Sun Bum sunscreens are generally low-toxicity products, though the answer depends on which product line you’re using. The brand’s mineral sunscreens rely on zinc oxide, one of only two sunscreen ingredients the FDA currently recognizes as safe and effective. Their original (chemical) line avoids some of the most controversial ingredients like oxybenzone and parabens but still uses chemical UV filters that absorb into the skin. Most Sun Bum products earn “low hazard” ratings from the Environmental Working Group’s safety database.
What’s in the Mineral Line
Sun Bum’s mineral sunscreens use 20% zinc oxide as the sole active ingredient. Zinc oxide works by sitting on top of the skin and physically blocking UV rays rather than absorbing them into your body. The inactive ingredient list is relatively clean: coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, and a handful of emulsifiers and stabilizers. The formula is free of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, oxybenzone, and octinoxate.
If your concern is specifically about toxicity, the mineral line is the safer pick. Zinc oxide doesn’t penetrate the skin in meaningful amounts, which is why the FDA gives it a clear safety designation that it hasn’t extended to most chemical UV filters.
What’s in the Original (Chemical) Line
Sun Bum’s original sunscreens use chemical UV filters instead of minerals. These ingredients absorb UV light into the skin and convert it to heat. While Sun Bum has removed two of the most scrutinized chemical filters, oxybenzone and octinoxate, from all of its U.S. sunscreen products, the original line still contains other chemical actives like avobenzone, homosalate, and octocrylene.
The distinction matters because chemical filters behave differently from minerals in your body. They’re designed to absorb into the upper layers of skin, and some can be detected in the bloodstream after repeated use. The FDA hasn’t concluded that this makes them dangerous, but it also hasn’t confirmed they’re safe, which is why only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide carry the agency’s full “generally recognized as safe and effective” designation.
The Octocrylene Question
One ingredient worth knowing about is octocrylene, which appears in some chemical sunscreens. A 2021 study published in Chemical Research in Toxicology found that octocrylene degrades over time into benzophenone, a compound with potential hormonal activity. Across 16 octocrylene-containing products tested, benzophenone concentrations averaged 39 mg/kg in fresh products and nearly doubled to 75 mg/kg after accelerated aging. Up to 70% of the benzophenone in these products can be absorbed through the skin. This is a concern with any octocrylene-containing sunscreen, not just Sun Bum specifically, and it’s one reason mineral formulas appeal to people prioritizing low chemical exposure.
The Benzene Contamination Issue
In 2021, independent lab Valisure tested hundreds of sunscreen and after-sun products for benzene, a known carcinogen that shouldn’t be in any personal care product. A few Sun Bum products showed up in the results. Sun Bum’s Cool Down Gel (a post-sun product, not a sunscreen) had benzene detected at an average of about 5.3 to 5.5 parts per million, which is above the FDA’s limit of 2 ppm. Two other products, a zinc oxide sunscreen lotion and an after-sun aloe spray, had trace amounts below 0.1 ppm, well under the threshold of concern.
Benzene contamination is a manufacturing issue, not an ingredient problem. It can show up in any brand’s products due to contaminated raw materials or propellants, and it affected dozens of brands across the industry. The affected lots were specific batches, not an ongoing formulation concern.
EWG Safety Ratings
The Environmental Working Group rates personal care products on a hazard scale. Across Sun Bum’s product line, the majority of items listed in EWG’s Skin Deep database receive “low hazard” scores. This includes their mineral face sticks, mineral face lotions, tinted moisturizers, lip balms, and several other products. A low hazard rating means the ingredients have limited evidence of health concerns based on available toxicology data.
What Sun Bum Leaves Out
Across all product lines, Sun Bum formulates without several ingredients that raise red flags for health-conscious consumers. The brand confirms its products are made without oxybenzone, octinoxate, retinyl palmitate, parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde. This puts them ahead of many mainstream sunscreen brands that still use one or more of these ingredients. They’re also PETA-certified cruelty-free, meaning neither finished products nor ingredients are tested on animals.
All Sun Bum sunscreens comply with Hawaii Act 104, which bans the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate due to evidence that these chemicals damage coral reefs.
Which Sun Bum Products Are Safest
If minimizing chemical exposure is your priority, Sun Bum’s mineral line is the clear choice. It uses a single, FDA-approved active ingredient, avoids chemical filters entirely, and pairs zinc oxide with relatively simple moisturizing ingredients. The original chemical line is a reasonable middle ground compared to many competitors since it skips oxybenzone and parabens, but it still relies on synthetic UV filters that absorb into skin.
For children or anyone with sensitive skin, mineral formulas are the standard recommendation. They’re less likely to cause irritation and don’t carry the open safety questions that chemical filters do. If you’re using any sunscreen product, checking for expiration dates is worthwhile, particularly because ingredients like octocrylene can degrade into less desirable compounds as the product ages.