The Ultimate Gluten-Free Sunscreen List

Summer is here and that means hopefully, soaking up some rays. By popular demand, we have put together the ultimate gluten-free sunscreen list to help you, and your family stay safe.

Remember that sunscreen is not just a product you should be wearing during the summer. It is important to protect your skin from the sun year-round.

There have been huge advancements in the availability and selection of gluten-free food products, and it has now extended into beauty brands. In the past, we have shared The Ultimate Gluten-Free Beauty Products Guide, where we delved into the types of gluten in beauty products, the risk factors, and which brands are certified gluten-free. We have also shared our gluten-free shampoo and gluten-free conditioner lists.

Does my sunscreen have to be gluten-free?

No. According to the nationalceliac.org, “it is optional but not required to use gluten-free skincare/cosmetics for those with celiac disease, as gluten cannot penetrate the skin. We recommend skincare products to be gluten-free if there is a potential that they might be ingested, or if you have allergic skin reactions to gluten.”

Since there is a chance that the sunscreen could get in your eyes, or could accidentally get in your mouth- though that risk is quite low; it might be especially important for children to choose a brand that is gluten-free, if you can.

Another reason to consider changing to a gluten-free sunscreen is if you are still suffering from gluten symptoms, after going gluten-free. If your diet is completely gluten-free, exploring your beauty and hair products might help alleviate some of your symptoms.

Also, if your gluten symptoms tend to involve your skin (rashes etc..) then a gluten-free sunscreen might be helpful to you.

What gluten is in Sunscreen?

Beauty products sometimes contain gluten in the form of oils or extracts, derived from wheat, barley, or rye, as emollients. Some of the more common gluten-containing substances that are sometimes used in products are:

• wheat (Triticum vulgare);
• barley (Hordeum vulgare);
• rye (Secale cereal); and,
• oat (Avena sativa).
• Wheat germ oil
• Stearyl dimonium hydroxypropyl (hydrolyzed wheat protein)
• Laurdimonium hydroxypropyl (hydrolyzed wheat protein)
• Palmitoyl hydrolyzed wheat protein
• Colloidal oatmeal
• Malt extract (usually barley)
• Beta-glucan (frequently derived from wheat)

What are the possible reactions?

The reaction you may have will depend on your level of sensitivity to gluten. Both those with Celiac disease and those living with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity can react to sunscreens containing gluten. This is something that is very much an individualized issue. Common reactions might include, but are not limited to:

• Rashes, skin irritations, hives, and/or redness.
• Itchy, watery, red and/or puffy eyes.
• Runny nose and/or congestion.
• Headache, and/or dizziness.
• Basically, any symptoms you feel when you ingest gluten.

How can I minimize my chance of reacting?

Check the ingredients of the products you are using. If you are unsure, contact the seller, or the brand directly, and ask them about the ingredients and/or how their product is manufactured.

Is Gluten-Free Sunscreen More Expensive?

While a lot of gluten-free products are more expensive than their traditional counterparts, we have included a wide range of brands and prices. This is so everyone can find a product that meets their needs and their budget.

The Ultimate Gluten-Free Sunscreen List

Note: Please use The Ultimate Gluten Free Sunscreen List as a guide, as products and their ingredients are subject to change. It can also depend on the country in which it is manufactured, so you should still read the ingredient list.

All Good Sunscreens:

• According to their website, “All Good products’ ingredient lists are gluten-free! However, although our manufacturing lines are thoroughly cleaned between production runs, the facilities that manufacture our products are not certified gluten-free facilities, so we cannot 100% guarantee that there would be no risk for cross-contamination.”

Andalou Naturals:

• Andalou Naturals website says that they “take (their) responsibility to consumers very seriously, especially those with gluten sensitivity. To guarantee that our products are gluten-free, we send everything to be third-party tested by the Food Allergy and Resource Program.”

Australian Gold:  

• Australian Gold Suncare products are “vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free.”

Attitude:

• “Some of our body care products contain hydrolyzed wheat protein, which is identified on our labels. Since gluten is found in wheat, these products could contain it in very low concentrations. We do not analyze the presence of gluten in our finished product, but as far as we know, our products do not contain gluten. (Concerning) allergies, we are aware that they are a complex phenomenon and it is always preferable to ask for a health specialist’s advice if in doubt. We recommend testing our products on a small area of the skin before use.”

Aveeno Sunscreen:

• “Gluten is not added to the oats used to make Aveeno® products and our oats are processed on equipment that is dedicated only to oat milling to mitigate the risk of cross-contamination with any other gluten-containing grains.”

