Best Sunscreen for Your Body of 2025
The Best Body Sunscreen for outdoor sports, days on the water, and everyday use
April 17th, 2025, updated with 4 new winners and nearly a dozen more sunscreens tested
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If you’re applying body sunscreen only when you’re headed to the beach or out hiking, you’re doing your skin a major disservice. Body sunscreen needs to happen every day on all your exposed bits of skin–think forearms, neck, chest, ears, and the backs of your hands.
Whether you're hiking a trail, walking the dog, or commuting to work, the sun can cause some major harm to your body. UVA and UVB rays cause skin cancer, sunspots, wrinkles, leathery skin, etc. (and some types of these rays can pass through glass). Darker skin, while less prone to burning than lighter skin tones, is still susceptible to all the risks above–plus, darker skin is more likely to develop hyperpigmentation from rashes and acne blemishes due to sun exposure. Body sunscreen, ideally above SPF 30, can help.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use a sunscreen that offers:
Broad spectrum protection (i.e., protects against UVA rays and UVB rays)
SPF 30 or higher
Water resistance
Since any sunscreen for the body that meets these guidelines, when applied properly, is going to work as sunscreen, the question becomes: which sunscreen(s) will you actually use? We tested 35+ body sunscreens weighing their effectiveness, texture, ease of application, water and sweat resistance, and overall protection to find the best sunscreen for every day (or at least as often as possible) use—not just on vacation!
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Comparison table
| SUNSCREEN | TREELINE AWARD | SPF | BEST FOR | APPLICATION METHOD | TYPE | REEF SAFE? | PRODUCT NET WEIGHT (OZ) | MSRP* | PRICE PER OZ* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banana Boat Light As Air Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 | Best Overall Body & Face Read why |
50 | Face & Body | Lotion / Cream | Chemical | No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate | 12.0 | $20 | $1.67 |
| Supergoop Play Everyday SPF50 | Best Upgrade Sunscreen for Body & Face Read why |
50 | Face & Body | Lotion / Cream | Chemical | No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate | 18.0 | $68 | $3.78 |
| Equate Ultra Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 | Best Affordable Body Sunscreen Read why |
50 | Body | Lotion / Cream | Chemical | No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate | 16.0 | $8 | $0.52 |
| Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF30 | Best Moisturizing Body Sunscreen Read why |
30 | Body | Lotion / Cream | Chemical | No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate | 4.0 | $14 | $3.50 |
| Thrive Bodyshield Sunscreen SPF50 | Best Mineral Body Sunscreen Read why |
50 | Face & Body | Lotion / Cream | Mineral | Yes | 5.8 | $30 | $5.16 |
The Best Sunscreens for Your Body
Best Overall Body Sunscreen: Banana Boat Light as Air Sunscreen SPF50
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes
Sunscreen Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzene 3%, Homosalate 9%, Octisalate 4%, Octocrylene 5%
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate
Skin Type: Oily skin, combination skin
Cost per oz: $1.67/oz
What we like: Matte, non-sticky finish with no white cast, lightweight, completely non-greasy, affordable price, widespread availability
What we don’t like: A bit thick and a bit fragrance-heavy for a face sunscreen, can be drying, not reef safe
Banana Boat’s Light As Air SPF50 sunscreen came out in the past year or two, and it has quickly risen to the top of many best of sunscreen lists for its affordability, lightness, matte (that is, non-shiny), non-sticky finish, and complete lack of white cast.
Banana Boat Light As Air is, as described, a very lightweight lotion, particularly compared to other sunscreens marketed primarily for the body.
It quickly absorbs to leave a matte, non-sticky finish with no white cast, even on testers with darker skin tones and/or facial hair. Compared to other sunscreens in this price range–basically your run-of-the-mill drugstore sunscreens–Banana Boat Light As Air is better by a mile, much lighter and MUCH less greasy than its peers.
We like this sunscreen primarily as a body sunscreen, but many customers love it as a facial sunscreen as well.
Given the low price, widespread availability, lack of white cast, and ability to use this on both face and body, this is our affordable pick for a face and body sunscreen.
