Summer is almost here! It’s about that time to spend more time in the sun, soaking up the UV rays and vitamin D!
Spending time in the sun is very beneficial to our health and wellbeing, however it’s important to remember to wear sunscreen that will protect us from harmful UV rays and burning.
Sunscreen is very commonly used and often applied multiple times a day on those real sunny days. Unfortunately, not all sunscreens are created equal. Some sunscreens have toxic ingredients that can harm our overall health, as well as the health of the aquatic life!
At first, it made me really sad to find out that most commonly used sunscreens have harmful chemicals in them. After finding out there’s non-toxic options out there and they were actually the same price at the toxic sunscreens, I was thrilled! These harmful ingredients truly are just not needed in the first place, so why use them?
In this blog post, we will explore non-toxic sunscreens and why they are a healthier choice to use this summer!
Table of Contents
- Common sunscreens that are loaded with toxic chemicals.
- What toxic chemicals to look for in sunscreens.
- What are non-toxic sunscreens to try this summer?
Common Sunscreen Brands That Contain Toxic Ingredients
- Banana Boat
- Equate
- Coppertone
- Australian Gold
- Coola
- Hawaiian Tropic
- Neutrogena
- Sun Bum
- La Roche-Posay
Be careful of greenwashing! Some companies may claim that they are “non toxic”, or “natural” and free of harmful ingredients. However if you actually look at the ingredients, that is far from the truth!
What Toxic Chemicals to Avoid in Sunscreen & Why
Endocrine Disruptors
- The ingredients to be concerned with in sunscreens are mostly all endocrine disruptors. These are chemicals that alter our hormones, harm reproductive organs, can cause cancer and infertility. According to the Endocrine Society, endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been “linked to numerous adverse human health outcomes including alterations in sperm quality and fertility, abnormalities in sex organs, endometriosis, early puberty, altered nervous system function, immune function, certain cancers, respiratory problems, metabolic issues, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular problems, growth, neurological and learning disabilities, and more.”
Here are common endocrine disruptors found in sunscreen:
- Oxybenzone
- Octinoxate
- Homosalate
- Octisalate
- Octocrylene
- Avobenzone
- Phthalates
- Parabens (read all about parabens here)
If you were to avoid any of the above ingredients, avoid Oxybenzone, Phthalates and Parabens! Oxybenzone has been proven to stay in your body for days after application.
Fragrance
- Claimed to give the products a scent.
- Companies do not have to disclose the chemicals hidden in the ingredient “fragrance” and can be applied for hundreds of ingredients.
- Therefore, you don’t truly know what is in the product.
- Phthalates, the “forever chemical” and BHA, are often hidden under “fragrance.”
BHT, BHA & Methylisothiazolinone Preservatives
- BHT & BHA are endocrine disruptors, affecting the reproductive system and often used as a “fragrance” ingredient in cosmetics. They can also cause thyroid, kidney, liver problems.
- BHA is also a probable human carcinogen.
- Methylisothiazolinone is highly allergenic and a known neurotoxin.
PEG’s (Polyethylene Glycol and Polysorbate)
- PEG’s are used to open up the skin pores.
- While PEG’s isn’t the main concern, it’s frequently contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, which is linked to cancer.
- It’s important to make sure that there are no additional toxic ingredients in products that contain PEG, otherwise more toxins will be conveniently absorbed through the skin
Why Consider Using a Non-Toxic Sunscreen?
Our skin is our largest organ.
It has 6 main functions: protection, absorption, excretion, secretion, regulation and sensation.
Whatever is put on the skin, is absorbed into the body.
Therefore, what you put IN your body is just as important as what you put ON your body!
Mineral sunscreens are gentle on the skin and acts more as a shield to protect against UV rays. Chemical sunscreens are quickly absorbed, are harsher on the skin and can be irritating or cause allergies.
The ingredients listed above are also very toxic to our aquatic life. Oxybenzone, Octinoxate and Octocrylene in particular are known to be harmful and have been banned in some countries/areas for fish and reef safety.
Top 5 Safe & Affordable Non-Toxic Sunscreens for the Body:
Below are affordable swaps for healthy and safe non-toxic sunscreens.
When shopping for a non-toxic sunscreen, look for labels that say “mineral based” or “mineral sunscreen” on it.
These are made with zinc oxide or titanium oxide for its effectiveness against UV rays.
BE AWARE that mineral sunscreens almost ALWAYS go on the skin pretty thick and often leave a white cast. It takes more work to rub these sunscreens in, but a little goes a long way.
