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Mindful Momma

Simple Inspired Natural Living


Non-Toxic Sunscreen to Protect the Whole Family

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The best non-toxic sunscreen products for the whole family, including mineral sunscreen lotion, sticks and safe sunscreen sprays for kids and babies, athletes, sensitive skin, facial care and more. 


Non-Toxic Sunscreen Brands

Swim suits, towels, organic snacks – check! Sounds like you’re ready to head out for some fun in the sun. But what about the sunscreen?

If you still using conventional, chemical-based sunscreens – the kind found at most drugstores or mass merchants – now’s a good time to make the switch to a natural, non-toxic sunscreen brand.

Table of Contents

  • Why Non-Toxic Sunscreen Matters
  • What to Look for in Non-Toxic Sunscreen
  • Favorite Non-Toxic Sunscreen Products

Why Non-Toxic Sunscreen Matters

Most sunscreen products on the market contain worrisome chemical ingredients that may lead to health problems like hormone disruption, allergies or even ironically, cancer, which sunscreen is purportedly trying to prevent. Many sunscreens also make misleading SPF claims that may put you at risk of sun damage.

One of the most troubling aspects of chemical sunscreen ingredients is that they are absorbed into the bloodstream after only one use, and can be detected in blood weeks after application. 

To be safe, you should avoid the following chemical sunscreen ingredients as much as possible:

  • Oxybenzone (this one is the WORST!)
  • Octinoxate
    (Octyl methoxycinnamate)
  • Homosalate
  • Octisalate
  • Octocrylene

Fortunately advocacy groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have evaluated thousands of sunscreens for safety and created a ratings scale that allows us to make safer choices. Each year the EWG comes out with a Sunscreen Guide, which is definitely worth a read. Sunscreen ratings range from 1 – 10, with 1 being the gold standard and 10 meaning don’t touch it with a ten foot pole!

A note about benzene in sunscreen: A recent report by Valisure, found a known human carcinogen called benzene in 78 popular sunscreen products. You won’t find benzene on the ingredient list because it is a contaminant from the manufacturing process. Unfortunately there is no way to know if a particular sunscreen does not contain benzene, unless the company has a policy of spot testing for contaminants. The only company I know that does this is Beautycounter. You’ll find the Beautycounter sunscreen below (it’s my favorite!) and you will find the list of sunscreens with benzene here (on page 12 of the report).


Sunscreen shopping guide


What to Look for in Non-Toxic Sunscreen

I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article including Amazon Affiliates. Full Disclosure

With guidance from the EWG, here are some things to look for in a non-toxic sunscreen product. 

Active Sunscreen Ingredients

The active ingredients in a sunscreen should be minerals, not chemicals. Mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are physical sun blockers, meaning they act as a barrier on the skin, but are not absorbed into the skin.

It’s also important the the minerals used are non-nano sized particles, due to concerns that extremely small nanoparticles may be absorbed into the skin and bloodstream.

Inactive Sunscreen Ingredients

Even when you are buying mineral sunscreen, you need to pay attention to the other, inactive ingredients in a sunscreen lotion or spray. Beware of paraben preservatives, artificial fragrances  and all the other ingredients to avoid in personal care products. 

Instead, look for natural, plant-based ingredients that have beneficial properties for your skin. The safest sunscreen brands will be either unscented or lightly scented with natural essential oils. 

Broad Spectrum

To properly protect skin from the sun, a sunscreen needs to provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are associated with skin burning and UVA rays are associated with skin aging and damage. Sunscreens that protect from both types of rays are known as broad spectrum sunscreens.

In addition, avoid sunscreens with SPF over 50 because high SPFs give us a false sense of security and can lead to overexposure of both UVA and UVB rays.

Water Resistance

If you are active and/or planning to be in the water, it is important to consider the water resistance of the product. All water resistance claims must be tested in water for either 40 or 80 minutes.  

Clear Sunscreen Formula

One of the biggest complaints about mineral sunscreen is that it is difficult to rub into the skin. I’ve found that there’s been a huge improvement on this front – even compared to a few years ago. It is now possible to find mineral sunscreen that is easy to apply and rubs in easily – yay! Look for clear zinc sunscreen formulas to ensure they are easy to rub in without leaving a white residue on your skin. Find my favorite sunscreens for kids that rub in easily here.

