Top-rated Safe Non Toxic Sunscreens for Broad Spectrum Protection

Summer is here and the sun is waiting for us.  With so much talk on sun safety, vitamin D and skin cancer I wanted to give you some safe options on protecting your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.  There is a great review of sunscreen products done by the EWG - Environmental Working Group for 2011.  You can see their list of top rated sun protection products below.  They have rated the toxicity of each product by placing a number to identify product safety.  So a product rated 8 is one you would want to avoid where as a product rated 2 is a better choice.

Oh and if your interested in a previous article I wrote on the best Vitamin D supplements  and sun exposure click here:  Vitamin D3 your Neighborhood Superhero « La Chica Organica

The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt. No chemicals to absorb through the skin, no questions about whether they work. But when you can’t get away from exposing your skin to the sun, use EWG’s top-rated sunscreens to provide broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB-sunburn) protection with fewer hazardous chemicals that penetrate the skin. Sunscreen makers are awaiting FDA approval for a wider selection of UVA-blocking chemicals. In the meantime, all top-rated products contain either zinc or titanium minerals to help cut UVA exposures for sunscreen users.

Sunscreens prevent sunburns, but beyond that simple fact surprisingly little is known about the safety and efficacy of these ubiquitous creams and sprays. FDA’s failure to finalize its 1978 sunscreen safety standards both epitomizes and perpetuates this state of confusion. EWG’s review of the latest research unearthed troubling facts that might tempt you to give up on sunscreens altogether. That’s not the right answer – despite the unknowns about their efficacy, public health agencies still recommend using sunscreens, just not as your first line of defense against the sun. At EWG we use sunscreens, but we look for shade, wear protective clothing and avoid the noontime sun before we smear on the cream.

The 134 best beach & sport sunscreens for 2011 are:

(Products sorted alphabetically.)

