I tested the popular Blue Lizard sunscreen to see if it's worth the hype and I ended up loving how well it protected my sensitive skin

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I have a love-hate relationship with sunscreen. I love that it helps me avoid vacation-sabotaging sunburns and unsightly dark spots while reducing my risk of skin cancer. But I don't love that many of the products I've used trigger redness — and a super unpleasant stinging sensation. Fortunately, on my tireless quest to find the best sunscreen for sensitive skin, I discovered the Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen.

Blue Lizard is regarded as one of the best skincare brands when it comes to sun care — at one point, its products were only really available at dermatologists' offices. Fortunately, that's not the case anymore. The brand prides itself on making reef-safe, mineral-based products — and this particular Blue Lizard sunscreen doesn't contain any irritating parabens or fragrances.

For this Blue Lizard sunscreen review, I applied the product daily — to both my body and face — for five days to assess not only how it felt on my skin but also how well it worked in the sun. Here are my unfiltered thoughts

The formula

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) advises using a sunscreen that:

• Offers broad-spectrum protection, which means it can shield your skin from both UVA and UVB rays
• Has an SPF of at least 30
• Is water resistant

The Blue Lizard checks all three boxes. 

There are two kinds of sunscreen: chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens — which use ingredients like oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone — work by absorbing the sun's UV rays before they can penetrate your skin. Mineral sunscreens — which are also sometimes referred to as "physical sunscreens" — include finely ground minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which reflect UV rays away from your skin. The Blue Lizard sunscreen is mineral-based.

According to the AADA, dermatologists typically recommend mineral sunscreens for anyone with sensitive skin. That's because oxybenzone accounts for a whopping 70% of all allergic reactions to sunscreens. Other super common allergens and irritants include parabens and fragrances, which is why the AADA also advises seeking out products that don't contain these ingredients if you have sensitive skin. The Blue Lizard sunscreen has neither.

Mineral sunscreens are known to be more moisturizing than chemical sunscreens. This makes them particularly beneficial for anyone with dry skin, like me. The Blue Lizard sunscreen contains a few noteworthy moisturizing ingredients: 

• Beeswax: This is an occlusive, meaning it forms a protective layer on the skin that prevents moisture loss.  
• Castor oil: Castor oil is an emollient that can improve skin hydration, smoothness, and softness. Emollients are particularly beneficial for dry, flaky skin.
• Stearic acid: This fatty acid is another example of an emollient.
• Caprylyl glycol: Like other humectants, this ingredient can help the skin attract and hold onto moisture.
• Dimethicone: Studies have shown that this emollient can reduce moisture loss from the skin by 20-30%.
• Vitamin E: Due to its antioxidant properties, this vitamin can protect skin cells from free radical damage. It can also help reduce your risk of sun damage by absorbing some UVB light and preventing the skin from losing moisture.

One thing worth noting, however, is that the formula does contain a couple of potentially comedogenic (pore-clogging) ingredients, including ethylhexyl palmitate and sorbitan oleate. On the Amazon product page, I couldn't find any reviews citing breakouts as a result of using this sunscreen, but if you have acne-prone skin, you may want to skip using this one on your face.

What it's like to apply

While mineral sunscreens have many advantages, they also have some downsides. Mineral sunscreens are notorious for being a bit more greasy and for leaving an unflattering white cast on your skin. 

When I first applied the Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen, I definitely noticed a sheen on my skin — but it didn't bother me. I happen to prefer a dewy, glowy finish to a matte one, especially since my skin is on the dry side. If your skin is oily, though, you may want to skip using this one on your face.

The sunscreen felt pretty thick when I first squirted some onto my skin, but I will say it blends pretty easily and didn't feel too heavy once I rubbed it in. Within about 15 minutes or so, my skin had mostly absorbed the product, so that shiny finish mostly diminished. There was definitely a white cast on my face at first, but once I rubbed the product in more thoroughly, that was no longer noticeable. A little of this product goes a long way, so the best way to avoid that white cast is to use just enough to cover your skin and blend it super well. I will say, though, that my skin is super fair — I'm not sure whether or not the white cast might be more visible on darker skin tones.  

Experts recommend reapplying sunscreen every two hours — even on overcast days — so that's what I did during the process of my Blue Lizard sunscreen review. Admittedly, I accidentally re-applied about 10 minutes late the first time because I forgot to set a timer, but fortunately, I still didn't get a sunburn.

Blue Lizard claims its sunscreen stays effective for 80 minutes in the water. To play it safe and avoid sun damage, I reapplied it about 30 minutes after taking a swim.

The bottom line

Remember that love-hate relationship with sunscreen I mentioned? Well, there's a lot to love about the Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen — and not much to hate.

For one, this sunscreen doesn't have fragrances or parabens, it uses minerals rather than chemicals to shield my skin from UV rays, and it leaves my skin feeling remarkably hydrated. I also appreciate that it's water-resistant, so I don't have to stress about immediately reapplying every single time I take a swim. And since a little product can go a long way, I suspect the bottle will last a long time, making it a budget-friendly choice.

I can definitely recommend this sunscreen to anyone with dry, sensitive skin like mine. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, though, you may want to use this only on your body and find a non-comedogenic SPF product for your face. 

The one potential pitfall is that, as with other mineral sunscreens, there's a chance that you may notice a white cast after applying it — unless you have very light skin. That said, you can likely avoid this by not using too much product and rubbing it in extra well.

FAQs

When should I wear sunscreen?

The AADA advises applying sunscreen anywhere on your body that's not covered by clothing whenever you're spending time outside. It doesn't matter if it's a cloudy day in the middle of winter — the sun still emits harmful UV rays during the colder seasons. And even when it's overcast, you can still be exposed to up to 80% of these rays.

If you can, try to avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when UV rays are the strongest. At the very least, this is the window of time during which it's particularly important to apply (and re-apply) sunscreen. 

What's the best way to apply sunscreen?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that proper application is the most important factor for ensuring your sunscreen offers maximum protection — even more important than a high SPF. And the majority of people don't apply enough products to achieve the product's SPF rating, according to the EWG.

According to the AADA, about 1 ounce of sunscreen — which is enough to fill a shot glass — is usually adequate to cover your whole body. Ideally, you want to apply it about 15 minutes before you're going to be outside.

While spray sunscreens may seem more convenient, the AADA notes that it's very difficult to tell whether you've used enough product to evenly protect your entire body. If you do use a spray, avoid spraying it into the wind, and remember to spread it and rub it into your skin as thoroughly as possible. The EWG has raised concerns about whether or not it's unsafe to inhale the micronized zinc and titanium in spray sunscreens. You can minimize any potential risks by applying it to your hands first and then rubbing it into your skin. Per the FDA's guidance, you should never spray sunscreen directly onto your face. 

Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours and after toweling off, swimming, or sweating. If you're using a water-resistant sunscreen, you can reapply every 40-80 minutes when sweating or swimming.

What SPF should I use?

The AADA advises using sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30. SPF 15 blocks about 93% of the sun's UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 50 blocks 98%. Even higher-number SPFs can't block 100% of the sun's UVB rays.

Remember: Just because a sunscreen has a higher SPF doesn't mean you can wait longer to reapply. The same two-hour rule applies whether you're using a product with SPF 15 or SPF 50.