As summer approaches parents everywhere are stocking up on sunscreen.  Are the sunscreens you find in the stores safe for our kids and ourselves?  Unfortunately, not always.   It is important to know what ingredients to look out for and which ones to avoid.   Below- an ingredient guide and the brands I am either currently using or have used and like for my own family.

A note on Vitamin D:  

It is important to balance getting enough Vitamin D  with sun safety.   Studies have found that 70 percent of breastfed babies were deficient in vitamin D at one month old-  a serious problem because vitamin D plays a key role in growth and development of infants and increased mortality from heart disease and colon cancer, and heightened risk of breast cancer in adults.   

The sun is the best source of Vitamin D - but the best times to be exposed to the sun for this is in the early morning hours and late afternoon.  The rest of the day it is best to use sunscreen. 

Why is sunscreen so important?

1. The rate of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, has tripled over the past 35 years.  In 2015 alone more than  80,422 people were diagnosed !

2. There is a very strong correlation  between the number of childhood sunburns and increased melanoma risk.  This is why it is so so important  to reapply sunblock frequently in our children, especially in fidgety, water loving children (no easy task!) 

How to Choose a (safe and effective) Sunscreen

Before, buying sunscreen for your family was as easy as going to your local store and picking whichever brand you fancied.....  but, as I mentioned earlier,  those days are gone.  

 In the past few years plenty of research has surfaced showing us that not all sunscreens are created equal.  Even one brand can produce a range of sunblocks some very natural and others containing harmful chemicals. In fact, the Environmental Working Group's latest look at sunscreen in the US  found that 60% of sunscreens sold in stores " did not offer adequate sun protection or contained potentially harmful chemicals" ...essentially, EWG found that 60% of sunscreens sold TODAY in stores should not be considered safe and effective by current FDA standards.

Here is a guide to know what to avoid and what to look for when you go sunscreen shopping.

What should we avoid?

• oxybenzone (also can be listed as:  BENZOPHENONE-3)This is a hormone disrupting (endocrine disruptor) chemical that acts like estrogen in the body. In studies, it has been seen to alter sperm production in animals and is also associated with endometriosis in women. It damages coral reefs and damages marine life, and has been banned in Hawaii and some cities in Florida. The worse part? It only blocks UVB ray, not UVA which are the most free radical damaging rays.

• Octinoxate (also can be listed as:  OMC or METHOXYCINNAMATE): Linked to Hormone-like activity as well as thyroid and behavioral alterations, in animal studies. Can also affects the human reproductive system. Octinoxate has been found in breast milk.

• Methylisothiazolinone: usually found as an inactive ingredient in sunscreens (inactive ingredients are, however important since they can constitute up to 70% of a sunscreen), it is a skin sensitizer/ allergen which has been found to be the cause of serious cases of skin allergies, most notably in children . (In) "2015, the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded that no concentration of the chemical could be considered safe in leave-on cosmetic products (EU SCCS 2014). But methylisothiazolinone is still allowed in U.S. products"

• Octocrylene: has recently been shown to forms compounds that accumulate in coral and could be toxic

Last year the FDA confirmed that these 4 common sunscreen ingredients can actually enter your bloodstream for at least 24 hours after the last sunscreen application…

Additionally you want to avoid:

• Retinyl palmitate: is an antioxidant commonly used in sports and cosmetic sunscreens, face creams and lip sunblock for its ability to combat skin aging. Unfortunately it has also been shown to increase the development of skin tumors and lesions when exposed to sunlight. It is best to avoid all forms of this chemical (retinyl palmitate can also be labelled as retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate and retinol) or exclusively use at night and make sure to wash off thoroughly in the morning

• Sprays: generally sprays are not recommended, especially for small children, since the tiny particles can easily enter their lungs and cause damage. These tiny particles are mostly found in aerosol spray cans. Even sprays with the 'safe' ingredient titanium dioxide should be avoided, as The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens has classified titanium dioxide as a possible carcinogen when it is inhaled in large doses

• High SPF: SPF over 50 is not recommended, mostly because it has not been proven to add any more protection and can make people think they do not need to reapply every 2-3 hours.

