Chemical sunscreen swap to Mineral zinc sunscreen

Why make the swap

• Why switch to mineral zinc sunscreen

  Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide were the only filters FDA proposed as safe and effective (GRASE) in its 2021 review. Our pick is zinc in sunflower oil and beeswax, in a metal tin: no silicones and no plastic tube.

• What's the concern with chemical sunscreen

  In an FDA trial published in JAMA in 2020, all six common chemical UV filters reached the blood above FDA’s 0.5 ng/mL testing threshold after a single application. FDA says that doesn’t make them unsafe, but it still wants more safety data on 12 chemical filters.

• General information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing or have a health condition.

• Good to know before you buy

  The American Academy of Dermatology advises a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and any you’ll actually use beats none. Tin balms are thick, so warm a little between your palms first. The beeswax means they aren’t vegan. Reapply every 2 hours.

  Badger SPF 30 mineral sunscreen cream, unscented, 2.9 fl oz tube: Comes in a plastic tube, not a tin; the maker says it's 50% recycled plastic.

• Sources (5)

  1. FDA trial (JAMA 2020): all 6 chemical filters passed 0.5 ng/mL after one application; oxybenzone hit 258 ng/mL (opens in a new tab)
  2. FDA trial (JAMA 2019): 4 sunscreens passed the threshold on day 1 (opens in a new tab)
  3. FDA: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide proposed GRASE; 12 chemical filters need more data (opens in a new tab)
  4. American Academy of Dermatology: choose a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher (opens in a new tab)
  5. Badger listing: 4 ingredients, recyclable tin (opens in a new tab)

  Health and safety facts on this page come from these sources. What a pick is made of comes from its maker's listing or website, as stated on the date we checked.