To find the best snorkeling sunscreen we have tested a lot of products over the years, in the water in hot tropical spots around the world. Our most recent sunscreen tests happened in Bonaire in late 2022. We only test sunscreens that are reef safe, that do not use active ingredients like oxybenzone, that are known to kill reefs and fish. Below we recommend our top pick, along with a few other good options.
To Find the Best Snorkeling Sunscreen We Test for:
- Keeping us from getting burned
- Water resistance
- Ease of application (and later removal)
- Reapplication
- Cosmetic appearance
How Do We Test?
Every snorkel day we each apply one brand to one leg and another brand to the other leg. We make sure they are applied correctly (read our application tips here) and that they have the correct drying time before entering the water. We now wear long sleeved rash guards with hoods, so we don’t test on other parts of our bodies. Legs are a good test of how water resistant the sunscreens are, and for burns. The back of legs can get torched snorkeling.
Next we test for reapplication after we have snorkeled, which means there is some moisture on our legs dripping from our suits (a very common scenario for a snorkeler).
Finally, we notice what it is like to remove the sunscreen in the shower.
During a trip we will end up testing each product for many days, unless it clearly fails and we get burned.
What Do We Test?
To find the best snorkeling sunscreen, we only use and test reef friendly, biodegradable, physical sunscreens (i.e. titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, or a combination), since chemical sunscreens are known to harm reefs (and we feel sick when we use them). You can read about what sunscreen chemicals to avoid here.
We don’t test any sunscreens that are rated below 80 minutes water resistant. The next rating is 40 minutes and all snorkels will exceed that time frame.
We also don’t test sunscreens that are primarily oil based. We find that they tend to rub off easily in the water and we get burned.
Best Snorkeling Sunscreen Test Winners
We are happy to report that we have a favorite best snorkeling sunscreen that we use on every trip, and several others as good options. They all work but have slight differences that we will explain.
Please be aware that companies change their ingredients fairly often. So we suggest you compare the ingredients listed below to make sure what you are buying is what we tested. We have learned the hard way that small changes can completely change how effective they are for snorkeling. We keep testing, and the best way to know if we have a new favorite product is to sign up for our free monthly newsletter.
Note: Our suggestions come from hands-on experience. We hope you find them helpful. You can help us if you purchase from the links below. We may make a small commission, as an Amazon Associate or from other companies, at no extra cost to you.
Stream2Sea SPF 20 and 30 Sport Sunscreens
This Stream2Sea sunscreen review comes from testing Stream2Sea SPF 20 Water Sport Sunscreen, their SPF 30, their tinted SPF 20, and their tinted SPF 30, over several years and many snorkel trips. It works so well that it is our go-to choice for best snorkeling sunscreen. (Stream2Sea offers newer other sunscreens that we review separately farther down the page.)
It performs in both very high temperature conditions and cooler ones, and the company is highly eco-conscious. They are the only sunscreen company that invests in testing on corals and fish to make sure their product is not toxic to marine life. It is our #1 pick for best snorkeling sunscreen. Plus they give our site visitors 10% off your first order by using the coupon code TropicalSnorkeling on Stream2Sea’s website at the links above.
Check out our full page review of Stream2Sea’s sunscreens for more about why we recommend it.
They all are very easy to apply, and a little bit of product goes a long way. The SPF 20 versions have a nice thin consistency that goes on fairly white, but after rubbing it in it dries much less white. The SPF 30 versions are slightly thicker in consistency, and are slightly whiter on the skin. We find we like the white color because we can see when it needs reapplication.
The tinted versions are identical in ingredients, application, and sun protection, they just have some iron based coloring, which matches nearly every skin tone, for those of you who don’t like the white hue. The downside is the iron may stain light colored clothing, although we have found it comes out with soap and a little scrubbing from our light colored rash guards. For this reason we prefer the regular SPF 20.
They use a non-greasy formula that is very water resistant, but comes off easily in the shower with a washcloth and some soap.
We found that they all have very good reapplication over slightly wet skin, maybe even better than when applying to dry skin.
We found that both the SPF 20 and 30 protect from sunburn very well over the time of a normal length snorkel, though you will get a little more color to your skin using the SPF 20 compared to the 30.
It has a very faint scent (but is unscented).
Stream2Sea SPF 20 and 30 Results
- Burn Prevention: Excellent
- Water Resistance: Excellent
- Ease of Application: Excellent
- Reapplication: Excellent
- Cosmetic Appearance: Slightly White, SPF 30 Once Wet VERY White
Ingredients: 6.6% (SPF 20) 8.8% (SPF 30) Titanium Dioxide (Non-Nano), Deionized Water, Aqueous Extracts of Camellia Sinenis (Green Tea) Leaf*, Ocimum Tenuiflorum (Tulsi) Leaf*, Alaria Esculenta (Wakame Seaweed)* and Olea Europa (Olive) Leaf*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice*, Cocoglycerides, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Methylcellulose, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Stearic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Alumina, Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid (Tinted versions only – Iron Oxides (C.I. 77492, C.I. 77491, C.I. 77499) and Jojoba Esters). *Certified Organic
Where to Buy Stream2Sea
With natural products it is always a good idea to buy fresh directly from the company. But you can get it on Amazon.com too. Stream2Sea has a new store where European residents can purchase their products. Check it out here, and be sure to use the checkout code TropicalSnorkeling to get 10% off your first order.
