10 EWG-Approved Sunscreens That Are Free of Toxic Chemicals and Cost Under $20 (2024)

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July 4, 2023 at 4:13pm EDT

Plus IconThese sunscreens meet the strict EWG standards and are available at your local Target or drugstore. Getty Images

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Beach season (and summer camp season for the kiddos) is in full swing. And when it comes to sun care and healthy skin, it’s important to prioritize making the healthiest decision for your own skin and your family’s. However, purchasing dermatologist-approved, safe, effective SPF might be more expensive than you intended to spend on sunscreen.

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Luckily, to help make your decision in the sunscreen aisle — or web page — an easy one, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released their searchable Guide to Sunscreens. The EWG seal verifies sunscreens as protective from harmful UVA and UVB rays and safe in terms of the least amount of harmful ingredients and no potentially toxic chemical additives such as oxybenzone, which can act as an endocrine disruptor in young children and in anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.

And on top of that, we’re thinking about your budget, because it isn’t cheap to stock up on sunscreen for the whole family for the whole summer. All of the below EWG sunscreen picks meet the EWG standards of safety and efficacy, but are also under $20 in price and are available either at your local big box retail store like Target, your local pharmacy, or on Amazon to ship to your door.

Start shopping, and get out into the sunshine ASAP! Just remember to keep reapplying while you and your kids are out there.

Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sun Stick, SPF 50+
A sunscreen stick is always a convenient item to stick in your beach bag, especially to reapply on sweaty or sandy faces as the day goes on. This Banana Boat Ultra Sport Stick offers 50+ SPF protection for 80 minutes in the water (reapply on your kids every two hours or less). It’s also reef-friendly for the marine life in that water, with no chemicals like oxybenzone in the formula.
Banana Boat Ultra Sport Sun Stick
$8.29
Buy now
Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30
No one likes the greasy feel of a sunblock on their face. Fortunately, if you pick up this Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen, you’ll immediately notice its light, smooth, gel-like texture. Plus, it has no chemical additives, fragrance, or dyes, so it’s safe to use during pregnancy. Each tube is $18, or you can get a two-pack for $30 on Amazon.
Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Face Gel Lotion
$30
Buy now
Black Girl Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30
If you have a deeper skin tone, you should still wear sunscreen, but there aren’t enough sunscreens that are sheer and do not leave a white cast on the skin. Black Girl Sunscreen is the highest standard of sunscreen for melanin-rich skin tones. The jojoba and avocado in the formula can also nourish dry skin.
See Also
EWG's 2021 Guide to Sunscreens Ranks Best Choices Addressing Sunscreen Safety: A Review of EWG’s 2024 Guide to Sunscreens The 22 Best Mineral Sunscreens Derms Want You to Know About These Sunscreens Are Safe to Use, According to EWG's New Report
Black Girl Sunscreen
$16
Buy now
Blue Lizard Kids Mineral Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50+
Have kids in their tween and teen years? Try this non-comedogenic Blue Lizard sunscreen stick. It won’t contribute to acne or skin irritation, and is vegan and has no fragrance chemicals.
Blue Lizard Kids Sunscreen Stick
$8.77
Buy now
C’Est Moi Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
C’Est Moi skincare products are made for delicate teen skin, but can be used by anyone. Because there are no fragrances and the formula is hypoallergenic, it can work especially well for people with skin allergies or conditions such as eczema. The addition of organic aloe and shea butter is meant to be calming and moisturizing, too.
C'Est Moi Gentle Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
$16
Buy now
Eucerin Advanced Hydration, SPF 30
Eucerin has been a go-to for dry, dehydrated skin for decades. This fragrance-free, dye-free hydrating lotion contains hyaluronic acid, humectants, and five antioxidants to nourish skin from the inside out. It’s perfect for allergy-prone skin and people with skin sensitivies.
Eucerin Advanced Hydration
$16
Buy now
Neutrogena Clear Body Oil-Free Sunscreen, SPF 30
If there’s any downside to a beach day, it’s the possibility of getting bacne after lathering on your sunscreen. This Neutrogena Clear Body formula won’t cause breakouts or sunburn. You can wear it in the water for 80 minutes before reapplying, and will barely feel it on your skin when you’re outside the water.
Neutrogena Clear Body Oil-Free Sunscreen
$13.39
Buy now
Sun Bum Sunscreen Oil, SPF 30
For extra dry skin, Sun Bum coconut oil-based sunscreen oil can add some extra moisture to your skin. It’s not at all greasy or irritating, and might help give you a bronzy glow instead of a burn if you reapply at least every two hours.
Sun Bum Sunscreen Oil
$20.49
Buy now
Babo Botanicals Baby Skin Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 50
Your baby shouldn’t spend much time in direct sunlight, but if you have a hat and SPF protective clothing on your little one, they can play outside on the beach for a short while. Try Babo Botanicals Baby Skin Sunscreen Lotion on baby’s sensitive skin. It’s made without fragrance or essential oils, and its active ingredients are zinc oxide and hydrating sunflower oil.
Babo Botanicals Baby Skin Mineral Sunscreen
$17.59
Buy now
Alba Botanica Sheer Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Here’s a perfect sunscreen to use on your face, even as an everyday sunscreen under makeup. The Alba Botanica sheer formula contains skin cell-sustaining and moisturizing squalane, niacinamide, and vitamin E, and you don’t need to worry about fragrance or harmful chemicals.
Alba Botanica Sheer Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 30
$11
Buy now