With daily sun exposure, sun creams play an important role in protecting our health.
Choosing from the many products available isn’t always easy, especially when trying to find options that are truly safe for you and your family.
Some suncreams contain ingredients that raise concerns for both human health and the environment, especially marine ecosystems. That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look at what you’re applying to your skin.
To help you choose with confidence, we’ve selected 10 sun creams with top ratings on Yuka.
| 1 |
 |
Invisible Sun Spray SPF 50 - Avène
Excellent - 100/100
With non-ecotoxic UV filters, this suncream spray is formulated to provide optimum protection while reducing impact on the skin and marine environment. |
| 2 |
 |
Vinosun Sunstick SPF 50 - Caudalie
Excellent - 100/100
This targeted SPF stick that combines UV filters with plant waxes and grape seed oil, is designed for precise protection of small areas like lips and scalp. |
| 3 |
 |
Stick alta protección SPF 50 - Mustela
Excellent - 100/100
Providing broad-spectrum protection in a formula enriched with ceramides and nutrient-rich plant oils, this cream is designed to help support the skin barrier while shielding the skin from sun damage. |
| 4 |
 |
Water sun cream SPF 50 - Tocobo
Excellent - 93/100
This lightweight, hypoallergenic SPF formula combines multiple UV filters with humectants and plant extracts, enriched with vitamins and Cica. |
| 5 |
 |
Sun Cream SPF 30 - Green People
Excellent - 93/100
This scent-free suncream is formulated with mineral filters and plant-based ingredients like aloe vera, edelweiss and cocoa butter, designed without controversial UV filters. |
| 6 |
 |
Baby suncream SPF 30 - Badger
Excellent - 93/100
This mineral suncream is made with 98% organic ingredients and combines zinc oxide with soothing plant extracts like chamomile in a biodegradable formula. |
| 7 |
 |
Natural Tinted Face Cream SPF 40 - Moogoo
Excellent - 93/100
Created with non-nano zinc and iron oxides, this tinted face suncream is free of chemical UV filters and fragrance, offering a gentle formula suitable for sensitive skin types. |
| 8 |
 |
Top-to-Toe Sun Cream SPF 30 - Balmonds
Excellent - 93/100
This sunscreen moisturizes dry sensitive skin for up to 8 hours, is water-resistant and comes in an eco-designed bottle with 64% recycled plastic. |
| 9 |
 |
Photoderm Ultra SPF 50 - Bioderma
Excellent - 90/100
This suncream offers a formula designed to be resistant to water, sweat, and sand, and has been tested to limit its impact on aquatic ecosystems. |
| 10 |
 |
Kids UV Protect SPF 50 - Nivea Sun
Excellent - 83/100
This fragrance-free kids suncream combines a multi-filter UV system with panthenol and vitamins for a waterproof protection. |
Like all our rankings, this one was conducted completely independently, and no brand has paid to be included.
I love the Yuka app, have been using it for years.
Shame Tropic is listed as its clean and reef safe too which many others aren’t.
What do you think of Tropic suncream products?
Really helpful, and once again, none of the big names on this list which says a lot. Thank you
Very informative thank you
Thank you, I get sunburns really easily this will hopefully prevent that!
This is excellent especially as I am going on a Caribbean cruise later this year and will need a good sun cream. I only want to use a suncream with no nasties on my skin! I am so glad I got recommended your app, it is a life saver!!
Thank you !
Bought Balmonds on recommendation but smells horrible unfortunately.
Will try other makes.
This is very useful coming into the summer.
Thank you Julie
Really useful, thank you, I’m not familiar with some of these brands though. You mention Nivea for babies, would this apply to other Nivea sun protection ? Living in the UK, I use Nivea factors 30, 20 & 15
I’ve found that a same brand can offer both bad and good rated products. It can also change: A well rated product can have its formula changed. The safest, for me, is to scan the barcodes in the shop. I hope this helps.
The Yuka app has been very informative and I shared it with lots of friends and family . Thank you
Thanks for the information relevant 👍
This selection of sun creams is really useful. Thank you. Living in the UK there is often quite weak sun and I would like a sun cream that’s 15 or 10 SPF. Do you have any recommendations for lower SPF sun creams.?
