12 Vegan Sunscreens to Add to Your Beach Bag (Immediately)

person tying wet hair up in the sun — ohlamour studio / Stocksy

For many people, living a vegan lifestyle means more than eating a diet devoid of animal products. It also can mean extending that same philosophy to clothing choices and beauty products. If that's you, then kudos, because sifting through the millions of brands and products to find 100 percent vegan-friendly formulations can take a lot of time, patience, and determination. Luckily, though, it's getting a little bit easier every day as brands commit to producing more vegan-friendly products and being transparent about the ingredients and practices they use. (As far as makeup goes, brands like Kat Von D and Milk Makeup are making a name for themselves based on their 100 percent vegan-friendly product offerings). After all, ethical beauty is having something of a renaissance.

That vegan beauty renaissance extends to skincare and, more particularly, sunscreen. While it seems that we see new and innovative sun protection products hit the market almost every day, there are a select few that customers love best.

Keep reading for the 12 vegan sunscreens backed by glowing customer reviews, brand ratings, and best-selling status.

01 of 12

Supergoop! GlowScreen

Supergoop! GlowScreen $36.00

Shop

Winter can leave your skin looking a bit dull, which is why we adore this release from Supergoop!, which gives your skin a glassy-but-not-glittery glow. A slight tint makes you look sunkissed without leaving you orange. Plus, hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 promise to hydrate your skin while cocoa peptides are meant to prevent blue light damage. Plus, it's reef-safe.

02 of 12

Coola Full Spectrum 360 Sun Silk Drops SPF 30

Coola Full Spectrum 360 Sun Silk Drops SPF 30 $46.00

Shop

Coola is an amazing brand to look to for vegan sunscreen formulations. These "sun drops" promise full-spectrum protection from UVA, UVB, IR, and HEV light, meaning they protect your skin from both the sun and the harsh electronic light of your phone and computer screen. You can wear the drops alone by simply applying a few to your face and neck, or you can wear them under other skincare and makeup products.

03 of 12

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Sheer Mineral Sun Spray SPF 50

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare All Physical Microfine Body Spray SPF30 $40.00

Shop

Here's another vegan spray (which we know some people prefer over cream formulas since it offers a quicker, more convenient application). It's lightweight, sheer, and provides SPF 50 protection. Customers can't get enough of it. One reviewer writes, "This is one of the best sunscreens I've ever used. After shaking it very well, I spray it twice into my hand, disperse it between my hands and rub that into my face and neck. This product has no scent that I notice. It goes on rather slippy but it dries down to an almost powder finish in a few minutes. I used this for a week in San Diego—I'm very prone to burning—and I didn't even get pink! Will continue to buy! And I love that the brand is cruelty-free!"

04 of 12

Sun Bum SPF 50 Face Lotion

Sun Bum SPF 50 Face Lotion $13.00

Shop

Most Sun Bum products smell like summer, meaning they have a tropical banana or coconut fragrance (which we typically love). For people with sensitive skin types, though, fragrance-free formulations may be better for avoiding skin irritation. Or maybe you just prefer fragrance-free sunscreens for daily wear. In that case, reach for this vegan SPF 50 sunscreen. It also happens to be phthalate-, paraben-, and gluten-free.

05 of 12

HydroPeptide Solar Defense Non-Tinted SPF 50

HydroPeptide Solar Defense Non-Tinted SPF 50 $48.00

Shop

HydroPeptide's vegan sunscreen is one of Dermstore's best-selling formulas. It's specially formulated to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It's also unique in that it dries down to a sheer matte finish, making it a good choice for people who struggle with oily skin (like me)—because there's nothing worse than applying sunscreen to oily skin and making it look even greasier.

06 of 12

Glossier Invisible Shield

Glossier Invisible Shield $25.00

Shop

This buzzy sunscreen from gen Z–beloved brand, Glossier, is totally vegan, which many people aren't aware of. It's marketed as "sunscreen for people who hate wearing sunscreen" since it's completely sheer (you won't see any hint of a white cast here). The lightweight formula is noncomedogenic, breathable, and great for layering.

07 of 12

Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 $36.00

Shop

This vegan sunscreen is in a convenient spray, however, it contains non-nano zinc oxide, which is air-powered instead of aerosol. This SPF 30 shields you from both UVA and UVB rays without the use of harsh chemicals. “I love this mineral sunscreen. Not only does it work great at protecting my skin, the texture, clean scent, and sprayer are the best (and I’ve used a ton of sunscreen mists). And I love that it’s safe to use on me and my kids,” says one reviewer.

08 of 12

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 $36.00

Shop

Josie Maran's moisturizer-and-sunscreen hybrid is an updated version of her Argan Daily Moisturizer ($36). It's lightly tinted to enliven the look of the skin, and it promises nourishing and anti-aging benefits thanks to the brand's namesake argan oil in combination with antioxidant-rich green tea. Although it's often sold out on Sephora's website, check back regularly for its restock. It's inevitable, especially with reviews like this: "First of all, I absolutely love this product. Feels luxurious, smells like oatmeal, is soothing, and melts into my skin, protects my skin well, and doesn't break me out. Second, the size is a blessing, and it's such an amazing deal, considering the 2 oz is $32. Third, I will always appreciate the sturdiness of the brown glass bottle, so light can't penetrate and spoil the argan awesomeness, along with its pump. I pump it twice and get the perfect amount of product."

09 of 12

Bare Republic Mineral Face Lotion SPF 30

Bare Republic Mineral Face Lotion SPF 30 $15.00

Shop

Bare Republic's SPF 30 sunscreen has kukui seed oil meant to moisturize, baobab extract meant to protect skin from free-radical damage, and algae extract meant to repair the skin. It's paraben-free, non-GMO, and vegan. And it's widely available at drugstores and even Ulta for less than $20 a bottle. It's almost too good to be true.

10 of 12

Volition Prismatic Luminizing Shield

Volition Prismatic Luminizing Shield $35.00

Shop

Volition's vegan sunscreen is all about providing radiance, which is nice considering that so many other sunscreens do the opposite by sitting atop the skin with a white cast. This one won't do that at all. It has a pearlescent finish that reflects light to make the skin look dewy and glowy. It has already sold out twice at Sephora and has developed a huge customer following. Take it from reviews like this one: "Can't even deal with how great this. I have dark, ebony skin (and proud of it). Tried so many products. I found it absorbs right in and leaves just a hint of shimmer. I did notice it works even better after I moisturize. I have bought one for the car and one for home. A little bummed it is not waterproof but I wear it every day so it is worth that one con."

11 of 12

Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen and Primer

Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen and Primer $45.00

Shop

This Suntegrity sunscreen doubles as a primer, which makes it perfect for wearing daily underneath makeup. It's all thanks to ingredients like jojoba oil, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, essential oils, and green tea, which are meant to hydrate the skin and keep it looking fresh all day long.

12 of 12

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield Unscented SPF 28 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield Unscented SPF 28 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen $22.00

Shop

This is perhaps a lesser-known brand, but one that's worth mentioning nonetheless since it's so effective and environmentally safe (and vegan). First off, it's gentle enough for infants to use and promises soothing for sensitive skin types. Plus, it dries down sheer and provides antioxidant protection. Customers can't get enough. One reviewer writes, "Only physical sunscreen I've found that I actually look forward to wearing. Unlike most physical sunscreens on the market, it leaves zero white cast. Get it!"

Reviewed: Bioré's UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.