Banana Boat Light as Air Sunscreen SPF50
A few drawbacks: the scent is minimal but faintly fruity, which could bother users with sensitivity to smells. Also, as is often the case with sunscreens that offer a matte finish, Light As Air can feel drying if not used together with a moisturizer. Some testers mentioned that this product made them feel extra sweaty in hot weather. Others mentioned that while they liked Light As Air as a body sunscreen, it burned their eyes and/or sensitive skin when used on the face (see our Best Face Sunscreens guide for sunscreen recommendations for sensitive skin or consider our Best Upgrade sunscreen winner, which is designed for body and face). Lastly, our testers found the squeeze bottle annoying: the thinness of the plastic had us chasing the product around once the bottle was half-full.
Overall, though, both our testers and the rest of the internet appreciate Banana Boat Light As Air for its truly stellar quality for the price, both as a body and a face sunscreen.
Best Upgrade Sunscreen for your Body: Supergoop PLAY Everyday SPF 50
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes
Sunscreen Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7.5%
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate
Skin Type: All skin types, especially dry or combination
Cost per oz: $3.78/oz
What we liked: Not greasy or oily, good for dark skin, no white cast, feels like a moisturizer, affordable for face, sold in easy to use pump, encourages using the correct amount of sunscreen, absorbs quickly, wears well under make-up
What we didn’t like: Not sold in big box stores or drugstores, slight shine & tackiness, not reef safe
If you’re looking for a single, all-around, use-all-over sunscreen, Supergoop PLAY is your best (and consistently recommended) bet. Very few sunscreens are formulated for the sensitive skin of the face but are still robust (and affordable) enough to use all over your body. This, in our opinion, is the best of them.
At between $3 and $10 per ounce (depending on the size you buy), Supergoop PLAY is on the more expensive side for a body sunscreen, but it’s on the less expensive side for a facial sunscreen. It tops many dermatologist and user lists for both face and body, and it is lightly moisturizing as well as sun protective. Supergoop PLAY absorbs quickly and does not leave a white cast on any skin tones, which our testers with darker skin loved.
Supergoop PLAY Everyday SPF 50
On the downside, some Supergoop customers find the finish on the PLAY too shiny or sticky, and testers with strong sensitivity to smells found the slight herbal fragrance off-putting. Compared to other sunscreens in its price range and even above, though, the finish and fragrance are similar or better, so we still think this is the best bet for the money. We don’t like that it’s not as universally available as drugstore brands, but it is widely available online and in-person at stores like Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom, among others.
Our testers wore this as an everyday sunscreen, as well as for more intensive activities like backpacking, trail running, and all-day vintage shopping at outdoor popup markets (if you’ve done this, you know it’s intense).
We appreciated that it’s moisturizing, absorbs quickly, wears well under makeup, and re-applies without pilling. We noticed that it leaves a slight shine and can feel tacky on the skin's surface, but not to a degree that bothered us, particularly on days when we wanted more moisture. Again, compared to other products in this price range and even above (including our pick for Best Face Sunscreen, Coola Organic SPF50) the user experience is very similar.
Best Affordable Body Sunscreen: Equate Ultra Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion SPF50
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes
Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 15%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7%
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate
Skin type: All skin types, especially dry or combination
Cost per oz: $0.52/oz
What we like: Affordable price, high sun protection ratings, large quantity, much less oily/greasy than comparably priced products
What we didn’t like: Strong fragrance, not reef safe, not in all stores
Headed on a poolside vacay? The Equate Ultra Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is the Best Body Sunscreen for people who want a budget sunscreen for their body. Equate Ultra Sunscreen received one of Consumer Reports' highest ratings for sun protection in 2024, and it feels more lightweight and less greasy than many products that cost twice as much or more. At around 50 cents per ounce, it is also one of the most affordable products out there.
In our testing we were downright shocked, considering the price per ounce, at how pleasant this sunscreen is to use. Typically with sunscreens you expect to make trade-offs as the product gets more affordable, with cheaper lotions feeling heavier, greasier, and/or stickier. Equate Ultra, however, felt the least greasy and least heavy of any of the budget drugstore sunscreens we tested. In fact, it was less greasy and heavy than many more premium products we've tried as well.
Equate Ultra Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion SPF50
The Equate Ultra Sunscreen Lotion absorbed well into the skin and did not leave a white cast, and it reapplied well after swimming. Equate Ultra was also the top affordable sunscreen of 2024 rated by Consumer Reports, an independent organization that rigorously tests how well sunscreens protect the skin.
