10 Sunscreen Safety Tips You Need to Know
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Sunscreen is a great way to prevent burning and the harmful effects of some UV rays. However, there are some things about sunscreen that you should know before the next time you slather it on.
Here are 10 Super Helpful Sunscreen Safety Tips to help you enjoy the summer sun without getting burned in more than one way.

It’s that time of the year — the sun is coming out, and families are spending more time at the pool, the beach, on vacation, and just outside in general.
Along with more time outdoors comes more time in the sun which can lead to overexposure. As such, sunscreen is a great tool to use, but does it matter what sunscreen you use?
Hint: It does.
When I was young, I was out in the sun WAY too much. I would tan and tan and tan–and as a result spent years where I was really did everything I could to just stay out of the sun completely.
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Is the Sun Good for You?
There is some evidence coming out that the sun actually being good for you.
From studies about the sun preventing disease (source) to sun exposure being linked to multiple health benefits (source), it’s something to consider.
Now, I’m not advocating slathering a bunch of baby oil on and baking (like someone who will not be named did on occasion [ahem]), but I do think that getting outdoors is great. Personally I try to get out between the hours of 10 and 2 for about 15 minutes every day.
In addition to that, I allow myself to get a little bit of sun (emphasis on “little”), and don’t use sunscreen most of the time, especially after I have some color on my skin. However, I for sure don’t want to burn, so sunscreen is something I always have around–and you should too.
Following are some things to keep in mind as you spend more time in the summer sun to help you have a healthier sunny summer experience.
1. Skip the Spray
While spraying your sunscreen on might seem like a convenient and fun way for your kids (and yourself) to put sun protection on, it might not be the best thing to do for your health–or theirs.
Titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are typical physical sunscreen non-toxic ingredients used in sunscreens, and these are considered to be safe when applied to skin, but the inhalation of these ingredients is considered to be a health hazard.
Actually, titanium dioxide has (after the initial publishing of this post) recently been in the news as being not as non-toxic as originally thought. (source)
This post on spray sunscreen dangers gets into more details about the concerns regarding spray sunscreen that will make you think twice about using it, or at least will help you choose and use wisely.
2. Lower SPF Might Be Better
Did you know that SPF only measures protection from UVB rays – the ones that will cause you to burn?!
It’s true!
But the UVA rays are the ones that cause skin cancer and a higher SPF will not give you extra protection from those rays. You’ll be likely tempted to use a high SPF sunscreen, thinking that you can only apply it once and have all the protection you need. Instead, choose a lower SPF with broad spectrum coverage and definitely look to zinc oxide to address UVA rays.
3. Skip the Retinyl Palmitate
Retinyl Palmitate (derived from Vitamin A) is often added to sunscreens to reduce the appearance of aging. However, it offers no sun protection so it’s not really a necessary ingredient at all.
There is some research suggesting a connection between retinyl palmitate and skin cancer in lab tests on mice. Not something I want on my skin!
4. Use Sunscreen When Cloudy
Clouds only block 20% of the sun’s rays (and that’s not a lot!), so if you are going to be out in the summer, you’ll need protection even if it’s cloudy.
5. Repeat Application
The best protection, if you are going to be out in the sun for a long time, is to reapply. Some say sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours but it definitely needs to be reapplied after swimming, toweling off, showering or strenuous exercise (aka sweating).
6. Apply at Least 15 Minutes Before Going Out
Don’t wait until you’re in the sun to apply your sunscreen. The sunscreen needs time to sink in or bind to your skin so it can work well.
7. Patch Test
Always do a patch test on the inside of your arm to make sure you aren’t sensitive to the ingredients before going out in the sun. The sun’s rays might intensify any reaction so better to be safe than sorry!
8. Apply Evenly
Do your best to apply the same thickness all over your body and don’t miss “easy to miss” spots like backs of knees, ears, scalp, neck, face. Do skip eyes and lips, however unless your product is specifically meant to go on the lips.
9. Skip Chemical Sunscreens
Instead of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which are physical sunblocks, chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, or octinoxate are often the ingredients used in popular brands.
I’m not a fan of those as they have been linked to all kinds of health problems (source). Choosing a physical sunblock like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide is a better choice for many reasons.
