The 7 Best Alcohol-Free Sunscreens: Safer Sunscreen For 2024
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Direct sun exposure is vital for humans to get the Vitamin D they need. On the other hand, too much sun may cause painful sunburns, premature skin aging, and even skin cancer (1). Therefore, it’s important to invest in a good quality, alcohol-free sunscreen.
Alcohol in Sunscreen
Alcohol can be very drying to the skin. If you have dry skin, appying a sunscreen containing alcohol may not be beneficial to your skin type. Whereas, if you have naturally oily skin it may not be as much of a concern. Alcohol can sometimes be found in spray sunscreens or sunscreens that advertise themselves as “fast drying” or “non-sticky”.
Can Babies Wear Alcohol-Free Sunscreen?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, no sunscreen should be applied to infants under 6 months of age. There’s no reason for babies to have sun exposure prolonged enough to require sunscreen. (2) Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers their arms and legs, and use wide brimmed hats that shade their head and neck.
Dangers of Conventional Sunscreens
It’s important to protect your family from too much sun exposure with sun protective clothing or sunscreen. However, many widely used sunscreen ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, and homosalate are harmful to humans. In other words, these ingredients have shown to cause health problems such as skin allergies, hormone disruption, and reproductive system disorders. Even more, animal studies have shown octinoxate has hormone effects on the metabolic system and affects thyroid hormone production (3).
In addition to being alcohol-free, all the sunscreens mentioned on this page are free from the harmful ingredients listed above.
Alcohol-Free Sunscreen
1. Earth Mama Organics: Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 25%
Inactive Ingredients: Coconut Oil*, Fractionated Coconut Oil*, Beeswax*, Olive Fruit Oil*, Red Raspberry Seed Oil*, Pomegranate Seed Oil*, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Shea Butter*, Tocopherol, Calendula Flower Extract* *Organic
Earth Mama Organics Mineral Sunscreen Lotion is SPF 40 and provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. The eco-friendly formula is reef friendly and water resistant up to 40 minutes. Great for sensative skin, this lotion is non-nano and contains no parabens or artificial fragrance. Plus, it’s dermatologist tested and clinically tested for irritation.
2. Earth Mama Organics: Baby Face Minearal Sunscreen Stick
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22%
Inactive Ingredients: Coconut Oil*, Sunflower Seed Oil*, Beeswax*, Candelilla Wax, Carnauba Wax*, Shea Butter*, Tocopherol, Cocoa Seed Butter*, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice *, Calendula Flower Extract* *Organic
Earth Mama Organics Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen is SPF 40 and provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It’s water resistant up to 40 minutes and reef friendly. This soothing sunscreen stick is non-nano and contains no parabens or artificial fragrance. In addition, it’s pediatrician tested, dermatologist tested, and clinically tested for irritation.
3. Earth Mama Organics: Kids Uber Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 25%
Inactive Ingredients: Coconut Oil*, Fractionated Coconut Oil*, Beeswax*, Olive Fruit Oil*, Red Raspberry Seed Oil*, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Shea Butter*, Rice Bran Oil*, Tocopherol, Oat Kernel Flour*, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice*, Calendula Flower Extract* *Organic
Earth Mama Organics Uber-Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion is SPF 40 and provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It’s reef friendly and water resistant for up to 40 minutes. This fragrance-free sunscreen is non-nano and contains no parabens. In addition, it’s oxybenzone-free and octinoxate-free.
This is the best sunscreen for kids with eczema. Though not completely waterproof, it is a great sunscreen for sensitive skin. It contains organic shea butter and more colloidal oatmeal that what is required by the FDA to be in an eczema cream. Even more, it’s pediatrician tested and clinically tested for irritation.
4. Thinksport: Face & Body Mineral Sunscreen Stick for Kids
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20%
Inactive Ingredients: Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Capric Caprylic Triglycerides, Sorbitan Stearate (Coconut Based), Pine Wood Resin, Vegetable Glycerin, Cetyl Dimethicone, Hydrogentated Casotr Oil, Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt), Sunflower Oil, Jojoba Oil, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Olive Oil, Raspberry Seed Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid (Made from Vegetable), Glucose & Glucose Oxidase and Lactoperoxidase, Papaya.
Thinksport Face and Body Stick Mineral Sunscreen for Kids is SPF 30 and provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It’s reef friendly and water resistant for up to 80 minutes. The non-nano zinc oxide formulation is free of biologically harmful chemicals. Similarly, it’s avobenzone-free and oxybenzone-free.
5. Thinksport: Kids Safe Sunscreen
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20%
Inactive Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Candelilla Wax, Castor Oil, Carnauba Wax, Shea Butter, Cocoa Seed Butter, Tocopherol, Aloe Leaf Juice.
Thinksport Kids Safe Sunscreen is SPF 50 and provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It’s reef friendly and water resistant for up to 80 minutes. This non-toxic sunscreen contains a non-nano zinc oxide formulation and is mineral-based. In addition, it’s free of biologically harmful chemicals including parabens, phthalates, and BPA.
6. Badger: Deet-Free Anti-Bug-Sunscreen
Active Bug Repellent Ingredients: 10% Organic Castor Oil, 2.5% Organic Citronella Oil, 1.25% Organic Lemongrass Oil, 1% Organic Cedar Oil, 0.5% Organic Rosemary Oil, and 0.25% Organic Geranium Oil.
Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 20%. Other Ingredients: Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Organic Beeswax
The Badger Anti-Bug Sunscreen is SPF 34 and provides broad spectrum protection. It’s water resistant up to 40 minutes and great for outdoor pools that are prone to hosting mosquitoes. Best of all, this formula is DEET-free.
7. Earth Mama Organics: Lady Face Mineral Sunscreen Tinted Face Stick
Light/Medium Tint: Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22% Inactive Ingredients: Coconut Oil*, Sunflower Seed Oil*, Beeswax*, Candelilla Wax, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carnauba Wax*, Shea Butter*, Tocopherol, Cocoa Seed Butter*, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice*, Calendula Flower Extract* *Organic
Medium/Dark Tint: Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22% Inactive Ingredients: Coconut Oil*, Sunflower Seed Oil*, Beeswax*, Candelilla Wax, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Carnauba Wax*, Shea Butter*, Tocopherol, Cocoa Seed Butter*, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice *, Calendula Flower Extract* *Organic
The Earth Mama Organics Lady Face Mineral Sunscreen is SPF 40 and provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It’s reef safe and water resistant up to 40 minutes. Most importantly, it’s one of the safest tinted sunscreens on the market. This stick is paraben-free and fragrance-free.
It’s also quite versitile in its application. For example, it can be used as a standalone product for a “no-makeup look” or layer it as a concealer or a foundation. The non-greasy formula comes in multiple shades and leaves a semi-matte finish.
Sources:
(1) https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sun-protection-and-vitamin-d/
(2) https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/92/6/882.3
(3) https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/
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