Being more affordable than other sunscreens goes a long way to making sure that you’re actually applying enough. Remember what the American Academy of Dermatology Association says (paraphrased): Apply more than you think you need (most people only use 25-50% of the recommended amount!) to every part of your body that will see the sun; reapply every two hours and/or after swimming or sweating.
With Equate Ultra, the price tag behind doing it right is much more manageable, even if you're applying and reapplying on the whole family.
The main drawback of this product is its strong, coconut-y, "tropical" scent (“You smell like sunscreen!” exclaimed the hotel bartender when we walked in post-pool). This fragrance can be easily overwhelming, so if you find strong scents problematic, this may not be the sunscreen for you. The other drawback is the fact that it's available primarily at Walmart, which can be a problem if there's not one nearby (solution: it's available online) or you don't shop at Walmart (no real solution).
It also comes exclusively in a 16 fl oz squeeze bottle, which is limiting if you need a larger or smaller size (for airplane travel, for example). Plus, like all chemical sunscreens, it contains ingredients that are not safe for saltwater or freshwater wildlife, so we don't recommend using it if you plan on swimming at the beach or the lake.
Best Moisturizing Body Sunscreen: Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes
Sunscreen Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 15%, Octisalate 5%
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate
Skin Type: All skin types, especially dry or combination skin
Cost per oz: $3.50/oz
What we like: Very moisturizing, no white cast, no added fragrance, widely available
What we didn’t like: Can feel heavy/sticky, not reef safe
While many brands and products are highlighted for leaving absolutely no white cast (including most of the products on this list), a particular fan favorite that comes up frequently is Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Lotion SPF30. Though formulated by women of color specifically for people with darker skin tones, this is a great product for anyone who wants a more moisturizing sunscreen for the body. We like to use it as our everyday body sunscreen when the weather is dry or we're visiting the desert.
This sunscreen dries completely sheer and contains ingredients like jojoba, avocado, cacao, and sunflower oil to add an extra boost of moisture or even let you skip a moisturizer altogether.
In our testing, we found that the luxurious texture and lack of added scent made Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Lotion feel more like a body lotion than a sunscreen, which made us more likely to apply it every day as part of our getting-ready routine.
Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
We love super-moisturizing Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 best for dry skin. It’s a must-have on dry summer days and trips to the desert.
It contains no added fragrance, but it has a light neutral scent that doesn't bother most people.
Though the moisturizing ingredients in Black Girl Sunscreen are appreciated by many users, who describe the effect as "dewy" or "glowing," for others the slight residue it leaves on the skin can feel heavy, sticky, or greasy. The price is also relatively high for a body sunscreen, though not massively so. While some people love this as a facial sunscreen as well as a body sunscreen, we found it heavy for the face.
Overall, though, this is one of the few products we find ourselves buying again and again, which for us is the true test of success!
Best Mineral Body Sunscreen: Thrive Bodyshield Sunscreen SPF 50
SPF: 50
Broad spectrum: Yes
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Active ingredients: Non-nano Zinc oxide 23.5%
Water resistant: 80 Min
Reef safe: Yes
Skin type: All skin types, especially sensitive skin
Cost per ounce: $5.16/oz
What we liked: Most sheer mineral body sunscreen, applies smoothly & easily, minimally sticky, excellent water resistance, almost no fragrance, among the most affordable reef-safe sunscreens
What we didn’t like: Only available online, more ingredients than we prefer in a reef-safe sunscreen
The Thrive Bodyshield Sunscreen SPF50 is a fan favorite across the internet, and it has withstood the test of time in our favorites list as well. Of all the mineral sunscreens for body we’ve tested, this remains the most sheer, leaving the least white cast on the skin. We found that it applies smoothly, easily, and evenly, is less sticky than other mineral formulas, and provides excellent water resistance.
Though it lists “fragrance” in the ingredients, the brand describes this as a “subtle citrus” scent, and most reviewers (including us) barely noticed any fragrance, or thought it was fragrance-free.
Thrive Bodyshield Sunscreen SPF 50
This is also one of the most affordable mineral sunscreens we tested, though as with most mineral sunscreens, it’s a bit more expensive than chemical formulas. We like that the company’s mission is broadly eco-friendly, including regenerative farming techniques and a tube made of recycled plastic.
