Top 10 Green Surfer Sunscreens

Here’s Greenerpenny’s newly updated, Sun Products Short List of least-toxic, full-spectrum UV blockers for surfers and other water babies.
These mineral-based products block both UVA and UVB rays, and are free of those most toxic/ irritating synthetic sunscreen chemicals* that you don't want getting under your skin!*.

Alba Botanica Sun Mineral Kids/ Fragrance Free, SPF 30, Z, T,A, Nn
Aubrey Natural Sunscreens SPF 30,T,Z,LB
Aveeno Active Naturals Mineral Sunblock SPF 30, T,Z
Badger SPF 30 Sunscreen for Face & Body,Z, Nn,CO
Burt's Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm, T,LB, great stick, fits in my surf shorts pocket for touch-ups to lips, nose, cheeks!
California Baby SPF 30 No Fragrance face stick or lotion, T, H,Nn
Jason http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifNatural Cosmetics Earth’s Best and Sunbrellas Organic Sunblock, Mineral Based/ Chemical Free SPF 30+, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifT,Z, NC,http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
John Masters Organics SPF 30 mineral sunscreen, T,Z, CO, Nn,
Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm, Z, CO, Nn,
Nature’s Gate Mineral Sunblock/ Sport Block, SPF 20, T, Z

Runners-Up (effective, mostly green, but contain some chemicals of concern)

Blue Lizard (parabens)
Mustela SPF 50, T, Z, (parabens)
Shiseido Sun Protection Stick Foundation 35, Z, T,now paraben-free, but has“fragrance

Key:

T: Titanium Dioxide
Z: Zinc Oxide
CO: Contains certified organic ingredients
Nn: Non-nano, safer size particles > 100 nanometers
LB: Leaping Bunny certified, not animal tested

*No benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone/BP-3), homosalate, octinoxate, octyl-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, padimate-O, parsol 1789/avobenzone, parabens, “fragrance”(phthalates)and 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor, all of which have been linked to allergic reactions, hormone disruption, reproductive harm to wildlife, damage to skin cell DNA, or the growth of cancer cells in lab tests.A particular baddie, BP-3, has been implicated in the feminization of male ocean fish and promoting disease in corals as well as hormone disruption in lab tests, and is widely present in the bodies of the American population.

For detailed information on sunblocks, a top cosmetics companies list, choose it/lose it charts and chemicals to avoid in all personal care products, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifsee my new book, Do One Green Thing: Saving the Earth through Simple, Everyday Choices

Check if your company has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics:

**To avoid nano particles, look for sunblocks that contain micronized pahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrticles of at least 100 nanometers Titanium or Zinc Oxide, which are less likely to penetrate skin, per Environmental Working Group (EWG). For many more products (500 rated!), see EWG’s 2011 Sunscreen Report

Remember, UV avoidance is the best policy! Whenever possible, cover up with hats and long sleeves/ rash guards, and stay out of the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

For more seasonal green living and health tips, and to ask me questions, come to my web page, GreenerPenny.com; if you haven't already, please subscribe to GreenerPenny’s free monthly email newsletter on our home page.