10 Best Mineral Sunscreens in India To Protect Your Skin

Last Updated on June 30, 2023

Looking for the best mineral based sunscreen in India? This post is for you.

Sunscreens are the new necessity in everyone’s morning skincare routine. So I often have readers asking for recommendations for the best mineral sunscreen for the face in India.

Earlier, I didn’t have many budget Indian brands to suggest to them especially if they had oily/acne-prone skin like mine. But thankfully, a few interesting mineral sunscreens have been launched in India since then from brands like Earth Rhythm, Re’equil, Qurez, etc.

So we thankfully have a broader selection of physical sunscreens in India now to find the right fit for our skin and budget. 

 Mineral Vs Chemical: Which Sunscreen is Best?

Lately, there have been a lot of concerns over the safety of ingredients used in some old chemical/organic filters. Hence, more and more women want to use physical aka mineral sunscreens, and stay on the side of caution, including me.

But if you are pregnant, or have sensitive or acne-prone skin, mineral sunscreens are the best choice for your skin. These physical sunscreens are made with either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which are considered to be safer UV filters and less irritating on your skin too.

Mineral sunscreens are also a great choice for kids as they are the least likely to irritate their sensitive skin.

But finding a good physical sunscreen is often harder than finding a perfect foundation match. If you have a wheatish or dark skin tone, many physical sunscreens will leave a white cast on your face making your skin look ashy.

Also Read: Best Non-Greasy Sunscreens For Oily Skin

How To Identify Real Mineral Sunscreens in India

There are many hybrid sunscreens that have both chemical and mineral sun filters. But only the mineral filter is mentioned in the description to mislead customers into thinking they are buying a mineral sunscreen.

There are only two mineral sun filters that can be present in a true physical sunscreen – titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

These two ingredients form a physical layer on your skin that reflects UV rays from the sun (hence the name “physical” sunscreen). All other sun filters are called chemical or organic sun filters.

So if you are looking for true 100% mineral sunscreen- here are some chemical filters that should not be present in the ingredient list.-

• avobenzone
• octocrylene
• oxybenzone
• benzophenone-3
• octyl methoxycinnamate
• ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate
• octisalate
• octinoxate
• homosalate

Sometimes the brand may also use a trade name like ‘Suncat DE’ which is a blend of chemical sun filters.

So always read the ingredient list carefully while shopping for mineral-based sunscreens in India. The options I have listed below are 100% real mineral sunscreens and have no chemical filters.

Also Read: Step-By-Step Summer Skincare Routine To Tackle Oily Skin

Best Mineral Sunscreens in India For All Skin Types

Here are the best broad-spectrum mineral sunscreens available in India that will help protect your skin from sun damage. As always, I have only picked products that have a complete ingredient list mentioned on the label/website.

There are tinted and non-tinted options so you have plenty to choose from. So pick one that suits your skin type and budget and you are good to go.

1. Deconstruct Tinted Mineral Sunscreen

• SPF 55 PA++++
• Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide
• Universal tint
• Water-resistant
• No white cast
• Matte finish
• Vegan
• No added fragrance

This tinted mineral sunscreen from Deconstruct works for all skin types and has a universal peach tint to ensure there is no white cast on your face. It offers broadspectrum SPF 55 PA++++ protection and has a water-resistant formula making it suitable for daily use.

The sunscreen gets quickly absorbed into the skin and has a comfortable, matte finish. It is formulated with photostable ingredients and is free of silicone, fragrances, essential oils, or alcohol. Plus, there is niacinamide to reduce pigmentation and age spots as well.

2. Earth Rhythm PhytoShield Matte Mineral Sunscreen

• SPF 50
• Zinc oxide and titanium oxide
• Matte finish
• No white cast
• Waterproof
• No added fragrance

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you need a water-resistant sunscreen to ensure it doesn’t get wiped away by sweat. And this matte mineral Sunscreen with SPF 50 from Earth Rhythm is a great pick.

It is a silicone-based sunscreen that leaves no white cast and has a lightweight, velvety matte finish that is comfortable to wear outdoors, even in this heatwave! My cousin ordered two tubes after she borrowed this from me on a recent trip to Goa.

The mineral filters used are zinc oxide and titanium oxide. There is no added fragrance so if you are looking for fragrance-free mineral sunscreen in India, this is a great pick.

Read my full review here.

Also Read: How To Remove Suntan Naturally At Home

3. Qurez Mattifying Mineral Sunscreen

• SPF 30 PA+++
• Non-Nano Zinc oxide and micronized Titanium oxide
• Matte finish
• No white cast
• Water-resistant
• Acne-friendly
• No added fragrance

Qurez’s mattifying mineral sunscreen is a crowd favourite since it is quite affordable. It has SPF 30 PA+++ broad-spectrum protection and contains aloe vera, vitamin E, seabuckthorn extract, and matcha tea, all great for nourishing your skin.

