Cleanest Sunscreens of 2025 | Sunscreen for Face and Body
Nutritionist-recommended sunscreens for face and body
You may have heard a saying in the wellness world that if you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin. I agree, although that’s a bit of an oversimplification. I’ll explain the ins and outs of it in this article so you can make a better-informed decision about which sunscreen you’ll be coated with this summer (if any!).
Hi friends. I’m Hilary Beckwith, ex-dieter and holistic nutrition expert. Clients come to see me with signs of adrenal stress and inflammatory conditions, and my job is to find the root causes so we can address their symptoms more effectively and fill in the gaps between what their doctor is saying and what their body is saying. Click here to read my Medical Disclaimer.
In this article, you’ll learn:
benefits and risks of sun exposure
what goes on your skin is just as important as what goes into your body
health effects of phthalates and parabens
my favorite sunscreen products
is sunscreen for your face really necessary?
It’s probably not news to you that humans need sunlight for vitamin D production. Sunlight exposure is an essential component of human health. It regulates circadian rhythm and sleep, it’s been shown to improve recovery after surgery and illness, and, yes, it’s essential to vitamin D production and metabolism [1] which is important for bone health and immune function.
What’s really interesting is that we’ve never had concrete evidence that sun exposure causes skin cancer. Similar to the misinformation you’ve heard about cholesterol and veganism, somewhere in our history, someone caught wind that sun exposure might be correlated to the development of melanoma (skin cancer), and it was heavily publicized without providing all the information.
And we just ran with it.
Here’s what the research on sunscreens and sun exposure does show [2]:
non-burning, chronic sun exposure actually reduces the risk of melanoma, and has other health benefits
sunburns double the risk of melanoma development
association between reduced sun exposure (more indoor activities and workspaces) and increased melanoma development
association between reduced vitamin D levels and reduced sun exposure
no concrete evidence that chemical sunscreens reduce the risk of melanoma
Some experts speculate based on this research that the increase in melanoma over the past century may actually be due to reduced immune capability and increased toxicity, not from sun exposure.
It’s a matter of balance, right?
We know that UV exposure supports nervous system regulation and healing, circadian rhythm, and the production of vitamin D, all of which are essential to optimal health.
On the other hand, we know that even if there is no concrete evidence that sun exposure causes cancer, sunburns are painful and pain is a symptom of damage or dysfunction in the body.
So, is sunscreen for your face and body really necessary?
I would say - if you know you are going to be exposed to the sun for an long period of time, know you are at risk of sunburn, or have very fair skin, then yes, sunscreen is a good idea. Based on the data I’ve seen and will reference in this post, sunscreen for your face and body when there is a chance of sunburn will help reduce the risk of melanoma.
the dirty truth about SPF
SPF 50?
More like SPF iffy… (you’re welcome).
Did you know that a large number of sunscreen manufacturers’ SPF claims (sun protection factor) are inaccurate? The bottle might say SPF 50, but are you really getting that amount of protection?
When the EWG (Environmental Working Group) discovered this huge discrepancy in 2021, they began holding sunscreen manufacturers accountable by testing sunscreens for SPF accuracy in addition to their primary work of testing the effects of various ingredients.
Thanks to that work, we are starting to see more accurate SPF claims.
“if you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin”
This is a lovely ideology, albeit a bit oversimplified. Even the cleanest of sunscreens contains ingredients I wouldn’t necessarily put in my food, such as titanium dioxide and caprylyl glycol.
So you look for the “safe for kids and pets” claim on your sunscreen, but relying solely on this claim for sunscreen is not enough. We need to become better informed about what is considered “safe” by regulating agencies and how they are impacting our health.
So, yes, “if you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin” might be a better guideline than “safe for kids and pets”. But the spirit of this ideology is to choose products that don’t contain sh*t that’s toxic to your health (and harmful to the environment, BTW).
but, why?
Ingredients in products that touch your skin - lotions, soaps, cosmetics, laundry detergents, sunscreens, even the clothing you wear - pass through your skin and directly into your bloodstream. Any harmful ingredients contained in these products, be they plastics, parabens, phthalates, dyes, metals, petroleum, or harmful nanoparticles from certain minerals and metals, may circulate through your body completely before finally being filtered through your liver and dealt with accordingly.
Harmful ingredients in food, however, are filtered through your liver as part of the digestive process before circulating through your body.
That goes without saying, if your liver is overburdened by the vast amount of toxins you are exposed to through food, clothing, cosmetics, or other elements, it doesn’t matter if you eat it or bathe in it. In fact, you may already have symptoms of an overburdened liver without knowing it.
So when it comes to choosing a sunscreen for the face and body - give your liver a break. Start choosing better.
ingredients to avoid
When it comes to choosing clean sunscreens for your face and body, it may be obvious to avoid artificial dyes, colorings, and scents. Those are the easy ones to spot, and possibly the more obvious to you as a consumer. You wouldn’t eat it, so why put it on your skin?
The more insidious ingredients to avoid are phthalates and parabens.
Let’s take a look at why.
health effects of phthalates
Phthalates (pronounced THAL-ayt) are a class of chemicals added to sunscreens as well as many other products, used to make a product more flexible and pliable without breaking.
Phthalates are not only found in sunscreens - they are in many cosmetics, lotions, hair products, and even foods, such as dairy and dairy substitutes, breads, beverages, and even meats.
