The 11 Best Non-Toxic Sunscreens of 2024 (tried and tested)

The post reviews the best non-toxic sunscreens that actually work and offer broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. These mineral sunscreens are all reef safe, safe for children and adults, breastfeeding, and pregnancy.

Disclaimer: some of the links in this post are affiliate links where I make a small commission if you purchase the product through that link. This does not cost you anything extra and helps me keep this website running.

Table of Contents

• Why wear sunscreen?
• Why you should only use mineral sunscreen:
• Other ingredients to avoid in sunscreen:
• Summary: Ingredients to avoid in sunscreens
• The best safe sunscreens:
• Frequently asked questions:
• Other health information you will be interested in: 
• Our expertise:

Why wear sunscreen?

Wearing sunscreen when you spend time outside is a good idea. Too much sun exposure and exposure to uv rays can cause sun damage and lead to sun burns, blisters, dark spots, wrinkles, premature aging of the skin, and can increase your risk of skin cancer. The good news is that sunscreen can help protect your skin from the damaging effects of too much sun exposure, while still allowing you to enjoy time outside.

Why you should only use mineral sunscreen:

When it comes to the active ingredients in sunscreen – the ones that protect you from the sun’s UV rays – there are two different types of ingredients: mineral and chemical filters. Mineral and chemical filters use different mechanisms for protecting your skin from the sun.

Classically, the most common conventional sunscreens on the market have been made with chemical filters. But mineral sunscreens are becoming more and more popular as people are starting to realize the health concerns and environmental concerns that the chemical sunscreen ingredients have.

Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the sunscreen's ingredients into your skin and then absorbing UV rays through the ingredients' chemical bonds. As these chemicals absorb the suns' UV rays, the components of the sunscreen break down and then release heat from the body.

In contrast, mineral sunscreens use either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and work by providing a physical barrier to protect your skin from the sun.

In general, mineral sunscreen ingredients, especially zinc oxide, offer superior sun protection compared to chemical sunscreen ingredients, offering better protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Because of this, in order to increase their effectiveness, you will see chemical sunscreen brands combining multiple chemical sunscreen ingredients in a single product to help increase their ability to protect you from the sun.

Mineral sunscreens not only work really well, but they are also safe and non-toxic for our health since they don't get absorbed into your skin. They are also safe for the environment and the coral reefs. In contrast, many of the chemical sunscreen ingredients have significant health concerns. They can also be bad for the environment, harmful to marine life, and damaging to the coral reefs.

When it comes to the chemical sunscreen ingredients, they can have health risks including: 

• Some of them are known endocrine disruptors or hormone disruptors - meaning they can cause endocrine disruption (in particular oxybenzone).
• Can increase your bleeding risk (trolamine salicylate).
• Can cause allergic and photoallergic skin reactions (PABA).
• Oxybenzone is readily absorbed through the skin and ends up in breast milk, amniotic fluid, urine, and blood plasma.

There is also a lack of safety data in humans when it comes to the chemical sunscreen ingredients. When these ingredients were initially approved for use in sunscreen it was assumed that very little of these chemicals would be absorbed through the skin. Unfortunately, recent studies show that there is significant absorption of chemical sunscreen ingredients through the skin, leading to plasma concentrations that surpass the FDA's safety threshold.

Because of this, the most recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations are that ONLY zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can be recommended as generally safe and effective (GRASE) when it comes to sunscreens. In fact, the FDA says that ALL chemical sunscreen ingredients CANNOT be recommended as generally safe and effective.

The FDA states that two chemical sunscreen ingredients, trolamine salicylate and aminobenzoic acid (PABA) should not be used as the risks associated with these ingredients in sunscreen products outweigh their benefits.

When it comes to the other twelve chemical sunscreen ingredients (cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, padimate O, sulisobenzone, oxybenzone, and avobenzone) the FDA says there is a lack of safety data to recommend their use.