The sunscreen has a nice matte finish and doesn’t leave any white cast on my skin. So if you have dark skin, definitely try this out. I think oily-skinned people will love this as it is matte and doesn’t make skin greasy, even on reapplication. My top pick! Read the full review here.

4. Daughter Earth Sunnydip Mineral Sunscreen

• SPF 35 PA+++
• Zinc oxide
• Vegan
• No white cast
• No added fragrance

This mineral sunscreen from Daughter Earth, a conscious vegan skincare brand in India is a great pick for all skin types. It has SPF 35 PA+++ protection which is excellent for everyday use.

The formula is silicone-free and has a creamy consistency which spreads easily on the skin. It has a blend of botanicals like chamomile, babassu, mulberry, carrot, etc. that soothe and protect the skin while the amino acid complex improves hydration.

5. Re’equil Sheer Zinc Tinted Mineral Sunscreen

• SPF 50 PA+++
• Zinc oxide
• No white cast
• Universal tint
• Water-resistant
• No added fragrance
• Matte finish

Re’equil tinted matte sunscreen is silicone based with an SPF 50 PA+++ rating. It is waterproof and has undergone in-vitro testing for sunscreen ratings.

it has. Universal orange sunscreen that suits most Indian skin types. But take care as it is known to leave stains on white clothes. If you are looking for an affordable tinted mineral sunscreen with a matte finish that suits all skin types, this is a good choice.

6. The Moms Co. Natural Daily Mineral Sunscreen

• SPF 45+ PA++++
• Zinc oxide
• No white cast
• Dewy finish
• Made Safe approved

The Moms. Co baby sunscreen left a terrible white cast. But this adult mineral sunscreen fares much better in that department. It takes time to blend in but has no white cast and offers SPF 45+ PA++++ broad-spectrum protection.

It has a thick lotion-like consistency and settles into a dewy finish. Along with zinc oxide as a sun filter, it has chamomile, licorice, and calendula extract to soothe the skin.

It is not waterproof so this won’t be a good option if you are swimming or sweating a lot. Best reserve this one for winter or indoor use.

7. Harkoi Mineral Matte Sunscreen

• SPF 35 PA++++
• Zinc oxide
• No added fragrance
• 8 tint options
• No white cast
• Matte finish

If you are looking for the best-tinted mineral sunscreen in India, then Harkoi Life Mineral Matte sunscreen is a great choice. They have launched India’s first tinted mineral sunscreen that has 8 diverse shades to suit all skin types. And it has SPF 35 too.

So you don’t have to worry about looking like a ghost with this one. It also has Vitamin E and squalane to moisturize your skin. If you don’t mind silicones, this is a great option as it works as a makeup primer too.

8. YBP Sun Salve

• SPF 25 PA+++
• Non-Nano Zinc oxide
• No added fragrance
• Universal Tint
• Dewy Finish

YBP makes some amazing plant-based skincare products. Their mineral sunscreen is a bit on the expensive side, but it is tinted and has one of the cleanest sunscreen ingredient lists you can find. It is unlikely to leave a white cast on your skin and thus worth splurging some money on.

The YBP Sun Salve offers SPF 25 PA+++ protection and leaves a dewy finish on your face. If budget is not an issue for you and you love plant-based products, go for this tinted mineral sunscreen.

9. Mamaearth Mineral-Based Sunscreen

• SPF 20+
• Zinc oxide
• Kid-friendly
• Antioxidants for enhanced protection
• Matte Finish

This is a physical sunscreen primarily designed for kids. But has that ever stopped us from using it? The ingredients list has a lot of natural emollients and occlusives so will best suit dry/sensitive skin types.

It has SPF 20 and you can also use this on your body since it is quite affordable. It also has Vitamin E which enhances sun protection. And there is a trial-sized version to check if it suits your skin.

Also Read: Mamaearth Ultra Light Sunscreen SPF50 Review

10. Rustic Art Mineral Sunscreen

• SPF 30+
• Titanium oxide and Zinc oxide
• Vegan
• Dewy matte finish

Made with a blend of titanium and zinc oxides, this vegan physical sunscreen from Rustic Art is a waterless formula with SPF 30+. So the consistency is thicker and it will be better suited for normal to dry skin types.

It is enriched with natural antioxidant-rich ingredients like raspberry oil, Vitamin C, and vitamin E which will enhance sun protection. It is also priced affordably so give this a try if you want a purely physical sunscreen with natural ingredients for your face and body.

Also Read: Breeze Through Summers With These Amazing Skincare Tips

So, which of these mineral sunscreen options from India are you planning to pick?

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