Aida's 2021 Sunscreen Guide for Babies, Kids and Adults

May 6, 2021 Aida Garcia-Toledo

This is the time of year when sunscreen is on all of our minds. Sunscreen safety is important because they are designed to be applied all over our body every day, for a lifetime

This year I wanted to review sunscreens that you all asked me about and I also include my choices for ‘best susncreens for kids’.

It is useful, however, to know how to choose a better sunscreen because there will always be that moment when you are in a store shopping for sunscreen and cant find any of the recommended ones: what do you do? How do you choose the ‘better’ one?

How to choose a non-toxic sunscreen:

Read the ingredient label.

That’s it. ITs that easy. Keep a cheat sheet of ingredients you want to avoid (or save this post) in order to determine which are the ideal sunscreens to be using on a daily basis for your little ones!

Remember, some ingredients from sunscreen make their way and can be detected in our bloodstream after just one single-use.

Here are ingredients to avoid:

oxybenzone (also can be listed as: BENZOPHENONE-3)
- a hormone disrupting (endocrine disruptor) chemical that acts like estrogen in the body.
- associated with endometriosis in women.
- damages coral reefs & marine life
- only blocks UVB ray, not UVA which are the most free radical damaging rays
- EU is proposing a concentration limit of 2.2 percent for oxybenzone. US allows ups to 6%

Octinoxate (also can be listed as: OMC or METHOXYCINNAMATE):
- Linked to endocrine (hormone) disrupting activity as well as thyroid & behavioral alterations
- has been found in breast milk & can enter bloodstream

Methylisothiazolinone:
- a skin sensitizer/ allergen which has been found to be the cause of serious cases of skin allergies, most notably in children .
- EU has concluded that no concentration can be considered safe in leave-on cosmetic products (methylisothiazolinone is still allowed in U.S. )

Octocrylene: has recently been shown to form compounds that accumulate in coral & could be toxic. New research (8/2021) suggests that products made with the chemical may contain benzophenone, a suspected carcinogen that also can interfere with key hormones (particularly estrogen) and reproductive organs,
Octonoxate - (aka OMC): linked to endocrine disruption

Homosalate
- linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity
- EU has proposed concentration limits of 1.4 percent for homosalate. US allows up to 15%

Retinyl palmitate:
- an antioxidant commonly used in sports & cosmetic sunscreens, face creams, lip sunblock for ability to combat skin aging.
- has also been shown to increase the development of skin tumors and lesions when exposed to sunlight.

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

Proceed with Caution

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
- Spray bottle may not offer adequate coating and protection

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.
A note about your friend/blogger/ sister who recommends their favorite non-toxic sunblock: everyone’s standards are different. Empower yourself by reading the ingredients and learning how to id chemicals you want to avoid!

Here are Aida’s list of non-toxic sunscreens for kids (which adults can totally use too)

I decided to go with a tier system again:

Tier 1:

Sunscreens I would use without thinking twice about. These contain absolutely no ingredients of concern nor allergens. Would be totally ok to use on your kids all year round

Tier 2:

When Tier 1 sunscreens are not available, then I Would feel very comfortable using one of the sunscreens from Tier 2. Some do contain some ingredients of slight concern and so I would not use these all year round every single day. But, again, in a crunch if I need a sunscreen and these are the ones that are available I would feel fine about buying it and using it until I was done… and then I would try to go back to Tier 1 products

Tier 3:

These sunscreens have multiple ingredients of concern. I would avoid buying these.

Having said that if you have to use them one day - it will be fine. If you forget to take sunblock to camp and these are the sunscreens they have available: it is fine for your child to use them once. Remember the concern for the majority of these ingredients is cummulative: using them daily over a long period of time.

TIER ONE

All Good Kid's Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30

ATTITUDE Mineral Baby & Kids Sunscreen, Vanilla Blossom, SPF 30

Babyganics Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50+

Badger Baby Active Sunscreen Cream, Chamomile & Calendula, SPF 30

Badger Clear Sport Kids Face Stick, Tangerine & Vanilla, SPF 35

Badger Baby Sunscreen Cream, Chamomile & Calendula, SPF 40

Babo Botanicals Baby Skin Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

California Baby Everyday/Year-Round Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+

California Baby Super Sensitive Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+

Earth Mama Baby Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Face Stick, SPF 40

Earth Mama Kids Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30

Earth Mama Kids Uber-Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 40

Erbaviva Organic Skincare Baby Sunscreen Lotion,

Kiss My Face Organics Kids Defense Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30

Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (note: please don’t think SPF 50 means you do not nee to reapply!)