As we discuss in more depth in our Best Reef-Safe Sunscreens guide, Thrive Bodyshield Sunscreen SPF50 also contains no ingredients known to be harmful to marine or aquatic life. As a result, we feel pretty good about wearing this at the beach or the lake, though it does include a couple ingredients that can sometimes be problematic for wildlife depending on their manufacturing.
As for negatives, like all mineral sunscreens, Thrive Mineral Sunscreen leaves a white cast that can feel sticky, may transfer to things you touch, and is more difficult to remove than chemical sunscreens (an oil-based soap or cold cream can be helpful in removing mineral sunscreens–in a pinch I’ve even used plain coconut oil or olive oil, followed by my usual soap). Additionally, Thrive Mineral is only available online, which makes it harder to grab-and-go.
Best Reef-Safe Body Sunscreen: Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF40
SPF: 40
Broad spectrum: Yes
Sunscreen type: Mineral
Active ingredients: Uncoated, non-nano zinc oxide 22.5%
Water resistant: 80 Min
Reef safe: Yes
Skin type: All skin types, especially sensitive skin
Cost per ounce: $5.27/fl oz
Oxybenzone-free sunscreen: Yes
What we liked: Safest option for wildlife with only 4 ingredients (and no oxybenzone or problematic chemical filters), excellent water and sweat resistance, rubs in evenly, comes out easily from bottle, widely available, made in USA, company is woman-owned and B-Corp
What we didn’t like: White cast, sticky, a bit expensive
Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 is our winner for Best Reef-Safe Body Sunscreen (in addition to the overall winner in our Best Reef Safe Sunscreen guide). This is mainly because, according to current research, it’s just about the “safest” to be had.
First, it’s the only widely-available sunscreen that has undergone intensive reef-safe testing by Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (or HEL, the nonprofit research organization that maintains the most well-regarded list of non-reef-safe ingredients, which also provides exhaustive testing for its own reef-safe certification).
Moreover, Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF40 contains only four ingredients: zinc oxide as the mineral sunscreen, plus sunflower seed oil, vitamin E, and beeswax. This short ingredient list helps us feel confident that even as more ingredients are found to be harmful to ocean life, the chance of this product containing one of those ingredients is quite low.
Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF40
We appreciate that Badger Sport Mineral sunscreen, like many Badger products, only has a few ingredients, all of which are reef-safe.
As for user experience, Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen is one of the nicer 100% mineral sunscreens: thicker than chemical sunscreen and with a white cast, but decently easy to rub in, waterproof, and non-irritating. It includes moisturizing ingredients, so it doesn’t dry out the skin. It also contains no added fragrance, and most testers and online reviewers found it to be completely or nearly fragrance-free.
We love that Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 is widely available in drugstores, big-box stores, health food stores, in REI, and online. As a bonus, the company is woman-owned, family-run, made in the USA, and a B-Corp (a highly respected designation for companies that strive to have beneficial impacts on society & the environment).
Like all reef-safe sunscreens, Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen leaves a white cast and remains noticeable on the skin in a way some people describe as heavy, oily, or greasy. Negative reviews from testers also mention other common drawbacks of mineral sunscreens–that the product is thick, that it’s difficult to rub in, that it doesn’t absorb completely, etc. It can also, like all mineral sunscreens, be a bit tough to wash off. However, we consider the trade-off of protecting our lovely ocean-dwelling friends to be worth some extra minutes in the shower!
Honorable mentions
Runner-Up Best Overall Body Sunscreen: Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Broad Spectrum SPF: Yes, SPF 50
Type: Chemical Sunscreen
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 10%
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate
Cost per oz: $3.83/oz
Sun Bum Original SPF 50 was our former Overall winner for Best Body Sunscreen and is still one we recommend.
The original product of a now-ubiquitous company, the Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion sunscreen is basically the much nicer version of the beach sunscreen you grew up with. It’s oil-free, so it doesn’t feel super greasy, non-comedogenic so it won’t clog your pores, and only faintly tropical-scented. It also contains vitamin E, so it feels more like a moisturizing lotion than a sunscreen.
We love that it’s minimally greasy, smells nice, applies like a moisturizer, and doesn’t feel like it’s getting our clothes oily. However, it’s not quite as matte, quite as affordable, or quite as moisturizing as other sunscreens we tried. So, while we still love it, it’s not a winner this time around.
Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Sun Bum Original SPF 50 sunscreen lotion is a favorite for use in the desert.