	Product and Score
	Alba Botanica Sun: Mineral Sunscreen Fragrance Free, SPF 30 Sun: Mineral Sunscreen Kids, SPF 30
	All Terrain Aquasport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30 TerraSport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30 KidSport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30
	Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Sport Stick Unscented Sunscreen, SPF 30 Natural Sun Unscented Sensitive Skin/Children Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Natural Sun Saving Face Sunscreen, SPF 15
	Aveeno Baby Natural Protection Mineral Block Face Stick, SPF 50
	BabyGanics Cover Up Baby Sunscreen for Face & Body, Fragrance Free, SPF 50+ Cover Up Baby Sunscreen Stick, Fragrance Free, SPF 50
	babyUV/kidsUV inc. kidsUV Natural Sunscreen Pink, SPF 30
	Badger Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 30+ Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Sunscreen, Lightly Scented Lavender, SPF 30+ Sunscreen Face Stick, Unscented, SPF 30+ Sunscreen, Lightly Scented Lavender, SPF 15
	Beyond Coastal Natural Clear, SPF 30 Kids Natural, SPF 30 Lip and Face Screen, SPF 30 Natural, SPF 30
	Blue Lizard Australian Suncream, Sensitive, SPF 30+ Baby Australian Suncream, SPF 30+
	California Baby No Fragrance Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+ No Fragrance Sunblock Stick, SPF 30+ Everyday/Year-Round Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+ Summer Blend Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+ Everyday/Year-Round Sunblock Stick, SPF 30+ No Fragrance Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 18 Everyday/Year-Round Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 18
	Caribbean Solutions Natural/Biodegradable SolGuard, SPF 25 Sol Kid Kare Natural Sunscreen, SPF 25
	Climb On! Mineral Sunblock, SPF 30
	COOLA MineralBaby Moisturizer Suncare, Unscented, SPF 45 Baby Unscented Natural Mineral Sunblock, SPF 45 Body Unscented Natural Mineral Sunblock, SPF 30 Sport Citrus Mimiosa Natural Mineral Sunblock, SPF 30+ Face Matte Finish Cucumber Natural Mineral Sunblock, SPF 30
	Doctor T’s Supergoop! Quickstick, SPF 30 Sunscreen Swipes for Sensitive Skin, SPF 30
	Earth’s Best Earth’s Best: Sunblock Mineral Based, SPF 30+
	Eco Skin Care Eco Face, SPF 30+ Eco Baby, SPF 30+ Eco Body, SPF 30+
	Elemental Herbs Sunscreen Sport, SPF 20 Kids Sunscreen, SPF 20 SUNSTICK Zinc Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 30 Sunscreen Sport, Tinted, SPF 22 SUNSTICK Zinc Sunscreen – Coconut, SPF 30
	EltaMD UV Clear, SPF 46 UV Sport, SPF 50
	Epionce Ultra Shield Lotion, SPF 50
	Episencial Sunny Sunscreen, SPF 35
	Esse Sunscreen, SPF 25
	Fallene Cotz Face Cotz Sensitive Skin Sunscreen, SPF 40
	GLACIER CREME Glacier Creme Naked Protection, SPF 30+
	Glytone Block Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 40
	Goddess Garden Baby All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Kids Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Facial Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+
	Healing-Scents Live Long Sunscreen, SPF 25
	Jason Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas: MINERAL Natural Sunblock, SPF 30
	JOHN MASTERS ORGANICS john masters organics Natural Mineral, SPF 30
	Kabana Skin Care Green Screen Organic Sunscreen Fragrance Free, SPF 20 Green Screen Organic Sunscreen, Skin Tone Tinted, SPF 22
	Karen’s Botanicals Simple Sunblock Lotion, Unscented, SPF 30
	Kasia Beautiful Health Skincare Good Day Sunshine, SPF 30
	KINeSYS Sunscreen Ointment with pure Zinc oxide, SPF 30
	Kiss My Face 100% Natural Blue Sun Stick, SPF 30 100% Natural White Sun Stick, SPF 30 100% Natural Pink Sun Stick, SPF 30
	L’uvalla Certified Organic Sunscreen Face/Body, SPF 20
	La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream
	Lavera Sunblock Baby and Children, SPF 30
	Little Forest Sunscreen Lotion For Babies and Kids, SPF 30+
	Loving Naturals Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+
	Marie Veronique Organics Kid Safe Screen, SPF 25
	Maui Natural Organics Maui Naturals Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 Surfer Honey Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 Surfer Honey Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 15 Maui Naturals Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 15
	MDSolarSciences SPF 30+ Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen SPF 50+ Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen SPF 40 Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen SPF 40 Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Mineral Sunscreen, Tinted Gel, SPF 30+
	MelanSol® MelanSol Natural Sunscreen for Face and Body, SPF 25
	Mexitan Products Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
	Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm, SPF 15
	MISSION Skincare Mission Skincare Anti-Sting Facestick Sunscreen, SPF 30+
	Mustela Sun Cream for Sensitive Areas, SPF 50
	Nature’s Gate Mineral Sportblock, SPF 20 Mineral Kid’s block, SPF 20
	Neal’s Yard Remedies Lavender Sunscreen, SPF 22
	Novena Maternal Skin Care Organic Anti-Aging Mineral Sunblock, SPF 30
	Own Active Sun Ball Sunblock, SPF 30 Invisible Face and Body Block Lotion, SPF 30
	Poofy Organics “The” Sunscreen, SPF 30
	Purple Prairie Botanicals SunStuff, SPF 30 Sun Stick, SPF 30
	Raw Elements USA ECO STICK, SPF 30+ ECO FORMULA, SPF 30+
	Skin QR Organics L’air du Soleil, SPF 50 L’air du Soleil, SPF 30
	SkinTx Physical Facial Block, SPF 30
	Solbar Zinc Sun Protection Cream, SPF 38
	Soleil Organique Soleil Organique 100% Mineral Sunblock for Body, SPF 45
	Sun Bunnies 100% All Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
	Sun Putty Face, SPF 30
	Sunbow Dora the Explorer Pink Sunscreen, SPF 30
	Suntegrity Skincare All Natural Moisturizing Body Protection, SPF 30
	sunumbra natural sunscreen organic ingredients, SPF 30
	Sweetsation Therapy Sun’n'Berry Fun Organic Baby Sunscree,n, SPF 50+
	The Green Beaver Company Green Beaver Company Certified Organic Kids Non-whitening Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
	thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen, SPF 30+
	thinksport LIVESTRONG sunscreen , SPF 30+
	Tropical Sands All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 50 All Natural Face Stick, SPF 30 All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30
	True Natural Cosmetics All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 40
	Trukid New Sunny Days Mineral All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+ TruKid Sunny Days Water Resistant Unscented Mineral Face & Body Stick, SPF 35+ TruKid Sunny Days Water Resistant Unscented mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30+ TruKid Sunny Days Sport Water Resistant Sunscreen, SPF 30+ TruKid Sunny Days SPORT Unscented, Water Resistant Stick, SPF 35+ Sunny Days Unscented Water Resistant Sunscreen Stick, SPF 35+
	UV Natural Sunscreen, SPF 15 Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Sunscreen, SPF 30+
	Vanicream Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin, SPF 30 Sunscreen Sport, SPF 35

See all beach & sport sunscreens »

Sources

skin Deep Database

EWG