Choosing the Right Sunscreen 

Sunscreens are a tricky topic! With so many modes of application, types of UV blockers and ingredients to enhance absorption and preserve – how do we choose what is safest for our skin? Even the FDA is feeling confused and has announced it’s reevaluating every single chemical sunscreen  on the market, for safety. Did you know, the sunscreen market is saturated with toxic ingredients, likely lurking in your favorite brands? The FDA’s findings won’t be available until November, so I’ve compiled my TOP 10 choices for clean sun care, listed below. Unfortunately, no sunscreen is completely ‘clean’ unless you’re making your own – but there’s nothing I enjoy more, than researching clean ingredients – and these TOP 10 have been chosen for a combination of their Environmental Working Group (EWG) rating, as well as least amount of harmful ingredients with the least potential for harm, as well as my personal experience in using them on my children as well as myself. I’ve also listed some choices that are “OK,” meaning I don’t personally choose these brands for my family because their ingredient list is not up to par for me, but they are not as bad as the “Don’t Do it!” list below them. 

Also worth nothing: much like food companies, skincare companies are using marketing strategies in labeling, to lure you into purchasing their product with promise that it’s “clean.” While in fact, mineral options are definitely safer overall than chemical sunscreens, I’ve also broken down some of the more serious ingredients for you, so you can understand their purpose and harm, and check for them in your favorite brand at home. Consider that the largest organ you have, is your skin – and it’s capable of absorbing what you put on it. Also consider there is a lack of data on many of these ingredients, and that what you’re using daily or even regularly during a particular season, is effectively chronic exposure. For years, we have been told to amp up our sunscreen to avoid skin cancer, and sunscreen companies have done all they can chemically, to create higher SPF ratings and absorption…however this is what has led to so many harmful ingredients, and we have to consider, is it better to use higher SPF to avoid skin cancer, but subject ourselves to other forms of cancer or health issues instead? We don’t fully know the long-term risks, usually until it’s too late. Another issue, is the low levels of vitamin D in the United States. Many people are driven to supplement, due to the constant covering up with sunscreen every time they are outside. I have taken to finding a balance between more natural, mineral SPF’s (up to 30) and only using them when we are going to be spending an entire day in the sun. 

+  Note on Spray Sunscreens  +

Spray sunscreens are super convenient, right? And they don’t leave you or your kids with a chalky white residue like the mineral-based topical creams… so why are they not in my Top 10 or OK lists? For years,  there have been warnings of serious toxicity and their flammability, by dermatologists, the Food and Drug Administration, EWG and Consumer Reports – yikes!  Did you know that you, your children and everyone around you are subjected to inhaling toxic ingredients even if you’re not spraying it directly on your childs face? The particles are in the air all around you and are impossible to avoid. Sunscreen ingredients are not edible, and are not safe to inhale. Just one example of a concerning ingredient, is titanium dioxide, which is safe to use topically, but when inhaled, causes cancer.

Without further ado!!

List of Sunscreen Brands by Safety

In no particular order, I’ve listed my choices for best, ok and worst sunscreen brands so you know just what to do when you’re packing up for a day in the sun. Please note, some brands only have one or two varieties that fit my strict standards for being clean.

 TOP 10 CLEAN SUNSCREENS

• Badger
• All Good
• Loving Naturals Clear Body Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+
• ThinkBaby
• SuperGoop! (only the “100% Mineral Stick SPF 45”)
• Babo Botanicals
• Adorable Baby Sunscreen Stick SPF 30
• Tropical Sands 
• Rash Guards 
• Sun Hats

“OK”

• California Baby (“super sensitive” or “calendula” versions only)
• Goddess Garden
• Burt’s Bees
• Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sensitive Skin Zinc Oxide, SPF 50
• Alba Botanica, only the fragrance-free, kids and sensitive varieties 
• Bare Republic
• Coola
• Beauty Counter

DON’T DO IT!

