Sunscreen

58 products ranked by Scout score

Best sunscreen right now

KORUA Tallow Sunscreen Grass-Fed Organic SPF 50 100/100
Scout's analysis: KORUA Tallow Sunscreen Grass-Fed Organic SPF 50 scores 100/100. A grass-fed beef tallow sunscreen with SPF 50, labeled organic. Non-nano zinc oxide is the UV filter,…
Pleasing Solar Dew Mineral Serum SPF 50+ 100/100
Scout's analysis: Pleasing Solar Dew Mineral Serum SPF 50+ scores 100/100. A mineral sunscreen serum with SPF 50+, using zinc oxide alongside jojoba oil, vitamin E and niacinamide.…
Sky and Soil Sunscreen 100/100
Scout's analysis: Sky and Soil Sunscreen scores 100/100.

What to skip

Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50 9/100
Scout's analysis: ⚠ Contamination Alert Specific lots of this product were recalled in 2021 after independent lab testing detected benzene — a known human carcinogen — at levels…
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 70 9/100
Scout's analysis: ⚠ Contamination Alert Specific lots of this product were recalled in 2021 after independent lab testing detected benzene — a known human carcinogen — at levels…
Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50 9/100
Scout's analysis: ⚠ Contamination Alert Specific lots of this product were recalled in 2021 after independent lab testing detected benzene — a known human carcinogen — at levels…

Ingredients to watch in sunscreen

The flagged ingredients that show up most often across these 58 products. Each link opens Scout's analysis of the ingredient.

Avobenzone in 13 of 58
Octocrylene in 12 of 58
Dimethicone in 11 of 58
Octisalate in 11 of 58
Butyloctyl Salicylate in 10 of 58
Phenoxyethanol in 9 of 58

What the better sunscreen have in common

Zinc Oxide in 20 of 58
Glycerin in 15 of 58
Tocopherol in 12 of 58
Sodium Hyaluronate in 11 of 58
Caprylic/capric Triglyceride in 10 of 58

Common questions about sunscreen

What scores highest in sunscreen on Scout?

KORUA Tallow Sunscreen Grass-Fed Organic SPF 50 leads Scout's sunscreen ranking at 100/100, followed by Pleasing Solar Dew Mineral Serum SPF 50+ (100) and Sky and Soil Sunscreen (100). Scores compare products within the category on ingredients, processing, packaging and any lab results.

What should I avoid in sunscreen?

Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50 scores 9/100, the lowest of the 58 products Scout has analyzed in sunscreen; next lowest are Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 70 (9) and Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (9). Each product page lists the ingredients behind the number.

What drags scores down in sunscreen?

Across these 58 products the most common flagged ingredients are Avobenzone, Octocrylene, Dimethicone, Octisalate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Phenoxyethanol. Each appears in at least two of the products ranked here.

How does Scout score sunscreen?

Every product in sunscreen gets one 1–100 score for comparison within its category: the full ingredient list judged by a category-specific framework, the published processing level, the packaging, and any credible lab results. Lab results are disclosed, not scored. Scout takes no payment for scores or placement.

How Scout scores sunscreen

One 1–100 score per product, judged within its category: every ingredient on the label through a category-specific framework, the published processing level, the packaging, and any credible lab results. No brand pays for a score or a position on this list. Read the full methodology →