On a recent trip, I bought a bottle of Coppertone Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 specifically for my outdoor workouts. True to its “Sport” claim, this sunscreen offered long-lasting coverage, even when I was sweating bullets (unfortunately, I sweat profusely when I work out). Although it’s a decent sunscreen that will do in a pinch, I think there are better mineral sunscreens out there, so I will probably not repurchase this after I’ve used up the bottle.

Coppertone Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Lotion

Coppertone Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50’s ingredient list is almost identical to Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen SPF 50 For Face’s. The Pure & Simple one contains extracts like tea (camellia sinensis) leaf extract, giant kelp (macrocystis pyrifera) extract, and sacred lotus (nelumbo nucifera) extract, and lists sodium chloride later (sodium chloride is a thickener, which may explain why this Sport version is thicker, while Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen SPF 50 For Face is almost downright runny. Both sunscreens also contain isopropyl palmitate, which is listed as something to “avoid” on Acne.org’s list of comedogenic ingredients.

Coppertone Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 review

Coppertone Sport Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 has a very waxy, pasty consistency that makes it difficult to apply evenly over your skin. I’m a regular sunscreen user, but even I feel like it’s a chore to put this one on. It also leaves a noticeable degree of white cast. But I bought a big bottle so I’m pretty much committed to using it up because I don’t want to waste it.

One good thing about this sunscreen is that it’s extremely sweatproof, which really helps me feel confident in its ability to protect me when I’m exercising outdoors. However, they might have gone overboard, because it’s very difficult to wash off. You’ll need to use some pretty heavy-duty double cleansing or a microfiber cleansing cloth.

I like that it’s fragrance free, but it also doesn’t smell great naturally. Some people might be turned off by the rubbery/oily odor. Hard to describe what the scent of the products is, but it’s not really all that pleasant.

I’ve tried other Coppertone sunscreens in the past and this one is probably one of my least favorite ones. I prefer Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen SPF 50 For Face over this product, since it’s easier to rub in. However, the annoying thing about the Pure & Simple one is that it’s too runny—it’s pretty messy to apply because it keeps dripping through the cracks of my fingers. On top of that, both of these sunscreens still leave my oily skin feeling very greasy after an hour or so. I do appreciate the fact that Coppertone is putting out some zinc-oxide-based options that are fragrance-free, but the company really needs to work on improving their formulas so that they’re not overly thick or runny, and not so greasy or hard to wash off. If you’re looking for another zinc oxide-based sunscreen that’s easier to apply, check out Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 and Alba Botanica Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 instead. These other options contain a lower percentage of zinc oxide, but they’re much more elegant formulations that are easier to apply. And you know what they say—the best sunscreen is the sunscreen you’ll actually wear.

Related reading

• Coppertone Pure & Simple Sunscreen SPF 50 For Face Review
• What’s the best mineral sunscreen for babies?
• Alba Botanica Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Review
• Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 Review