Something that concerns me as a mom of a fair-skinned toddler, and also being fair myself, is finding a safe, clean sunscreen that works, smells decent and doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin. But fair skinned or not, I think we can all agree we want to find a clean sunscreen that’s safe for our families. It’s important to not only learn how to choose the best non-toxic sunscreen but also to understand why it matters which one you choose. And for those looking for specific brands, I share some of my favorite choices further below. Having this knowledge under your belt is a small step to providing your family with cleaner, healthier options and will give you peace of mind so you can focus on enjoying the summer sun.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
First, why is it important to choose a clean sunscreen?
Unfortunately, many of the products we put on our skin (including suncreen) actually contain really toxic chemicals in them. Some of our longtime favorite and trusted brands actually fall into this category unfortunately and can contain really harmful ingredients. These ingredients can cause everything from hormone disruption to skin irritations to an increase risk of cancer. Our skin is our largest organ and whatever we are putting on it can be absorbed into our bloodstream. It’s important to learn to read labels so you at least are aware of what you are putting on your skin and the possible negative effects certain ingredients could have on your body.
What should you look for when choosing a clean sunscreen?
These days there are so many crazy chemicals in sunscreen, it feels like you have to be a scientist to be able to figure out what all the ingredients are in order to filter through and make the best choice for your family! I’m definitely not a scientist, but I have done the research and there are some really good options out there; you just have to know what to look for.
When choosing a sunscreen you want a mineral sunscreen where the main ingredients are zinc oxide or titanium dioxide with the non-nano particles being the best option. The reason for this is that the non-nano particles are larger so they sit on the outer layer of the skin and block UV radiation but don’t penetrate the skin. It’s also effective at protecting against UVA rays that increase the risk of melanoma.
Red Flag Sunscreen Ingredients:
The ingredients below are toxic and should be avoided.
- Oxybenzone – a very dangerous chemical that causes hormone and endocrine disruptions.
- Octinoxate – a thyroid and endocrine disruptor.
- Natural/Synthetic Fragrance – these can contain toxic chemicals that can be allergens or irritants
- Retinyl Palmitate – known to increase risk of skin cancer
- Homosalate – hormone disruptor
- Octisalate – Allergic dermatitis for those prone to skin conditions
- Avobenzone – Allergic dermatitis for those prone to skin conditions; when it mixes with chlorine creates a toxic compound.
What are the cleanest brands of sunscreen?
You have options! Below is a list of my favorite safe and non-toxic sunscreen brands that are either verified by the EWG (Environmental Working Group) or score a 1 or 2 which are considered low hazard scores. I have also personally used each of these on myself or my kids (at one time or another) and vouch for them! Unfortunately if you’re an 80’s baby like myself, you won’t find the old Hawaiian Tropic or Panama Jack on this list but there are some other great options that will get the job done!
My favorite sunscreens:
Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen
Babo Botanicals Supershield Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
All Good Mineral Sport Sunscreen
Spray options for convenience:
All Good Mineral Sport Sunscreen Spray
Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Spray
Babo Botanicals Supershield Mineral Sunscreen Spray
Think Sport All Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Spray
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Spray
Sunscreen for baby:
Badger Baby Mineral Sunscreen Cream
Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Sunscreen Stick
Earth Mama Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
Bonus!
Here are 2 favorite lip balms for sun care:
Attitude Sunly Lipbalm with SPF 15
What if you do burn?
Clean sunscreen might not be the only thing you’ll need. If you or your littles do happen to get burnt, because as we all know, it does happen sometimes, the very best thing you can do is to apply aloe straight from an aloe plant right on the burn. Of course, not everyone will have an aloe plant handy, especially when traveling to the beach, so there are other options for after sun care that you can use that are clean versions. I use and recommend the ones below for after-sun care whether burnt or not, just to hydrate my skin after being in the sun for an extended amount of time.
After Sun:
Don’t Forget!
The sun is a good thing! Sunlight is a great gift from God that was provided to us to bring light and sustain life. There are so many healing benefits from the sun that we cannot discount. The best time to optimize these benefits is outside of the peak of the day (preferably morning) when you are sunscreen free.
3 Solid Benefits of the Sun
- Vitamin D Production – Boosts Vitamin D production in your body which in turn boosts your immune system and improving your bone health.
- Improved Mood – Releases serotonin in your brain – reducing depression and improving mood.
- Better Sleep – It can improve your sleep by regulating your circadian rhythm and increasing your melatonin production.
Hopefully now you feel better equipped to be able to recognize the ingredients you want to avoid and have the confidence to be able to choose the cleanest sunscreen for your family. Have a sunny summer!
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