Other ingredients to avoid in sunscreen:

Besides the chemical sunscreen ingredients we discussed above, you also want to avoid these ingredients when shopping for sunscreens:

• Fragrances - these are considered to be trade secrets so companies don't have to disclose what ingredients are used in their fragrances. Fragrances can contain potentially harmful ingredients such as hormone or endocrine disruptors so it's best to avoid any sunscreens with the words "fragrance", "perfume" or "parfum" in the ingredient list.
• Parabens - parabens are preservatives that are known endocrine disruptors so it's best to avoid them. To do this, avoid ingredients that end in "aben".
• Phthalates - certain phthalates are also hormone disruptors that have been associated with many negative health outcomes so it also best to avoid them.
• Benzene - thousands of sunscreens have been recalled over the last few years due to their contamination with benzene. These include both chemical and mineral sunscreens. Benzene is a known carcinogen and can also cause other health issues such as aplastic anemia, so it really should not be in our sunscreen (or any other products for that matter). Be sure to keep an eye on the FDA recalls list and Health Canada recall list to keep up-to-date on the latest sunscreen recalls related to benzene.

The best safe sunscreens:

The safest types of sunscreen you can find are mineral-based sunscreen that use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide to block the sun's rays. However, not all mineral sunscreen products are created equal. I tried many mineral sunscreens that just didn't work that well. It took me a long to find brands that are not only safe and non-toxic, but are also effective. I hope that all my trial and error will save you money and grief. 

Below I've put together a list of the safest sunscreens that also work really well. I have personally tried all of these sunscreens and will give you my honest opinion and thoughts on each one including both the pros and the cons.

1. Beautycounter Sunscreen

The Beautycounter sunscreen is my favourite non-toxic sunscreen. It is my overall best pick for non-toxic sunscreen.

Pros:

• The Beautycounter sunscreens not only work really well, but they go on nice and clear compared to many other mineral sunscreens.
• Beautycounter only formulates with safe ingredients, and they also check every batch of their products for contaminants so that harmful ingredients like benzene or those than can cause hormone disruption would never end up in their sunscreen or beauty products. I don't know of any other brand that does check their sunscreen for contaminants so this is one of the main reasons why they are my top choice.
• Is reef-safe.

Beautycounter makes a few different sunscreens depending on your preferences and needs and I have tried them all:

Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion

Features: This is my personal favourite body sunscreen lotion. It is an SPF 30 sunscreen lotion that offers broad-spectrum protection and is formulated with California Poppy to block blue light as well as UV radiation. It is water resistant for up to 40 minutes. It’s also safe for children 6 months and older. It goes on nice and clear, leaving no white cast, and blends really easily.

Size: 3.4 oz

Price: $27 USD

Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Stick

Features: This sunscreen stick is great if you have kids. It’s easy for them to use and is small enough to keep in a purse or diaper bag. Like the sunscreen lotion, this sunscreen also blocks UVA and UVB rays as well as blue light. It’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes and is also safe for children 6 months and older. I find this product is especially great for travelling because of the smaller size.

Size: 0.5 oz

Price: $23 USD

Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Mist

Features: This sunscreen spray is formulated without aerosol chemicals and uses air pressure technology to propel the liquid out of the container (how cool is that?). Like the other sunscreen formulas it blocks UVA, UVB and blue light and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Cons: The one downside of the 6oz bottle is that it is quite large. And while that makes it more economical, it's a bit bulky to carry around. For that reason I tend to go with the 3 oz spray sunscreen or the sunscreen lotion instead.

Size: 3 oz and 6 oz

Price: $39 USD for 6 oz. The 3 oz bottle is currently not available.

Countersun Daily Sheer Defense for Face

Features: In my opinion this is the best non-toxic face sunscreen! It goes on nice and clear without any white cast and has moisturizing ingredients to keep your skin hydrated. It protects from UVA and UVB radiation and HEV blue light rays. It also contains antioxidants including vitamin E to help protect the skin from pollution and free radicals. Plus chicory root extract and squalene help lock in moisture and keep the skin hydrated.

I have acne prone skin and this face sunscreen does not cause breakouts which is another reason why I love it.

