A Guide To Clean Non-Toxic Sunscreen

If you’re looking to clean up your sunscreen act in time for summer, you’re in luck! The EWG just launched an updated guide to clean sunscreen and it’s pretty comprehensive. Here are the key takeaways:

Active ingredients in sunscreens come in two forms, mineral and chemical filters. Each uses a different mechanism for protecting skin and maintaining stability in sunlight. The most common sunscreens on the market contain chemical filters. These products typically include a combination of two to six of the following active ingredients (which you want to avoid): oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. A handful of products combine zinc oxide with chemical filters.

Laboratory studies indicate that some chemical UV filters may mimic hormones, and physicians report sunscreen-related skin allergies, which raises important questions about unintended human health consequences from frequent sunscreen application.

It’s best to avoid the chemical UV filters and opt for something without the harmful ingredients. From the best beach sunscreens to kids sunscreens and moisturizers with SPF, here are some of the top picks with the highest ratings (all listed received a 1):

And for more from the guide, head right this way.

Happy summer!

Geri H.

I'm an LA girl (who started this blog in 2005!!!!) with an affinity for wellness, clean food & lifestyle tidbits. Thank you for reading for all these years! xx

6 comments

Mireia says:

May 30, 2018 at 11:13 am

I must try this product!

Mireia from TGL
https://thegoldlipstick.com/

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Mary Kate says:

May 30, 2018 at 12:03 pm

Thanks for this! Do you have any you’ve tried yourself? The issue I’ve found with natural sunscreens is they’re so hard to rub in and leave this white film all over your skin. Preferable to the chemicals for sure, but I’m hoping for some holy grail sunscreen that’s easy to apply and safe!

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Ewa Macherowska says:

May 30, 2018 at 2:03 pm

Great guide! Thanks dear 🙂

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Sienna says:

May 31, 2018 at 7:59 pm

This is such a great guide! I’ve been meaning to try a non-toxic sunscreen and I was thinking about going for Coola or Pacifica!

http://www.modernbeautygirl.com

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Marianne says:

June 6, 2018 at 8:35 am

Have you tried all these? I’m just curious about how they go on. I have tried to cut out the chemicals where ever possible, but sometimes it’s hard to keep straight. My issue w/ some of these mineral ones is how white and chalky they are. My son has a carmel complexion and whenever I put the more organic creams on him they never rub in and leave him super pasty. Are any of these sheer? And do you have thoughts on the supergoop products? They have an oil that I like the idea of. Or the invisible sunscreen.
Just curious!
Marianne

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Sarah Smith says:

February 5, 2019 at 11:50 am

I didn’t realize that chemical UV filters in sunscreen are toxic and can aggravate skin allergies. My children and I all have sensitive skin, so I will take your advice to look into some mineral filtered sunscreen. Maybe I can find a tinted mineral sunscreen to use as a foundation base.

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