Runner-Up Best Mineral Body Sunscreen: Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes, SPF 50
Type: Mineral Sunscreen
Active Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: Yes
Cost per oz: $2.78
The Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 was our former Best Mineral Body Sunscreen Winner and is still one we recommend.
As a fully-mineral sunscreen lotion frequently recommended by dermatologists and customer reviews, and at half the price of Thrive Mineral Sunscreen, we definitely like its affordability.
Like all mineral sunscreens, we found the Thinksport Mineral SPF 50 tough to rub in, leaving a whitish cast on the skin. Still, the Thinksport mineral sunscreen rubs in fairly easily (especially for a mineral sunscreen) and with a pretty minimal white residue, even on darker skin tones.
We like that it’s technically reef-safe, though we don’t love the high number of ingredients and lack of comprehensive testing. It’s also not quite as sheer as our new mineral sunscreen winner, and it contains more ingredients than our reef safe sunscreen winner. So while definitely an honorable mention. it wasn’t one of our winners this time around.
The baby version of Thinksport (called Thinkbaby) is also at the top of many lists.
While sunscreen isn’t recommended for infants under 6 months, pediatricians recommend mineral sunscreens for older babies and young children, and Thinkbaby is a top choice.
In addition to being our former Best Mineral Body Sunscreen winner, it is also the Best Affordable Reef-Safe Sunscreen winner in our Reef-Safe Sunscreens article.
Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
The Thinksport Mineral sunscreen is a mineral sunscreen that rubs in and doesn’t feel oily or thick.
Other sunscreens we tested
We tested a LOT of sunscreens for this article, and while we don’t have space (and you don’t have time) to discuss all of them, we wanted to share our thoughts on a few that appeared on a lot of best-of lists, but in the end, just didn’t measure up.
Banana Boat Ultra Sport SPF 30
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes, SPF 30
Sunscreen Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.7% Homosalate 6.0%, Octisalate 4.5% Octocrylene 4.5%
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: No
Cost per oz: $1.00
The Banana Boat Ultra Sport SPF 30 is a standard available-at-any-store sunscreen, and we used it as one of our baselines in comparing sunscreens (in addition to other drugstore standards like Coppertone Sport SPF 50). You probably have it on your shelf at home. It’s completely fine. It’s a little heavier and greasier than our category winners, but still completely functional. Just make sure you use it up (or throw it out) before the expiration date!
Banana Boat Ultra Sport SPF 30
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes, SPF 50
Sunscreen Type: Chemical Sunscreen
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (15%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (10%)
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate
Cost per oz: $3.66/oz
The Neutrogena Hydro Boost SPF 50 is particularly well-reviewed and oft-recommended due to its lightweight, non-greasy, liquid-like texture that absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a white cast on any skin tones. Our testers liked that this sunscreen absorbs so well and feels so barely there, even when reapplied over the course of a day of hiking, biking, or sitting by the pool. Cons: This sunscreen has a distinct perfume-y fragrance, which some people find off-putting. It’s also slightly more greasy and slightly more expensive than our winners.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
The Neutrogena Hydro Boost sunscreen has a water-y texture out of the tube and is easy to rub in on the body.
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes, SPF 50
Sunscreen Type: Mineral (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide)
Water Resistant: 80 minutes
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 10%, Titanium Dioxide 8%
Reef safe: No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate
Cost per oz: $4.00/oz
The Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ is at or near the top of many best mineral sunscreen lists. The user experience is very similar to that of Thinksport. However, it contains butyloctyl salicylate, a chemical known to cause harm to ocean and freshwater life, so it’s not safe to wear in natural bodies of water.
Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes, SPF 50
Sunscreen Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octinasalate 5%, Octocrylene 10%
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: Reef-friendly
Cost per oz: $8/oz
We tested the Supergoop Glow Oil out of curiosity, but since it’s literally an oil, we had low expectations of a positive user experience. We were wrong!! Despite being an oil and looking/feeling, indeed, like oil at first, after a very short time it sinks in and is surprisingly non-greasy going forward. It gets a little more oily after re-application, but no more so than any sunscreen layered over another sunscreen.
We did find the Supergoop Glow Oil to be too oily to use on the face. But as a body sunscreen, we actually like it a lot – it’s very light, non-greasy, and has a pleasant fragrance. It costs more than a drugstore sunscreen, but if you want to give it a try, rest assured that it is not actually an oily experience. I ordered the one-ounce size and like throwing it in my bag whenever I leave the house, just in case.
