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Looking for the best cruelty-free & vegan sunscreen that goes on sheer, absorbs quickly, and delivers gentle yet effective sun protection?
In this cruelty-free sunscreen guide, I’m sharing the best vegan sunscreens for the face; whether you prefer a tinted or invisible vegan SPF moisturizer, or a mineral-based, fragrance-free formula, there’s something for you in this list!
What To Look For:
Let’s first begin by asking, is sunscreen vegan? Some sunscreens contain animal-derived ingredients and by-products, including beeswax, lanolin, animal-based glycerin, stearic acid, or some other animal-derived additives.
In addition, most drugstore and high-end sunscreens are from brands that still test on animals like La Roche-Posay, Shiseido, Vichy, EltaMD, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Banana Boat, Coppertone, Cetaphil, CeraVe, Differin, Olay, Dr. Brandt, Avène, Kiehl’s, Innisfree, Skinceuticals, Neostrata, Peter Thomas Roth, Algenist, MELĒ, and should be avoided when looking for a cruelty-free and vegan sunscreen.
Best Vegan Face Sunscreens in 2023
Below is a list of the best-rated and best-selling vegan, cruelty-free sunscreens for face and their product claims.
All of the face sunscreens mentioned in this post are from brands that have been verified as being truly cruelty-free and don’t test on animals. Note that I’ve included some options from cruelty-free brands that are owned by an animal-tested parent company. If you choose not to purchase from these beauty brands, avoid the ones marked with an * asterisk.
And all of the cruelty-free sunscreens have been verified as being vegan-friendly and don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients. However, always check the manufacturer’s website for the most up-to-date information as ingredients and formulations may change.
Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
Unsun Mineral Tinted Sunscreen is a best-selling 100% mineral sunscreen primer and color corrector in one! This vegan sunscreen was formulated to cover a range of skin tones from olive to dark chocolate without leaving behind a ghostly residue. Allow Unsun to minimize your pores and moisturize your skin. Feel free to wear alone or as a primer under your makeup. The incredible blend of natural extracts add to this amazingly clean, cruelty-free, and reef-safe formulation.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
A totally invisible, weightless, scentless, and makeup-gripping daily primer with SPF 40. This innovative, antioxidant-rich SPF primer preps skin for makeup while providing broad-spectrum SPF 40. The ingredients also help offer tech protection against the light emitted from our phones and computers. The unique oil-free formula glides onto the skin providing shine control and leaving a velvety, makeup-gripping finish.
Glossier Invisible Shield SPF 35
A transparent, lightweight, chemical sunscreen with broad spectrum that feels like a serum on the skin and doesn’t leave a white cast or thick, greasy residue. Powered by active microcapsules (little spheres packed with UVA/UVB filters) that absorb into the skin instantly, this sunscreen plays well with makeup and provides invisible sun protection on all skin types. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, and sweet orange peel provides a pleasant scent.
*Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Vegan Sunscreen
A refillable two-in-one vegan sunscreen moisturizer that’s lightweight, oil-free, noncomedogenic, and invisible—it targets dark spots and is makeup-friendly. Light-as-air, all-day hydration meets universal SPF 30 protection. This pink cream applies invisibly on all skin tones and works with makeup—no pilling or flashback. It brightens skin, reduces the look of pores and dark spots, and makes fine lines and wrinkles less visible, instantly and over time.
*Note: Fenty is cruelty-free, but Fenty is owned by Kendo, LVMH, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.
Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Vegan Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
A lightweight & hypoallergenic vegan mineral sunscreen formulated for extra sensitive skin, perfect for babies and kids. This sunscreen contains non-nano zinc oxide to provide you with 80 minutes of water and sweat-resistant coverage. Fragrance-free mineral formula, specially formulated to naturally protect your skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays, this sunscreen is oxybenzone and octinoxate free; Enriched with Babo’s organic Nutri-Soothe Complex.
Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50
Powered by EnviroScreen® Technology, this all-powerful, all-mineral skin shield provides complete protection in one convenient, on-the-go application—alone or over makeup.
COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 PA+++
Formulated with Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract, the daily soothing COSRX vegan sunscreen is so lightweight that is feels like a moisturizer, and it does not leave any white cast. Designed to be travel friendly, you can easily carry COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream anywhere and layer on sun protection anytime.
Cocokind Daily SPF Mineral-based Vegan Sunscreen
This non-irritating mineral-based daily vegan sunscreen lotion with SPF 32 uses non-nano zinc oxide, blue phytoplankton, and microalgae to protect skin against everyday stressors such as UVA rays (aging), UVB rays (burning), and pollution.
In doing so, it helps prevent signs of premature aging, such as dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles while protecting skin against sunburn. this formula is fragrance-free and leaves skin with a soft and matte finish.
Pipette Mineral Broad Spectrum Vegan Sunscreen SPF 50
A vegan sunscreen for babies that works for the whole family, Pipette’s blendable Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 protects from the sun’s harmful rays with 100% mineral non-nano zinc oxide. This lightweight, baby-safe sunscreen is made with our proprietary sugarcane-derived squalane, a moisturizing superhero that restores skin’s natural balance, plus plant extracts to calm sun-stressed skin and the effects of infrared (the type of light that causes skin to heat up). Plus it’s noncomedogenic, so it’s truly a sunscreen for all: toddlers, teenagers, grandparents, and everyone in between.
Versed Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF 35
This creamy mineral vegan sunscreen with SPF 35 and lightweight moisture is great for all skin types, including acne-prone. While the formula has a peachy hue to help neutralize the white cast commonly associated with physical SPF, it’s not tinted—but rather, blends to a natural, skin-like finish. Non-nano zinc oxide (the safest SPF active for our bodies and our oceans) works at skin’s surface to physically prevent UVA and UVB rays from penetrating your skin. All the while, antioxidants fight off environmental and electronic (a.k.a. blue light) damage for three-way protection and premature aging prevention. It’s a broad spectrum, mineral sunscreen for your everyday life—yes, every day, all year round.
*Murad Correct & Protect Broad Spectrum SPF 45| PA++++
If you’re relying on a serum and sunscreen separately to fight discoloration and hyperpigmentation, you need to meet this two-in-one innovation. Murad combined the demonstrated clinical benefits of a serum with a satiny-smooth SPF that visibly future-proofs your skin—and brightens its appearance with continual use. This formula also contains beet root extract for a fast-absorbing dose of hydration all skin types will love.
*Note: Murad is cruelty-free, but Murad is owned by Unilever, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.
*Original SPF 50 Vegan Sunscreen Face Lotion
Designed for daily use, this best-selling face sunscreen is a weightless lotion that quickly absorbs into your skin for easy, invisible protection with a matte finish. Made for the face but works everywhere you want a super sheer look and feel without compromising our strong and trusted coverage.
*Note: Sun Bum is cruelty-free, but Sun Bum is owned by SC Johnson, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.
2 thoughts on “The Best Vegan Sunscreens For Everyday Use | 2023 Update!”
its a useful article for anyone looking for cruelty-free and vegan sunscreen options, and it provides a good starting point for further research.
It would be great if this included body sunscreens as well as face sunscreens