A quick note about spray sunscreens – the EWG recommends that we avoid all spray sunscreens due to inhalation concerns, as well as concern that it may not provide an adequate coating on the skin to ensure proper protection. But I get it – spray sunscreens are super easy and sometimes the only way we can get sunscreen on our kids. My kids used to BEG me for spray sunscreen! Both Goddess Garden and Beautycounter are the safest sunscreen sprays I’ve found. 


Related: Non-Toxic Shampoo for the Whole Family


Sunscreen shopping guide

Favorite Non-Toxic Sunscreen Products

If you’re ready to make the switch to safe, non-toxic sunscreen products, here are some that my kids and I have tested out over the past few years. Since we all have different needs for sunscreen, I put together this sunscreen guide covering products for babies and kids, active folks, bargain brands, sensitive skin and even my favorite facial sunscreen brands. ​​ 

All of these sunscreens are mineral-based formulas made with good quality, plant-based ingredients, by reputable companies. They all rate well on the EWG sunscreen database – with either a 1 or 2 rating. The one exception is the spray sunscreen, which is rated a 3 due to concerns about spray inhalation. 

Badger sunscreen

Badger

Why it’s great: Clear zinc oxide provides mineral protection without the whitening – this one rubs in very easily.

Fav product: Badger Sport Clear Zinc SPF 35

Best for: Families with kids

EWG rating: 1

Beautycounter Countersun Sunscreen SPF 30

Beautycounter

Why it’s great: A luxurious formula with a lovely light scent that rubs in more easily than any other sunscreen I’ve found. 

Favorite product: Beautycounter Countersun SPF 30

Best for: Moms who want the good stuff

EWG rating: 1 

ThinkSport Sunscreen SPF 50

Think Sport

Why it’s great: Formulated for athletes and active people. Water resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Favorite product: ThinkSport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

Best for:  Active people

EWG rating: 2 Earth Mama SunscreenEarth Mama

Why it’s great: Specific formulas for babies, kids, adults and people with uber-sensitive skin. NSF organic certified.

Favorite product: Earth Mama Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 40

Best for: Babies and anyone who is pregnant

EWG rating: 1

Suntegrity Sunscreen

Suntegrity

Why it’s great: Unscented formula 

Fav product: Suntegrity Unscented Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

Best for: Anyone who doesn’t want fragrance

EWG rating: 1

Alba Botanica Sunscreen

Alba Botanica 

Why it’s great: Easy to find and lower cost than many mineral sunscreens

Favorite product: Alba Botanica Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion

Best for: Budget minded 

EWG rating: 2

Goddess Garden sunscreen

Goddess Garden

Why it’s great: Continuous spray is much safer than aerosol sunscreen sprays but is still very kid-friendly. 

Fav product: Goddess Garden Kids Continuous Spray SPF 30

Best for: Squirmy kids

EWG rating: 3 (To be extra safe, spray in well-ventilated areas and never directly on the face.)

 

Think Baby Sunscreen Stick

Think Baby

Why it’s great: Handy sunscreen stick is great for throwing in a purse or beach bag.

Favorite product: Thinkbaby Sunscreen Stick SPF 30

Best for: Keeping in purse for emergencies 

EWG rating: 1

All Good Sunscreen Butter Tin SPF50

All Good

Why it’s great: Water and sweat resistant formula in an easy to carry tin

Fav product: All Good Sunscreen Butter SPF 50

Best for: Zero wasters (comes in a reusable tin container)

EWG rating: 1

California Baby Super Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30

California Baby

Why it’s great: Fragrance-free for baby’s super sensitive skin

Fav product: California Baby Super Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30

Best for: Babies and kids with sensitive skin

EWG rating: 1

Cest Mois Gentle Mineral Sunscreen

C’est Moi

Why it’s great: This light, fragrance-free formula is dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic.

Fav product: C’est Moi Gentle Mineral Sunscreen Lotion

Best for: People with delicate skin

EWG rating: 1

 

Mad Hippie Facial Sunscreen

Mad Hippie

Why it’s great: Creamy, lightweight formula for face that rubs in well.

Fav product: Mad Hippie Facial SPF 30

Best for: Daily facial care with no tint

EWG rating: N/A (but would be a 1 or 2 based on the ingredients)

Juice Beauty Tinted Moisturizer

Juice Beauty

Why it’s great: Super moisturizing and gives skin a subtle glow. My go-to tinted facial SPF moisturizer!

