Hey Readers! Finding a sunscreen that my skin actually likes has been a whole journey. I used to think that as long as I picked a mineral sunscreen, I would be safe, but apparently my skin had other plans.

I’ve tried quite a few, and two that really stood out to me were the CōTZ Flawless Complexion Mineral Sunscreen and Summer Fridays Mineral Milk Sunscreen. They’re both mineral sunscreens, but my experience with them could not have been more different.

1. CōTZ Flawless Complexion Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 — $27.50 | My Rating: 2/10

I honestly expected to love this one. It’s mineral, has SPF 50, and comes with a tint, so on paper it sounded like something I would reach for constantly. Unfortunately, my skin absolutely did not agree with it. The tint only comes in one shade, which is already pretty limiting if you have a deeper complexion. I also found that it irritated my eyes regardless of how carefully I applied it around that area.

But the biggest issue for me was the way my skin reacted. It caused breakouts all over my skin, including deep, painful pimples that made me stop using it completely. The scent was also surprisingly strong and very sunscreen-like. Overall, this was definitely not a match for me.

2. Summer Fridays Mineral Milk Sunscreen SPF 30 — $36 | 10/10

This one is basically the complete opposite experience. The formula is incredibly thin and almost feels like a serum when I apply it. It’s non-tinted, doesn’t leave that annoying white cast on my skin, and has only a very subtle sunscreen scent. Most importantly, my skin LOVES it. I can wear it every day without worrying about my skin feeling uncomfortable, and it sits beautifully underneath makeup. Honestly, it almost gives me that smooth, fresh base that I want from a primer.

My only complaint is the SPF 30. I definitely wouldn’t complain if Summer Fridays eventually made a higher-SPF version because I would buy it immediately. And yes, I’m already on my second bottle.

For me, Summer Fridays wins by a mile. CōTZ looked like the kind of sunscreen I would love, but my skin simply disagreed. Summer Fridays, on the other hand, has become one of those products I reach for without thinking twice. It’s also a good reminder that just because something is labeled “mineral” doesn’t automatically mean it will be perfect for your skin. Sometimes you really have to try it to know. For now, Mineral Milk is firmly sitting in my holy-grail sunscreen spot.