What to Look For

When choosing a sunscreen, you should always pay close attention to both the active and inactive ingredients listed on the label.

Any active ingredient posing the least threat to causing an allergic skin reaction is ideal. You also want to be certain that these active ingredients protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are safe, natural ingredients. Zinc oxide protects against both UVA and UVB rays; titanium dioxide protects against UVB rays. These two active ingredients comprise MDSolarSciences mineral sunscreen — which are also free of chemical actives.

What to Avoid

Some agents in sunscreen may have harsh effects on your skin — these include both active and inactive ingredients—which may cause skin irritability or allergic reactions, or worse.

Sunscreen ingredients such as Vitamin A (retinol or retinyl), Vitamin E, botanical additives (for scent) paba and oxybenzone are to be avoided as they may cause allergic reactions or worse.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) along with the FDA, have warned against the effects of retinol, a Vitamin-A derivative. Their research shows that this ingredient may actually accelerate skin cancer.

All MDSolarSciences sunscreens are 100% oxybenzone and paba-free. None of our products contain Vitamin A, E or botanical additives.