As an Amazon Associate and Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
🏖️ Looking to replace your conventional sunscreen full of unsafe, controversial, and undisclosed ingredients with safer ingredients for your little one? Great! This page is for you!
Sunscreen washes off our bodies and into open water with environmental consequences. They found out that an estimated 6,000 – 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in the world’s coral reefs every year, causing irreparable harm. Chemical sunscreens are known to bleach and damage coral reefs. Chemical sunscreen not only harms public health but also the health of the corals and other marine life. 🐙🐠
Hawaii became the first state to ban toxic sunscreen
Avoid Conventional sunscreens that contain active chemicals and ingredients that are harmful to people and the planet. They contain unnecessary chemicals.
❌ Chemical sunscreens: Chemical sunscreens are harmful to people, coral reefs, and the planet!
❌ Endocrine-disruptors: homosalate, avobenzone, and oxybenzone.
According to EWG: “Twelve other ingredients were proposed as not generally recognized as safe and effective due to insufficient data: avobenzone, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, padimate O, and sulisobenzone.”
In 2018, Hawaii became the first state to ban the sale of two common chemicals (oxybenzone and octinoxate), causing harm to marine life. The city of Key West, Florida, followed in 2021.
The worst sunscreen active ingredient is oxybenzone.
It is not enough to get sunscreen without chemical protection, they could still contain other controversial ingredients:
When you see too many ingredients in sunscreen that are really not necessary, they are there just because they are cheap to make!
❌ Greenwashing Marketing claims: “Reef-safe” or “Reef-friendly” are unregulated terms in the US government. Since reef safe is a marketing tool, there aren’t any reef safe certifications recognized by the government.
FDA created a standard to classify safer sunscreen, it is called:
(GRASE) Generally Regarded As Safe and Effective by the FDA (you may have seen this referred to as GRASE). Generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded.
❌ Bug repellent Sunscreen: According to FDA they are not safe (GRASE.
❌ Avoid Titanium Dioxide: Titanium dioxide is no longer considered safe. The European Union has declared Titanium Dioxide a level 2 Carcinogen in all concentrations over 1%, & from 2024 all products with more than 1% Titanium Dioxide will have to bare warning labels. It is damaging to your skin & has been declared a carcinogen. Titanium Dioxide isn’t photo-stable, which means that when you expose it to light on your face it creates free radicals that in turn ravage your skin cells.
Titanium dioxide: Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful. Toxic when it is ingested, so avoid sunblock lip balms or lipsticks with titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, because of the potential for exposure through inhalation.
Banned in the EU for food application due to its potential carcinogenic effects. Titanium dioxide E 171 contains at most 50% of particles in the nano range (i.e. less than 100 nanometres) to which consumers may be exposed.
According to The Guardian: “The EU’s decision to phase out titanium dioxide came after a re-evaluation of the safety of the food additive conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), an agency that delivers independent scientific advice to the EU about food-related risks. EFSA scientists screened nearly 12,000 scientific publications. They were particularly interested in recent research on the “genotoxicity” of titanium dioxide nanoparticles – their ability to damage DNA and lead to cell mutations, potentially causing cancer. In animal studies, nanoparticles have been found to affect microorganisms in the gut, which could trigger diseases like intestinal and bowel inflammation and colorectal cancer.
and/or titanium dioxide! In 2019 The FDA proposed that both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide be classified as safe and effective. They are not the same.
❌ Avoid Nanoparticles: they can penetrate into the skin. The non-nano zinc dioxide version is safer since it cannot penetrate
❌ Avoid sunscreen with Vitamin A: vitamin A derivative called retinyl palmitate, is often found in sunscreens and other products used on the skin. For some years, government and independent scientists have been investigating this chemical as a possible photocarcinogen – meaning that it may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions on sun-exposed skin.
❌ Avoid spray or powder sunscreen: they are highly toxic when inhaled. especially for your kids.
Spray or powder sunscreens are considered toxic for the lungs and environment, nanoparticles can cause lung damage when inhaled. When a neighbor on the beach is spraying their sunblock near you, RUN away!
Here is how to pick eco-friendly SPF creams with UVA and UVB protection, free of toxic chemicals.
✅ Mineral sunscreen active ingredient: non-nano Zinc Oxide is considered safer and has superior UVA and UVB sun protection, compared to titanium dioxide. The non-nano zinc dioxide version is safer since it cannot penetrate into your skin.
✅ Organic Ingredients inactive ingredients: 🌿Chose simple ingredients. Fewer ingredients the better
✅ Best format: 🌿Choose cream, lotion, AVOID spray sunscreen
Here you will find the safest and cleanest, and simplest ingredients on the market! They are incredibly protective and moisturizing, full of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, with the cleanest and simplest ingredients around. 🐠 Coral reef safe, cruelty-free, biodegradable, with plastic-free packaging options. Water-resistance performance depends on the products. Soy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free. Safer for the entire family.