• Fragrance:  fragrance chemicals usually contain a long list of undisclosed chemicals, the most common of which are also hormone disrupting chemicals

What should we look for ? 

Currently only two sunscreen ingredients are recognized by the FDA as proven safe and effective 

• zinc oxide: Offers superior sun protection and is not absorbed by our bodies through our skin. 

You should,  however, choose non-nano zinc oxide:  nanoparticle will enter your bloodstream, a non-nano particle won't.

• titanium dioxide: also not absorbed by our bodies while offering superior protection.  Best to avoid titanium dioxide in spray form:  The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens has classified titanium dioxide as a possible carcinogen when it is inhaled in large doses     

• broad spectrum: this means the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays from the sun. This is important because both are harmful. UVB rays - addressed by the SPF level- are responsible for producing sunburn. UVB rays play the greatest role in causing skin cancers. UVA rays are also harmful & are what cause aging and damage to the DNA in skin cells and can also lead to skin cancer.

• European sunscreens: Sunscreens in Europe use ingredients that offer much stronger UVA protection than sunscreens in the US. In fact most 'broad spectrum' sunscreens sold in the US are too weak to be sold in Europe! American manufacturers have been waiting for years for FDA approval to use these sunscreen ingredients but have yet to get approval.

My personal choices for best Sunscreens  for the whole family

There are many sunscreens out there.  These are the ones I have personally looked into, ingredient by ingredient, and trust and like for my family.

This year I decided to include the ingredients because if you read them you will notice that most of the ingredients you see on this list you will recognize!   As a general rule:   the more recognizable ingredients the better (Tocopherol - a common ingredient- is a form of Vitamin E.  This can be natural or synthetically sourced) 

Think Baby:   

In addition to a non-toxic yet efficient sunscreen formula I love that ThinkBaby is easy to find in stores as well as online and mixes well into my skin.   This is one of our main go to’s at home

Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+ (6 ounce)

Thinkbaby Sunscreen Stick 

Ingredients:  

Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20% (Non-nano)Inactive Ingredients: HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL(1) COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL (1) CERA ALBA (BEESWAX) (1) EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX(1) RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) OIL (1) COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX(1) BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER (1) THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) SEED BUTTER (1) TOCOPHEROL (1) ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE) LEAF JUICE (1)

Babo Botanicals 

I love Babo Botanicals.  Their two sunscreen sticks mentioned below are  Made Safe Certified which means a lot (this is a super strict certification process)   Additionally it is quite easy to find in many stores and their sticks are easy for kids to put on and don’t go on so  so think

Clear Zinc Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 – Fragrance Free

Babo Botanicals Super Shield SPF 50 Natural Sport Stick Fragrance Free Sunscreen,
Babo Botanicals Sunscreen - Clear Zinc Unscented Spf 30

Babo Botanicals Super Shield SPF 50 Natural Sport Stick INGREDIENTS:

ZINC OXIDE 15.0% (NON-NANO)

 INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: ORGANIC BEESWAX, ORGANIC BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, ORGANIC CALOPHYLLUM TACAMAHACA (TAMANU) SEED OIL, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, FLAVOR, JOJOBA ESTERS, OCTYLDODECYL OLEATE, ORGANIC ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN OIL, ORGANIC PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL, ORGANIC SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL, ORGANIC THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) SEED BUTTER, TOCOPHEROL.

Earth Mama KIDS UBER-SENSITIVE MINERAL SUNSCREEN LOTION SPF 40

Earth Mama has amazing safe products from pregnancy through childhood.
Ingredients:

ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Zinc Oxide 25%, INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Cocos Nucifera (Fractionated Coconut) Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil*, Tocopherol, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract* *Organic

Raw Elements

I had not heard of this brand until a few months ago when an Instagram follower told me about it.  When I looked into it I fell in love:  the ingredients are super ‘clean’ and their packaging is zero waste.  