Love this app. Big thank you from me☺️
Thank you so much for all your information extremely helpful 🌻
MIDI12 is 100/100 but you’ve not mentioned that one. Is it because it’s not a major high street brand? As well as next-gen filters, it contains natural antioxidant botanicals that look after the skin. So much more than just an SPF.
it was so helpful thank you
thank you very much
Thank you, extremely helpful especially for the kids
Thank you it’s good to know. I usually use Piz Buin oil. Could you confirm how this rates please? Sorry no doubt you are getting lots of questions!
Chris
Thank you that was so helpful
Is Lacura from Aldi good?
Thank you for all the information. So helpful.
Thank you for this info. It’s very useful and I’m glad to see the one I’ve been using has been recommended
Very useful information. Thank you
Which one is good for someone who has used hatched creams
Abderrahim
Hi Julie, thank you for your efforts and research.all my respect to you.
Hi Julie. Thank you for your amazing research. Will look out for these products to safely enjoy the sun
It would be handy to have an idea of which one is in my price range instead of having to look them all up
I use the Invisible Sun Spray SPF 50 – Avène
Happy with it, I use it as a daily moisturiser and mostly on my face and hands
Thankyou very glad to have that information.
Thanks so much very helpful
Many Thanks for the professional work!! 🙏🏼
Thank you, very helpful 😊
Thanks for the fabulous app. It’s a game and health changer. I can now choose the healthiest products when before I had no way of knowing which were best.
Thank you for this valuable information, I am on immune suppression medication, and I have to be careful in the sun, so to find the right protection is key to my wellbeing.😎
Thank you, I live in a hot country and wear suncream daily. Knowing which are the best for my skin and body is great.
Thank you for all of this. I appreciate your support in this and all of your other information that you send.
Thank you so much Julie, I will definitely be buying these safe sun creams for my family. I appreciate your research. X
As someone who suffers from prickly heat hopefully this helps.
This is so helpful, thank you.
My family are now on the app and it’s much appreciated.
This is brilliant thank you.
All my family now uses the app – brilliant for teenagers that are so heavily marketed too. Now they always check food and cosmetics on Yuka!
Ive noticed other brands EG Tropic also have 100 pct ratings but theyre not on this list. Why is that?
This is good thank you. I would ask you to consider stating if products contain animal ingredients or have been tested on animals. Living a cruelty free lifestyle is important to me and many others too. Thank you.
I was going to write the exact same thing! I want to know if the products are vegan and cruelty free!
Excellent I’ve been in all stores using my ap could not find anything suitable this has saved me from searching Thank You
Love the List, by way of time saving .
Please could we have more going forward
Thank you.
I live by Yuka! Thank you 😊
I worried for so many years about what’s in our food & cosmetics. Yuka has bn a life saver. I use to spend hours in the supermarket going thru all the ingredients trying to work out what were the safe & healthy products. My sister recommended the Yuka app & the local pre diabetic Instructor. It’s taken the hard work out of this task. I’m quick in the shops now. I just scan & go. Thank you so much for coming up with this brilliant app. I recommend it to friends, family & so many staff that work in the supermarkets. Everyone has bn so impressed with the app, they download it on the spot. I’ve had to throw away x7 sun screen creams because several had zero out of 100, the highest was 7 out of 100. Now from your list I can buy & use with confidence. I use all the features of the app. Thank you again for such an excellent app.
Thank you so much for sharing this is very helpful 💯
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Thank you so much for this list of sun creams , very timely as the temperatures are forecast to rise. I want a sun creams very that is good for the environment and good for me and I will certainly buy one from this list.
Other than The Green People I haven’t heard of any of these brands. It would be very helpful if you had included the suppliers for each.
Caudalie is an amazing product…..it’s the only skincare I use, so I was very happy to see the sunscreen scored full marks ❤️
I use caudalie and I excellent
How about a local brand? Like Tesco or Lidl?
https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/315347200
Thank you so much. I will look out for one of these this summer
I bought sun cream today from decathlon, they are rated pretty high, wish I had seen your email earlier. Recommendations are super helpful for when I run out. Thank you
I use Cocosolis Choco Sun Tan Body Oil, available from Superdrug. Bar code scans as Excellent 100/100 😊 https://cocosolis.com/en/product/choco-suntan-body-oil/
Thank you so much for sharing these. I will definitely be investing in some.
