7 Non-Toxic Sunscreens for Summer
No matter what time of year it is, wearing sunscreen is an absolute must for healthy skin.
Not only can sunscreen prevent physical signs of aging, like sun spots and wrinkles, it also shields our skin cells from cancer-causing UV rays. Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States, affecting roughly 3.3 million individuals every year — which gives us an idea about how important it is to apply sunscreen every single day.
However, not all sunscreens are created equal. Conventional formulas that contain chemicals like oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octocrylene have been found to leach into the skin with dangerously high toxicity levels. Oxybenzone, in particular, is known to disrupt normal human hormone patterns. Avobenzone can turn toxic when exposed to chlorine, and octocrylene pumps out harmful free radicals once absorbed into the skin.
Yeah — yikes! We think that if we’re going to be applying a product to our skin every day, at the very least it should be free of toxic chemicals.
That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of natural, mineral-based sunscreens that will protect your skin from the sun and keep toxic chemicals out of your bloodstream, which is a win-win in our eyes!
Photo by Jakob Owens
1. Sun Bum Original SPF 70 Lotion
Dermatologist-formulated with a killer SPF to boot, Sun Bum’s antioxidant-enriched sunscreen is gluten, cruelty and paraben free. Bonus: it also smells really good, and it doesn’t have the chalky texture that some mineral-based sunscreens are prone to having.
2. Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen - SPF 30+
Blue Lizard’s sunscreen is made with 79% zinc oxide, a natural compound that blocks harmful UV rays. The formula contains no parabens and no fragrances, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Photo by Stanley Dai
3. Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50
Australian Gold's formula is a powerhouse of natural ingredients. The antioxidant rich sunscreen, created with soothing elements like Eucalyptus & Red Algae, forms a unique blend of antioxidant-rich plants to fight free radicals for nourishing your skin.
4. Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 30
Guard your skin against sun's damaging rays with BeautyCounter's convenient, water-resistant sunscreen stick. Formulated with non-nano zinc and California Poppy, this physical SPF 30 formulation provides an effective shield from UVA and UVB rays, while still being gentle and pleasant on the skin. The moisturizing cocoa butter-infused formula glides on smoothly without leaving a that notorious white residue.
5. Kabana Green Screen® Organic Sunscreen SPF 32 Original – Soy Free
This sunscreen is soy-free, gluten-free, corn-free, dairy-free, vegan, and contains 86% certified organic ingredients. And good news for parents: Green Screen Organic Sunscreens are also baby and pregnancy safe.
Photo by Drew Dau
6. Badger Clear Zinc Unscented Sunscreen Lotion
Fair trade and organic aloe make up the base for this moisturizing sunscreen. It’s also certified cruelty-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Please note that this is not a water resistant sunscreen, so we’d recommend using it on your face for day-to-day wear!
7. True Natural Caribbean Coconut SPF 30 Sunscreen
This tropical sunscreen is rich in coconut oil, which not only makes it supremely moisturizing, but also gives it an amazing scent. Plus, it’s biodegradable, gluten-free and vegan on top of being natural and non-toxic.
Photo by Lindsay Lenard
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