Looking for a reef-safe sunscreen that uses only zinc oxide as an active ingredient? Good idea! Chemical sunscreen is harmful to humans and to the environment, so it’s worth seeking out a brand that is safe.
My family has tested over 100 natural mineral sunscreens over the last 10 years, so we know what really works. I haven’t tried this particular brand, but I’ll share my thoughts about the ingredient list here. In my opinion, if you’re looking for the cleanest ingredients and smoothest application, then head over to my ultimate guide to natural mineral sunscreens and grab one of my top recommended zinc oxide sunscreens instead.
Sun Bum and Baby Bum
Details:
I’ve looked into Sun Bum previously and found that although zinc oxide is included, there are other chemical ingredients as well, including oxtinoxate (implicated as reef-unfriendly along with oxybenzone in the spring of 2018). 2022: SunBum did remove the oxtinoxate from their signature SunBum. I also see not-so-awesome preservatives like Methylisothiazolinone and phenoxyethanol. I see they DO now have a mineral-only line, which is awesome to hear. I don’t see any huge red flags on the mineral formula or the Baby Bum, but I prefer to recommend brands with only mineral sunscreen because it can be confusing to people to have to pick and choose. Baby Bum Mineral Face stick: Zinc Oxide (19.2%), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice Bran) Wax, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ozokerite, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Oryzanol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Bisabolol Baby Bum SPF 50 mineral lotion: Zinc Oxide (20%), Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diheptyl Succinate, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Coco-Glucoside, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid Sun Bum Signature SPF 50 sunscreen: Octinoxate 7.50%, Octisalate 5.00%, Octocrylene 7.00%, Zinc Oxide 10.00%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beeswax, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin,Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lecithin, Methylisothiazolinone,Oleic Acid, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyester-8, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer, Water, Xanthan Gum
Wondering if this one is the very best natural sunscreen for your family?
I organized alllll the sunscreens we reviewed in each one’s recommendation category – one page, at-a-glance to find out what is safe to buy AND works! Print it or save to your phone for reference!
The guide also includes answers to questions people ask me all the time:
- Which brand rubs in the clearest?
- What’s the best for all day outdoor sports?
- How do I save money on natural sunscreens?
- What looks good on ladies’ faces?
- Is there an option that is FAST to apply to wiggly kids?
I’ll send a copy to your email so you can see it right away and find it again later!