Some non-toxic sunscreens are formulated with certain oils, which could be irritating to the skin. If you have very sensitive skin, be aware of the ingredients labels and patch test before using products!
It’s also important to note, when choosing between a lotion or a spray sunscreen, spray sunscreens are considered to be irritating to the respiratory system. If you have asthma or respiratory issues, it might be wise to avoid those.
I’d say follow the 80/20 rule! Choose your preference of sunscreen or whichever is more convenient for you!
BABO BOTANICALS
Lightweight, hypoallergenic, water resistant, and safe for the whole family. It’s known to leave a little bit of a white cast, but it’s one of the best affordable non-toxic sunscreens there is!
Check out the lotion sunscreen here, spray sunscreen here or a stick sunscreen here!
THINK SPORT
EWG verified brand that is completely non-toxic! Their sunscreen may leave a bit of a white cast, but a little goes a long way! You don’t need to put on as much as you think you do.
Check out the lotion sunscreen here.
BEAUTY BY EARTH
Highly reputable brand with great non-toxic products! Still might leave a white cast, but it’s an affordable option.
Check out the lotion sunscreen here, spray sunscreen here or a stick sunscreen here!
THRIVE
This sunscreen is highly rated, hydrating, and it gives off little to no white cast! It’s also easier to rub in than other mineral based sunscreens. If you were to choose a non-toxic mineral based sunscreen but looking for one with minimal white cast and easy application, this one is a great one to try!
Check out the lotion sunscreen here.
BEAUTYCOUNTER
A little more pricey, but worth it! This sunscreen rubs in like a normal lotion, so it’s easy to use. It’s lightweight and doesn’t give off a white cast! If you’re looking for a mineral based sunscreen, this one you won’t regret! It’s the only mineral based sunscreen I could find that doesn’t require more work to rub in and also doesn’t leave a white cast.
View it here! They also have a spray version here and also a stick version here.
In Conclusion
As stated above, mineral sunscreens almost ALWAYS go on the skin pretty thick and often leave a white cast. It takes more work to rub these sunscreens in, but a little goes a long way. It’s difficult to find non-toxic sunscreens that aren’t like this.
In my experience with using mineral and non-toxic sunscreens, they are a little more work than I personally feel it’s worth. Since I am only using sunscreen on my body a few months out of the year, and I don’t live in an area where I need to protect the reefs, I honestly don’t feel that using a non-toxic sunscreen for my body is worth it to me. If I’m going to use one, it would be Beautycounter or Thrive (as seen above).
That’s where the 80/20 rule plays in. Is using a non-toxic sunscreen worth it to you and does it make sense for your life? Do the risks and/or benefits outweigh the possible downsides of using it?
It could be worth using if you are in a setting where you just need to use a little bit and don’t mind some white cast, but maybe applying and re-applying at the beach/pool isn’t worth it. You decide for you! There’s no wrong answer.
Look out for my post on Better, Less Toxic Sunscreens. I will discuss and list sunscreens that are still considered “toxic”, but are less toxic than other brands! For those of you not looking to use a completely mineral based sunscreen, this is for you!
Follow the 80/20 Rule!
I’m a firm believer in the 80/20 rule when it comes to your health.
80% of the time, make healthy choices. 20% of the time, it’s okay to relax a bit.
Not everything has to be perfect! All you have to do is try your best and intentionally make choices that make sense for your life.
Try to use the most safe and healthy products to your knowledge. It’s never too late to make changes and try out something new!
I’m here to help and support you. Let’s create a healthy, less toxic community and take our power back!
Looking for more content like this one? Check out my post on Safe and Affordable Non-Toxic Body Wash! You can find it here. Visit my website here for more information and guidance on living less toxic!
References
Lenahan, B. (2019, July 30). What Sunscreen Is Safe To Use? 11 Sunscreen Ingredients To Avoid. Colorscience. https://www.colorescience.com/blogs/blog/what-sunscreen-is-safe-understanding-healthy-and-safe-sunscreen-ingredients
Nelson, M. (2023, April 17). Our Favorite Non-Toxic Sunscreens to Protect Your Skin This Summer. Branch Basics. https://branchbasics.com/blogs/healthy-living/favorite-non-toxic-sunscreens
Non-Toxic Sunscreen Brands. Mindful Momma. https://mindfulmomma.com/non-toxic-sunscreen/
Stoiber, T. (2019, April 09). What Are Parabens, and Why Don’t They Belong in Cosmetics? Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/what-are-parabens
The Dirty Dozen: BHA and BHT. David Suzuki Foundation. https://www.davidsuzuki.org/living-green/dirty-dozen-bha-bht/