Size: 1.7 oz

Price: $46 USD

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

Features: This is one of my all-time favourite skincare products. It gives your skin the nicest dewy glow. I use it every single day, even in the winter. It is an SPF 20, blocking UVA and UVB rays. The formula also features a blend of black currant seed oil, peony root extract, and vitamin C, to help brighten the skin and even skin tone. It's also a great option for those with darker skin tones as you can pick the shade that matches your skin.

Size: 1.35 oz

Price: $50 USD

Cons:

• The main downside of the Beautycouner sunscreen is the price. It is more expensive than some of the others in this review (but not all).
• You can only buy this sunscreen online and it ins't available in grocery stores or drug stores.

Note that Beautycounter is currently in transition and you can't currently purchase products from them, but their sunscreen should be available again in 2025 and I will update this post with active links when that happens. In the mean time you can buy the Dew Skin at Ulta.

2. Alba Botanica Sunscreen

Alba Botanica makes a variety of different sunscreens including sunscreen lotions and sprays with SPF values that range from SPF 15 to SPF 50.

Features: made with 100% vegetarian ingredients and botanicals and are biodegradable. Leaping Bunny certified.

Pros:

• Is water resistant
• Offer fragrance free options so they are great for those with sensitive skin and should not cause skin irritation.
• Is one of the more affordable options in this review.
• I really like the smell of the one that I tried.
• No white cast.

Cons:

• The formula is a little greasy.
• Not tested for contaminants.

Size: 3 oz

Price: $10.99 USD

3. All Good Sunscreen

All Good makes a variety of mineral sunscreens including sunscreen lotions and sticks with formulas for adults, babies and kids. Their sunscreens are made with natural ingredients and are safe for babies 6 months and older. 

Features: Leaping Bunny certified. Gluten free. Hypoallergenic. Biodegradable. Made in the USA.

Pros:

• Is reef friendly and water resistant up to 80 minutes.
• I also really like their lip SPF.
• The sunscreen is light weight and rubs in easily. It does not leave a white cast.
• They make a tinted formula for darker skin tones.
• Available at Target
• More affordable than some of the others in this roundup.

Cons:

• No contaminant testing.
• The bottle is quite small so it doesn't last very long.

Size: 3 oz

Price: $13.99-16.98 USD

4. ATTITUDE Sunscreen

ATTITUDE is a well known safe skincare brand that is readily available in many grocery stores, drug stores, and online and their sunscreens are some of my favourites.

Features: Vegan and cruelty free. They have changed their packaging to be plastic free so it's better for the environment. Fragrance free. Reef safe. Environmental Working Group (EWG) Verified.

Pros:

• They have both sunscreen lotions and sunscreen sticks.
• I really like that they have plastic-free packaging for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option.
• They offer tinted sunscreen options.
• I find their sunscreen to be very hydrating.
• No white cast.

Cons:

• No contaminant testing.

Size: 0.7-5.2 oz

Price: $12.95-$24.22 USD

5. Badger Sunscreen

Badger is another great, top rated, non toxic brand that makes a few different sunscreen products.

Features: Their sunscreen ranks a 1 on the environmental working group (EWG) skin deep guide. Made with only 5 ingredients. Reef safe. Cruelty free, gluten free and hypoallergenic. Made with 100% solar power in the USA. Made with USDA certified organic ingredients.

Pros:

• Is water resistant.
• I found it works very well.
• I love the company's focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly practices.
• Available at Target.

Cons:

• The main downside of this sunscreen is that it is pretty thick and hard to rub in and I find it does leave more of a white cast on your skin compared to some of the other sunscreens in this review.
• No contaminant testing.

Size: 2.9 oz

Price: $15.29-17.99 USD

6. Babo Botanicals Sunscreen

Babo Botanicals makes plant based skincare products and they make great mineral sunscreens that protect from UVA and UVB rays.

Features: Designed for sensitive skin and should not cause allergic reactions. Water resistant. EWG verified. Fragrance free. Vegan. Cruelty-free. Dermatologist tested.

Pros:

• Is SPF 50 so if you prefer a higher SPF than 30 this is a great option.
• It works really well!
• No white cast.
• Is easy to rub in.

