Thinking about switching to a natural and mineral-based sunscreen? Whether you’re looking for the safest natural sunscreen for babies and kids, need a sun cream that won’t irritate your skin, or just want to know what all the fuss is about, here are the answers.
In this nontoxic and natural sunscreen guide I will be discussing the following:
What Are Natural (Mineral-Based) Sunscreens?
What Are Chemical Sunscreens?
What Are The Pros & Cons of Chemical Sunscreens vs Mineral Sunscreens?
Common Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid
Nano vs Non-Nano Sunscreen
What Are Nano-Particles?
Do Non-Nano-Particle Sunscreens Work Differently?
Nano Zinc vs Non-Nano Zinc
Reading Sunscreen Labels
EWG Deep Skin Rating Guide
Think Dirty Rating Guide
The Worst Baby Sunscreens You Must Avoid
Nontoxic and Natural Sunscreen Brands
Ways to Save
Best Natural & Mineral-Based Sunscreen Brands:
Badger
Earth Mama
Babo Botanicals
Think Baby + Think Sport
Laguna Herbals
All Good
Raw Elements
Beauty By Earth
What Are Natural (Mineral-Based) Sunscreens?
So, the short answer is that they use naturally-sourced sunscreens, instead of synthetic chemicals. Rather than chemicals such as Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, they’ll use zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or another natural sunscreen. Natural brands also tend to avoid parabens, phthalates and other harsh preservatives.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends avoiding ingredients such as Oxybenzone, which is a known-allergen and may affect hormone levels. Octinoxate is also an endocrine disruptor and is believed to have other potentially unpleasant side effects. These types of synthetic ingredients are easily absorbed and can make their way into breast milk. So you might want to go natural if you have sensitive skin, are pregnant or are buying sunscreen for babies or children.
What Are Chemical Sunscreens?
Chemical sunscreens are sunscreens that contain compounds like Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, and Avobenzone. These compounds work to protect the skin by absorbing into the skin and creating a chemical reaction that absorbs UV rays keeping them from ever penetrating the skin.
However, because chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the skin they also pass into the bloodstream and can make their way into other body fluids like breast milk, making chemical sunscreens potentially hazardous especially for breastfeeding women.
What Are The Pros & Cons of Chemical Sunscreens vs Mineral Sunscreens?
Pros of Chemical Sunscreen |
Easier to rub into the skin and is usually invisible once applied
Cons of Chemical Sunscreen |
Endocrine and hormone-disrupting qualities
Found to irritate the skin in those with sensitive skin and in children
Chemical blockers have been linked to coral bleaching, which has had an impact on marine life
Some chemical blockers have been shown to increase the risk of free radicals and cause photosensitization (What’s this?)
Pros of Natural & Mineral-Based Sunscreen |
Immediately protect the skin from the sun and do not require any wait time after application.
Ingredients are safe for our skin and do not cause damage to the environment
Physical sunscreens naturally block both UVA and UVB rays meaning that they are always a broad-spectrum sunscreen and will protect your skin from both kinds of harmful rays.
Better for sensitive skin and acne-prone skin as the ingredients using in physical sunscreens are less likely to irritate the skin or clog pores.
Cons of Natural & Mineral-Based Sunscreen |
Tend to be more difficult to rub into the skin when compared to chemical sunscreens and can leave a whitish color on the skin
Need to be reapplied frequently and can be rubbed off more easily when doing activities or swimming.