Babo Botanicals:

Some of their sunscreens are gluten-free including:

• Daily Sheer Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Stick SPF50
• Sensitive Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF50
• Sensitive Baby Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF50
• Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF50
• Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF50
• Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF30
• Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Sport Stick SPF30
• Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF30
• Super Shield Mineral Sunscreen Sport Stick SPF50
• Swim & Sport Mineral Sunscreen Balm SPF50
• Swim & Sport Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF30

Badger Sunscreen:

• “Yes, all Badger sunscreens are certified Gluten-Free.”

Banana Boat:

• Sunscreen products only, including Kids – no gluten ingredients but they cannot guarantee that these are produced on gluten-free lines.

Bioelements:

• “The vast majority of our formulas are gluten-free. Bioelements product ingredients are listed in full on each individual product web page on bioelements.com/pros, and on the outside of our boxes. We make the effort to identify gluten where applicable and always advise that you check the ingredient listing in full for any individual product you are interested in. PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT GLUTEN-FREE: Measured Micrograins +”

Blue Lizard Sunscreen:

• “Blue Lizard Sunscreens do not contain gluten.”

CAY SKIN:

• “All (CAY SKIN) products are gluten-free, however, they may be produced in facilities that use gluten.”

CETAPHIL Sheer Mineral Sunscreen:

• “Although the ingredients in our Cetaphil skincare range are not recognized gluten sources; we do not test for trace amounts of gluten that may be present in the ingredients or as a result of the manufacturing process. Additionally, ingredient suppliers may change. If you are a celiac disease patient, you may want to consult your healthcare provider before using Cetaphil.”

COOLA:

• COOLA products are gluten-free with  “the exception of (their)  Rōsilliance® Tinted Moisturizer Organic Sunscreen SPF 30However, (they) do not have dedicated manufacturing equipment for gluten-free products to guarantee no gluten cross-contamination.”

California Baby Sunscreen:

• (NO FRAGRANCE) SUPER SENSITIVE™ BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30+ SUNSCREEN
• (NO FRAGRANCE) SUPER SENSITIVE™ BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30+ SUNSCREEN STICK
• CALENDULA™ BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30+ SUNSCREEN
• CALIFORNIA KIDS® #SUPERSENSITIVE™ TINTED BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30+ SUNSCREEN
• EVERYDAY/YEAR-ROUND™ BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30+ SUNSCREEN
• EVERYDAY/YEAR-ROUND™ BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30+ SUNSCREEN STICK

Clé de Peau Beauté:

• “Many of our products do not contain ingredients derived from barley, oats, rye, spelt or wheat, which are commonly known sources of gluten. However, due to the wide range of raw materials and equipment used during the manufacturing of our products, we cannot confirm that our products are free from any traces of gluten. If you have specific questions or concerns regarding gluten, and the ingredients contained in our formulas, we recommend that you consult your physician. All product ingredients can be found on the product page.”

Consonant:

• “Most of our products are gluten-free with a few exceptions:
• Our Hand Creams and Face Creams contain wheat germ oil
• Our Shampoo and Conditioner contain hydrolyzed wheat protein
• Our baby products and Oatmeal Open Stock Soap contain oatmeal
• While oatmeal itself doesn’t contain gluten, we can’t guarantee that the oatmeal hasn’t come in contact with wheat before it gets to our facility. Our Vitamin E + Oat Serum contains oat oil but is certified gluten-free.”

Coral Isles Reef Safe Sunscreens:

• Coral Isles Reef Safe Sunscreens “are free of oxybenzone, octinoxate, and parabens. (They are) also gluten-free, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and contains no nut oils.”

DERMA-E Sunscreen:

• “All Derma e products are 100% gluten-free!”

Dermalogica:

• Dermalogica is “certified cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan. We have been clean since 1986.”

EltaMD:

• “To the best of our knowledge, the vitamin E in EltaMD sunscreens is gluten-free.”

Fenty Skin

• All “Fenty Beauty + Fenty Skin products are formulated without gluten-derived ingredients and there are no detectable levels of gluten introduced in the manufacturing process.”

First Aid Beauty

• ULTRA REPAIR FACE MOISTURIZER WITH SUNSCREEN BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30 is “Vegan, Non-Comedogenic, Gluten-Free, Cruelty-Free, Paraben-Free, Fragrance-Free, Nut Free, Soy Free, Nano Free, Recyclable Packaging”
• WEIGHTLESS LIQUID MINERAL SUNSCREEN WITH ZINC OXIDE SPF 30 is “Gluten-Free, Nano-Free, Parthenolide Free, Silicone Free, Suitable for Sensitive Skin, Vegan”

Goddess Garden:

• “With the exception of Tinted Face the Day, (Goddess Garden) sunscreens do not contain gluten or wheat-derived products.”