Cons:

• No contaminant testing.
• The formula is a little greasy but it does blend in well.

Size: 3 oz

Price: $23.64

7. Pipette Sunscreen

The Pipette mineral sunscreen is a baby friendly formula that is lightweight, long-lasting and gentle.

Features: Non comedogenic and is good for those with acne prone skin and oily skin. Fragrance free. Hypoallergenic, cruelty-free and vegan.

Pros:

• One of the most affordable sunscreens in this review.
• Is an SPF 50 so if you want a higher SPF option this is a great one to consider.
• Rubs in easily with no white cast.
• Is nice and moisturizing.
• Available at Walgreens.

Cons:

• No contaminant testing.
• It feels a bit greasy when you first apply it but it does get better after you rub it in.
• I don't love the smell of this one.

Size: 4 oz

Price: $13.47-$14.99 USD

8. Raw Elements Sunscreen

Raw Elements is another great brand of safe, natural sunscreen.

Features: Their sunscreen is organic and is water resistant up to 80 minutes. Reef safe and biodegradable. Cruelty free. Leaping Bunny Certified. Made with certified organic ingredients.

Pros:

• Their sunscreen lotions come in biodegradable packaging! I don't know of any other sunscreen that does.
• It works very well.
• Nice and hydrating.
• Available at Target.

Cons:

• No contaminant testing.
• It is quite thick and takes some work to rub in.
• Does leave a bit of a white cast compared to some other brands.
• I don't love the smell of this one.

Size: 3 oz.

Price: $17.49-$18.89 USD

9. Suntegrity Sunscreen

Suntegrity is another great safe mineral sunscreen option.

Features: Reef safe. Cruelty free. Vegan.

Pros:

• I really like the scent of this one. It has a light citrus smell.
• No white cast.
• Is nice and hydrating.

Cons:

• No contaminant testing.
• Is one of the ore expensive options in this roundup.
• Is a little thick so does take a bit of effort to rub in.

Size: 3-5 oz

Price: $26-$38 USD

10. Earth Mama Sunscreen

Earth Mama is another great non toxic brand. They make a few different sunscreen products depending on your needs.

Features: Dermatologist tested. Leaping Bunny Certified. Reef safe. Water resistant.

Pros:

• One of the more affordable options in this review.
• Does work really well.
• Great for kids and infants.

Cons:

• No contaminant testing.
• Does leave a white cast.
• Is hard to rub in and feels a little sticky on the skin.

Size: 3 oz

Price: $14.99-$19.99 USD

11. Thinksport and Thinkbaby Sunscreen

Thinksport and Thinkbaby make a number of great non toxic and safe personal care products including deodorant and sunscreen.

Features: Dermatologist recommended, reef-safe, biodegradable, kid-friendly, and water resistant up to 80 minutes. EWG top rated. Vegan.

Pros:

• Works really well.
• Has a nice, subtle scent.
• Not greasy or too oily.
• Comes in an SPF 50 option if you prefer a higher SPF.

Cons:

• They recently changed their formula and I have not been able to test the newest versions so I hope they still work as well.
• No contaminant testing.
• Leaves a subtle white cast and does take some effort to rub in.
• Can stain clothing and swim suits.

Size: 3 oz-6oz

Price: $14.00 - $23.99 USD

Well there you have it. My favourite safe sunscreens! If you have any other safe sunscreen brands that you like please let me know and I would be happy to add the to the post.

Frequently asked questions:

Other health information you will be interested in: 

• How to choose a safe sunscreen
• Is mineral or chemical sunscreen better?
• The best non toxic laundry detergents
• Is there mercury in your mascara?
• How to choose non-toxic cookware

Our expertise:

Dr. Erin Carter, MD, FRCPC, is a physician with board certifications in internal medicine and rheumatology. She is passionate about preventative healthcare including nutrition, environmental health and low toxicity living. She is also a self-trained chef and has been creating and publishing recipes since 2015. Her recipes have been featured on many different websites and online publications.