Very interesting will purchase some of these now. Thanks for the tips.
Very interesting, but I had only heard of the last two listed before. I think I need to investigate more options. Thanks
Thanks hope your right
Really good to know this before the Summer gets underway. It would be useful to know where any of them can be bought as I have not seen any of them in my usual shops.
Once again you haven’t included the Alteya sun cream despite it rating higher than the majority of your top 10! It also has organic ingredients, yet you’d rather feature a lower rated nivea one!
Thank you Julie for the comprehensive list of sun protector products. Yuka has been so helpful. I have removed all products with low % & shocked at how many are totally unsuitable. I recommend the app to family & friends. Well done 👏
I have been using Yuka diligently for a couple of years now.
I love it! Even my grandchildren are using it when making their “treaty” choice.
I use it extensively on food, make up, perfumes and it significantly impacts my buying decisions.
I ultimately hope producers will realise they need to consider what they put in their products or go out of business because people do not want harmful additives/chemicals.
Absolutely agree with you. I’m pretty angry that companies produce rubbish & don’t care about people’s health. Many people I’ve spoken to have never heard about the Yuka app, & many don’t realise the harmful chemicals in the products they buy which is sad. It’s all about profit rather than people’s health. I wonder why they keep saying 1 in 2 will get cancer. Well many companies are to blame because of the harmful chemicals they put in products
I use the first and it’s great!
I love my Yuka app; I even recommend it to anyone browsing. Thank me later! 🫶
Thanks for that it’s like I mine field out there when it comes to sun screen.., I searched endlessly last year & the best I came up with 40/100 so thanks again
Great! Could you also do a list of best daily facial spf which are good under makeup and also don’t leave a white/blue cast please!!!!!!!!🙏
Me too please
Thank you. You really get confused to no what is the products you can trust, especially has I have been diagnosed pre diabetic, so I have to be careful what I put on.
Informative as always. Love Yuka xx
Thanks for the heads up on sun cream ☺️
Thank you so much . I did do some research and La Roche Posay seemed to YUKA quite well. Finding a chemical free sunscreen has proved a real challenge.
Don’t recognise a lot of them. Available in Ireland ?
very good .i tell lots of people about the app .
Very helpful, thank you very much
Hi Julie! Thank you for this great breakdown. I noticed a few users in the comments mentioned having sensitive skin or conditions like eczema, and some of these creams can be quite pricey or hard to find in the UK. I’m doing some research into more accessible and cost-effective alternatives for a family wellness group. While looking into product verification and safety standards, I stumbled upon a technical compliance review at https://guiadecasinoatlanticcityperu.com/ which mentions regulatory frameworks for local operations. It made me wonder about the specific certifying bodies you rely on for UK products. Does Yuka primarily use EU/French health databases to determine these scores, or do you also integrate data from British standards and independent testing bodies like Which? to verify the safety and efficacy of sunscreens available on the UK high street?
Wonderful and very good timing 👏 thank you very much 😊
Very helpful thank you
I love the Yuka app although it takes me much longer to do my shopping 😂
Thank for the information
Thank you for the information I have been looking for the right sun cream protector you have given me a few to choose.
Thank you so much for this information perfect timing, Just need to find out where to buy these items from.
Very helpful and appreciated
Thank you, very helpful information, much appreciated,
I would love to know if any of these products leave a white cast as this very important for those with darker skin tones.
Thank you for the information it’s very helpful
Really appreciate this information. Saves me looking myself
Incredibly helpful and saved me hours of research. Such an important thing to get right. Thank you
Thank you. Very useful information.
I have eczema and sensitive skin but I have found Asda’s own make to be the best for me, and it’s also so much cheaper.
Which one is the best for very sensitive skin? I have to use Piz Buin at the moment which I know is t good.