☀️Here are my favorite sunscreens that meet my criteria. Shop with my links to support my research!
🌴 Now you are ready to pick the safest and best organic sunscreen on the market!
Shop with my links to support my research!💖
10% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL
Looking to replace your conventional tinted sunscreen with a safer one? Great! Here it is: An organic, mineral SPF 30+, made with FDA-approved protection, Broad-spectrum protection, and Certified Organic natural inactive ingredients, available also in plastic-free packaging: recyclable and reusable aluminum tin.
🍃Incredibly protective and moisturizing, it is full of biologically active antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and extracts with the cleanest and simplest ingredients on the market!
It has a slight medium-toned tint, to use as a daily face moisturizer, it continues protecting your skin long after environmental exposure. 🐠Coral reef safe, cruelty-free, biodegradable. Safer for the entire family.
☀️Active ingredients: non-nano Zinc Oxide which is one of the only two approved SPF ingredients by the FDA. Zinc Oxide is also the only active natural ingredient that is able to provide full protection for both UVA and UVB, even better than the other approved ingredient Titanium dioxide.
INGREDIENTS: Active Ingredient: Non-Nano Zinc Oxide (23%). Inactive Ingredients: Sunflower Oil*, Green Tea*, Black Tea*, Coffee Bean*, Hemp Seed Oil*, Cocoa Butter**, Mango Butter**, Beeswax*, Rosemary Oil Extract**, Vitamin E**, Iron Oxides
🍃I use this and highly recommend it. It nourishes and protects my skin without heavy coverage or oily layers. It is light and moisturizing and it acts like a very natural foundation.
☀️Daily Tinted Moisturizing Tube in Bio-resin material, made from sustainable Sugar cane crops capturing CO2 from the atmosphere vs. traditional petroleum which releases CO2. 100% recyclable and with a PCR resin Cap.
🍃Amazing formula: foundation piece in everyday self-care. Containing 20% non-nano Zinc Oxide, it can sustain in the most extreme conditions however can be used as a cosmetic for everyday application for protection and moisturizing properties.
🍃Incredibly protective and moisturizing, it is full of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins.
INGREDIENTS: Active Ingredient: Non-Nano Zinc Oxide 20% Inactive Ingredients: Water *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil *Cera Flava (Beeswax) Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Powder Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil Polyhydroxystearic Acid Hawaiian Sea Salt Iron Oxides (CI 77492) Bisabolol Iron Oxides (CI 77491) Iron Oxides (CI 77499) Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract (*Organic Ingredient)
15% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL
🌿 Lauren Brooke's organic skincare and organic makeup are made using 100% food-grade, certified organic ingredients and is the first Natural Cosmetics Company in the US to have products that are European Union certified, where more than 1,378 chemicals are banned or restricted.
🌿This organic tinted sunscreen is made with certified organic ingredients.
This organic tinted moisturizer improves dry skin while providing water-resistant SPF 28 protection from the sun. Safe on sensitive skin while protecting against UVA & free radicals.
INGREDIENTS: Certified Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, All Natural Zinc Oxide, Certified Organic Cera Alba (Beeswax), Certified Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, All Natural Silica, All Natural Clay, Certified Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Certified Organic Vitamin E (Sunflower-derived) Oil (+/- Naturally Derived Iron Oxides, Naturally Derived Mica, Certified Organic Essential Oil Blend), Melia Azadirachta Seed (Neem) Oil.
I don't recommend ILIA Super serum because it contains controversial ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Squalane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Chloride, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir (±): CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate: considered skin irritant, Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]
I don't recommend 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented® Tinted Moisturizer because it contains Titanium dioxide, no longer considered safe.