10. Choose Reef Safe
Though this isn’t directly related to your health, indirectly it is. Choosing a reef safe sunscreen will benefit the environment and our delicate ecosytem and the health of all in the long term so choose better.
Make sure to really read the labels of your sunscreen however, and don’t just believe the “reef safe” label. Avoid the above-mentioned chemical sunscreens but also the following ingredients:
- Homosalate
- 4-methylbenzylidene camphor
- PABA
- Parabens
- Triclosan
- Nanoparticles or “nano-sized” zinc or titanium (acceptable labels should say “micro-sized” or “non-nano” and shouldn’t be able to rub completely in)
- Any type of microplastic, such as “exfoliating beads”
Safe Sunscreen Options
I even tried to made a DIY sunscreen a few years back, but I have also tried a number of safe / non-toxic versions. Following are my thoughts on a few of these.
Homemade Sunscreen
I tried this once and it performed well (as in we didn’t burn) but it was a little too thick.
I will have to dig up my recipe at some point and share it, but in the meantime, if you are interested in making your own sunscreen, you can get a recipe or two in this book — My Buttered Life, from MadeOn that contains great recipes including DIY sunscreen. I plan to tweak mine and get it to be a little thinner so I don’t fshoweel so “pastey” with it on.
If you are going to try your hand at making your own, you will need quality zinc oxide. Yes, you will have plenty on hand for the future :).)
Safe Sunscreen Options
Here are some safer sunscreens I recommend.
Crunchi
Crunchi has a facial moisturizer with SPF and body sunscreen as well. Their products don’t produce a white cast and they work well. They are currently planning on introducing tinted sunscreen and possibly a tinted moisturizer with SPF as well.
Their body sunscreen is EWG verified and their facial sunscreen is as well.
Get 10% off your first Crunchi order with code ADVOCATE10.
Poofy Organics
Poofy Organics has a number of SPF options.
Their “The Sunscreen” works great but note that it is thick and will require you to really rub the product in.
They also have a Stick Sunscreen, an SPF Facial Moisturizer, and a Lip Balm with SPF.
One REALLY great thing about Poofy’s sunscreens is that you can see their testing results for their sunscreen stick and their sunscreen — right on their website. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen this anywhere with any company before.
Get 10% off your first Poofy Organics order with code WNM.
Did you know all of these Sunscreen Safety Tips or were some new to you?
Note: This post was originally published in May 2015 but was updated in July 2021 with new information and new images.
Hi Adrienne, we have exchanged several emails and as per your request, I will ask my questions here. Thank you so much for your help. As a former believer in lots and often sunscreen, a large family that lives in the south and enjoys the beach, and the recent finding of the rise of skin cancers with the use of some sunscreens, I want a better alternative. I searched your website and found this article. I did look up My Buttered Life. The books are available on Amazon, but dated 2012. Are these still the best option? The authors website came up with a warning so I did not pursue it. The products you suggested are pricey in the amount we would need. You mentioned your own recipe and “digging it out”. I would like to have your recipe. Keeping skin moisturized, especially after sun is important. I wondered if using Hemp oil would be of benefit since it inhibits cancer.
Hi Betty – sorry for the delay. I’m dealing with a lot of things here including a not so nice reader who is accusing me of being dishonest / unethical. Anyhow, here are my thoughts.
I don’t know if My Buttered Life is the best option or not. I used to be in contact with the author but am not any longer. I could ask her questions, but I haven’t tested her recipes vs other people’s.
I don’t get a warning going to her site so not sure what’s going on there. It’s most likely your computer’s virus protection.
You are thinking that the Poofy option is too pricey?
Yes, I did try a recipe once and it seemed to work OK – I’m not remembering what it was.
When we were corresponding you mentioned a brand you were considering. I think talking about that would be helpful – would you mind sharing that again? Thanks!
Blue Lizard sunscreen has been recommended by a dermatologist. From what I can tell, it has two safe ingredients and one questionable one. I will send you the label via email.
Here how I think about this – have the ingredients in the sunscreen been tested for safety baking in the sun on your skin and in combination with each other? Is it smart to have synthetics on your skin in the sun?
