All Natural Sunscreens: The Best Options for Eczema

When the warm weather comes around every year, I am very often asked what I think are the best all natural sunscreens for eczema. So, today I thought I’d share them with you in this post. Over the years, we’ve tried many natural sunblocks and to be honest, when my son’s skin was really flared, we found we had to change his sunblock each year because he would become sensitive to the ingredients. So, keep that in mind and always patch test a new or old favorite sunscreen before slathering it on liberally for the first time each season.

All the sunscreens I recommend contain non-nano zinc oxide. What I love about using a natural sunscreen with zinc oxide is that many people find zinc to be very healing for eczema when applied topically. In fact, diaper rash is a form of dermatitis, and zinc oxide is a common powerful ingredient in most diaper rash creams. So, why not ditch those chemically laden drug store brands and go for a sunscreen with non nano particle zinc instead?

You’ll notice that I don’t recommend a best natural sunscreen for the face because any of the sunscreens below can be used for the face and the entire body. It’s costly and really not necessary to have a separate sunscreen for the face and body in my opinion.

All of our suggestions are also reef friendly, something very important to consider if you love the ocean and want to protect the beautiful life within it.

We do not recommend any specific sunscreens for the face, except for the tinted option below, as if you use one with a clean formula, generally, we find them great for your body and face – so save money and just invest in one for head to toe. Of course everyone is different, so please patch test these sunscreens wherever you intent to use them before slathering them on everywhere.

Best Natural Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin & Overall Favorite:

Badger’s Sport SPF 40 Unscented Sunscreen

This is my overall favorite sunscreen for eczema because the ingredients are simple, safe for all ages (babies and up) and the sunscreen is easier to apply than most zinc oxide based sunscreens on the market. And it’s a very popular, well known brand that is very respected and has been around for a long time. We used it for many years. Sadly, a couple of years ago my son began reacting to the shea butter in it, but now he’s able to wear it again with no problem. Ironically, I find it actually very healing for his skin now – it’s likely due to the mixture of zinc oxide and the moisturizing oils and butters that work wonders together.

EWG Rating: 1

Ingredients: Uncoated Clear Zinc Oxide, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Sunflower Vitamin E (98% Organic & Certified Non-GMO)

Best Natural Sunscreen for Babies & Kids:

Badger Kids Sunscreen SPF 40

Another great one from Badger Balm. What I love about this sunblock is that it contains some wonderfully healing oils that we know are excellent for eczema – sunflower and seabuckthorn. This makes this sunscreen amazing for babies, yes, but also for anyone else who needs to reduce redness and itching related to any sort of dermatitis.

EWG Rating: 1

Ingredients: Uncoated Clear Zinc Oxide, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Orange Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Tangerine Oil, Sunflower Vitamin E, Organic Vanilla Extract & Organic Seabuckthorn Extract (98% Organic & Certified Non-GMO)

Best Natural Sunscreen Stick:

Think Baby 30 Sunscreen Stick

This is another brand that uses very clean ingredients and that we love to recommend. This is my sister’s favorite for her family and really there isn’t anything not to love.  It’s biodegradable and safe for the reefs – yay! Shea and cocoa butters are both are excellent for eczema.

EWG Rating: 1

Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 20% (Non-nano), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut), Cera Alba (Beeswax), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Extract, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp (Lychee) Extract

Best Eco Friendly Sunscreen (Packaging & Product)

Raw Elements 30 – Reusable Tin

This sunblock has a very clean ingredient list, doesn’t leave the skin white AND has great packaging that is easily recyclable or reusable, your choice. All major wins. And of course, the simple, natural ingredient list sounds nourishing for the most sensitive skin and eczema.

EWG Rating: 1

Ingredients: Non Nano Zinc Oxide 23%, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Green Tea, Organic Black Tea, Organic Coffee, Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, All Natural Mango Butter, Organic Beeswax, All Natural Rosemary Oil Extract, All Natural Vitamin E

Best Tinted Sunscreen:

Raw Elements 30 Tinted Facial Sunscreen

Another Raw Elements product because it’s a good brand and their tinted sunscreen is great and we love the metal tin. Anytime we can say no to plastic makes us happy – don’t you agree?

EWG Rating: 1

Ingredients: Non Nano Zinc Oxide 23%, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Green Tea, Organic Black Tea, Organic Coffee, Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, All Natural Mango Butter, Organic Beeswax, All Natural Rosemary Oil Extract, All Natural Vitamin E, Iron Oxides. 

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Sunblock warning: For many kids with eczema and allergies, new allergies can develop any time. It’s probably been six or more months since your children have worn their favorite sunscreen or sunblock. It’s best to do a small patch test on their skin if it’s been a while you’ve last applied the sun cream. Your child may have used the same sun protection for years with no issues, but could suddenly develop a reaction to it.

Case in point, a few years ago I generously applied Badger’s Unscented sunblock to much of Tristan’s skin. This was our favorite sunblock last year because it was natural and he never reacted to it, so without thinking I covered Tristan. Big mistake. He instantly was covered in hives, his eczema flared up, and he was an itchy mess.

Please, learn from my experience and do a small patch test before you lather up your child with any old favorites or new sunblocks. Of course this applies to any skincare product, but for some reason, the sunblock slipped my mind.

In case you’re planning a trip this summer, I also recommend looking into cover-up clothing that will help keep your skin protected from the sun. Remedywear™, clothing for eczema offers garments for both adults and kids that are made with TENCEL and zinc-embedded fibers. These fibers are both soothing and nourishing against eczema prone skin and can also protect you from the sun due to 35+ UV protection. Learn more about Remedywear fabric and its construction here.

 We’d love to hear from you! What are your favorite natural sunscreens for eczema?