Why should you avoid them?
There has been a lot of research on the health effects of phthalates, and why they are still allowed in products we use on a daily basis, I do not understand.
PHTHALATES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO [3,4,5]:
increase oxidative stress (inflammation!)
increase insulin resistance (although this was a small study - more research is needed)
cause pre-term birth and low birthweight
f*ck with female sex hormones (where my PCOS gals?)
decrease testosterone and sperm count in men
inhibit neurodevelopment
HOW TO KNOW IF PHTHALATES ARE IN YOUR SUNSCREEN
Chances are you will not find “phthalates” on the ingredients list of your sunscreen, or any other cosmetics or foods. In sunscreen specifically, the most common phthalate used is called diethyl phthalate (DEP). You may also see them listed as “fragrance” or “parfum”.
Avoid sunscreens with these ingredients listed.
health effects of parabens
Parabens are an artificial preservative commonly found in personal care products, meaning lotions, hair products, shampoos, conditioners, laundry detergents, and yes, sunscreens. Parabens are also found in many processed foods.
Why are parabens used so abundantly? They prevent bacteria and mold from growing, which increases shelf life of many products (so convenient!).
There has been a lot of good research on parabens and their effects on human health and the environment over the past 10-15 years. Here’s what you should know about parabens:
PARABENS ARE ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS:
Parabens are classified as EDCs, or endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This means they disrupt the normal hormone functions of the human body.
PARABENS AND ESTROGEN:
Parabens mimic reproductive hormones and glucocorticoid hormones (hormones that modulate blood sugar levels). An article from Science Direct states, “They have a structure equivalent to estrogen and can potentially block nuclear receptors for androgens, progesterone, estrogens, glucocorticoids, and others.” [6]
These disruptions include infertility, decreased sperm count, PCOS symptoms, and, although no human studies have been published as of yet, parabens has been seen to cause poor reproductive development in animals.
PARABENS CAUSE OBESITY:
Parabens cause obesity. Their interference with glucocorticoids interferes with the body’s normal ability to regulate sugar, which influences fat tissue. This may also be related to PCOS, as the two systems are strongly intertwined.
NEARLY EVERYONE IS EXPOSED TO PARABENS:
An alarming 99% of urine samples tested in a 2005 study found levels of methyl-paraben metabolytes [7]. The study also found that 92% of the samples contained propyl-paraben, 42% ethyl-paraben, and 47% butyl-parabens. These parabens comprise four of the six most commonly used parabens in foods and personal care products today.
THE FDA DENIES EVIDENCE OF HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS OF PARABENS:
As of the date this post was written, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says very clearly on their website [8], “At this time, we do not have information showing that parabens as they are used in cosmetics have an effect on human health.” This, despite the alarming amount of research I’ve referenced in this post alone…
I admit my lack of trust in the FDA is a bias of mine. I trust credible research, and I can only read research that is published and accessible. The FDA also approves many things that are very clearly harmful to human health (lookin’ at you, glyphosate!), and yet also does not approve therapeutic support from things like nutritional supplements and laser therapy. I encourage you to look at these studies yourself - don’t take my word for it.
Screenshot taken 7/2/2025 of the FDA’s remarks on parabens’ effects on human health.
PARABENS AND BREAST CANCER:
There has been a lot of research on parabens’ association with breast cancer and how it can influence carcinogens, and the studies do look promising. But nothing concrete has come of them yet. We need more and better studies before I would feel comfortable making that claim.
my favorite products
I hope I have provided some great tools to help you decide for yourself which sunscreens you feel great about using this summer. For those of you who want more guidance, click that button below to download my personal and professional recommendations for clean sunscreen products (plus get a 20% discount in my shop).
learn something new?
What are your favorite clean sunscreens for face and body? Share your favorites in the comments below.
NUTRITION SERVICES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
BLOG REFERENCES
Joseph, Anjali. “Impact of Light on Outcomes in Healthcare Settings.” The Center for Health Design, The Center for Health Design, 16 Oct. 2012, www.healthdesign.org/chd/research/impact-light-outcomes-healthcare-settings.
Hoel, David G, et al. “The Risks and Benefits of Sun Exposure 2016.” Dermato-Endocrinology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 19 Oct. 2016, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5129901/.
Eales, J, et al. “Human Health Impacts of Exposure to Phthalate Plasticizers: An Overview of Reviews.” Environment International, Pergamon, 30 Sept. 2021, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021005286.
Wang, Yufei, and Haifeng Qian. “Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health.” Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 May 2021, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8157593/.
Arrigo, Federica, et al. “Phthalates and Their Effects on Human Health: Focus on Erythrocytes and the Reproductive System.” Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, Elsevier, 5 May 2023, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S153204562300100X.
Chatterjee, Sovona, et al. “Parabens as the Double-Edged Sword: Understanding the Benefits and Potential Health Risks.” Science of The Total Environment, Elsevier, 30 Sept. 2024, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969724067032.
Calafat, Antonia, et al. “Urinary Concentrations of Four Parabens in the U.S. Population: Nhanes 2005-2006.” Environmental Health Perspectives, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 4 Jan. 2010, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20056562/.
Commissioner, Office of the. “Parabens in Cosmetics.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 25 Feb. 2022, www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/parabens-cosmetics.
