Sunscreens/sunblocks with the best ingredients
I'm pale enough that I get a sunburn just listening to Beach Boys songs, so sunscreens are important to me. For a long time I assumed that sunscreen ingredients were nothing to worry about (except for those triggering acne or irritation), believing they just sit on the surface of the skin. But it turns out that common active ingredients like oxybenzone are readily absorbed into the bloodstream with negative effects. To avoid this, I'm switching to physical barrier sunscreens with minimal ingredients.
Sunscreen recommendations:
I like both of these products because of their use of non-nano zinc oxide, minimal ingredients, and primarily non-polyunsaturated oil bases. On the negative side, these physical-barrier type sunscreens may not always be as effective as their chemical-action competitors. I personally accept that trade off.
International shipping available.
- physical barrier protection
- paraben-free
- phthalate-free
- PABA-free
- non-nano particles
- non-GMO
- Jess, who creates this product, is open about how it's made and even provides instructions on making it yourself
Active ingredient: zinc oxide (uncoated, non-nano, and not micronized).
Inactive ingredients: coconut oil (organic), shea butter (organic), beeswax (organic), apricot oil (organic), vitamin E (non-GMO).
- physical barrier protection
- paraben-free
- phthalate-free
- PABA-free
- non-nano particles
Active ingredient: zinc oxide (25%, non-nano).
Inactive ingredients: Eldorado Springs artesian water, certified organic extra virgin olive oil, certified organic beeswax, vegetable vitamin E (non-GMO from sunflower seeds), vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, 400iu/ounce sunscreen).
In the UK?
I haven't looked at many UK options, but this one looks better than usual:
- physical barrier protection
- paraben-free
- phthalate-free
- PABA-free
- non-nano particles
Organic ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, zinc oxide (non - nano), organic theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, organic copernicia cerifera cera (carnauba) wax, organic cocoa (powder), organic hydrogenated ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, organic butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, organic simmondsia chinensis seed (jojoba) oil, organic persea gratissima (avocado) oil, tocopherols (vitamin E), iron oxides CI.77491; CI.77492; CI.77499
Willing to try an unusual approach?
My favorite tiny supplement company makes a skincare product called Solban that has unusual sunscreen-ish effects from its vitamin B3, caffeine, and aspirin ingredients. Based on my experiments with it, I'd make a wild guess it's comparable to some of the SPF 15 daily wear products when applied frequently. The most I've tried is around 2 and a half hours of heavy sun exposure (with re-applications every 45-60 minutes), and I didn't burn.
It's become my default sunscreen when I just need mild sun protection because it applies quickly, doesn't feel unpleasant, and may have other beneficial effects for skin health:
International shipping available.
Forum thread discussing the product here.
- paraben-free
- phthalate-free
- PABA-free
Vitamin B3 (niacinamide), caffeine, aspirin (magnesium ecetylsalicylate), 20% ethanol solution.
When you need to find a sunscreen at a store:
When you need to pick up sunscreen locally, here are some rules of thumb:
- Prefer physical barrier sunscreens (sometimes called sunblocks). These have active ingredients that remain on the surface of the skin, physically reflecting and absorbing light. Their one downside is being more opaque than chemical sunscreens, often giving your skin a white tint. You can identify physical sunscreens by looking for an active ingredient of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
- If you can't find a physical barrier sunscreen, you'll have to look for the best chemical barrier sunscreen. These have active ingredients that primarily absorb ultraviolet light (with evidence that some types absorb into the bloodstream). You can identify chemical sunscreens by looking for active ingredients containing something other than zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Choose one whose active ingredient is not avobenzone.
- Avoid spray and powder sunscreens to prevent inhaling small amounts of their ingredients.
- Look up the sunscreen in the Environmental Working Group's sunscreen database to find risk ratings on questionable ingredients and Consumer Reports for testing data.
- "Sensitive skin" or "baby" products are good to check first because they generally have physical barrier ingredients and avoid scents and dyes.
Using those principles, here's an example of the two best options at my local store:
- physical barrier protection
- currently paraben-free (other formulations have contained methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben)
- PABA-free
- questionable additives
Active ingredients: titanium dioxide (3.1%), zinc oxide (4.0%).
Inactive ingredients: water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, isohexadecane, butyloctyl salicylate, octyldodecyl citrate crosspolymer, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1, dimethicone, lauryl PEG-8 dimethicone, C30-38 olefin/isopropyl maleate/MA copolymer, sodium chloride, ethylhexyl methoxycrylene, dimethicone, caprylyl glycol, PEG-8, alumina, glycerin, sodium citrate, tocopheryl acetate, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, phenoxyethanol.
- physical barrier protection
- paraben-free
- PABA-free
- questionable additives
Active ingredients: titanium dioxide (4.9%), zinc oxide (4.7%).
Inactive ingredients: alumina, arachidyl alcohol, arachidyl glucoside, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), beeswax (apis mellifera), behenyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, BHT, bisabolol (L-alpha), butylene glycol, butyloctyl salicylate, cetyl dimethicone, dimethicone, dimethicone PEG 8 laurate, dipotassium glycyrrhizate (licorice root), disodium EDTA, ethylhexl glycerin, glyceryl stearate, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, isohexadecane, methicone, methylisothiazolinone, pantothenic acid, PEG 100 stearate, PEG 8, polyaminopropyl biguanide, polyhydroxystearic acid, polymethylmethacrylate, polysorbate 60, retinyl acetate (vitamin A), silica, stearic acid, styrene acrylates copolymer, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), triethoxycaprylylsilane, trimethylsiloxysilicate, trisiloxane, water, xanthan gum.
Here's a good choice if you're at a health food type store:
- physical barrier protection
- paraben-free
- PABA-free
Active ingredients: non-nano, uncoated zinc oxide (18.75%).
Inactive ingredients: Helianthus Annus (organic sunflower) oil, Cera Alba (organic beeswax), tocopherol (sunflower vitamin E), CO2 extract of Hippophae Rhamnoides (organic seabuckthorn).