EcoCult Recos: SPF Moisturizers That Are Clean and Effective

Girl, put on your (non-toxic) sunscreen.

When I quit my complex and expensive skincare routine, there was one daily skincare product I kept: tinted SPF moisturizer.

I ditched my anti-aging products, my cleanser, my serums, my nighttime moisturizer. I replaced most of it with argan oil and getting a good night’s rest.

But daily SPF…that product stayed with me. Literally. When I had to pair down my toiletry bag to just the essentials for a year of travel, I included that, and re-upped whenever I was near a store with non-toxic skincare.

There’s just no better anti-aging product on the market than a daily, year-round SPF. There’s a fierce debate about whether any of the topical anti-aging creams can actually penetrate your skin and then change the structure and elasticity of your skin. But it’s clear that no brand can offer you a solution to wrinkles and sun damage that’s more effective than protecting your skin in the first place.

But there’s another controversy in the skincare world: Whether conventional SPF moisturizers are safe to put on your skin. And what if, like me, you actually hate mineral-based SPF?

So as the weather gets warmer and the sun higher in the sky, let’s revisit EcoCult’s list of favorite SPF face moisturizers.

(I also want to know your favorites and your experiences with these brands. Let us know in the comments!)

Coola

I’ve used Coola’s tinted BB cream every single day instead of foundation for the past eight years. It’s light-weight, non-greasy, and has just a tiny bit of shimmer and coverage. It contains at least 70% organic ingredients, and sources locally as much as possible to ensure a transparent supply chain. It has a restricted ingredient list, and is Hawai’i Act 104 compliant. I also like the SPF 30 makeup setting spray for when you need a touch-up on a hot day, but don’t want to rub your makeup right off.

Blissoma

The regenerative brand Blissoma is one of EcoCult’s long-time favorite brands (the founder is an amazing human) and her SPF mineral sunscreen and facial moisturizer does not disappoint. The zinc oxide formula is made for sensitive and acne-prone skin, and goes on smoothly for all-day wear. And the bottle has a refillable pump!

Juice Beauty

Juice Beauty makes organic mineral sunscreens and SPF moisturizers, each formulated for different needs. We loved the 4-in-1 BB cream for daily wear under makeup, and the SPF 30 sport sunscreen for when you’re out in the heat all day.

MD SolarSciences

This science-based brand has a wide collection of SPF moisturizers, lip balms, and BB creams, in addition to body and face sunscreens for kids and adults. The products are formulated to help your skin retain moisture, even when you’re out in the heat. Its moisturizing creams are fragrance-free, and the untinted one goes up to SPF 50.

Ilia Beauty

Ilia Beauty has a lot of my favorite makeup items (lipstick, mascara) and also has a tinted SPF serum in both SPF 40 and SPF 30. They’re safe for sensitive skin, and made without fragrance or silicone.

Suntegrity

Suntegrity offers sun protection in many different forms, including moisturizers, sticks, and serums. Its products are completely unscented, and contain plant-based ingredients. Our testers found the tinted SPF moisturizer goes on thick and smooth, and makes a good base for makeup.

Kari Gran

Kari Gran makes a tinted SPF sunscreen formulated to protect against UVA and UVB rays. It’s made with non-nano zinc, making it reef safe as well. We found it to be smooth and lightweight, as well as sweat-resistant and a perfect makeup base.

Josh Rosebrook

This brand offers a daily SPF moisturizer in both a tinted and non-tinted version. They’re formulated to nourish the skin with herbal extracts and organic plant oils, while blocking out UV rays. When I tried it a few years back, I enjoyed the scent, but found the high amount of zinc rather astringent.

100 Percent Pure

We love 100 Percent Pure for it’s clean, pure makeup and skincare. Its SPF collection includes a Yerba maté mist and a green tea cream. The spray works well, but left a bit of white coloring most visible underwater—so we recommend it for lighter skin on land.

Activist Skincare

Activist is one of our favorite refillable skincare brands, and it carries both an SPF mineral sunscreen stick and a cream in sustainable packaging. It has an extensive restricted substances list, and is transparent about its ingredients. Our testers found the sunscreens effective, but a little dry.

What SPF daily moisturizers have worked best for you? Did we miss any?