The Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a list of safest sunscreens for you and the environment, based on scores they assign to each ingredient, which they use to create an overall score for each product. They have subcategories for their sunscreen list, that include ‘best recreational sunscreen’ and ‘best daily use’ sunscreen, the latter of which contains products for the face.
Though the EWG’s lists are helpful at choosing which sunscreens cause the least harm to the body and environment, their individual product pages often contain non-existent, broken, or over-generalized links to products (some links are just links to Google searches for the product, for example). I thought it would be helpful to start building a list of EWG products that are sold on Amazon, so you can just click and purchase, without doing a multi-hour scavenger hunt for them.
I’ve already assembled a list of ten top rated EWG recreational sunscreens that can be purchased on Amazon for 2022, and broke the list down further in my own sub categories, like unscented for hiking/camping, organic ingredient products, natural ingredient products, and those that are vegan, and cruelty free. So in that vein, I’ll publish below 10 sunscreens for the face on the EWG list:
These aren’t the only sunscreens on the EWG list so definitely check out the link to the full list that I put at the front of the article if you don’t see your favorite brand. I’ll probably swing back around and add to this list at some point though.
Why Are Some EWG Sunscreens Rated 1, But Others Are Rated 2?
Generally the EWG scores that are in their ‘1’ category are there because the main ingredient is zinc oxide which is considered the safest and most effective broad spectrum sun block. The sunscreens that have a ‘2’ rating have less safe active ingredients like Avobenzone, Octocrylene, and Octisalate, or they have zinc oxide as the main ingredient, but have a questionable ingredient in the inactive set of ingredients, as is the case with the Caribbean Sol Faces Only Lotion, which has ‘essential oils’ that EWG rates at an ingredient score of 4 out of 10 (1 is worst; 10 is best). I’ll publish EWG’s rational for each common active ingredient in their face sunscreens below:
| Ingredient | EWG Score | Risk & Concern Levels |
|---|---|---|
| zinc oxide | 2-4 | cancer (low), allergies & immunotoxicity (low), developmental & reingredientive toxicity (low), need for restricted use (low), enhanced skin absorption, persistence and bioaccumulation (low), non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), ecotoxicology (low), occupational hazards (moderate), and biochemical or cellular level changes (high) |
| avobenzone | 1-2 | cancer (low), allergies & immunotoxicity (low), developmental & reingredientive toxicity (low), need for restricted use (moderate), contamination (high) |
| octocrylene | 2-3 | cancer (low), allergies & immunotoxicity (low), developmental & reingredientive toxicity (low), need for restricted use (moderate), persistence and bioaccumulation (low), irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), and biochemical or cellular level changes (high) |
| octisalate | 1-3 | cancer (low), allergies & immunotoxicity (low), developmental & reingredientive toxicity (low), need for restricted use (moderate), enhanced skin absorption and use restrictions (moderate) |
Which EWG Face Sunscreens Are Okay For Sensitive Skin?
- CETAPHIL Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 , 4 fl oz , Gentle Facial Moisturizer For Dry to Normal Skin Types , No Added Fragrance , Doctor Recommended Sensitive Skincare Brand
- Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Spf18 Daily Shade Facial Lotion
- Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 (1.7 Fl Oz) Face Sunscreen Moisturizer
- Earth Mama Lady Face® Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 40 Light/Medium Tint
- Earth Mama Lady Face® Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 40 Medium/Dark Tint
Equate Beauty Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 Sunscreen
Which EWG Face Sunscreens Won’t Clog Pores?
- Ambi Even & Clear Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 30
- CETAPHIL Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 , 4 fl oz , Gentle Facial Moisturizer For Dry to Normal Skin Types , No Added Fragrance , Doctor Recommended Sensitive Skincare Brand
- Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 (1.7 Fl Oz) Face Sunscreen Moisturizer claims it works with acne prone skin
Equate Beauty Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 Sunscreen
Which EWG Face Sunscreens Are Fragrance Free?
- Ambi Even & Clear Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 30
- CETAPHIL Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 , 4 fl oz , Gentle Facial Moisturizer For Dry to Normal Skin Types , No Added Fragrance , Doctor Recommended Sensitive Skincare Brand
- Block Island Organics – Natural Face Moisturizer SPF 30 with Clear Zinc
- Cocokind Daily SPF, Face Sunscreen, Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, Unscented, Reef Safe Sunscreen with SPF 32 Protection
- Earth Mama Lady Face® Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 40 Light/Medium Tint
- Earth Mama Lady Face® Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 40 Medium/Dark Tint
Equate Beauty Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 Sunscreen
Further Reading
If you liked this article and are looking for gear for your next hiking or camping venture, then check out my Hiking Gear and Camping Gear pages for lighting, tents, hiking shoes and more…
Updated March 2023