• La Roche Posay
• Neutrogena
• Hawaiian Tropic
• Coppertone
• Australian Gold
• Tatcha
• Skinceuticals
• Tarte
• Ponds
• Peter Thomas Roth
• Kiehls
• Drunk ElephantSun Bum
• Murad
• Babyganics
• Banana Boat

TOP 3 CLEAN MOISTURIZERS WITH SPF

• Acure Radically Rejuvenating SPF Day Cream w/turmeric, ferulic acid & vitamin C
• Acura Seriously Soothing SPF Day Cream w/blue tansy and niacinamide
• Badger Damascus Rose Face Sunscreen SPF 25

Want to avoid all of the bad? Here’s a Homemade Sunscreen Recipe

Top Ingredients to Avoid:

Are you a mother? Whether you are nursing, taking care of an infant or have bigger children – there are some seriously toxic ingredients in sunscreen that you’re probably applying without even realizing the harm.

Oxybenzone – This is one of the most toxic ingredients found in skincare products. Oxybenzone is used in sunscreen to absorb ultraviolet light and is a penetration enhancer, associated with photo-allergic reactions. A photo-allergic reaction is an inflammatory response that occurs when the ingredient is structurally altered when exposed to UV light, and your bodys immune system sees it as an invader.  Oxybenzone is absorbed into the skin in high amounts and contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans according to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Associated with endocrine disruption, oxybenzone is suspected to be a carcinogen contributing to cancers like melanoma and breast cancer, because it has demonstrated an increase in the production of harmful free radicals and abilities to mimic hormones and to attack DNA cells. It has been linked to early puberty in girls, low sperm count in males and even infertility. Understand that oxybenzone  accumulates in people, and also can create biochemical or cellular level changes – causing mutations, leading to cell death and possibly implicated in cardiovascular disease. Oxybenzone can also be lurking in your nail polish, makeup and hair spray.

Titanium Dioxide – This UV- resistant ingredient is a safe sunscreen in topical form but a real danger in spray and powder sunscreens. When sunscreen is sprayed and ultimately inhaled by people around it, the ingredients enter the lungs. Based on studies, titanium dioxide used in spray and powder sunscreens (as well as other skincare products), are considered carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Phenoxyethanol – Used as a stabilizer and preservative in sunscreens, this ingredient is also dangerous when inhaled, but also when applied topically. Already deemed toxic and banned in Japan and the European Union, this ingredient can affect your brain and central nervous system, especially when inhaled. Infants are particularly at risk, so please consider when choosing sunscreen for your family. Beyond sunscreen, it’s found in a plethora of American skincare products and you have to check ingredient lists to avoid it.

Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) – This ingredient is a preservative and has been proven in studies, to be a big concern. MIT has been widely reported by phsyicians to have caused serious cases of skin allergies, especially in children (watch out, it’s even found in baby wipes). MIT is also found in products marketed as “hypoallergenic” as well, leading to further concern for labeling tricks. The European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety  concluded that no concentration of this ingredient is considered safe in cosmetic products, yet it is still allowed in the United States.

Parabens – Used as chemical preservatives in sunscreen and other personal care products. These preservatives can mimic hormones in the body and disrupt the endocrine system. They are considered dangerous for reproductive health and breast tissue, and many say regular exposure to this ingredient can lead to breast cancer. Like oxybenzone, parabens are linked to early puberty in girls and adverse effects on the male reproductive system.

Cyclopentasiloxane – This is a silicone used to enhance the slippery “feel” when applying sunscreen.   There is a low concern for this ingredient being an endocrine disrupter and one or more studies showed tumor formation in animals receiving moderate doses. Consider this, when you need to reapply sunscreen several times throughout a day in the sun.

Retinyl Palmitate – This ingredient is used in sunscreen to counteract the aging effects of other ingredients and the sun, however it is a known human reproductive toxicant. When exposed to UV rays, the ingredient breaks down and produces toxic free radicals which can lead to cell death, mutation and even cancer. FDA studies have shown that application of this ingredient prior to sun exposure, may speed up the development of skin tumors.

Octocrylene – A common sunscreen ingredient, octocrylene interferes with cellular signaling and can lead to mutations and cell death. This ingredient is easily absorbed into your body and accumulates.

Octinoxate – Used as a UV absorber in sunscreen, this ingredient is absorbed easily and shows strong evidence of being an endocrine disrupter in humans, and hormone-mimicking effects in lab animals. Octinoxate shows up in humans, including in breastmilk.  This ingredient is also linked to photo-allergic reactions, and produces free radicals which can cause premature aging.