Supergoop Glow Oil SPF 50
Broad spectrum SPF: Yes, SPF 55
Sunscreen Type: Chemical
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (10%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (10%)
Water resistant: 80 minutes
Reef safe: No, but free from oxybenzone and octinoxate
Cost per oz: $2.37/o
This is another drugstore standard, and Neutrogena is a perpetually highly-recommended sunscreen brand. It’s relatively lightweight, sinks into the skin well, and the scent is sunscreen-y but pretty neutral. It left less of a shine than the Neutrogena Hydro Boost, but it was a bit heavier overall and also left a bit of white cast on darker skin tones, so we preferred other products.
Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 55
Also Recommended: Literally any and every other type of sunscreen
Thinksport Baby sunscreen is a body sunscreen for children that is made for sensitive skin that can also double as a face sunscreen for adults.
Are you shopping on a budget? Or buying sunscreen while traveling?
If you don’t have access to the sunscreens we’ve recommended here, don’t worry.
Something is better than nothing.
Is it SPF 30+ with sun protection from UVA rays and UVB rays? Is it water resistant?
Go ahead and use it! It’ll work.
They are not winners in this article simply because they didn’t have as many user-experience factors to recommend them.
Maybe they feel heavy, or greasy, or don’t rub in completely, or bother some sensitive skin, or get streaky when you sweat or any number of things depending on the person–but they’re still 100% functional as sunscreen.
If you’ll wear it, buy it!
What is body sunscreen?
Treeline Review tested more than 35 sunscreens to find the best sunscreen for your body.
The term "body sunscreen" is nebulous but usually means it hasn’t been specially formulated for the face. Body sunscreens tend to be more affordable than face sunscreen. Aside from price, body sunscreens might be thicker, heavier, or have more fragrance than face sunscreen. Of course, you can use it on your face, but stop if you get skin irritation or breakouts.
Body sunscreens are important to block UVB and UVA rays—whether you are on a hike or in the backyard.
Do I really need to wear sunscreen on my body?
“But it’s winter!” “I don’t need sun protection today since it’s cloudy.” “I don’t live somewhere sunny.” “I don’t spend every day outside.”
Fun fact about those rays: UVB rays (“B” for burning!) are the primary cause of sunburn; these are rays blocked by window glass. UVA rays (“A” for aging!)—thank you, American Academy of Dermatology Association for these helpful mnemonics—also cause sun damage and are responsible for premature aging, wrinkles, etc. They are the leading cause of skin cancer.
UVA rays can pass through window glass, so you’re still at their mercy in your car, office, breakfast table, and other places you thought you were safe. Both types of rays pass through clouds, so they cause sun damage regardless of weather or season.
Body sunscreen can help! Make sure you apply sunscreen to any skin that will be exposed to the sun. Apply sunscreen to your face, of course, but also your forearms, neck, chest, and the backs of your hands. If you’re wearing shorts and sandals, make sure you get your knees, lower legs, and the tops of your feet! Another great method for sun protection is UPF-rated clothing. Many outdoors brands have now started labeling pants, long sleeves, and shirts that provide adequate coverage.
Why aren’t there any spray sunscreens on this list?
Many dermatologists don’t recommend spray sunscreens because it’s tough to know if you’ve applied enough and whether you’ve achieved full coverage.
That said, I like the ease of spray sunscreens for re-application, and for applying to my feet because I’m lazy and I don’t want to rub sunscreen into skin that’s dirty, sweaty, or sandy.
The spray versions of the Supergoop, Sun Bum, and Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen products recommended above are all well-regarded, so if you want to have a spray around, those are all good choices. Bear in mind, though, that the Thrive Mineral spray is NOT reef-safe–it contains a non-reef-safe ingredient not present in the lotion version.
If I need a sunscreen spray, I use Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray. My family and I find it less greasy than other drugstore sunscreen sprays, but we can still find it at CVS and local drugstores. It was also a top pick in Consumer Reports’ 2022 spray sunscreen ratings. Win-win.
How should I use body sunscreen?
Apply more than you think you need (most people only use 25-50% of the recommended amount), literally every day, to every part of your body that will see the sun. Consider pairing a sunscreen with an SPF-rated sunscreen balm for the lips. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to other sensitive areas like the neck and ears, too.
Re-apply every two hours when outdoors and after swimming or sweating.
If you’re going to be outside for a while, wear other forms of protection, including UPF-rated clothing and a sun hat. See our Best Sun Shirts guide and Best Sun Hats guide for our recommendations for clothing with sun protection.
And that’s it. Go forth, apply, and prosper without skin cancer! If you want more fun & helpful facts about UV rays and sun protection, please read on and/or enjoy the AADA’s website.
A small amount of the body sunscreens that we tested side-by-side.
What Makes a Good Sunscreen?
Great question. Assuming you’ve met the AADA’s guidelines, the answer is: look for one that feels good and that you’ll put on every day (every day. EVERY. DAY.).
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use a sunscreen that offers:
Broad spectrum protection (i.e., protects against UVA rays and UVB rays)
SPF 30 or higher
Water resistance
Of course, what “feels good” differs from person to person.
However, most people seem to agree that they DON’T want sunscreens to:
Feel thick, greasy, oily, sticky, or heavy
Clog pores or cause skin reactions/breakouts
Leave a white cast or stay visible on the skin
Get pilly or otherwise weird if applied with other skin care products or makeup
Have an overwhelming fragrance
Again speaking generally, people DO want a sunscreen that:
Feels light and non-greasy, so you can forget you’re wearing it
Absorbs quickly
Becomes invisible once applied, regardless of skin tone
Maybe has other skincare benefits, like moisturizing or acne-fighting ingredients
Is easy to travel with/comes in a variety of sizes or options
As a rule of thumb, the more a sunscreen meets the needs above–the lighter, less greasy, more quickly-absorbent, and more skincare-beneficial it is–the more you can expect it to cost.
Some of the sunscreens we tested side-by-side fall under physical sunscreens, chemical sunscreen, sunscreen sprays, and reef safe sunscreens.
What are the types of sunscreens?
Here are some of the terms you'll see used with sunscreens and what they actually mean:
Chemical sunscreens
Chemical sunscreens use chemical ingredients to absorb the sun’s harmful UV rays like a sponge. These tend to be easier to rub in without leaving a residue.
Physical sunscreens
Physical sunscreens use ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to act as a shield, deflecting the sun’s UV rays. Often called mineral sunscreens as a nod to their main ingredients, these tend to leave a white residue but can be easier on sensitive skin.
Reef-safe sunscreen
Reef-safe sunscreen doesn’t contain chemical active ingredients known to harm coral reefs and wildlife in the ocean, lakes, and other natural bodies of water. Reef-safe sunscreens tend to be physical sunscreens such as mineral sunscreens. Reef-safe sunscreens use active ingredients like non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Reef-friendly sunscreen
FYI, the term “reef-friendly” is not regulated, so many sunscreens put this term on their packaging. If you’re a frequent ocean swimmer, are playing in tidepools, or are traveling to Hawaii (which has banned sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, two common harmful ingredients) or other tropical ocean destinations, refer to this guide to ensure you’re good to go.
Safe Ingredient Sunscreen
Terms like 'clean,' 'safe,' 'green,' etc. to describe ingredients are not regulated and can vary widely in their meanings, so don't rely too heavily on claims like these. We cross-reference active and inactive ingredients with the Environmental Working Group's database Skin Deep, which we find to be a helpful resource in understanding ingredients if you'd like to learn more.
Sunscreen cream and sunscreen lotion
Sunscreen lotions have a smooth lotion-like consistency. Sunscreen creams and lotions can be chemical or physical sunscreens.
Sunscreen sprays
Sunscreen sprays are those you apply as a spray. These tend to be less recommended by experts since they’re more challenging to apply evenly and with complete coverage, but let’s be honest, there’s a time and place for easy–and in my opinion, that place is re-application.
Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
Any sunscreen you consider should be a broad spectrum sunscreen. Here is what it means:
Broad spectrum sunscreen is a type of sunscreen that protects your skin from both types of harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA and UVB.
UVA have a longer wavelength, penetrate deeply into the skin, contribute to skin cancer, and are associated with skin aging and wrinkling. UVA can penetrate cloud cover and windows. ("A" is for aging!)
UVB have a shorter wavelength, are the primary cause of sunburn, and play a significant role in developing skin cancer. UVB does not penetrate windows. (“B” for burning!)
