Choose Safe Sunscreen Products to Protect Your Health
Many common chemical sunscreens contain synthetic chemicals that are detrimental to your health and negatively impact the environment. (1)
These chemicals are linked to cancer and allergic reactions, disrupt hormones, and imitate estrogen in the body (2)
The common toxic ingredients used in sunscreen that must be avoided to protect your health include: (1, 2, 3, 4)
1. Avobenzene
Can cause allergic reaction and disrupt hormones.
2. Benzene
Causes cancer and widely found in aerosol sunscreen.
3. Benzophene
Is a suspected carcinogen and is linked to cancer.
4. Oxybenzone
Is linked to allergic reactions, organ system toxicity, hormone disruption & cell damage and may cause more harm to children.
5. Homosalate
Linked to allergic reactions.
6. Octocrylene
Often contaminated with Benzophenone, which is known to cause cancer.
7. Octisalate
Absorbs through the skin 10 times more than FDA’s cutoff for system exposure and is linked to contact dermatitis.
8. Octinoxate
Linked to harmful effects on reproductive development in male and female fetuses in utero.
9. PABA and Padimate O
Banned or found unsafe in Canada and European Union.
10. Retinyl Palmitate
May speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied to the skin in direct sunlight, according to FDA data and research from the National Toxicology Program.
Our Search for Safe Sunscreen Products Made with Organic Ingredients
Cheryl White Wellness has searched for sunscreen products that are made with organic and natural sunscreen ingredients, rather than sunscreen made primarily from chemical ingredients.
Cheryl has closely reviewed many sunscreen products and specifically recommends sunscreen products that meet the following criteria:
- Made of primarily organic, natural, non-chemical ingredients
- Provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection
- Use only non-nano zinc oxide
- Are free of fragrance and toxic chemicals
- Do NOT contain mica or titanium dioxide
- Have an EWG Rating of 1 or EWG Verified
Mineral sunscreens can take more time to rub in, and can be thick and sometimes leave a white sheen if not completely rubbed in. Alternatively, some safe sunscreen products are made with clear zinc oxide that are easier to rub in.
- Like all sunscreen, natural sunscreen does need to be re-applied after being in the water
- Be sure to note how long the recommended sunscreen is water resistant
- Re-application is very important for children and adults that spend time playing or swimming in the water.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping babies less than 6 months old out of the sun, with loose-fitting clothes that cover all the skin.
Our Sunscreen Product Recommendations
This is the sunscreen product that Cheryl primarily uses, which is made with clear zinc oxide, is 98% organic and is easy to apply:
Badger Active Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 30
This sunscreen is an excellent product that is baby and family friendly, provides 80 minutes of water resistance, and is made with with primarily organic ingredients:
Our favorite Earth Mama safe sunscreen products made with many organic ingredients are:
Earth Mama Uber Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 40 – for baby and family and provides 40 minutes of water resistance.
Earth Mama Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 40 – also family friendly and provides 40 minutes of water resistance.
This is our recommendation for a safe After Sun Aloe Product, which is 96% organic:
Badger Aloe Vera Gel – After Sun Gel
If you would like to learn more about the risks of common toxic ingredients used in sunscreen, anti-perspirant & deodorant, oral hygiene products, baby and children’s care products, permanent hair dyes and straighteners, feminine care products and nail products, you can download our free Detoxify Your Personal Care, Skin Care & Cosmetics Wellness Guide.
If you would like help to choose healthy products, made with primarily certified organic ingredients, this enlightening Detoxify Your Personal Care, Skin Care, and Cosmetics Products Organic Purchasing Guide is available for purchase and is of great value to help you protect your health! This Guide will inform you and empower you to purchase products made with certified organic ingredients quickly and easily, and includes recommendations for 116 different products, including:
- Sunscreen and after sun products
- Skin and body care products
- Hygiene products
- Oral hygiene products
- Hair care products
- Cosmetics (makeup) products
- Feminine care products
- Pregnant mom + new mom + baby + child care products
EWG Annual Sunscreen Report
If you would like to learn more about sunscreen risks and products, EWG (The Environmental Working Group non-profit) publishes an Annual Sunscreen Report that provides a comprehensive analysis of the chemicals commonly found in sunscreen products. You can read the 2024 EWG 18th Annual Guide to Sunscreen Report here .
Article Sources
(1) https://foodrevolution.org/blog/natural-sunscreen-spf-zinc/
(2) https://www.safecosmetics.org/products/sunscreens/