Common Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid
Oxybenzone | According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 97 percent of Americans have this chemical circulating in our bodies, as it can accumulate more quickly than our bodies can get rid of it. Oxybenzone can permeate across the skin and accumulate in the blood, the kidneys and the liver, and may be toxic to liver cells and you can read the article about the toxicological evaluation of Benzophenone. Another study done in 2007 with rats showed that there was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of Benzophenone in male rats. (One of the derivatives of Benzophenone is Oxybenzone)
Octinoxate | Though SPF products are designed to protect skin from sun-induced aging, Octinoxate may actually be a culprit for premature aging, as it produces free radicals that can damage skin and cells. It has been detected in human urine, blood and breast milk, which indicates that humans are systemically exposed to this compound. Octinoxate increases cell proliferation in cells that grow in response to estrogen exposure. Lifetime estrogen exposure is an established risk factor in the development and progression of breast cancer. Read more at SafeCosmetics.org
Octocrylene |When this chemical is exposed to UV light, it absorbs the rays and produces oxygen radicals that can damage cells and cause mutations. It is readily absorbed by your skin and may accumulate within your body in measurable amounts. Plus, it can be toxic to the environment. It is efficient at absorbing into the skin and can penetrate to the deepest layers of the skin. This deep absorption leads to interactions with other chemicals which cause changes deep in the skin, producing oxygen radicals that can lead to cell death and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease.
Octisalate |It is less of a health and safety concern than other sunscreen ingredients like Oxybenzone, but Japan’s Standards for Cosmetics has restricted its use in certain types of cosmetics. Health concerns associated with exposure to Octisalate include immune effects and allergenic effects.
Avobenzone | A very common ingredient in FDA approved chemical-based sunscreens. It is often used in replace of Oxybenzone but is still holds with it similar risks associated with Oxybenzone. This ingredient works the same as Oxybenzone in that it penetrates the skin and increases free radicals in the skin which increases the risks of types of skin cancer as well as photo-contact allergiesto sunscreens. Research shows Avobenzone reacts with chlorine and might cause toxic reactions.
Homosalate | This UV-absorbing sunscreen ingredient helps sunscreen to penetrate your skin. Once the ingredient has been absorbed, Homosalate accumulates in our bodies faster than we can get rid of it, becomes toxic and disrupts our hormones. Homosalate at a maximum concentration of 10% or less does not pose a risk EU scientific Committee concluded, however, I wouldn’t want this ingredient to accumulate in my body as I apply sunscreen every day!
Retinyl Palmitate | As an ingredient in sunscreen, its function is to improve the product’s performance against the aging effects of UV exposure, However, certain forms of vitamin A found in sun protection products—namely Retinyl Palmitate can be cause for concern. When exposed to the sun’s UV rays, Retinol compounds break down and produce destructive free radicals that are toxic to cells, damage DNA, and may lead to cancer. In fact, FDA studies have shown that Retinyl Palmitate may speed the development of malignant cells and skin tumors when applied to the skin before sun exposure, so steer clear of skin sun products that harbor the stuff. National Toxicity Program study on Retinyl Palmitate.
PABA | Para Amino Benzoic Acid was introduced in the 1970s as a UVB filter. More recently, its use has declined due to allergic dermatitis, photosensitivity and a tendency to stain clothing. Some research links PABA with thyroid-disrupting activity, raising concerns about long-term health effects. Currently, PABA derivatives are used in place of PABA, but these derivatives may also cause health problems. The most commonly used PABA derivative is Padimate O (OD-PABA) which may disrupt endocrine activity. PABA does cause some health problems such as endocrine disruption, sensitization and bioaccumulation. Read more here
You may have heard the terms, but aren’t sure what they mean.
The problem with classifying products as nano or non-nano is that there is no certification body to officially determine what types of particles a product contains. The EU has vaguely defined non-nano as “the primary particle size is greater than 100nm,” and Australia defines non-nano as “more than 90% of particles are above 100nm.” At the nano level, it is virtually impossible to ensure that a product is 100% nano-particle free because the shapes of the particles make them hard to measure.
What Are Nano-Particles?
A nano-particle is a piece of material that is so small it has to be measured in nano-meters. One nano-meter equals one-billionth of a meter. For comparison, 10,000 nano-particles could fit in the diameter of a human hair!
In recent times, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can be manufactured at nano sizes, and are popular in sunscreens that want to avoid using hormone-disrupting chemicals while still providing sheer sun protection.
Do Non-Nano-Particle Sunscreens Work Differently?