Just what I needed to know thank you, is there a recommendation for Aftersun ? I like to use the same brands on my skin
This good to know… but some times access to these products are time consuming… can you do the best of the rest such as the supermarket brands and the well now brands as well. Thank you
I would suggest that Tropic Sunscreens are better than the listed brands. Our entire reef-safe sunscreen range is formulated with ingredients that cause no harm to marine life, and we’re proud to be the first beauty brand in the UK and Europe to be awarded the Protect Land + Sea certification. And of course all of the products are natural and organic not just the sunscreen.
I always use Tropics
Thanks very much for these! Are they also rated for efficacy? I wonder if you have an opinion on Heliocare 360 sunscreen products as I really love them, but they may not be so eco conscious?
Many thanks
Wonderful ,Impartial common sense advice . Thank you
Thank you very much. Julie, the best brand of suncream I had use one of them so far. And it was very good. X
Why do none of the above appear on the ‘which’ best suntan lotions?
Yes I was thinking the same
I’m a pensioner and can’t afford an expensive brand. I use a spray factor 50 as I can’t rub cream to my back through arthritis .
Just what was needed. Most are harmful but good to see your recommendations. On the head would the one mentioned harm where I have sun famed cut out?
Thank you
I would like to see more Tropic products recommended on here…
There sun creams are better than some of your top ten…Good for the coral and marine life…
Don’t forget that you can’t always believe the manufacturer’s claimed SPF levels, so you should also consult organisations like Which? who conduct rigorous independent tests to identify which sun creams pass British Standard tests for UVA and UVB sun protection. 🙂
I was thinking the same thing. It’s all well and good being natural and organic, but does it meet actual uva and uvb ratings in an independent lab test.
Thank you 🙏🏻 I always find it difficult to get a good sun cream as I know there are not many out there
Hi Julia
About six years ago, I visited a private dermatologist to get rid of some concerning sun spots. He said that the best sun cream is Piz Buin 50 so I have been using it daily, winter and Summer, ever since.
I am constantly being complimented on my facial skin even though I will be 80 this year.
I have to use the sensitive one. But I’m quite concerned after scanning it on the Yuka app as it scores very badly
I haven’t used any of them, but I will definitely try them. Thank you 🤩
Are there any that are vegan & cruelty free please?
All Tropic products are Vegan and animal friendly…
I would also like if you put if items are from companies that do not test on animals. Cruelty free.
Thanks for your valuable information on sun creams, I’ve just been diagnosed with sun damage on my scalp and I now intend to select one from your list of 10. Thanks again.
Couldn’t agree more – Avene is great !
Are kids sunscreens also suitable for adults?
Yes, adults can absolutely use kids’ or baby sunscreen. In fact, dermatologists often recommend it for adults with sensitive or reactive skin.
Thank you 👍
Inika an Australian high factor sun cream is excellent,,,,tinted and plain
Really helpful … we went on your advice last year and used nivia for children factor 50.
Thank you
Good to know
This is great to know, but sadly only 2 on this list are readily available in the likes of Boots and other high street shops and supermarkets. Some are extremely pricey. This is not Yuka issue just something that is frustrating as someone who’s husband has to wear lots of suncream as he has melanoma.
Shame the High Street shops don’t stock more of your recommended products. 🙁
Thanks very much for all you and colleagues do.
My wife and I are fans.
Hello
French company bias again! Lost confidence in Yuka some time ago!
It is a French company which is why a lot of the listed products are readily available in France but not necessarily in the UK.
Thank you so much. This is so important 🙏🌞
Thank you most useful as I’m just about to buy suncream.
Thanks to your app I’ve purchased the balmonds top to toe
This is very help full. I will show this at our wellbeing group tomorrow
Very helpful good to know
Thank you.
What about the Decathlon brands? I’ve heard their F50 is very good?
Thank you very much for such great updates! You are star 🌟
What are the sun product ratings for Lidl & Aldi, thank you
Very poor. I checked them out. Amazons own is poor too.
Thanks so much Julie. That’s a great help. Just love the app 🩷
Thank you for updating
Thank you so much for your support.
Hi there What do you think of Weleda’s new sunscreen? I’m looking forward to trying it!
How about La Roche Posay 50+?
A Dermatologist advised this best for me.Great but tinted.
