we made sure to note how often we applied, any special activities that could impact the sunscreen’s performance, and how well it worked to prevent sunburn.

How to Shop for Body Sunscreens Like a Pro

Lotion vs. Spray

Choosing between a lotion or a spray formula depends on your personal preference, though Dr. Campbell typically prefers a lotion or cream to make sure you’re fully covering your body. We do acknowledge that if you have kids or are super active (pickleball to beach volleyball to walks with friends) a spray formula may be more convenient.

Our favorite pick, Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50, is an excellent lotion option, while Hawaiian Tropic Weightless Hydration Clear Spray SPF 30, a spray formula, is our best budget pick. When it comes down to it, most dermatologists want you to choose a sunscreen that you’ll actually apply and reapply throughout the day.

Chemical vs. Mineral

This is another matter of personal preference. Dr. Campbell recommends mineral sunscreens, which contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, to her patients because they “work immediately,” while she says chemical formulas need time to absorb—generally around 15 to 30 minutes.

Mineral formulas can also be gentler on sensitive skin types and are recommended for kids and pregnant people. Our top mineral sunscreen pick, Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen, is lightweight, absorbs easily, and is a good choice for those with sensitive skin.

If you have questions about which style is best for you and your family, ask your dermatologist.

SPF and Broad-Spectrum Protection

Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are typically associated with sunburns, while UVA rays tan your skin—and while a tan looks good, it’s actually visible sun damage. UVA rays are also present even when it’s overcast, hence why dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen every single day, no matter the weather.

A broad-spectrum formula can also help reduce the aging effects of the sun, aka wrinkles and sun spots. “UVA rays are your aging rays,” Dr. Campbell says. Most modern sunscreen formulas are broad spectrum, and it should be clearly stated on the label.

Water Resistance

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends you use a sunscreen that is broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, and water resistant. Most popular sunscreen formulas are water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

However, water-resistant does not equal waterproof, so reapply your body sunscreen after swimming or working up a sweat. Our favorite reef-friendly formula, the Sun Bum Original SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray, is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

More Body Sunscreens to Consider

CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Body Lotion: CeraVe is a reliable drugstore brand, and their mineral body SPF is a budget-friendly pick. “It’s a good option for [both] face and body with mineral, broad-spectrum protection,” Dr. Campbell says. It does have a thicker consistency than some of the other formulas we tested and requires more elbow grease to rub into skin.

EltaMD UV AOX Mist Broad-Spectrum SPF 40: EltaMD’s face sunscreens are beloved by celebrities and beauty editors, and we liked the easy spray application of this mineral body sunscreen formula, which goes on white so you can ensure you’re covering every single inch of skin. However, we didn’t love the thick, heavy feel and the fact that it’s only water resistant for 40 minutes versus the more common 80. Dr. Campbell noted the formula has recently changed and now includes coconut oil, which can potentially cause breakouts.

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Spray SPF 40 Sunscreen: Shiseido’s spray sunscreen comes in a sleek, chic blue bottle and is infused with their SuperVeil-UV 360 Technology, which claims to help ensure even, broad-spectrum coverage. Botanical ingredients like green tea extract add skincare benefits and protect from pollution. We liked the super thin consistency but weren’t huge fans of the strong fragrance.

Questions You Might Ask

Is a higher SPF always better?

According to clinical studies, yes, a higher SPF provides better protection from UV rays. However, Dr. Campbell says efficacy also hinges on how often you reapply. “No matter what the SPF number, the sunscreen needs to be applied as directed and reapplied every two hours or if you sweat or swim,” she explains. Just because you opt for a higher SPF doesn’t mean you can reapply less frequently.

For day-to-day use, Dr. Campbell recommends SPF 30, but if you’re in extreme conditions or in direct sunlight, she advises an SPF level of 50 to 100+. “SPF 30 or higher translates into really good sun protection for the average person living in the average environmental conditions,” Dr. Campbell says.

Can you use face sunscreen on your body and vice versa?

You can in a pinch, but body sunscreens may contain ingredients that are too rich for the face and may clog your pores. “For some people, this is not an issue, so it is A-OK to use the sunscreen in more than one area, but if you are prone to breakouts, clogged pores, or have sensitive skin, it's probably best to use separate formulations appropriate for each body location,” Dr. Campbell says.

Should you wear body sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy?

UV rays are present even on overcast days, so Dr. Campbell recommends applying sunscreen anywhere your skin may be exposed, including your hands, neck, chest, and ears. You may also want to consider UPF clothing, which provides an additional layer of protection, as well as practicing sun safety: avoiding outdoor exposure when the sun is at its peak between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and sticking to the shady side of the street when walking.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Kara Nesvig, a freelance beauty writer who has spent a lot of time researching and writing about sun protection. To compile this list, we tested a range of body sunscreen formulas from drugstores and department stores and evaluated them for sun protection, ease of application, and feel. For expert tips about what to look for in a body sunscreen, we spoke with Dr. Caren Campbell, a board-certified dermatologist based in San Francisco.

We Tested Tons of Body Sunscreens And These 9 Were Our Favorites (2024)

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