Green Beaver:

• “Green Beaver products are 100% natural, gluten-free, non-nano, biodegradable and reef friendly! These Organic Certified sunscreens are developed for all skin types.”

Josie Maran

• Josie Maran Sun Milk- This product is vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free.

Juice Beauty

• ” All Juice Beauty products are 100% gluten-free.”

KINeSYS:

• KINeSYS products are Gluten-Free and their “manufacturing occurs in a Gluten-Free environment.”

Keys Soulcare:

• “Wheat or any grain-derived ingredients are not included in any of the (Keys Soulcare) products.​”

Kiss My Face Sunscreen:

• Kiss My Face Sunscreen “products are gluten-free.”

Love Sun Body:

• Love Sun Body products “are certified cruelty-free and vegan by PETA, and gluten-free.”

Mineral Fusion Brush:

• Our Sun Defense is “Hypoallergenic – Cruelty-Free – Vegan – Gluten Free – Talc Free – Fragrance-Free – Paraben Free – Phthalate Free – Reef Safe”

Murad:

• City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Travel Size is formulated without “gluten, sulfates, phthalates, and animal-derived ingredients.”
• Correct & Protect Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 45 is formulated without “gluten, sulfates, phthalates, and animal-derived ingredients.”
• Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 is formulated without “gluten, sulfates, phthalates, and animal-derived ingredients.”

Neutrogena :

• While Neutrogena makes no gluten-free claim. Their sunscreens do not contain gluten in the ingredients.

Nudestix:

• NUDESCREEN DAILY MINERAL VEIL SPF 30 – SPF MOISTURIZER-  free from “gluten, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance and vegan.”
• NUDESCREEN LIP PRIMER SPF 30-free from “gluten, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance and vegan.”

Rocky Mountain:

• “All of Rocky Mountain Sunscreen’s formulas are 100% Gluten Free. In addition, our lip balm is also gluten-free. Please see our product specifications page for more information.”

SALT & STONE:

• SALT & STONE Lip Balm SPF 30 is “Cruelty-Free and Gluten-Free”

Shiseido:

• “There is no gluten or gluten-derived ingredients in Shiseido skincare or makeup products.”

Sonage Protec Plus SPF Sunscreen

• Sonage Protec Plus SPF Sunscreen- “PARABEN FREE, BOTANICAL INGREDIENTS, GLUTEN FREE, CRUELTY-FREE, MADE IN USA.”

Sonrei:

• All Sonrei sunscreens are ” Gluten Free & Non-GMO, Vegan, Paraben & PABA Free, and Fragrance-Free.”

Sun Bum Sunscreen:

• “All (Sun Bum) products are Gluten Free.”

Sun Dance Sunscreen:

• “SUNDANCE is a German Dm brand of vegan and gluten-free sunscreens that protect your skin from UV rays with natural ingredients and high SPF levels.”

Suntegrity:

• Suntegrity sunscreens are vegan and gluten-free

Supergoop!

• “All (Supergoop!) formulas are gluten-free, but we don’t manufacture in gluten-free facilities. Although the risk of cross-contamination is low, if you are really sensitive we always recommend doing a patch test.”

Thinkbaby and Thinksport Sunscreen:

• Thinkbaby and Thinksport Sunscreen-all sunscreens are labelled as gluten-free.

Vanicream:

• “We at Pharmaceutical Specialties, Inc. (PSI) have tested all of our products and to date, we can safely say the presence of gluten was not detected using our testing methods. We consider our products “Gluten-Free” based on the FDA proposed guidelines in foods labelled gluten-free.”

Vinchy:

• “Vichy prides itself in offering a fragrance-free sun-care range. You might have spotted the “GFCO” seal on certain products; this is a designation from the Gluten Intolerance Group. This means that the third party has verified that the sunscreen doesn’t contain any gluten or gluten by-products.”

Armed with the ultimate gluten-free sunscreen list you will be prepared for any outdoor activity this summer, as well as all year long.

Are there any other sunscreens we should add to our ultimate gluten-free sunscreen list?

Leave us a comment below and let us know, because by sharing information we are all able to live our best gluten-free lives.

Enjoy your summer, safely!

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