Raw Elements Baby + Kids SPF 30 Organic Sunscreen Lotion Stick Non-Nano Zinc Oxide, Reef-Safe, Cruelty-Free, Gentle and Moisturizing, Zero Waste Tub

Raw Elements Organic SPF 30 Zinc Sunscreen,

INGREDIENTS:

Active Ingredient: Non Nano Zinc Oxide (25%)

Inactive Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil*, Beeswax*, Coconut Oil*, Cocoa Seed Butter*, Calendula Flower Extract*, Chamomile Flower Extract*, Rosemary Leaf Extract**, Vitamin E**

* USDA Certified Organic

RUNNER UPS

If the above sunscreens are not available for some reason, these are the ones I reach for. They are all non-toxic too- I just happen to not buy them as often

Badger - SPF 30 Baby Sunscreen Cream with Zinc Oxide 
This super natural sunscreen is great ingredient wise- however it goes on really really thick.  I used to buy it because it was so so natural but as my kids grew they really didnt like the whiteness and thickness .… also you have to reapply often because if you don’t really rub it in I have had friends get badly burned after swimming in the pool- others absolutely love it though!

Active Sunscreen Ingredient:
Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%

Base Ingredients:
Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Sunflower Vitamin E, Organic Chamomile Oil, Organic Calendula Flower Extract, Organic Seabuckthorn Fruit Extract

GODDESS GARDEN

Goddess Garden is another brand which I find a lot in stores and that is safe.   I don’t love the consistency of their (aerosole free) spray, and their creme/lotions also seems to go on thicker than Babo and Think Baby- but it is a solid and safe option.  I am excited to try their sunscreen stick which I have yet to try!

Goddess Garden Kids SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Stick for Sensitive Skin (0.6 oz.), Reef Safe, Clear Zinc Oxide, Broad Spectrum, Water Resistant, Non-Nano, Vegan, Leaping Bunny certified Cruelty-Free

All Good Baby & Kids Mineral Sunscreen

While not as widely available as the others the ingredient list is great and the price point too.

Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 12% (Non-nanoparticle)

Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice*, Bentonite, Calendula Of cinalis (Calendula) Flower*, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Car- thamus Tinctorius (Saf ower) Seed Oil*, Cellulose Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract*, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sun ower) Seed Oil*, Heptyl Undecylenate, Jojoba Esters, Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil*, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil*, Water (Aqua).

*Certified Organic to USDA/NOP Standards.

California Baby Super Sensitive SPF 30

While not quite as ‘natural’ as the other sunscreens on this list - I am including California Baby here because it has constantly received a 1 on EWG  databases and is so widely available.

ingredients (EWG score 1) 

Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 12%, Inactive Ingredients: Water, Isoamyl Laurate, Coco-Caprylate, Calendula Officinalis Extract (Calendula), Viola Tricolor Extract (Pansy), Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Glyceryl Starch, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Levulinic Acid, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Squalane, Magnesium Stearate, P-Anisic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol

Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 

While the ingredient list is the longest of the ones I include: I am comfortable with it The main reason I don’t often use it is that it is not readily available in stores or Amazon/ Target that I often buy from and I just really like the simpler ingredient list of some of the others. BUT I have used it (their sunstick, particularly, goes on super clear and glides on smoothly)

Ingredients: Ingredients: Active ingredient:  Zinc Oxide 15.4% Ingredients: Coco-Caprylate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Nonanoate, Mica, Coconut Alkanes, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Lauryl Laurate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Fruit Extract, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil*, Punica Granatum Seed Oil*, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil*, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Silica, Eschscholzia Californica Leaf Cell Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract. *Organic

Face Sunscreens for Mama

While all three on this list have a 1 in the Environmental Working Group’s Sunscreen Database- they are definitely not equal.    The Raw Elements I would say is the best/ most natural, followed by Suntegrity and then MD Solar Science.  The sunscreens mentioned prior to these three are truly the best/ most natural/ least toxic.  My husband and I use Thinkbaby/Babo etc or any of the above all the time. However I know many women sometimes are looking for something better, less greasy etc for everyday use under makeup which is why I added these.  

TOP PICK

Raw Elements Tinted Facial Moisturizer Certified Natural Sunscreen | Non-Nano Zinc Oxide, 95% Organic, Very Water Resistant,Reef Safe,Non-GMO, Cruelty Free,SPF 30+

Hands down the best ingredients. Still waiting to try it to confirm I love it

RUNNER UP
Suntegrity Impeccable Skin - Tinted Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Beautycounter Dew Skin

*please note: this post contains some affiliate links.