I think not.
Here are the Poofy sunscreen ingredients:
Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Unrefined Shea Butter, Organic Beeswax, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Camellia Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, NON-NANO, NON-Micronized Zinc Oxide, Organic Rosemary Extract.
Actually looks like they are good for you!
Blue Lizard:
Octisalate – 5%. *** chemical sunscreen – not great for people or the planet
Titanium Dioxide – 5.36% – questionable
Zinc Oxide – 10%
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Alumina, **?? really?! Aluminum Stearate, Beeswax, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexyl Laurate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Isostearyl Isostearate, L-Arginine, Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Methylpropanediol, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylpropanol, Polygylceryl-4 Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyurethane-35, Propanediol, Purified Water, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer
PPG and PEGs are known concerns – avoided by many companies.
Phenoxyethanol – I try to avoid
PEG hydrogenated castor oil might have cancer causing contaminants – asking BL about this would be advised.
There are other concerns as well.
At Poofy you can get 10% off with code WholeNewMom – and free shipping at $70. It’s a great deal I think!
Red Raspberry Seed oil is supposed to have some SPF, but I can’t remember how much.
Hi there! I really would like to do a post about this but from what I have read it’s less than 20 SPF so you really need to be careful with that. Thanks for reading!
Thanks so much for impacting us with your knowledge and time you spend to do research we appreciate.
You are so welcome!
Hi Adrienne,
Please add your website location/name to your printed recipes like the one I did for Dishwasher rinse aid!! Love the info and have shared it but when printed it only gives the recipes not the “credit”. Thanks, Carolyn in Toronto
It should be there now – can you check? Thanks for the suggestion. You mean it was on the rinse aid but not on others?
The FDA suggests that you utilize expansive range sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher, even on shady days. Apply sunscreen generously to all revealed skin, particularly your nose, ears, neck, hands, feet, and lips.
What is expansive range? I don’t believe I have heard that term before.
Adrienne and others,
Do you still find these sunscreens to be the best out there? I’ve run out of the nontoxic one I’ve been using and it’s no longer manufactured, so I’m now sunscreen shopping and have NO idea what I’m doing 🙂
TIA!
Tricia
Hi Tricia. Thanks for reading and for commenting. Yes, I personally use the Beautycounter and Miessence now. I like them both. Beautycounter’s is not as thick so I do think you would like it better.
Hi there,
Love your blog! I very much enjoy reading your articles but could you move the ads and links to the side of the page. They are very distracting and there seems to be plenty of space on the side of the page?
Thanks so much, Suzan
Hi Suzan – thanks for writing and for your kind words. What links are you referring to please? I am trying to work on the ad situation to figure out a good balance between income and reader’s experience and would really appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thanks much,
Adrienne
I was thinking of trying raspberry seed oil, as I read that it offers both USA and UVB coverage. Have you done any reasearch/ have any insight on that?
Hi Chelsea. I did a little. I read one blog post where the lady said it worked OK but she would not be using it for extended periods of time and this post (excuse the stuff in the sidebar and elsewhere) that states it’s nonsense. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2702190/Alert-DIY-organic-sunscreens-oils-Doctors-warn-against-following-nonsense-internet-advice-oils-offer-protection-rating-50.html
I guess my thoughts at this point would be that even if the raspberry seed oil works as a sunscreen you will spend a fortune on it to cover your body. A 2 oz bottle costs about $20 on Amazon and it appears that there are a bunch of bad reviews and that many of them are filled w/ carrier oils.
Hope that helps!!
If I can’t eat it, I sure don’t want it on my skin. Your skin is a sponge and absorbs everything and from there onto your liver and other filtering organs.
Hi there. Thanks for commenting. I have been doing some research into this and found this blog post to be very informative. I thought you might too. https://www.herbhedgerow.co.uk/can-cosmetics-be-absorbed-into-your-bloodstream/
Great post, Adrienne! I didn’t know the info you shared about spray sunblock. I’ll be skipping that from now on!
Thanks, Julie! I had no idea either. In fact, I just sprayed some on myself this past week before writing this and was a little concerned about how much went in the air. Now I know better!