Best Pregnancy-Safe Sunscreen: What to Look For and What to Avoid in a Sunblock for Pregnant Women

In a country like ours where the sun is always beating down, it’s best to always have sunscreen in tow. Even during the rainy season, it can be pouring one minute and then sunny the next. That’s just how our weather is so sunblock is essential.

It’s easy to find sunscreen in most drugstores and supermarkets. But it’s understandable for expectant moms to be extra careful in choosing the product that will go to their skin.  Don’t worry, soon-to-be mommas. We’ve got you covered with our list of the best sunscreen for pregnant ladies.

Why pregnant women should use sunscreen

As moms-to-be, you could be wondering if going out in the sun can affect you and your baby. Expecting moms are recommended to limit their sun exposure, especially during the first trimester of the pregnancy.

The reason for limiting sun exposure is because pregnant women are more susceptible to overheating and have more sensitive skin, causing heat rashes and burns. Another reason is that sun exposure has been linked to decreased amounts of folic acid. Folic acid is an important component that helps in your baby’s development and growth.

Moms-to-be are recommended to stay on the safe side when going outside. Take some precautions when going out into the sun. Firstly, consider wearing a hat, sunglasses and cool clothing that can help you get through our country’s tropical weather. Secondly, keeping a bottle of water close by to keep you hydrated is also a good idea. Thirdly, slathering on some sunscreen could also provide you with some protection from the sun. Lastly, it’s recommended to stay out of the sun when it’s at its peak at around 10 AM to 3 PM. Thus you should consider going out when it’s cooler such as early in the morning or in the evening.

8 best sunscreen for pregnant brands

Mama’s Choice Daily Protection Face Moisturizer

Best Moisturizer and Sunscreen in One

First on the list is Mama’s Choice Daily Protection Face Moisturizer. A moisturizer and sunscreen in one, it offers SPF20 which provides adequate sun protection from UV rays. 

It contains no chemical sunscreen or harsh ingredients, making it suitable for sensitive skin. Enriched with natural ingredients such as rice extract and hyaluronic acid, it soothes, calms, and has a naturally brightening effect.

In a survey, 93% of moms agreed it protects from UV rays and moisturizes the skin. Users also love this product because it doesn’t have an oily texture and doesn’t cause any breakouts.

Features we love

• Quality
  • special formula for pregnant and breastfeeding women
  • safe for sensitive skin
  • SPF 20
• Ingredients
  • rice extra and hyaluronic acid
  • no chemical sunscreens, no artificial fragrance

Earth Mama Organics Mineral Sunscreen Lotion

Best Organic Sunscreen for Pregnant Mothers

Second on our list is the sunscreen from Earth Mama Organics which specializes in high quality, wholesome products formulated for mommies and babies alike. The Earth Mama Organics Mineral Sunscreen Lotion uses organic shea butter, calendula, and red raspberry oil. Raspberry oil is known to have the highest amount of naturally occurring SPF in plants. It also has some organic pomegranate oil to give some additional UV protection to your skin. 

Some users of this product recommend giving the bottle a little kneading before you dab it on to let the natural oils mix better. While this sunscreen lotion may be made for your little one, you can still enjoy its all-natural sun protection.

Features we love

• Quality
  • broad-spectrum
  • SPF 40
• Ingredients
  • organic shea butter, calendula, raspberry seed oil, pomegranate seed oil
  • no chemical sunscreens, no artificial fragrance

Cerave Hydrating Sunscreen

Best Moisturizing Sunscreen for Pregnant Mothers

Some skin problems can seem to get worse due to the heightened sensitivity of the skin during pregnancy. If itchy, dry skin has been plaguing you during your pregnancy, it would be a good idea to consider using the Cerave Hydrating Sunscreen for its skin moisturizing abilities.

This gentle lotion gives you efficient sun protection with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. This is all formulated with Cerave’s signature three essential ceramides that help hydrate the skin while also restoring the skin’s barrier. Say goodbye to dry and sun damaged skin with this lotion!

Features we love

• Quality
  • broad-spectrum
  • SPF50
• Ingredients
  • three essential ceramides to restore the skin’s barrier and keep it hydrated
  • niacinamide to calm the skin

All Good Sunscreen Butter

Best Heavy-duty Sunscreen for Extra Protection

If you’re looking for a sunscreen that works in any type of environment, look no further than All Good Sunscreen Butter. Formulated to give sun protection in extreme environments such as high elevation and long periods of time in the water, this is a sunscreen that can protect you wherever you go. It can even protect you from HEV or the blue light that comes from computer and phone screens.

