The Sun is Out! It’s time for sunscreen…here’s a helpful cheat sheet!

When it comes to sunscreen there are two major categories–chemical sunscreens and mineral sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens use ingredients to inhibit the effects of the sun, while mineral sunscreens physically provide a barrier and bounce the rays right off of your skin. Oxybenzone, homosalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone are some of the most common active ingredients in chemical sunscreens, but they have not been deemed safe–especially for use on adolescents–and certainly not in the concentrations at which they are being used in the US. The EWG explains that…

…”the European Commission has published preliminary opinions on the safety of three organic UV filters, oxybenzone, homosalate and octocrylene. It found that the levels of two of them were not safe in the amounts at which they are currently used, and proposed a concentration limit of 2.2 percent for oxybenzone and 1.4 percent for homosalate. U.S. sunscreen manufacturers are legally allowed to use these two chemicals at concentrations up to 6 and 15 percent, respectively, and hundreds of sunscreens manufactured in the U.S. use them at concentrations that far exceed the European Commission’s recommendations.“

Read the full breakdown from EWG, here. If you are wondering why sunscreen companies in the US are allowed to use such high concentrations, the answer is simple. The regulations on personal care products in the United States are worthless. You have to be your own advocate here.

If you haven’t switched already, switching to a mineral based sunscreen will automatically eliminate any risk, as the active ingredients in these types of sunscreens are zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Zinc is typically favored over titanium dioxide due to its balanced protection from UVA and UVB. They are completely safe for children and better for sensitive skin, too! Still though, some mineral sunscreens are safer than others due to added ingredients like vitamin a (which is not okay for sun exposure) or fragrance (which is a code word for hiding many different chemicals), for example.

This is where it helps to rely on websites like the EWG and their accompanying app, EWG Healthy Living, or the Think Dirty app. These organizations provide ratings for so many of the personal care products you find out on shelves and can be a really great guide to finding products that are safe for your family!

Nowadays, there are SOOOO many mineral sunscreens out there, that it would be impossible for me to review or recommend all the good ones. But here I have included some of my favorites based on a few key factors like… Does it rub in easily? Is it easy to find? Cost? Overall safety rating?

Regarding SPF- higher isn’t necessarily better. In fact, the way a sunscreen even gets labeled by a certain SPF number is extremely subjective and inconsistent. Be wary of super high numbers like 75-100+–its probably a gimmick. A higher SPF does not mean that you will not need to reapply as often, either. This misnomer often puts you at a greater risk of sun damage, despite the higher SPF number. If using a chemical sunscreen, keep in mind that a higher SPF means higher concentrations of questionable sun blocking ingredients. This puts you at a higher risk of experiencing the negative effects associated with these chemicals. I have personally found that 30 (ish) SPF of high quality sunscreen, when reapplied properly, is all we need–even for my very fair, blonde haired, blue eyed children!

Here are the main things to look out for when shopping for safer sunscreen:

1. Is it mineral based from zinc oxide/titanium dioxide?
2. Is the ingredient list free of the word “fragrance”?
3. Is it broad spectrum protection?
4. And bonus: is it safe for our oceans? Reef friendly?

If you can answer yes to all of these, then your sunscreen is safe for your babies, yourself, and God’s creation!

What’s your favorite safer sunscreen? Tell in the comments! Did I miss any good ones?

**I can’t leave you without making one disclaimer. If you are new to mineral sunscreens, they do tend to be extremely thick and can leave you looking white. We call this a “white cast.” This is due to the real zinc that’s in them. The only brand I can personally vouch for that will NOT leave a white cast, is Beautycounter. In addition, they are the only brand with a mineral sunscreen SPRAY that actually passes the safety test. Worth every penny.

For more information on choosing safer products and why you should switch, checkout my posts here and here.