Prior to the implementation of FDA rules, sunscreens only needed to protect against UVB rays. Now, if a sunscreen is labeled as "broad spectrum," it must offer protection against both UVB and UVA rays. The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number on the sunscreen indicates the level of UVB protection, while the "broad spectrum" label assures you that it also protects against UVA.
Broad spectrum sunscreens are recommended by dermatologists and health organizations to provide comprehensive protection against sun damage.
What do I, the author and self-proclaimed sunscreen nut, personally wear and use?
Wow, I’m so glad you asked! Let's talk about it! My daily face sunscreens are Korean products (still trying to figure out how to get new ones now that the US has banned foreign sunscreen filters), but I use Supergoop Play Everyday when I want a little extra moisture.
For a body sunscreen, I use Supergoop Play Everyday, Black Girl Sunscreen, or Sun Bum Original. I’m also a devotee of facial sprays for re-application. I use Supergoop Re-Setting Mist and Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Mist about equally often.
A good body sunscreen should feel like you’re wearing nothing so you can forget you have sunscreen on and enjoy your time outside.
What should I look for in a body sunscreen?
Great question. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use a sunscreen that offers:
Broad spectrum protection (i.e., protects against UVA rays and UVB rays)
SPF 30 or higher
Water resistance
Assuming you’ve met these guidelines, the answer is: look for one that feels good and that you’ll put on every day.
Since anything meeting the AADA guidelines, when applied properly, is going to work, the question becomes: which sunscreen(s) will you actually USE?
The sunscreen you apply twice a year on vacation is a sunscreen that is not working for you. We’re here to help you find one you’ll use every single day.
We tested sunscreen poolside, at the beach, on hikes, backpacking trips, and on long urban adventures.
How we Researched and Tested
For this review, I started with my extensive passion for the sun protection category and the desire to justify purchasing many products I had wanted to try for a while but didn’t exactly “need.”
From there, I expanded to include expert input from dermatologists, scientists, doctors, and other professionals (the American Academy of Dermatology Association, Skin Cancer Foundation, Haereticus-lab.org/, etc.), professional review sources (like Wirecutter and Consumer Reports), periodicals and informational sites (like Healthline, Men’s Health, Byrdie, AARP, Self, Into the Gloss, and others), user reviews on retail sites (like Amazon, Target, Sephora, REI, etc.), and fellow testers. These fellow testers span a range of skin tones, locations, and outdoor activities.
Testing how well the Thinksport Mineral sunscreen rubs into the arm.
To compile this list, we considered:
AADA requirements for sunscreens: All of our picks had to offer broad-spectrum sun protection for UVA rays and UVB rays; SPF 30+; and water resistance.
Price: You can spend $80 on a bottle of sunscreen (and power to you if you want to), but we wanted these to be more accessible. Everything here is under $6/oz.
Availability: Readily available at lots of major stores and online. If you can’t grab it on your way to the beach/trail/destination, what’s the use?
Expert recommendation: Do dermatologists and other skin experts recommend it?
User experience: Does it feel heavy or greasy? Does it absorb quickly and invisibly, regardless of skin tone? Does it have a strong fragrance? Do people like using it?
Reef-safe ingredients: Does it contain ingredients that will harm wildlife in the ocean or other bodies of water?
Remember that no sunscreen can completely block damaging rays from the sun, especially if misapplied (i.e., if you don’t use enough or don’t re-apply)! Wear clothing with sun protection if you’re going to be out there for a while. See our guide to Best Sun Shirts and Best Sun Hats for our recommendations.
Sunscreen is an essential part of the author’s daily lifestyle and a topic that she is very passionate about.
About the Author/Why The Reader Should Trust Us
I am a native Southern Californian (read: I’m in the sun all the time by default). I’m a hiker, backpacker, small-scale farmer, dogwalker, general outdoor enthusiast, and all-around sun-worshipper with an unfortunate history of skin cancer in my family. I’ve been known to pop into the backyard in my pajamas “just for a minute, to get some air” and then accidentally toil in the garden for several hours, or go “for a short walk” and come back many miles and many “Where are you? Are you dead???” texts from my wife later.
All this to say: sometimes you plan to be in the sun all day, and sometimes a day in the sun finds you, you know? To protect myself from myself–and to be prepared for the unexpected–I have been testing many sunscreens for many years, hoping to find the one(s) that make me WANT to put them on in the morning.
You can read all articles by Katie Hawkes on her author page.
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