On February 21, 2019, the FDA proposed new rules for sunscreen, and of the 16 active ingredients it reviewed, only two were proposed as generally recognized as safe and effective: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Those are the mineral filters. The agency said titanium dioxide was safe up to 25 percent regardless of particle size, and in 2021 it carried the same proposals into a new order that it called substantively the same.

The old line was that mineral sunscreen sits on top of the skin and reflects light. The Cleveland Clinic and the Skin Cancer Foundation now say both mineral and chemical filters work mainly by absorbing UV, with minerals also scattering some of it. The real difference is how they feel. Older mineral formulas left a white or gray cast, and the Cleveland Clinic says the formulas have improved a lot. Tinted versions with iron oxides also help against visible light, which matters if you get dark spots.

So the best mineral sunscreen is the one you will wear every morning, in a generous layer. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum, reapplied about every two hours outdoors, and says dermatologists recommend mineral filters for sensitive skin.

The first grid is eight mineral sunscreens for every day. The second grid is eight more mineral SPFs in tints, powders, a stick and a serum. My tip: use about two finger lengths for your face and neck, and let it set for a few minutes before makeup.

Kosas DreamBeam Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 is the most reviewed sunscreen here, silicone-free with ceramides and peptides, a comfy one for dry skin, though its rating is the lowest in this grid. Caudalie Vinosun Protect is a silicone-free mineral SPF 50 that also brightens, and Kiehl's Better Screen Miner-all is a blendable serum with centella for sensitive skin.

Ultra Violette Velvet Screen SPF 40 has the highest rating in this grid, a 100 percent zinc oxide formula that blurs and calms sensitive skin. ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight is light and water-resistant, made for skin with visible sun damage, and the brand calls it derm-recommended.

For oily skin, Supergoop 100% Mineral Mattescreen SPF 40 is tinted, mattifying and primes for makeup. Tower 28 SOS FaceGuard is a non-greasy SPF 30 made for sensitive and acne-prone skin. ILIA Sun Serum SPF 50 has a water-burst texture that feels light in summer.

If your skin is sensitive, start with Ultra Violette or Tower 28. If it is dry, start with Kosas. If it is oily, start with Supergoop, and let it dry down before foundation.

What I would skip: a thin layer to avoid a cast. Use enough, and choose a tinted formula if the white cast bothers you.

Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50 is the most reviewed product in this grid, a superlight, fragrance-free mineral serum with a natural finish. It is the one I would give someone who hates the feel of sunscreen. Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Mineral SPF 50+ is weightless and matte, a Korean formula for normal to oily skin.

For tint, ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Tinted shares the top rating in this grid, a silky, moisturizing mineral SPF made with repair in mind. INNBEAUTY PROJECT Mineral Sun Glow SPF 43 gives an instant glow, and Carte Blanche Multi-Hyphenate is part skin tint, part mineral SPF 35 and part brightening treatment.

For reapplying over makeup, tarte creaseless SPF 30 mineral powder shares that top rating and sets makeup for up to 16 hours, and Supergoop 100% Mineral (Re)setting Powder SPF 35 mattifies shine, though its rating is the lowest here. The Utu SPF50 Lightly Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Stick is the one for your bag, for the nose, ears and the back of the neck.

What I would skip: a powder or a stick as your only layer in the morning. Use a cream or serum first, then top up with the powder or stick later in the day.

I think the best mineral sunscreen for most people is a light zinc formula you actually like wearing, used every morning and topped up during the day. Start with Ultra Violette or ISDIN if your skin is sensitive, Supergoop if it is oily, and a tinted formula if you get dark spots. Keep a powder or stick in your bag for reapplying. And remember that no sunscreen works if it stays in the drawer, so keep one by your toothbrush and another by the door.