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Sun protection
Daily sun protection limits early signs of aging, helps keep new dark spots from forming, and lowers the risk of skin cancer.
Ingredients that help
- Mineral filters: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
- Chemical filters, such as avobenzone and octocrylene, are also widely used
What dermatologists recommend
- Wear a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher sunscreen every day.
- Reapply about every 2 hours, and after swimming or sweating.
- Use enough: about a shot glass for your body, and at least a teaspoon for your face.
- Seek shade, especially from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, “Sunscreen FAQs”; American Academy of Dermatology, “How to maximize results from anti-aging skin care products”; American Academy of Dermatology, “How to care for your skin in your 60s and 70s”. General information, not medical advice.
Products for sun protection
3 products, most popular first. Picked because their key ingredients help with this; we can't see amounts, so check each product's page.
Kids: Gentle for kidsTeens: Teen-friendly
Chemical sunscreen filter with limited pregnancy data: Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene. Not known to harm a pregnancy but not well studied, and absorbed into the bloodstream in FDA studies; mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) stay on the skin and are a lower-absorption choice (MotherToBaby, Matta et al. 2020).
Polyethylene, Homosalate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dibutyl Adipate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Octocrylene, Ceresin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ozokerite, Silica Silylate, Dimethicone, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Synthetic Wax, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Octyldodecanol, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Tocopherol, Water (Aqua), Xylitylglucoside, BHT, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)
Sensitive skin: no common irritants flagged
Kids: Gentle for kidsTeens: Teen-friendly
Water, Glycerin, Dibutyl Adipate, Methylpropanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Titanium Dioxide(CI 77891), Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Isododecane, Ultramarines(CI 77007), Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Polyester-5, Aluminum Hydroxide, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Polyether-1, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Xyloglucan, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Cell Extract, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract
Sensitive skin: niacinamide Why?
- niacinamide: A popular, well-tolerated ingredient that can cause redness or flushing for a few people, especially at high strengths.
These flags don't affect the pregnancy rating. They point out the ingredients most likely to make skincare sting, itch, or cause a rash. If your skin is sensitive, or one of them has bothered you before, you may want to skip the product or patch-test it first. Most people use them without a problem.
How we flag ingredientsKids: Gentle for kidsTeens: Teen-friendly
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Titanium Dioxide(CI 77891), Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Niacinamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Alcohol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Isododecane, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyester-5, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Chromium Oxide Greens(CI 77288), Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyether-1, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xyloglucan, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Tocopherol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Sensitive skin: alcohol denat., niacinamide Why?
- alcohol denat.: Denatured alcohol, which helps products feel light and dry fast but can dry out or sting dry and sensitive skin. Fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol are different and aren't flagged.
- niacinamide: A popular, well-tolerated ingredient that can cause redness or flushing for a few people, especially at high strengths.
These flags don't affect the pregnancy rating. They point out the ingredients most likely to make skincare sting, itch, or cause a rash. If your skin is sensitive, or one of them has bothered you before, you may want to skip the product or patch-test it first. Most people use them without a problem.
How we flag ingredients