It really depends on which one it is . They’re not all good . I’d recommend the small 50ml one from the pediatrics range invisible
Fluid as it’s rated around 60 on Yuka or the big 250ml tub which is really good value and works for the face too . Anthelios UVMUNE 400 DermoPediatrics Hydrating Lotion and it features two kids on the packaging .
Thanks Julie,that’s a big help!
How about Talm 100/100?
Thank you for your excellent advice and with no ulterior motive
Thank you for this amazing app ❣️
Thank you very much for the research and sharing, much appreciated.
Brilliant to see that Nivea – an affordable brand have a safe suncream for kids now that schools are insisting on it being applied daily by the children themselves because some of the well known brands (for kids) that I looked at were truly horrifying.
That’s extremely helpful, thank you.
How do these affect the environment if you swim in teh water with them?
I love this app and appreciate the time it takes your team to do the research. Thank you from a family of 3 in Scotland
Thank you for sharing above very helpful
It’s great to see these top sun creams but I haven’t seen any of these before. It would be nice if you add the places you can buy them from plus the prices…just a thought !
Thank you! Very useful and timely, as wanted to look into this myself. Recently, every sun cream I scanned in a supermarket was very close to 0!
Thankyou you must have read my thoughts
Thank you for your input very helpful
Very useful thank you, but would be good if had prices also
We have the badger kids one we are using but it is very thick and greasy, is the Nivea kids one the same?
Many thanks sue
Thank you for the info.
You are one of the few companies I trust.
What about P 20?
Hi, what score would you give Gruum (pronounced groom) suncreams?
Great article – thank you all.
Question I have (unless I have missed it?) is what is the shelf life for any suncream once opened ? We seem to have creams left over from last years holiday and alway wonder if safe to use a year later or a month later ? Hope that makes sense ?
They usually have a little symbol on the bottle to show you how long they are effective once opened, typically 12 months so shows as 12M.
I love Water sun cream SPF 50 – Tocobo, I wear it everyday all year round. Not only is it quite clear, very lightweight, it smells great. Doesn’t feel like I’ve got suncream on. I highly recommend and actually prefer this over Caudalie.
Where do you buy this from please?
Me too! Its my new fave. Wear it everyday
I don’t understand how some of these brands that use lots of chemicals and synthetic ingredients score more highly than natural brands using better quality ingredients! People choose YUKA because they want to avoid the nasties.
I also haven’t heard of these and you give no idea of prices or availability. More info please.
I bought Avene from boots, £25 ish
I use Sun Cream SPF 30 – Green People regularly, which sadly crystallisers after a approx 2 months of opening. I decanter the cream into a small squeezy bottle, so the main bottle is always kept in a cool indoor space. It feels like rubbing grit into your skin! I suffer with prickly heat and wonder if the Badger Baby is suitable for adults?
Is there one you can recommend that doesnt stain white sheets and clothing yellow?
I have the tropic one and it makes awful stains!
It’s the same for Avene
I thought you guys rate stuff according to safety and less toxic ingredients used?
Would you know the best one for photo sensitive my medacation I believe causes it behind my knees my stomache .thankyou for the information so far and my chest ,it’s been itchy and red whilst abroad
Any good tinted sunscreen currently using colourscience?
Tropic have their tinted Skin shade and they have a CC cream which has colour matching molecules
Take it you’ve been bought over?? Promoting suncream and ones made by Nivea..not believing for one minute that’s good for us
I thought they rate stuff according to how safe and healthy it is for our skin and health?.Nivea is trash.
I would like to know which fair/ivory tinted face suncream would be the safest after suffering actinic keratosis.
Out of all those products, only heard of Nivea. Are the others not available in U.K.?
I bought Avene from Boots
Green People have their own website and is available in UK
Tocobo is available on various websites and Superdrug too I think
Tropic Skincare Great Barrier Cream is the best there is in the UK!!!
Don’t forget the tropic range… it’s amazing and all their sun products are rated highly.
What is the best recommendation for me as I suffer from Vitaligo
Any zinc for the face 🙌🏼
Hi went by your review last time,but thankyou notice some new ones.
I think the first one would be excellent but I don’t have money but when I do I will buy it straight away 💓
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I have melasma, which is triggered by sun. Do you know which one out of the above is best for preventing melasma? I do try and keep my face out of the sun, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.