INGREDIENTS: Aqua (Water), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Glycerin (Vegetable), Titanium Dioxide, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Organic Sunflower) Seed Oil, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Betaine, Magnesium Sulfate, Magnesium Stearate, Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berry) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) extract, Organic Euterpe Oleracea (Organic Acai Berry) Fruit Extract, Organic Camellia Sinensis (Organic Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Organic Theobroma Cacao (Organic Cocoa) Extract, Charcoal Extract, Oragnic Beta Vulgaris (Organic Beet) Root Extract, Organic Myrciaria Dubia (Organic Camu Camu) Fruit Extract, Organic Curcuma Longa (Organic Turmeric) Root Extract, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Oil, Punica granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sodium Phytate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Castor Oil/IPDI Copolymer, Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Benzyl Alcohol (Naturally Occurring in Essential Oils)
❌ Avoid Chemical sunscreens: Chemical sunscreens are harmful to people, coral reefs, and the planet! Endocrine-disruptors: homosalate, avobenzone, and oxybenzone. ❌ According to EWG: “Twelve other ingredients were proposed as not generally recognized as safe and effective due to insufficient data: avobenzone, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, padimate O, and sulisobenzone.” ❌Avoid sunscreen with titanium dioxide ❌Avoid spray sunscreen ❌ Avoid sunscreens with too many ingredients ❌Avoid sunscreens with toxic preservatives such as phenoxyethanol
I don't recommend Suntegrity Tinted 5 in 1 Mineral Sunscreen
INGREDIENTS:
Active Ingredient: Zinc-Oxide 20% (non-nano) - Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Capric/Caprylic Triglycerides (Coconut Oil Extract), Water (Aqua), Sorbitan Stearate (Plant Derived), Glyceryl Stearate (Plant Derived), Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate (Plant Derived), Hexyl Laurate (Plant Derived), Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cetyl Dimethicone (Mineral Derived), Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt), Helianthus Annuus (Organic Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Organic Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Astaxanthin (Algae Source), Hyaluronic Acid (Plant Derived), Chlorella Emersonii (Red Algae) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Organic Green Tea) Extract, Punica Granatum (Organic Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide* (under 0.1%), Ethylhexylglycerin*, Iron Oxide. *paraben-free preservative
I don't recommend Juice Beauty Sunscreen
INGREDIENTS: Ivory, Sand, Tan- Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20% Ingredients: pyrus malus (apple juice)*, cocos nucifera (coconut oil)*, vitis vinifera (white grape juice)*, aloe barbadensis (aloe leaf juice)*, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sorbitan stearate, ricinus communis (castor seed oil)†, polyglyceryl-10 laurate, magnesium sulfate, helianthus annuus (sunflower seed oil)*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba seed oil)*, tocopherol (Vitamin E), sodium hyaluronate (vegetable hyaluronic acid)†, phenethyl alcohol, ethylhexylglycerin, iron oxides, citrus reticulata (mandarin essential oil)†, citrus aurantium (petitgrain essential oil)†
While I recommend this brand and I don't recommend this Babo Botanicals product because it has Titanium Dioxide and other controversial ingredients.
Titanium dioxide has been banned in UE
INGREDIENTS: Active ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 6.0%, Zinc Oxide 6.0%
AloeBarbadensisLeaf(Aloe Vera Gel) Juice, Aqua (Deionized Water), Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, C13-14 Alkyls Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Caryodendron Orinocense (Kahai) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Iron Oxides, Lecithin, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum, Zemea (Corn) Propanediol.
Even though it has many high reviews on Amazon, I don't recommend this product!
The ingredients are controversial:
INGREDIENTS: Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 4%, Zinc Oxide 4% Inactive Ingredients: Alumina, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Hexyl Laurate, Iron Oxides, Panthenol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Porphyra Umbilicalis (Red Algae) Extract, Silica, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Terminalia Ferdinandiana (Kakadu Plum) Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate*, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water *Vitamin E
❌ Phenoxyethanol: preservative. Can have adverse effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems, linked to allergic contact uritica and dermatitis. Classified as toxic or harmful. Made by the reaction of corrosive phenol with carcinogen ethylene oxide.
While I recommend this brand and their liquid version of their tinted sunscreen, I can't recommend this stick because it has Titanium Dioxide.
INGREDIENTS: Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22% Inactive Ingredients: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Tocopherol, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract* *Organic
I don't recommend Coola Sunscreen
INGREDIENTS: Titanium Dioxide 5.6%
Golden Inactive Ingredients: Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius (ORGANIC Safflower) Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (ORGANIC Orange) Fruit Water, Cocoglycerides, Commiphora Myrrha Leaf Cell Extract, Cucumber Sativus (ORGANIC Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Euterpe Oleracea Pulp Oil (ORGANIC), Flavor, Glycerin ORGANIC, Helianthus Annuus (ORGANIC Sunflower) Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus (ORGANIC Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein / PVP Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Iron Oxides, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Oryza Sativa (ORGANIC Rice) Bran Oil, Plankton Extract, Propanediol, Rosa Alba Leaf Cell Extract, Rosa Centifolia Leaf Cell Extract, Rosa Damascena Leaf Cell Extract, Rosa Gallica Leaf Cell Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (ORGANIC Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Water, Xanthan Gum.
I don't recommend Supergoop sunscreen
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 4%, Zinc Oxide 20%
Inactive Ingredients:mWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Isododecane, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)silylethyl Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Sodium Chloride, Silica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Hydroxyacetophenone, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tin Oxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol