20 Quality Reef-Safe Sunscreen Brands for Mexico 2024

---

Every year millions of tourists flock to Mexico to enjoy the colonial towns and marvelous beaches. Many of them learn the hard way that the sun in Mexico needs to be taken seriously. When it comes to choosing the best sunscreen for Mexico you should consider that sunscreen’s impact on the environment.

There are different types of sunscreen to be worn in the water and other ones to be worn outside of the water. It is also important to realize that sunscreen is just one factor in the sun protection plan.

I am a lifelong surfer who spends a lot of time in the sun and I learned at an early age that skincare is an important part of surfing until old age. I have seen plenty of beachgoers with a bandage on the nose where the skin cancer was recently removed. The people who DO NOT take sun-related precautions will not spend as much time playing outdoors as the people who do.

Additionally, I have been writing and updating this article for close to a decade. I test lots of sunscreens and I always ask the guys working at surf shops what their favorite sunscreen is. Surf shop employees are a demographic that spends a lot of time in the sun and have access to the best sunscreens. The answer that I hear more often than not is the Vertra face stick mineral sunscreen.

This article will take a deep dive into my favorite sunscreen brands for Mexico, the characteristics of each of them, and general sun protection.

I will also explain why reef-safe sunscreen is important when visiting the beaches and towns of Mexico.

Why Is Reef-Safe Sunscreen Important In Mexico?

There are two main categories when it comes to the best sunscreens for Mexico: are you going in the water or staying out of the water.

Biodegradable sunscreens are incredibly important if you plan on visiting the ocean or freshwater lakes. Reef-safe and biodegradable suncreens are not as much of a concern if you will be touring the San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, or the Pyramids of Teotihuacan. I use both a daily sunscreen/moisturizer and a heavy duty, water resistant sunscreen that is reef-safe.

There are different sunscreen considerations for each type of travel destination type of travel activities.

More and more beaches are requiring reef-safe sunscreens which can be hard to find and expensive in small towns. Even if reef-safe sunscreen isn’t required you should keep it in mind because we want to preserve as much marine life as possible. 

If you think about the number of tourists that flock to Mexico’s most popular beach destinations like Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, the quantity of sunscreen washed into the ocean is measured in tons, not bottles. 

I don’t know if you have ever tried putting on sunscreen when you are already sweating in the sun. A lot of it washes off. Now imagine those tons of sunscreen being toxic to marine life for multiple reasons. 

The two main concerns of a reef-safe sunscreen are chemicals and nanoparticles. Oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene bleach coral and are toxic to corals, algae, mussels, urchins, fish, and dolphins. Mineral sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide should NOT be nanosized, or less than 100 nanometers in diameter. If the particles are too small they can seep into the corals and suffocate them.

An Overview of Different Types of Sunscreen

There are two main categories when it comes to the best sunscreens for Mexico: are you going in the water or staying out of the water.

Biodegradable sunscreens are incredibly important if you plan on visiting the ocean or freshwater lakes. It is not as much of a concern if you will be touring the San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, or the Pyramids of Teotihuacan.

There are different sunscreen considerations for each type of travel destination type of travel activities. 

Sunscreen may be applied in many different forms from a viscous liquid form to sticks and aerosols. I use different forms of sunscreen for different parts of my body. A liquid sunscreen is great for the body while thicker sticks are great for the face. The Head Hunter face stick is so thick it is hard to get off and not the best choice for little kids. Aerosol is an option for older sun enthusiasts who do not have the mobility to reach their back and rub in sunscreen.

I recommend getting a couple of different sunscreens and doubling up on the areas of the body that are most suseptable to burn like the nose and the ears.

The Best Sunscreen Brands for Mexico

These are the best reef-safe sunscreens you should consider for Mexico if you will be in the water. They are oxybenzone-free and do not contain nanoparticles.

Most importantly, they work.

Vertra Elemental Resistance

Vertra was created in 2004 by Hawaiian water enthusiasts who needed a better sunscreen for spending more time in the ocean. They helped to develop the market for sunscreen face sticks with skincare in mind.

I will be honest. The Mick Fanning and Shane Dorian celebrity endorsements actually stand up because those two guys spend an enormous amount of time in the sun.

• Ehukai Beige Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 38
• Pearl White Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 50+
• Vertra Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

This has been my go-to sunscreen for years. As mentioned earlier, when I am in Mexico I use both liquid sunscreen and a face stick. When I surf in San Diego I usually use just the Vertra face stick. They come in a variety of skin tones so it looks more natural (too much white sunscreen looks funny).

Of the two face sticks that I use, Vertra is the easiest to get on and off. I really like the texture. It environmentally friendly, reef-safe, octinoxate-free, oxybenzone-free, Paraben-free and infused with non-nano & mineral UVA/UVB blockers. The is what the Hawaiian lifeguards and the Coast Guard uses to stay safe in the sun.

Thinksport

Think was founded by Kevin Brodwick with the mission to offer families safer alternatives to the everyday products they used for their children. The company was founded in 2007 in Austin Texas and continues to operate.

These are liquid sunscreens with a neutral aroma that makes an excellent base coat. It is easy to apply and not incredibly difficult to remove.

• Thinksport SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen
• Thinkbaby SPF 50+ Safe Sunscreen
• Thinksport Sunscreen Stick SPF 30+

Thinksport comes in an SPF 50 and an SPF 30. I always buy the higher SPF rating because the sun is so strong at the beach in Mexico. This sunscreen has broad-spectrum UVA & UVB protection and is suitable for daily use on sensitive skin, offering defense against the sun’s rays.

It is vegan, gluten-free, and never tested on animals. The active ingredient is zinc oxide.

Headhunter Performance Sun Protection

Sun Bum Sunscreen Line

Sun Bum has some of the coolest marketing in the beach sports industry and their sunscreen also works. Originally from Coco Beach, Florida, they also have offices and a showroom in Encinitas, California.

Sun Bum’s Baby Bum mineral sunscreen has been my go-to kid’s sunscreen for years. This is the one sunscreen that I don’t experiment with. I am willing to test new sunscreens on myself but when it comes to my kids, I go with what works.

This sunscreen delivers UVA/UVB protection and is packed with Vitamin E. It is oil-free, water-resistant, reef friendly, and great for all skin types.

• Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
• Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Stick
• Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray
• Baby Bum Mineral SPF 50 Roll-On Sunscreen
• Mineral SPF Sunscreen Lip Balm

Sun Bum sunscreens are vegan, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and paraben-free.

BLUE LIZARD Mineral Sunscreen

Blue Lizard is a great option for beachgoers with sensitive skin. It has been tested by dermatologists for over 20 years and is easy to remove after surfing.

This mineral sunscreen has a neutral aroma with no chemical active ingredients or additional artificial fragrances. I have noticed that some people like it without fragrances and some people like sunscreen with a unique smell.

• BLUE LIZARD SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen

It is sweat and water-resistant and lasts for about 80 minutes.

Raw Elements

Raw Love Sunscreen

dōTERRA sun Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen

Badger Sport

Some Final Thoughts on the Best Sunscreen For Surfing in Mexico

A face stick sunscreen has a thicker consistency than a traditional liquid sunscreen. It is more time-consuming to apply than a liquid sunscreen because it has to be rubbed in well. This type of sunscreen is meant to be applied to the areas of the face that are most susceptible to sunburns like the nose, forehead, ears, and cheeks. It also takes a little work to remove these types of sunscreens with a mild face soap. I like to wash my face twice after a long surf when I use a lot of sunscreen.