Fav product: Juice Beauty Tinted Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30

Best for: Daily facial sunscreen with a tint

EWG rating: 2

Sunscreen shopping guide

Do you have a favorite safe sunscreen brand? Tell me why you love it and I’ll add it to the Non-Toxic Sunscreen Guide!

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Filed Under: Non Toxic Beauty, Non-Toxic Personal Care, Non-Toxic Products, Personal Care, Product Guides Tagged With: Badger, Beautycounter, California Baby, Earth Mama, Goddess Garden, juice beauty, natural, sunscreen

About Mindful Momma

Micaela Preston is natural living educator and safe and sustainable product activist. She has spoken at conferences and events, has lobbied for safer chemical laws, and has consulted with many brands and businesses. Her book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Eco Friendly Decision Making was published in 2009.

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Comments

  1. Diane MacEachern says

    July 24, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    Thanks for this great list. It’s so encouraging to see so many safer products available. Our purse power has really made a difference in this marketplace!

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      July 25, 2015 at 11:45 am

      I agree Diane – it’s pretty impressive to think about all that has happened since we first started blogging and met each other!

      Reply
  2. diane says

    July 24, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    Thanks for the recommendations. My kids always want spray sunscreens too and they aren’t really the safest option!

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      July 25, 2015 at 11:47 am

      Yes, spray sunscreen is one of those compromises – but at least with Goddess Garden we know the ingredients are really safe and if used carefully, it is probably just fine!

      Reply
  3. Rachel Sarnoff says

    July 24, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    So many of my favorites on here and so many to try, too! Thanks for sharing Mindful Momma 🙂

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      July 25, 2015 at 11:48 am

      You’re welcome Rachel! I know there are still some great brands I have yet to try – like Coola for instance!

      Reply
  4. Margot says

    July 25, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    Thanks for this important post! We personally love Badger and Raw Elements (non-GMO) as they are chemical free, but safe for the environment as they are reef safe and biodegradable. Great for the whole family, too.

    Reply
  5. Lisa Sharp says

    July 27, 2015 at 11:20 am

    I use Badger. I burn so badly so sunscreen is a must! Thanks for sharing these great options!

    Reply
  6. Sophie-SCHF says

    July 30, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Thanks for sharing 🙂 Staying safe from the sun but also avoiding harsh chemicals can be tough during the summer. These are some great options!

    Reply
  7. Lauren says

    August 13, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    This is a great list! Living in South Florida we are always looking for good sunscreens!

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      August 13, 2015 at 6:06 pm

      I’m sure you need them year-round in Florida!

      Reply
  8. Bri says

    March 29, 2017 at 11:38 am

    So great to have all this info in one spot! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      March 29, 2017 at 4:57 pm

      You’re welcome! Hope it comes in handy!

      Reply
  9. Anung says

    March 29, 2017 at 2:36 pm

    Great. Always want to know which are the safest. Saving this for warmer weather.

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      March 29, 2017 at 4:58 pm

      Can’t wait for that warmer weather to arrive! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Alex says

    March 29, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    Always looking for safe options to use on my sensitive skin. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      March 29, 2017 at 4:57 pm

      None of these use artificial fragrances – which is great for sensitive skin!

      Reply
  11. Katie says

    May 29, 2019 at 2:45 pm

    Love this article! Thanks for putting all of the work into it and making it easier for me! 😉 Do you have a favorite? I tried Badger and it SO hard to rub in and my 3-year-old isn’t a fan of it taking so long to put it on!

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      June 11, 2019 at 4:09 pm

      Did you try the Badger clear zinc? That one is pretty easy to rub in! My favorite is the Beautycounter sunscreen but I also love the new formula of the Goddess Garden – it rubs in super fast. If you buy, just make sure it says new formula on it!!

      Reply
  12. LoriLeigh Moreland says

    September 26, 2019 at 12:11 pm

    I’d like to know how to remove barrier sunscreens. What a nightmare! Ruined a rash guard, 2 neoprene life vests and we still have it on our car and boat upholstery. Not to mention impossible to wash of oneself.

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      September 26, 2019 at 1:51 pm

      Wow – sorry to hear about that. I’ve never run into that problem before. I asked around and someone recommended using Dawn dish soap and very hot water. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • LoriLeigh Moreland says

        September 26, 2019 at 2:40 pm

        Thank you! We will give that a try!

        Reply

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Micaela Preston I'm here to help you make lifestyle and product choices that are better for your health & the planet!
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