*This post is part of the 2012 safe sunscreen series.
If you’re interested in sunscreen by price, this is the list for you. All sunscreens are broken down into groups per price per oz and to save you some calculations, I figured out both your annual and monthly costs for each sunscreen choice as well.
All annual sunscreen prices are based on a family of four, all of whom use sunscreen correctly. The family is based on 2 smaller kids using 1/2 oz of sunscreen per application and two adults using 1 oz of sunscreen per application (1,600 oz total annually).
As you can see, all the “safest” green sunscreens are on the high end price-wise. However, if you can manage to panic less when it comes to chemical sunscreens you can get sunscreen at a decent, lower price, thus helping to ensure you wear enough.
QUICK KEY – BY COLOR
- Sunscreen that’s considered “safest.”
- Sunscreen containing small amounts of vitamin A.
- Sunscreen containing small amounts of oxybenzone.
- Sunscreen with small amounts of oxybenzone and vitamin A.
- Sunscreen with possible other concern chemicals
QUICK KEY – BY SUNS – (IF COLOR IS AN ISSUE FOR YOU)
Sunscreen that’s considered “safest.”
Sunscreen containing small amounts of vitamin A.
Sunscreen containing small amounts of oxybenzone.
Sunscreen with small amounts of oxybenzone and vitamin A.
Sunscreen with possible other concern chemicals.
Under $1 per oz: $1,600 or less annual; $133 or less per month
$0.37 per oz – No AD Sunblock Lotion SPF 30
$0.47 per oz – No AD Kids Sunblock Lotion SPF 50
$0.53 per oz – No-Ad SPF# 50 Sport Sunblock Lotion
$0.54 per oz – Coppertone UltraGuard Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 15 Waterproof
$0.62 per oz – Up & Up Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 (Target brand)
$0.63 per oz - Walgreens Kids SPF 70+ Sunscreen Lotion
$0.70 per oz - Coppertone Kids Pure & Simple Lotion SPF 50
$0.71 per oz - Ocean Potion Anti-Aging Sunblock Lotion SPF 15
$0.78 per oz - Ocean Potions Kids Sunblock SPF 50
$0.82 per oz - Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
$0.83 per oz - Ocean Potion Suncare Natural Daily SPF 30
$0.83 per oz - No AD Sunblock Lotion SPF 45
$0.88 per oz - Up & Up Sport Continuous Spray, SPF 30 (Target brand)
$0.88 per oz - Coppertone ultraGuard Sunscreen Lotion, UVA/UVB Protection, SPF 30
$0.92 per oz - Banana Boat Ultra Defense Sunblock Lotion SPF 50
$0.97 per oz - Walgreens Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
$1 to $2 per oz: $1,600 – $3,200 annual; $133 – $266 per month
$1.09 per oz – Ocean Potion Anti-Aging Sunblock Lotion SPF 30
$1.12 per oz - Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch SPF30 Sunblock Lotion
$1.12 per oz - Coppertone Waterbabies Lotion, SPF 70+
$1.16 per oz - Earth’s Best TOTS Water Play Sunblock, SPF 45
$1.18 per oz - Coppertone Waterbabies Sunscreen Lotion Pure & Simple, SPF 50
$1.19 per oz - CVS Sensitive Skin Sunscreen SPF 30
$1.22 per oz - Coppertone Sunscreen Lotion, Sensitive Skin, 50 SPF
$1.24 per oz - Coppertone Oil Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30
$1.27 per oz - Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30, Ultra Sweat-Proof
$1.31 per oz – Banana Boat Sport Sunblock Lotion, SPF 50
$1.34 per oz - Bull Frog Quik Gel Sport Spray Sunblock with UV Extender SPF 50
$1.37 per oz - Australian Gold SPF 30 Sheer Coverage Lotion
$1.53 per oz - Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect SPF 40 Lotion
$1.54 per oz - Sunblock – Kid’s SPF 30
$1.58 per oz - Banana Boat Ultramist Baby Tear Free Lotion SPF 50
$1.61 per oz - Nature’s Gate Mineral Sportblock SPF 20
$1.70 per oz - BullFrog Ultimate Sheer Body Protection, SPF 30
$1.99 per oz - CVS Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 60+
NOTE: All the sunscreens below are 5 sun sunscreens
$2 to $3 per oz: $3,200 – $4,800 annual; $266 – $400 per month
$2.52 per oz - Purple Prairie SunStuff SPF 30
$3 to $4 per oz: $4,800 – $6,400 annual; $400 – $533 per month
$3.71 per oz - All Terrain KidSport SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen Spray
$3.71 per oz - Elemental Herbs Sunscreen Kids SPF 30
$3.75 per oz - Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF 35
$4 to $5 per oz: $6,400 – $8,000 annual; $533 – $666 per month
$4.06 per oz - Beyond Coastal Natural Clear SPF 30
$4.40 per oz - Poofy Organics All Natural Sunscreen
$4.53 per oz - Eco Logical Skin Care Body Sunscreen
$4.69 per oz - Badger All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30
$5 to $6 per oz: $8,000 – $9,600 annual; $666 – $800 per month
$5.00 per oz - Mama Rose’s Naturals SunBlocker All Natural Sunscreen
$5.05 per oz - Climb On! Sunblock
$5.19 per oz - Loving Naturals Clear Body SPF 30+ Sunscreen Non-Nano Zinc Oxide UVA/UVB
$5.50 per oz - ThinkBaby sunscreen SPF 30+
$5.50 per oz - SPF 30 Children’s Unscented Sensitive Skin Sunscreen
$5.67 per oz - UV Natural SPF 30+ Baby Sunscreen
$6 to $7 per oz: $9,600 – $11,200 annual; $800 – $933 per month
$6.00 per oz - BurnOut SPF 30+ KIDS Physical Sunscreen
$6.33 per oz - Green Beaver KIDS SPF 30 Sunscreen Certified Organic
$7 to $8 per oz: $11,200 – $12,800 annual; $933 – $1,066 per month
$7.04 per oz - Marie Veronique Kid Safe Screen, SPF 25+
$7.58 per oz - California Baby SPF 30 + Sunscreen Lotion
$7.60 per oz - Erbaviva Baby Sunscreen
$8 to $9 per oz: $12,800 – $14,400 annual; $1,066 – $1,200 per month
$8.55 per oz - Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm
$11 to $12 per oz: $17,600 – $19,200 annual; $1,466 – $1,600 per month
$11.33 per oz - Coola MineralBaby SPF 45 Moisturizer Unscented
Image by CMSeter via sxc.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for this information, but I am color blind and I can not differentiate between some of the dark colors to know what is safest. Could they be rated with stars next to the listing? 5 being the safest, 1 being the least, chemical wise. I have been trying to use physical sunscreems for three years and I waste a lot of money because even the ones who are supposed to be “no white” ALWAYS still have white. I am using the SPF 60 by something Posay and I don’t even see that on the list. Thank you for more info.
Oh, man – I was worried about the color issue for just this reason. I’ll add stars – good idea!
@Wendy – also I have these guides by chemical – see http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/when-money-is-no-object-you-can-buy-the-safest-sunscreen/ for safe (but expensive sunscreens) and see http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/decent-lower-priced-sunscreens-for-2012/ for lower priced options. Here’s the EWG page about Posay http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/about-the-sunscreens/?search=Search+Here…&brand_id=1145&ptype=All&homesearchsubmit2=GO. I don’t have them on any of my lists because they’re as much as $15 per oz yet aren’t any safer than many other lower priced safe sunscreens.