You are tired of orange and yellow marks on your white shirts every summer. The stains appear after washing, they get worse with bleach, and regular detergent does not remove them.
The ingredient that causes orange sunscreen stains is avobenzone, a chemical UV filter that reacts with iron minerals in tap water.
TL;DR: Sunscreens that contain avobenzone leave orange or yellow marks on clothes when the chemical reacts with iron in tap water. Pick a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the only active ingredients, or an avobenzone-free chemical sunscreen, and the stains stop happening.
According to CBS News, more than 600 sunscreen products from over 130 brands contain avobenzone.
If your sunscreen has it, your clothes will stain.
- If you want zero risk of orange stains, switch to a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the only active ingredients.
- If you want a lightweight feel without the white cast, choose a tinted mineral sunscreen or an avobenzone-free chemical sunscreen.
- If you have already stained your clothes, see how to remove sunscreen stains for the fix.
The solution is simple: check the active ingredients on the back label.
If avobenzone is listed, the sunscreen will cause orange stains.
If it isn’t listed, it won’t.
Here is what to look for and which sunscreens pass the test.
Why Avobenzone Stains Clothes
Avobenzone is one of the most common UVA-blocking ingredients in American sunscreens. It absorbs well into the skin and provides broad-spectrum protection, which is why it is so widely used.
The problem is not the avobenzone itself on the fabric.
According to Dr. Erum Ilyas, the orange stain appears when avobenzone residue on fabric contacts iron minerals dissolved in tap water during the wash cycle.
The chemical reaction creates iron oxide, which is rust, bonded to the fabric fibers.
This is why the stains often appear or darken after washing rather than when the sunscreen first touches the fabric.
What to Look for on the Label
Active ingredients that stain
Avoid sunscreens listing any of these as active ingredients if staining is a concern:
- Avobenzone (also called butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane): the primary stain-causing ingredient
- Oxybenzone: can also contribute to discoloration on fabric
- Octocrylene: often combined with avobenzone and can worsen staining
Active ingredients that do not stain
These active ingredients do not react with iron in water and will not cause orange stains:
- Zinc oxide: mineral UV blocker, broad-spectrum protection
- Titanium dioxide: mineral UV blocker, primarily UVB protection
- Octinoxate (without avobenzone): chemical UVB filter that does not cause the iron reaction
The label check takes 10 seconds
Flip the bottle over and read the “Active Ingredients” section. If you see zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and no avobenzone, the sunscreen will not cause orange stains on your clothes.
Sunscreens That Do Not Stain Clothes
Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+
Blue Lizard Sensitive uses zinc oxide as its only active ingredient with no avobenzone, oxybenzone, or octinoxate. It is fragrance-free and designed for sensitive skin.
The non-nano zinc oxide particles sit on the skin surface rather than absorbing, which means any residue that transfers to fabric washes out easily with regular detergent. Blue Lizard is one of the most recommended mineral sunscreens by dermatologists for people concerned about clothing stains.
EltaMD UV Sport Broad Spectrum SPF 50
EltaMD UV Sport combines zinc oxide with octinoxate for broad-spectrum protection without avobenzone. It is water-resistant for 80 minutes and designed for active outdoor use.
EltaMD is a dermatologist-recommended brand that prioritizes transparent ingredient lists. The zinc oxide provides UVA protection without the iron reaction that avobenzone causes.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with no chemical UV filters. The tinted version blends without a white cast, making it suitable for all skin tones.
La Roche-Posay is a French pharmacy brand with strong dermatology credentials. Their mineral formula is lightweight compared to many zinc-based sunscreens and absorbs without the thick, pasty feel.
CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with ceramides and niacinamide to support the skin barrier. No avobenzone or chemical UV filters.
The tinted version eliminates the white cast that the untinted formula leaves on darker skin tones. CeraVe is widely available at drugstores and is one of the most affordable mineral sunscreen options.
Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint SPF 30
Neutrogena Purescreen+ uses zinc oxide with a sheer tint that adapts to skin tone. No avobenzone, oxybenzone, or octinoxate.
Neutrogena reformulated this line specifically to address consumer complaints about chemical sunscreen staining. The mineral-only formula eliminates the avobenzone-iron reaction entirely.
Coppertone Pure & Simple SPF 50
Coppertone Pure & Simple uses zinc oxide as the active ingredient with no avobenzone, oxybenzone, parabens, or fragrances. It is designed for sensitive skin and everyday wear.
Coppertone is one of the most recognizable sunscreen brands, and their Pure & Simple line is their answer to the staining problem that their traditional chemical formulas cause.
Stream2Sea Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
Stream2Sea SPF 30 uses non-nano zinc oxide with no chemical UV filters. It is reef-safe, biodegradable, and formulated to minimize white cast on the skin.
Stream2Sea is a smaller brand focused on environmental responsibility. Their formula avoids all the chemical filters that cause fabric staining and is one of the few mineral sunscreens that has been independently tested for reef safety.
The White Cast Trade-Off
The biggest complaint about mineral sunscreens is the white cast they leave on skin. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are white powders, and many mineral formulas look chalky on the skin.
Tinted formulas solve the problem
Tinted mineral sunscreens add iron oxide pigments that cancel the white cast. The tint blends into the skin and looks natural on most skin tones.
La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, EltaMD, and Neutrogena all offer tinted versions of their mineral sunscreens specifically for this reason.
Application technique matters
Apply mineral sunscreen in thin layers and rub it in thoroughly. Two thin layers absorb better and leave less white residue than one thick application.
Wait 15 minutes before dressing to let the sunscreen absorb and set on the skin.
How to Prevent Stains Even With Mineral Sunscreen
Mineral sunscreens do not cause orange stains, but the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can leave white marks on dark clothing if the sunscreen has not fully absorbed.
Let it absorb before dressing
Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before putting on clothes. Fully absorbed sunscreen transfers significantly less product to fabric.
Pre-rinse sunscreen-exposed clothes
Rinse any sunscreen-exposed clothing in cold water before putting it in the washing machine. This removes most of the product before the wash cycle.
Wash in warm water with detergent
White mineral sunscreen residue on clothes washes out easily with standard detergent and warm water. Unlike avobenzone stains, mineral sunscreen marks are not permanent and do not require special treatment.
Check the active ingredients: if there is no avobenzone, there will be no orange stains.
Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are the safest choice for your clothes.
For removing existing sunscreen stains, see how to remove sunscreen stains from clothes.
For the best stain remover products by type, see the best stain removers.
Pin this page before sunscreen season starts.
12-year nomad, carry-on-only traveler across 5 continents, and creator of Organizing.TV.
I help you pack smaller, stress less, and actually enjoy the packing part of travel.