It turns out that nano-particles do work differently from non-nano-particles. Zinc is a good example. One of the reasons that nano-particles are more clear and sheer is that they reflect less and less of visible light as the particle size becomes smaller and smaller. What this means is that nano-particle zinc may not be as good as blocking the blue light.
Nano Zinc vs Non-Nano Zinc
Non-Nano Zinc
Advantages | Broader coverage against UVB, UVA, and blue light
Disadvantages | Whiter and visible
Nano Zinc
Advantages | Broad coverage and less visible on the skin
Disadvantages | Coverage is not as broad and may not cover every long-wavelength UVA and blue light
Reading Sunscreen Labels
What Does Reef Safe Sunscreens Mean?
Some sunscreens labeled as “reef safe” contain ingredients known to harm coral reefs. This is because there are NO legal requirements or regulations for the use of the term reef safe on the packaging. If the active sunscreen ingredient is anything BESIDES non-nano material titanium dioxide or non-nano material zinc oxide, the ingredient may hurt coral reefs.
What Does SPF Mean?
It stands for Sun Protection Factor. The number indicates the level of protection against UVB rays, but the numbering system isn’t user-friendly.
A higher SPF DOES NOT mean the amount of coverage jumps up significantly.
SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays.
SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays.
SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays
SPF 100 blocks 99% of UVB rays
SPF is a measure of protection against UVB rays only. But remember that protection against UVA rays is important too, so choose a “broad spectrum” sunscreen, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Sunscreens are required by the FDA to remain at their original strengths for at least three years. This means that you can use leftover sunscreen from one year to the next. Read more here
Mineral sunscreen contains the active mineral ingredients zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, which offer protection against UVA and UVB rays by reflecting and scattering the rays from the surface of the skin. Because they are minerals, Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide do not change over time and remain effective. However, when put into a sunscreen cream or lotion, the other ingredients can spoil or separate, meaning that although the sunscreen itself is still effective, it may be very unpleasant to wear. Read more here
EWG Deep Skin Rating Guide
For every product and ingredient in Skin Deep, there’s a two-part score – a hazard score and a data availability score. The ingredient hazard score, from 1-10 reflects known and suspected hazards of ingredients.
The data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies in the published scientific literature and the number included in the Skin Deep database. Read more here
I have included in this guide the EWG best mineral sunscreens with most products ranking 1 out of 10.
Think Dirty Rating Guide
Their ratings are determined based on publicly available data released by non-profit and government agencies in North America regarding the health and safety of the individual components found in your personal care products.
They assess the overall risk of a given product based on the potential health impacts of its published ingredients. Each ingredient listed on the product label or manufacturer’s website is evaluated for documented evidence of Carcinogenicity, Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity. Read more here
I would personally advise using these ratings simply as a guide and still study and understand each ingredient especially if you have any allergies. Sometimes brands that fully disclose ingredients in the Think Dirty app are compared with some companies that are not disclosing all of their ingredients.
EWG Deep Skin app and Think Dirty app are leading the industry in terms of resources and data to help consumers make accurate assessments about the safety of their products. These are my go-to starting point BUT I still do my own ingredients research and make sure it’s #GreenifyApproved!
The Worst Baby Sunscreens You Must Avoid
Here is a list of worst baby sunscreens reported by the Environmental Working Group.
The EWG rates sunscreens on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best and 10 being the worst.
The below products scored a 7 or higher (with 10 being the worst) because they made high
Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion Spray, SPF 50
Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Stick, SPF 55
Equate Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 70
Kroger Baby Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50
Meijer Baby Sunscreen Continuous Spray, SPF 50
Equate Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 70
In addition to doing your research, you must be doing the spot test by simply dabbing the baby sunscreen onto a small area of your child’s skin and watching to see if they have an allergic reaction.
Now that you know which ingredients to avoid, let’s talk about the ingredient you should look for. Nontoxic sunscreens will be mineral-based, meaning that they are derived from natural ingredients and not chemicals. The primary ingredient in mineral-based sunscreen should be non-nano zinc oxide.
All of the brands in this guide offer mineral-based products, without the harmful ingredients mentioned.
Disclosure: Greenify Organics is a participant in affiliate advertising programs. If you buy any products from these links, I get a small share of the revenue at no additional cost to you. It helps me pay for my coffee so I can write more blog posts with my eyes open! Read the full disclosure.
Here are the 8 BEST natural sunscreen brands and more than 20 nontoxic sunscreen products:
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One of my favorite brands of sunscreen which I have bought for my whole family is Badger sunscreens! Our family of three has sensitive skin and this is the only brand that has not created any skin issues such as rashes or eczema for us. All Badger sunscreen products have a rating of 1 on EWG except for Badger Damascus Rose Face Sunscreen Lotion, Sheer Tint, SPF 25 which has a rating of 2 out of 10.
I highly suggest reading about nano-particles and clear zinc oxide on the Badger website and why they decided to adopt Australia’s policies when choosing zinc oxide for their sunscreens.
Think Dirty Rating: 0 / 10 – Does not contain any ingredients which have a documented potential negative health impact
This broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen has only 5 simple ingredients: clear zinc oxide, organic sunflower oil, organic beeswax, organic jojoba oil, & sunflower vitamin E.
Safe for coral means safe for you too! Badger sunscreens are made without Oxybenzone or any chemicals are shown to harm coral or humans.
The 98% certified organic sunscreen, non-GMO, fragrance-free, and contains no dyes, parabens, or other artificial ingredients.
I have used Earth Mama products such as the Calming Lavender Baby Wash and Organic Diaper Balm when my baby girl was born as they were one of the brands that I found to have no petroleum, parabens or artificial fragrance and was made with organic herbs and oils.
Now that we take more trips to the beach and swimming pool, I’ve discovered their mineral-based sunscreen is among the best sunscreen brands on the market.
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Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Mineral Face Sunscreen Lotion – SPF 40
Details |
EWG Rating: 2 / 10 – Low hazard (Based on EWG modeling this product provides MODERATE UVA protection and a MODERATE balance of UVA protection in relation to the SPF)
Think Dirty Rating: Not available however all of their other sunscreens score 0 / 10
An ultra-sheer, lightweight & hypoallergenic sunblock for extra sensitive skin. Perfect for the entire family.
Specially formulated with skin-soothing organic oils like avocado & jojoba.
Think Dirty Rating: 4 / 10 – What gives it a 4 is the ingredient “cetyl dimethicone” which is a silicone- based polymer and it’s“non-biodegradable” so they rate it as MODERATE for users to avoid. According to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)dimethicone is a safe skincare ingredient that calms irritation, minimizes redness, and protects the skin from further damage.
Buy This Sunscreen | Amazon&Thrive MarketThink Sport Kids Safe Sunscreen – SPF 50+
Raw Elements sunscreens provide UVA-UVB true broad-spectrum protection. It is very water-resistant beyond 80 minutes, yet so gentle and moisturizing it is perfect for kids. Packed with biologically active antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and extracts, it continues protecting your skin long after environmental exposure.
Read their non-nano-particle guideRaw Elements Natural Sunscreen for Face & Body – SPF 30+
Think Dirty Rating: 3 / 10 – What gives it a 3 is the Beeswax which is not suspected to be harmful and it’s animal-derived and The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments has deemed it safe as used in beauty products. Flagged mostly for allergic reaction purposes. Read more here
This brand was not part of the EWG or Think Dirty database, yet after reading the ingredient list I had to include their products in my guide as all of their ingredients are clean, non-toxic and based on my research not suspected to be harmful – Greenify Approved!
Their sunscreens are specifically indicated on their website to be PABA free (what’s this?)
Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection
Mineral non-nano zinc oxide based sun protection
Water-resistant up to 80 minutes, coral reef & marine safe
Natural sunscreen is the absence of all the bad, potentially harmful junk you always immediately ignore when you see it on the back of products you use because you cannot even pronounce them.
It is also more sustainable, so it’s better for your body, face and the planet. Invest in a natural product that will actually actively help you and your family to stay healthier.