Stream2Sea Coral Care SPF 30
Stream2Sea keeps creating new sunscreens that are innovative and effective. Their newest formulation is called Coral Care SPF 30 and it is not only tested reef safe, but it actually nourishes the corals, instead of stressing and killing them as many chemical sunscreen ingredients do.
To create and test their formula, they partnered with coral scientists from the University of Derby in the UK. These scientists rigorously tested Coral Care Sunscreen and scientifically proved that it promotes healthy coral growth. They found that Coral Care can boost healthy coral growth by as much as 21%.
Coral Care is infused with natural, marine-safe ingredients that support coral health. The formula includes nourishing minerals and antioxidants that strengthen coral resilience, helping reefs recover from environmental stressors like rising sea temperatures and pollution.
This sunscreen provides protection against UVA and UVB rays and is kind to all skin types. It is rated to an SPF 30 and is water-resistant for 80 minutes, which makes it perfect for the snorkeler.
We partner with Stream2Sea and if you buy at the link above, you will get 10% off your first order by using the coupon code TropicalSnorkeling.
Stream2Sea SPF 40 Sport Sunscreen Zinc Balm
Our favorite sunscreen company has released this exciting option. The SPF 40 Sport Sunscreen Balm comes in an aluminum tin, which unlike most plastic packaging you find sunscreens in, is infinitely recyclable. It is a relatively simple formulation, which is a nice feature. It is waterproof for 80 minutes.
We have not been able to test it in the water yet, but we have a tin of it, and it is really nice. It spreads very easily, goes a long way, dries clear, and seems very water resistant, without feeling oily on the skin. We really like the no-plastics tin. It is easy to throw in a bag or luggage, it won’t spill or leak in your bag, and makes application easy without any messes.
We think this is a wonderful eco- and reef-friendly sunscreen option. It is great for applying to exposed parts of your body that aren’t covered by a rash guard or wetsuit, but would also work for larger areas too.
Stream2Sea is the only sunscreen company that tests to make sure their product is not toxic to marine life. They give our site visitors 10% off your first order by using the coupon code TropicalSnorkeling on Stream2Sea’s website at the link above.
Ingredients: 20% Zinc Oxide (Non-Nano), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Extracts of Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf, Ocimum Tenuiflorum (Tulsi) Leaf, Alaria Esculenta (Wakame Seaweed)* and Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf* in Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Jojoba Esters, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Squalane (Plant-Based), Silica, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E). *Certified Organic Ingredients
Stream2Sea Every Day Active Mineral Sunscreen
Stream2Sea released a new formula recently, their Every Day Active SPF 45 Mineral Sunscreen. Their active ingredient is an EcoSafe Zinc Oxide at 19%. At 45, it is the highest SPF product we tested. This product is tested and proven reef safe, like our best snorkeling sunscreen at the top of the list. They discovered during their water resistance testing that this sunscreen actually protects better after being in the water.
Stream2Sea gives our site visitors 10% off your first order by using the coupon code TropicalSnorkeling on Stream2Sea’s website at the link above. Stream2Sea has a new store where European residents can purchase their products. Check it out here, and be sure to use the checkout code above.
Check out our full page review of Stream2Sea’s sunscreens for more about the company.
We found the consistency of this formula to be sticky in application and slightly difficult to apply. It seemed to take quite a bit of it to cover our legs. But it is completely clear and non-greasy when dry on your skin.
It did do a great job protecting us from sunburns long snorkels, so the water resistance is strong. But it easily comes off with a washcloth and soap in the shower.
Stream2Sea says this is more difficult to apply over wet skin, which we also found to be the case when trying to reapply between snorkels. It was even more sticky and difficult to spread than the initial layer. But, their water resistance testing showed improvement in sun protection after getting wet, so reapplication may not be necessary. Only problem is, there is no white color to be able to tell if it is still on.
Stream2Sea Every Day Active Mineral Sunscreen Results
- Burn Prevention: Excellent
- Water Resistance: Excellent
- Ease of Application: Fair
- Reapplication: Fair
- Cosmetic Appearance: Dries Clear
Ingredients: Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 19% (non-nano, EcoSafe Zinc™) Inactive ingredients: Deionized Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isoamyl Laurate, Vegetarian Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Propanediol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Chloride, Ethyl lauroyl arginate HCl, Jojoba Esters, Olive Squalane Oil, Extracts of Alaria Esculenta (Wakame Seaweed), Olea Europa (Olive) Leaf*, Camellia Sinenis (Green Tea) Leaf*, Ocimum Tinuiflorum (Tulsi) Leaf*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root* Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Mixed Tocopherols, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Silica, Xanthan Gum. *Organic Ingredients
They offer three more formulations in the Every Day line, Every Day Tint, Every Day 4 Kids, and Every Day Shimmer. The tint version adds some iron oxides for blending with skin tones, the kids version uses two different herbal extracts for a milder formulation, and the shimmer adds eco-friendly sparkles. Otherwise, these will perform the same as the Active formulation.