This sunscreen comes in a butter formulation that is very smooth and creamy and blends in well to the skin. The hydrating coconut oil, beeswax, and jojoba oil keep this product easy to blend without feeling greasy or clogging the pores. Regular users of this sunscreen butter recommend putting it in small dabs to the skin and rubbing it in to let it absorb on the skin.

Features we love

• Quality
  • broad spectrum
  • SPF 50
  • protection from HEV (blue light) from screens
  • water-resistant
• Ingredients
  • made from reef-friendly ingredients

Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen

Best Fragrance-free Sunscreen

Some expecting moms can find themselves averse to strong fragrances in the products they use. It could be due to a heightened sensitivity to strong scents or because strong fragrances can irritate sensitive skin. Get fragrance-free protection from the sun with the Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen.

This non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen provides protection against UVB and UVA rays. It has a lightweight formula that rubs on clear to provide fragrance-free sun protection. This product is safe to use as sun protection for sensitive skin types as well as on babies and children.

Features we love

• Quality
  • broad spectrum
  • SPF30
  • hypoallergenic
  • fragrance-free
• Ingredients
  • contains Babo’s Nutri-Soothe Complex that is rich vitamins and antioxidants

Aveeno Positively Mineral Sensitive Skin Sunscreen

Best Pregnancy-Safe Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin 

For moms-to-be that have sensitive skin, it could be a challenge to find a product that doesn’t trigger a reaction. However, there is no need to fret because the Aveeno Positively Mineral Sensitive Skin Sunscreen may be the perfect fit for you.

This lightweight mineral sunscreen provides gentle protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays. It’s made with naturally sourced zinc oxide, oat to nourish the skin, and vitamin E to give additional protection. Just take note to rub this product in small dabs to ensure that it’s properly absorbed and to minimize the whiteness that is regularly seen from mineral sunscreens.

Features we love

• Quality
  • broad-spectrum
  • SPF 50
  • suitable for sensitive skin
• Ingredients
  • naturally sourced 100% zinc oxide
  • oat extract to nourish the skin

Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Oxide Dry-touch Face Sunscreen with Broad Spectrum

Best Sunscreen for the Face

When applying sunscreen to the body, we’re usually reminded to pay special attention to applying sunscreen to the face. Coming from the famous skincare brand, the Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Oxide Sunscree, is a mineral sunscreen that uses Purescreen technology to provide protection against UVA and UVB rays. 

Aside from that, users love how easily spreadable the formula is with its non-greasy, matte finish. You can even use it as a primer when you’re applying makeup! If you’re looking for a product that can give efficient sun protection for your face, this all-rounder might just do the trick.

Features we love

• Quality
  • broad-spectrum
  • water-resistant for 80 minutes
  • SPF 50
  • hypoallergenic
  • dermatologist-tested
• Ingredients
  • active ingredient is zinc oxide

Sun Bum Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm

Best Sunscreen for the Lips

Don’t forget to protect your lips, too. It may not be the first thing you’ll remember to shield from the sun, but your lips can also become damaged by those harmful rays. The Sun Bum Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm provides a zinc-based natural lip balm that protects your lips from the harmful effects of UV rays.

This hybrid sunscreen and lip balm is made with shea butter and vitamin E to provide your skin with protection from the harsh elements outside. It’s also hypoallergenic, gluten-free and cruelty free so you can enjoy some all-natural sun protection for your lips.

Features we love

• Quality
  • broad-spectrum
  • SPF 30
• Ingredients
  • shea butter and vitamin E for ultimate sun, wind, and cold protection
  • gluten-, paraben- and cruelty-free

Price Comparison Chart

Now that we’ve taken a look into some of the best sunscreens for pregnant women in the market, here’s a quick price comparison chart for you:

Note: Each item and price is up to date as of February 4,2023 ; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.

Tips on choosing the best sunscreen for pregnant

There are too many sunscreens out in the market these days. That’s a good thing if you know what you’re looking for. But if you have no idea how to choose a product, it can become tedious to sift through the brands. To make it easy for you, just go by these three things according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association:

• broad-spectrum – Make sure it covers both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays because they can cause cancer.
• SPF 30 or higher – Get at least SPF 30 to protect you from sunburn.
• Water-resistant – Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours especially after swimming or sweating.

For expectant moms, we also recommend checking out the following:

• Ingredients – Steer clear from those with retinoids, high-dose salicylic acid, hydroquinone, phthalates, formaldehyde, oxybenzone.
• Type – Say no to chemical sunscreens because they have ingredients that can harm you and the baby. Come to think of it, you should stay away from this whether you’re pregnant or not. Instead of chemical sunscreens, go for the mineral type. As its name suggests, it uses minerals. They don’t go into your bloodstream and they just sit on top of the skin while effectively protecting the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

With any of these sunscreen brands for pregnant, you can still have fun under the sun while waiting for your little one to come! Enjoy shopping!