Raw Elements Baby + Kids Sunscreen Lotion Tin, SPF 30

Raw Elements Baby + Kids Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30

Suntribe Kids Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Vanilla Yum Yum, SPF 30

Supergoop! Sunny Screen Lotion, Babies + Kiddos, SPF 50

Thinksport Kids Body & Face Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30

Thinkbaby Body & Face Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30

Waxhead Sun Defense Baby Zinc Oxide Vitamin E + D Enriched Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 35

TIER 2

Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30

Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Fruit Extract, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil could be allergenic. Safe to use if no allergies

Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30

Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Fruit Extract, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil could be allergenic
PHENOXYETHANOL: Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), Occupational hazards (high)

COOLA Mineral Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

I am comfortable with the ingredients but EWG does make a note that “Sunscreens can break down while still in the bottle. To be safe dispose of products when the mixture clumps or separates.”

TIER 2.5

Sunscreens that EWG rates as a 2 or 3 but I don’t love. Fine to use but avoid everyday use over long period of time

Cerave Baby Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 45

CONCERNS:

1. PHENOXYETHANOLAllergies/immunotoxicity (low), Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), Occupational hazards (high)

2. PEG-100 STEARATE: Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)

3.PEG-75 STEARATE Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)

4. OLETH-25: Use restrictions (low), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)

Tubby Todd Mineral Sunscreen

Concerns:

Phenoxyethanol: llergies/immunotoxicity (low), Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), Occupational hazards (high)

Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone: Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)

Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Lotion, Baby, SPF 30+

Concerns:

PHENOXYETHANOL: Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), Occupational hazards (high)

CETYL PEG/ PPG-10/ 1 DIMETHICONE: Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)

DIMETHICONE: Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate),

MDSolarSciences KidStick Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 40

1. PETROLATUM: Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Contamination concerns (PAHS)

DIMETHICONE: Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low)

CETYL PEG/ PPG-10/ 1 DIMETHICONE: Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)

BHTCancer (moderate), Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate), Endocrine disruption (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)

TIER 5: Worse rated try to avoid

Coppertone Water Babies Pure & Simple Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50

Concerns:

OCTINOXATE active ingredient 7.5%: Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Enhanced skin absorption, Endocrine disruption (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
Octocrylene 10%: potentially can contain benzophenone a carcinogen and suspected endocrine disruptor

Banana Boat Kids Sport Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50+

Concerns:

1. HOMOSALATE active ingredient 9%: Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Contamination concerns (SALICYLIC ACID and TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEXANOL)

2. OCTISALATE active ingredient 4.5%: Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (moderate)

3. OCTOCRYLENE active ingredient 9%: Persistence and bioaccumulation (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), chemical or cellular level changes (high). Could contain carcinogenic benzophenone.

4. DIMETHICONE: Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low)

5. PEG-8: Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)

6. LAURYL PEG/ PPG-18/ 18 METHICONE: Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)

Coppertone Water Babies Pure and Simple Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

- OXYBENZONE active ingredient 6%: Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate), Enhanced skin absorption, Endocrine disruption (moderate), Non-Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)

BENZYL ALCOHOL: Allergies/immunotoxicity (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Occupational hazards (high)

HOMOSALATE active ingredient 15%: Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (SALICYLIC ACID and TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEXANOL)

OCTISALATE active ingredient 5%: Allergies/immunotoxicity (low), Enhanced skin absorption,

Banana Boat Kids MAX Clear Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100

Oxybenzone: Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low), Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate), Enhanced skin absorption, Endocrine disruption (moderate), Non-Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
contains undisclosed fragrance: can contain dozens of chemicals, often many are endocrine disrupting. Without known which specific ingredients they use for fragrance its impossible to determine safety
HOMOSALATE which enhances skin absorption. Contamination concerns (SALICYLIC ACID and TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEXANOL
Based on EWG's modeling, the UV protection is significantly lower than the SPF value would indicate.

Hello Bello:

ingredients look good but they mention a slightly vague ‘plant derived fragrance’ Without full disclosure I cannot say for sure it I feel comfortable with the fragrance ingredients used