Sun Bum Review, Is Sun Bum Non-Toxic?
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Across 7 graded products, Sun Bum averages Poor (36/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 1 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
Worth buying from Sun Bum Good or better, safest first
Sun Bum Original
SPF Sunscreen Lotion
Lotion base (water, oils, emulsifiers)
Fragrance allergens
Sun Bum Original contains fragrance compounds (coconut scent marketed); specific allergen…
Oxybenzone and avobenzone photostability
Both UV filters are known to degrade under sunlight and may produce minor…
Parabens
Standard lotion preservatives (parabens, methylisothiazolinone) have low oral toxicity…
Ocular irritation from emulsifier residue
Sunscreen lotions can irritate eyes if applied too close to lids or if accidentally…
Lower risk without obvious need for fluorochemical additives.
⚠Risky category by default
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Sun Bum Original
SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray
Spray sunscreen with water-resistant film-forming agents
Inhalation risk from aerosol propellant and UV filter particles
Spray sunscreen delivery inherently creates fine aerosol particles and propellant vapor.…
Endocrine disruptors
If this formulation includes oxybenzone (common in SPF 50 sprays), published studies show…
Silicone and synthetic polymer film accumulation on skin
Water-resistant spray sunscreens rely on siloxane polymers and acrylate resins that do…
PFAS
Water-resistant spray sunscreens frequently use PFAS-based hydrophobic polymers…
Moderate risk; water-resistant sprays often contain PFAS-based hydrophobic coatings.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Sun Bum Original
Sun Bum SPF 45 Sunscreen Face Mist
Water-resistant aerosol sunscreen with silicone and mineral UV filters
Aerosol inhalation risk
Mist format increases likelihood of inhaling fine particles and propellant; silicone…
Silicone accumulation on skin and in environment
Cyclic siloxanes (common in waterproof cosmetic aerosols) are documented as…
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
Sunscreen formulations often contain fragrance masking (typical for silicone-based…
Titanium dioxide or zinc oxide inhalation (if mineral filter)
Aerosol dispersion of fine mineral particles creates inhalation exposure; while generally…
Waterproof cosmetics carry elevated PFAS risk with no Sun Bum disclosure provided.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Sun Bum Original
SPF 50 Sunscreen Roll-On Lotion
Lotion with waterproofing agents (unspecified)
PFAS
Water-resistant sunscreens typically require fluorinated compounds; Sun Bum does not…
UV filter skin absorption and bioaccumulation potential
Oxybenzone and avobenzone, common in lotion sunscreens, are absorbed systemically in…
Fragrance composition and allergen undisclosure
Product typically contains fragrance; full allergen list (e.g., limonene, linalool) is…
Avoid until brand discloses waterproofing chemistry typical of water-resistant sunscreens.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Sun Bum Original
Sun Bum SPF 50 Face Sunscreen Lotion
Oil-in-water emulsion with waterproofing agents
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Sun Bum products commonly include fragrance; facial sunscreens with fragrance may trigger…
1,4-dioxane (contaminant in ethoxylated surfactants)
Oil-in-water emulsions may contain ethoxylated emulsifiers (e.g., polysorbates) that can…
Skin barrier disruption from surfactants or preservatives
Emulsifiers and preservatives in this lotion formulation may strip skin oils or cause…
PFAS
Waterproof sunscreens are a known source of PFAS exposure; Sun Bum's formula meets the…
Waterproof formula raises PFAS concern with no brand transparency provided.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Sun Bum Original
Face and Body Stick SPF 40
wax stick with waterproofing agent (unspecified)
UV filter stability and photodegradation
Avobenzone, a common broad-spectrum UV filter, degrades under sunlight over time. In a…
Contact sensitization from fragrance or preservatives
Stick sunscreens require higher preservative loads and often contain added fragrance to…
Wax base occlusion and heat retention
The solid wax matrix creates an occlusive layer that can trap heat and moisture on skin…
Oxybenzone or similar chemical UV filter absorption
If oxybenzone is used as the UV filter, in vivo absorption into bloodstream has been…
Waterproof stick carries moderate PFAS risk with undisclosed waterproofing chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Sun Bum Original
SPF Lotion Sunscreen
Oil/water emulsion lotion base with waterproofing actives
Synthetic UV-filter dermal absorption
Oxybenzone and avobenzone (common actives in this product class) are absorbed through…
Emulsion stability and polymer leachates
Oil-water emulsions in sunscreens rely on synthetic polymers and silicone surfactants to…
Fragrance and fragrance allergens
Sun Bum Original is scented (typical coconut or tropical fragrance); undisclosed…
Photocatalytic activity of UV filters
Certain chemical UV filters can generate reactive oxygen species when exposed to sun…
Moderate risk; Sun Bum hasn't publicly disclosed ingredient transparency.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →