The team at Wild Elements includes working beauty editors, veterans from major makeup and skincare brands, research experts in science and skin, and a founder whose job is literally telling celebs how to make products that help people and the planet. That means when it comes to product recommendations, we do not mess around—we test, we parse ingredients, we get obsessed.
Here are our 7 favorite sunscreens for people and planetary health, chosen because of their efficacy, their ingredients, their packaging, and the way they treat their suppliers and employees—because kindness is also a renewable resource.
THE ONE WE WEAR WITH MAKEUP:
ELEVEN BY VENUS WILLIAMS UNRIVALED SUMMER SERUM ($50)
Dermatologist-tested for skin-smart wear, this SPF 35 was created with zero white cast and incredible absorption to protect and moisturize skin with a demi-velvet finish instead of a shiny one. (Yesss.) It also includes coconut and prickly pear extracts for hydration.
THE ONE WE WEAR WITH NO MAKEUP:
BEAUTYCOUNTER COUNTERSUN MINERAL SUNSCREEN ($22.95)
With non-nano zinc and California poppy extract, this SPF 30 is water-resistant and non-toxic, and when we tested it, we found it left almost no white residue and gave a glowy-not-greasy finish.
THE ONE FOR DARKER SKIN PROTECTION:
KINLO GOLDEN RAYS MELANATED TINT ($19.99)
Naomi Osaka's new skincare line is water-resistant and sweat-resistant, but it also comes with a super-subtle pigment created especially for melanin-rich skin tones. The result is a naturally soft, matte finish without any chalky residue. This SPF 50 is also lightweight, providing hardcore sun protection without clogging your pores.
THE ONE FOR STRESSED-OUT SKIN:
KINSHIP SELF REFLECT PROBIOTIC MOISTURIZING SUNSCREEN ($26)
Made with a plant-based probiotic, this super-smooth formula helps calm and nourish skin while using mineral SPF 32 to protect from UV rays and blue light. Its tube is made partly from ocean waste plastic, and Kinship reports they've removed over 6 tons of it from the waters around Indonesia.
THE ONE FOR OUTDOOR SPORTS:
ELTA MD UV ACTIVE BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN ($63)
You know when you're jogging, you get sweaty, and your eyes start to sting like crazy? This SPF 50+ is water resistant for 80 minutes, and formulated specifically to not drip or sweat off your body during workouts. It's fragrance-free, paraben-free, mineral-based, and...um... expensive, so you might want to save it for special occasions like road races and outdoor events like weddings or graduations.
THE ONE THAT'S ALSO A BODY LOTION:
JUICE BEAUTY SPORT SUNSCREEN ($18)
Ideally, one SPF product can serve as sun protection and body lotion. This SPF 30 makes that goal a reality and uses plant-based ingredients like certified organic aloe, jojoba, and coconut oil to do it, along with a mineral formula that protects for up to 80 minutes. We also love that it's packaged with FSC-certified paper.
THE ONE THAT SPRAYS CLEAN AIR:
SUPERGOOP PLAY MINERAL BODY MIST, $21
A spray-on sunscreen is the ultimate convenience, but is it okay for the air? This SPF 30 is, with "bag-on-valve" technology that uses regular air—not chemicals—to power its mist, creating a non-aerosol application of mineral sunscreen that can even work upside-down.
