It is that time of the year where most of us are spending a lot more time outdoors and in need of a good, safe, non-toxic and effective sunscreen or sunblock. If you want to jump straight onto the recommendations on the safest sunscreens available, click on the table of contents below. But if you want to understand what are the harmful ingredients in conventional sunscreen, what to stay away from and how to spot a safe sunscreen, keep on reading.
What is the difference between sunscreen and sunblock? Mineral or chemical?
Now-a-days most people use sunscreen and sunblock as synonyms, myself included. But is is important to distinguish both so you know what to look for.
Sunscreen contains chemicals that absorb the sun’s rays before they hit your skin. It is also known as chemical sunscreen.
Sunblock contains ingredients that block the UV rays from entering your skin by forming a physical shield. It is also known as mineral sunscreen.
I’ve seen more and more brands use the word “mineral sunscreen”, instead of sunblock, to refer to safe, non-toxic sunblock. For the purposes of this article we’ll refer to the safer versions as mineral sunscreen and non-toxic sunscreen or sunblock.
The bottom line is that it’s important to read ingredients to know what you are buying and that’s why we’re going to give you a break down of what ingredients to avoid and what to look for when choosing a non-toxic sunblock.
Ingredients you should avoid in sunscreen
There are several ingredients to avoid in sunscreen. It is important to ALWAYS check the label on the product. Do not trust what the front of the product says because many companies make their products sound safe when they are not using the best ingredients. The only way to know if your sunscreen is safe is by reading the ingredients used on the product, which are almost always stated on the back of the product.
We want to avoid toxic ingredients in sunscreen because most of them are endocrine disruptors. You can read more about endocrine disruptors here. In simple terms, endocrine disruptors are chemicals that disrupt our endocrine system, they mess with and mimic our hormones. Our hormones control many processes in our body and that’s why they should be avoided as much as possible.
The main ingredients to avoid are:
Oxybenzone: This ingredient penetrates the skin and has been linked to issues with hormone levels, reproduction and development. It has also been found in human breast milk, amniotic fluid, urine and blood. And it may increase the risk of breast cancer and endometriosis.
Avobenzone: This chemical is also deemed as an endocrine disruptor and it has been shown to block the effects of testosterone in cellular studies. It is also not stable and many times it’s paired with another endocrine disrupting chemical.
Benzene: This petroleum-derived toxic chemical is a well studied chemical that is consider carcinogenic, meaning it’s been linked to cause cancer. Due to its serious health effects there are no safe level for human exposure. This chemical is mainly used in sunscreen sprays, but has also been found on lotions and gel-based products.
Homosalate: We don’t have enough studies on this chemical and in Europe it is allowed in small quantities. However this chemical has been linked disrupt hormones and produce toxic breakdown byproducts over time.
Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate): This is also an endocrine disruptor that affects our thyroid as well as hormone production in the body. It has been linked to disrupt androgen and progesterone signaling. And it is also harmful to sea life.
Octisalate: There is insufficient data to classify this ingredient as safe and more testing is needed. However some studies indicate that this chemical may be an endocrine disruptor binding to estrogen receptors and it’s been linked to allergic contact dermatitis.
Octocrylene: This chemical has been linked to causing high rates of skin allergies, to harming coral reef and it’s been linked to hormonal disruption. There isn’t enough data to deem this ingredient safe and many times it’s used along with benzophenone, which is known carcinogen, so it’s best to avoid it.
Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A): This ingredient is very popular in skin care products due to its anti-aging benefits. However, this ingredient on sun-exposed skin may speed up the development of skin tumors and lesions and this is why it should be avoided in sunscreen. This ingredient can be found under different names: vitamin A, retinal palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate and retinol.
Fragrances: Most fragrances are trade secret, meaning we don’t truly know what’s in them. In fact, sometimes even the brands using fragrances don’t know what’s in them because when they purchase a fragrance the ingredients used are secret information of the fragrance maker. Most fragrances contain endocrine disruptors which is why they should be avoided.
In 2019 the FDA updated what they deemed safe and unsafe / with not enough data when it comes to ingredients in sunscreen, to learn more read this study this study.
What are the main ingredients in non-toxic sunscreen?
These are the good ingredients, the ones to look for!
The main ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Both of these ingredients have been deemed to be safe for humans and effective in avoiding sunburn. The current data on these chemicals suggests that very few particles stay inside our bodies, deeming them safe, but the data does state that they should not be inhaled.
In other words, using sunscreen made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is your safest choice. However, using a spray or powder with these ingredients should be avoided because the risk of inhaling or ingesting them is higher and these ingredients are not safe to consume.
These two ingredients are mainly used in mineral sunscreen or non-toxic sunscreen. When looking for what to buy, find a sunblock or mineral sunscreen made with either zinc oxide or titanium oxide as their main active ingredients. Don’t forget to read ALL the ingredients on the label to make sure none of the other ingredients are harmful either. If you don’t want to read labels, stick to one of the recommended sunscreens on this article.
Out of these two ingredients, zinc oxide is the better one. It covers the full spectrum of UV protection and doesn’t contribute to free radical development. Research indicates that the particles in zinc oxide linger in the skin’s epidermis and do not penetrate the deeper dermis layer. A Zinc Oxide sunscreen is the safest for everyone, and it is the only sunscreen type deemed safe for babies by the FDA.
While titanium dioxide is deemed safe, it is not as good in blocking the full spectrum of UV rays and it can potentially create free radicals, which can cause damage to your skin cells.
Therefore, if you’re looking for the safest type of non-toxic sunscreen, go with zinc oxide.
Should you be worried about nano particles in sunscreen?
There’s been talk about about the nano-size versions of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The nano particles help to increase the SPF on the product and also make the product less thick, meaning your skin won’t end up with a thick white paste. They are deemed safe and studies suggest that these nanoparticles don’t penetrate our bodies in large quantities. However, more research is needed to understand better how nanoparticles work in our bodies.
There is also no regulation on what is considered nano so pretty much all formulations could be considered nano under the broad definition of nanoparticles so using non-nano on a label can be misleading. Most scientist agree that the 30-50 nanoparticle size doesn’t penetrate the skin and some brands do disclose the size of their particles so you can aim to get a sunscreen with larger particles.
If you want to be extra safe, you can stick to sunscreen made with non-nano zinc oxide or non-nano titanium dioxide but know that this term is not regulated and it can mean different things for different brands.
For now, all the data that we have points to zinc oxide and titanium dioxide being the safest active ingredients in sunscreen, even in their nano version. I personally worry more about the ingredients in the product itself than the size of the particles. So as long as you’re sticking to one of these two ingredients, and ideally to zinc oxide, you should be fine.
Inactive ingredients in sunscreen can be toxic
Sunscreens also contain inactive ingredients and you should be aware of what they are before using sunscreen. In fact, many brands will use endocrine disruptors as inactive ingredients while marketing their product as safe because the main active ingredient is safe.
Active ingredients in a mineral, non-toxic sunscreen are either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. The inactive ingredients would be considered the rest of the ingredients in the product, which are needed to bind the active ingredients and make the product as we know it. 50% or more of the sunscreen is made up of inactive ingredients. This is why is SO important to read the label and know ALL the ingredients in your sunscreen, not just the active ones, to make sure all ingredients are safe.
You want to avoid any ingredients that disrupt hormones, such as fragrances, phthalates, parabens, etc. as well as any of the unsafe ingredients we mentioned above. When in doubt, you can use this article as a guide for buying safer sunscreen. We have done the research for you so if you don’t want to worry about reading labels, stick to one of the sunscreens recommended below.
You can also check the sunscreen database from EWG to find a safe sunscreen or use the Yuka app when you’re in the store to figure out if it’s safe. If you’re using the Yuka app all you have to do is simply scan the barcode and the app will tell you if the product contains toxic chemicals. EWG also offers an app that does the same thing as the Yuka app. Both are a great way to figure out fast if something is safe since they will give you a breakdown of each ingredient and the health concerns linked to said ingredients.
Do you need a high SPF?
Sunscreens should offer protection against UVA and UVB rays, also known as broad spectrum sunscreen. UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn and skin cancers. UVA rays also play a role in skin cancer but these rays penetrate more deeply into our skin than UVB rays causing more wrinkles. There are approximately 500 times more UVA rays in sunlight than UVB rays, which is why it’s important to find a product that protects you from both rays.
Many people assume that the higher the SPF the better, and while there is some truth to that, that shouldn’t be your only parameter when choosing a reliable sunscreen. SPF is also not an exact measurement. How brands measure SPF is by determining a change in skin redness of a group of human participants exposed to UV light in a lab.
Products with high SPF give people a false sense of safety because the higher the SPF the less UVA protection you’re getting. Also, a higher SPF value doesn’t mean more protection, for example a sunscreen with SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays, SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays while one with SPF 100 blocks 99% of UVB rays.
Ideally you want your sunscreen to have an SPF protection between 30 and 50. That, along with the sunscreen being used correctly, will give you adequate sunburn protection. Remember that sunscreen alone is not always enough. At the end of this post we have a list of precautions to take when exposed to sun for long periods of time.
Are spray sunscreens safe?
Spray sunscreens are so convenient, especially with little ones who don’t want to be touched but generally speaking, they are NOT safe. When using a sunscreen spray you might not apply it properly or apply too thin of a layer. There is also risk of inhalation through the nose or mouth and even the safest sunscreen is made with ingredients that should not be ingested. Also, most sprays tend to have toxic chemicals.
If you have to use a sunscreen spray, check out our list of recommended sprays. These are the safest ones currently available and most of them are only found online. This means that if you find yourself at the beach looking for a safe sunscreen, you might not find these.
Chemical sunscreens are killing our reefs
The ingredients in chemical sunscreens are linked to a decrease in coral reefs around the world and losing our coral reefs would be detrimental to our environment. They produce large quantities of oxygen, they also capture carbon and house a large percentage of sea life. Bottom line, our planet NEEDS the coral reefs.
A lot of damage has been already done and a lot of coral reefs have declined significantly. And while it is not all due to sunscreens, the chemicals in them do play a role. So by using a non-toxic sunscreen you’re not only helping your family to maintain better health, you are also keeping our planet safer.
But what about Vitamin D?
We all need vitamin D but, unfortunately, most of the population has Vitamin D levels that are below optimal. Using sunscreen prevents your body from getting Vitamin D so while using sunscreen is important if you’re going to be exposed to sun rays for long periods of time, it is important to get some sunshine every day, without using sunscreen.
15 minutes of sun exposure a day can keep your Vitamin D levels up so before you go on lathering yourself in sunscreen and covering yourself in clothes, make sure you get those 15 minutes of sun exposure a day. Use sunscreen or other protective measure if you plan on being longer than 15 – 30 minutes in the sun.
UV ray index – a guide to sun exposure
This is something I didn’t pay much attention to until I moved to Florida. Now that we live at the beach, I try to balance sunscreen use and getting sun time to keep our vitamin D at optimal levels. So, any time I leave the house for long periods of time I check the UV index.
The UV index tells you the strength of the sun rays at a specific time, meaning, the higher the UV index, the more chances you have to get sunburned. You can find the UV index for the day on your weather app.
The UV index goes from 0-15. According to the EPA, this is what the UV index means in regards to sun exposure:
- UV index between 0-2: you can safely be outdoors without or with minimal protection.
- UV index between 3-7: Apply sunscreen and use sunshine protection, such as protective gear, being under shade, etc. The closer to the 7 it is the more cautious you have to be in the sun.
- UV index above 8: Extra sun protection and care is needed. This is when we use both sunscreen and protective gear.
Remember the sun rays tend to be the strongest between 10am-3pm so try to avoid direct sun exposure during those hours, if possible, and especially if the UV index is high. If you plan on being outdoors during these hours I recommend you use both sunscreen and protective sun gear. Towards the end of this article you will find different types of protective sun gear you can use.
Sunscreen for babies, kids, adults…do you really need 3 different products?
As I was working on this guide I realized how many brands have very similar formulations for their products and sell them under different labels: for babies, for kids, for adults, etc. This is basic marketing – they are trying to sell product and sometimes packaging the product targeting a certain group leads to more sales.
What it really comes down to is ingredients! You should be using a sunscreen that is safe for every member of your family. For example, on this guide you will find sunscreen recommendations for babies, but those formulations are good for kids and adults too!
Most sunscreens are meant to be used by humans 6 months or older so what’s more important is to read the ingredients and not so much WHO the product is for. This means you don’t need multiple sunscreen bottles if your family has different age groups, you can have ONE sunscreen for your family.
I’ve divided my guide in different categories for your convenience but all the sunscreens listed below are safe for everyone in the family!
Non-toxic and safe sunscreens for 2024
Our criteria for choosing non-toxic sunscreen:
This curated sunscreen list contains ONLY the best, safest and non-toxic sunscreens based on their ingredients. All the sunscreens on this list offer broad spectrum protection, meaning they protect you from UVA and UVB rays, they are all mineral based, fragrance-free and safe for our planet. Some of them are even organic and you will find them labeled as such.
Every single one of these products has been individually checked and vetted so just because you see a brand listed here it doesn’t mean we would recommend their entire line. We only recommend the exact product mentioned here. This is because some of the cleaner brands will still use ingredients we don’t approve of, like scents.
There are also other mineral sunscreen brands that are not listed here that aren’t that bad but also not the best either. In my personal opinion, if you’re going to be spending money on sunscreen, your money should go to the best, cleanest and safest available options, which is what this list focuses on.
Please keep in mind that there are new products constantly hitting the market and this guide might not have listed every single non-toxic sunscreen out there. If you want us to look into the sunscreen you use, leave a comment at the end of this post.
Non-toxic sunscreen for babies and toddlers
The following sunscreens contain the safest ingredients for babies and toddlers but these sunscreens can be used by the entire family.
- Waxhead Organic Baby Sunscreen 0-6 months, SPF 31
- ATTITUDE Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin, SPF 30
- ATTITUDE Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Badger Baby Organic Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin, SPF 40
- Earth Mama Baby Sunscreen, SPF 40
- Raw Elements Baby + Kids Organic Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Adorable Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30
- MADE OF Baby Organic Sunscreen, SPF 30
- All Good Baby & Kids Sunscreen for Face & Body, SPF 30
- ThinkBaby Sunscreen, SPF 50
Looking for face and body sunscreen sticks? Check out our sunscreen stick section below for baby and kid-friendly options.
Non-toxic sunscreen for kids
The kids category can be a little misleading, you can use baby sunscreens on kids as well as adults sunscreen on kids. In fact, most sunscreen formulations are safe for anyone 6 months or older so you don’t need to buy a kids sunscreen per se. Every sunscreen listed on this guide is safe for kids so make sure you check the options above and below and pick the one you like the best.
Non-toxic sunscreen for the entire family
- ATTITUDE Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin, SPF 30
- ATTITUDE Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Badger Sport Sunscreen, SPF 40
- Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Badger Sunscreen in Metal Tin, SPF 50
- Earth Mama Uber-Sensitive Sunscreen, SPF 40
- Earth Mama Tinted Sunscreen, SPF 40
- 365 by Whole Foods Market Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Raw Elements Sunscreen, 95% Organic, SPF 30
- Waxhead Organic Sunscreen, SPF 31
- Butterbean Organic Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Two Peas Organics Sunscreen, SPF 30
- All Good Zinc Butter Sunscreen in Metal Tin, SPF 50
Non-toxic facial sunscreens
Tinted:
- ATTITUDE Tinted Sunscreen Face Stick, SPF 30
- Earth Mama Lady Face® Tinted Sunscreen Stick, SPF 40
- Raw Elements Tinted Sunscreen Face Stick, SPF 30
- Raw Elements Tinted Facial Moisturizer Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Waxhead Tinted Face Sunscreen, BB cream, SPF 31
Not tinted:
- ATTITUDE Sunscreen Face Stick, SPF 30
- Raw Elements Face Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Waxhead Face Sunscreen Stick, SPF 31
- Annmarie Skin Care Sunscreen, SPF 20
- All Good Sports Sunscreen Butter Stick for Face, Nose and Ears, SPF 50
- All Good Face Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30
- Badger Face Sunscreen Stick, SPF 35
Non-toxic sunscreen sticks for the entire family
I love the convenience and size of the sunscreen sticks! This is what I keep in my purse at all times because living in Florida you never know when you’ll need extra sunscreen. These are also a great alternative for kiddos who don’t like their face touched.
Face sunscreen sticks for babies (and for everyone else too!):
- All Good Baby & Kids Sunscreen Stick for Face, Nose, Ears, SPF 50, 2.75oz
- ATTITUDE Face Sunscreen Stick for Baby and Kids, SPF 30, 0.65
- Earth Mama Baby Face Sunscreen Stick, SPF 40, 0.74oz
Face and body sunscreen sticks for everyone:
- ATTITUDE Face and Body Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30, 1oz
- ATTITUDE Face and Body Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30, 3oz
- ATTITUDE Face and Body Sunscreen Stick for Sensitive Skin, SPF 30, 3oz
- Raw Elements Baby + Kids Organic Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30, 1oz
- Waxhead Face and Body Organic Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30, 3.7oz
- Butterbean Organic Sport Face and Body Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30, 1oz
- ThinkBaby Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30, 0.64oz
- Thinksport Face & Body Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30, 0.64oz
Safer sunscreen sprays
As mentioned in the first part of this article, sunscreen sprays should be avoided if possible. However for some kids this is the only thing they’re willing to use. If you have no choice but to use a spray, here are the better options out there:
- 100% Pure Yerba Mate Sunscreen Spray, SPF 30
- Goddess Garden Organics Kids Sunscreen Spray, SPF 30
- Goddess Garden Organics Sport Sunscreen Spray, SPF 30
- Babo Botanicals Baby Skin Sunscreen Spray, SPF 30
- Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Spray, SPF 30
- Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50
- Butterbean Organics Sunscreen Spray, SPF 30
- Supergoop! for Babies + Kiddos Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50
Non-toxic lip balms with SPF
- Badger Lip Balm SPF 15
- Coral Sun Lip Balm SPF 15
- Raw Elements Organic Lip Balm SPF 30
- Waxhead Lip Sunscreen
Correct sunscreen application is important:
Remember that it takes about 15 minutes for the sunscreen to be effective, so apply your sunscreen 15 minutes prior to being in the sun. Don’t forget to reapply every 60-80 minutes (or check for specific instructions on your sunscreen bottle). If you’re swimming, you will need to reapply more often!
What about homemade sunscreen?
A lot of people like to use homemade sunscreen, and while I personally like to make a lot of the products we use, sunscreen is not something I’ve ever wanted to make. I personally don’t want to risk getting sunburned or putting my skin at risk with something this important. I can’t be 100% sure that my homemade sunscreen works how it’s supposed to so I rather not risk it.
For our family, buying sunscreen is a better option because we are buying sunscreen that is known and proven to work effectively (legally products with SPF claims have to be proven). However, if you might want to try making it yourself, try this natural homemade sunscreen recipe by Wellness Mama. If you do get sunburned, don’t come after me. Haha! I have never made sunscreen and cannot confirm this actually works.
Sunscreen is not enough – other ways to protect from the sun
Sunscreen or sunblock shouldn’t be the only way you protect yourself from the sun. Depending on the UV index you can either use one of these methods for protection or use these methods in combination with sunscreen for maximum protection.
Here are other ways you can protect yourself from the sun:
UV Protective Clothing: This is my favorite way to protect ourselves from the sun. It is a lot easier to wear a long sleeve shirt with UV protection than to lather your entire body in sunscreen. Almost all bathing suit brands carry UV protective clothing, and I’ve found the most affordable ones at Costco.
For the little ones, the best protection is a bathing suit like the Nozone. They cover their entire bodies so all you have to do is put sunscreen on their face.
Hats: The bigger the hat, the better. Almost every time I’m at the beach you’ll see me wearing a big hat! It not only helps to protect your face from getting sunburned but on really hot days it helps you stay cooler.
Shade: If you’re going to spend long periods of time outdoors finding shade it’s important. If you are going to place without sufficient shade, bring your own! You can use umbrellas, cabanas, this cool shade, or a tent shade.
Avoid the sun during peak hours: Between 10am and 3pm the sun rays are the strongest. A great way to avoid sunburn is to simply avoid being in the sun during these hours.
How to apply sunscreen on your kid’s face without using your hand
If your kids are anything like mine they probably hate getting sunscreen on. Any time I had to put sunscreen on their face they would complain the entire time so I started looking for alternatives.
The best solution I found is to use a make-up sponge, like this one. You apply the sunscreen to the sponge and then onto their face. Ever since doing this my kids have stopped complaining and getting sunscreen on them is so much easier! You can then store the sponge in a baggie or a silicone case like this one.
My really good friend uses a make-up brush with her daughter and that works really well too!
After sun care: caring for sunburned skin
It’s not ideal but it has happened to all of us. There will always be that one time we forgot to reapply or we underestimated the sun rays and wound up sunburned. When that happens, you can use products to aid your skin in the healing process.
You can either use the gel straight from the Aloe Vera plant or purchase an after sun care product.
Aloe Vera
This is my personal preference since I keep multiple Aloe Vera plants in my home for skin issues and it feels so soothing on your skin! All you have to do is break a chunk of the plant, hang it for an hour so the yellow liquid (latex) can drain off the plant. Once the yellow liquid stops draining, cut off the spines and slice the leaf down the middle. Remove all the gel like substance and put it on a container. Apply the gel directly on your skin as much as you want. Store your aloe vera gel in the fridge and use as needed.
Safe and non-toxic products you can use after a sunburn
- Island Deodorant’s Organic Body Cream: I absolutely love this brand because they use very clean, organic and non-toxic ingredients. This body cream is safe to use on little ones as well as on adults. It is hydrating and moisturizing so perfect for after a sunburn and even for every day use.
- Badger Aloe Vera After Sun Gel: This is one of the cleanest after sun care products I found that is also fragrance-free.
Phew! That was a lot but I truly hope this was useful. I spend a ridiculous amount of hours researching ingredients in sunscreen to find the best ones and I hope this saves you hours of research so you can spend more time with your kids!
If you have any questions or want me to look into a specific brand leave it in the comments and I’ll get to it as soon as possible.
Colleen says
Love this! We love mineral sunscreens too. Make sure you buy it when you travel to Hawaii. Starting Jan1, 2021 Hawaii law SB2571 bans the sale of any sunscreen containing either oxybenzone or octinoxate. Too much sunscreen is killing the reef. We are also learning how bad these chemicals are for other organisms in our world and should consider that when choosing sunscreens for beaches, lakes, rivers, etc!
Dottie King says
Excellent article! I’m going to look for these products immediately.