Wearing sunscreen is not always necessary as your skin is your natural sunscreen. The more you are in the sun and mind you, not wearing sunglasses, the more your body will produce melanin. Which is what causes your skin’s pigment to darken. Building up a tan slowly is how your body protects itself from the sun. It is also crucial to get vitamin D from the sun which many people are deficient in. So, you only want to really wear sunscreen if you are going to be in the sun long enough that you may burn. Although getting a tan is beneficial to you, getting burnt is not and is very harmful to your skin. What’s equally as important is using a sunscreen that’s free from harmful chemicals.
Going back to the comment about sunglasses. Your eyes are what your body uses to communicate to your brain to tell it how much melanin to produce. So, if you are covering them up with sunglasses then you are basically telling your body that the sun isn’t out. Therefore doesn’t need to produce this which is why people will burn more readily when wearing sunglasses. Your eyes also absorb vitamin D!
Remember, when choosing a sunscreen, make sure that it doesn’t contain any of the 11 ingredients currently being investigated by the FDA. You also want to opt for a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as the main ingredients. Trust me, your skin will thank you. If you would like to see the list of ingredients to avoid, then click here. Otherwise, see below for recommended sunscreens that are safe to use.
Earthley
Earthley’s Sun Shield is a natural sun protection lotion that soothes the skin and protects against free radical damage. It is made with all-natural ingredients so you can feel confident using Sun Shield on the whole family. It comes in a lotion and stick application. Personally this is my favorite option as it not only helps to protect your skin from burning and damage, BUT it also DOES NOT block vitamin D absorption which is so important for our overall health.
Beauty By Earth
Beauty By Earth has so many different options for mineral sunscreens. There are options for you body, your face, there is topical application, spray, and tinted sunscreens. There are also different scents that you can choose from. They are filled with skin-nourishing ingredients like Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera, and Shea Butter without any silicones or harsh ingredients. Their custom formula uses clear non-nano zinc oxide as the main ingredient. This ingredient won’t leave you with a white cast.
Colorescience
The sheerest-of-the-sheer, all-mineral SPF 50 coverage that can be worn alone or under makeup. Using this sunscreen can even help prevent premature skin aging. It does so by protecting from UVA/UVB, HEV light, pollution, and free radicals that damage skin, resulting in photoaging. This lightweight formula not only boosts hydration but works to improve skin’s moisture retention over time with continued use. It is safe for the entire family to use. This high-performance 40-minute water and sweat-resistant SPF 50 coverage means you can enjoy the water with no worries. Colorescience has many options for sunscreens including tinted sunscreens.
Christina Moss Naturals
Christina Moss sunscreen is an SPF 30 blend that is mineral-based, broad-spectrum, eco-friendly and biodegradable. This sunscreen offers both UVA and UVB protection. It is water resistant up to 80 minutes. This product is non-allergenic, safe for all skin types, is coral/reef safe and cruelty free.
Attitude
This is a mineral sunscreen that is fragrance-free and a great option for sensitive skin. It is easy to apply, smooth and clear on skin, making it a great protection all year long. This mineral sunscreen is EWG VERIFIED and is a Top-scoring sunscreen moisturizer with the EWG.
ATTITUDE’s unscented broad spectrum Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 forms a physical barrier that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. This is all thanks to its formula which contains zinc oxide. This effective mineral and hypoallergenic sunscreen is ECOLOGO™ Certified. And because ATTITUDE loves nature and animals, it is PETA Certified, vegan and cruelty-free.
This Plastic Free Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 can do just the trick! Created from non-nano zinc oxide, a safe and effective sunscreen filter according to EWG experts. This unscented, tinted mineral sun protector composes a physical barrier that helps prevent sunburn from UVA and UVB rays. Infused with shea butter and coconut oil, it leaves your skin feeling smooth and nourished without leaving a heavy white residue. This formula also makes it easy to blend into all skin tones.
Ever wondered what the difference between UVA and UVB sunlight is? UVA rays can penetrate the skin deep down to the dermis, while UVB rays penetrate more superficially and are usually the main cause of sunburns. Fortunately, this Fragrance-free Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 forms a physical barrier that protects against both UVA and UVB rays! Featured in EWG’s top-rated sunscreen moisturizers, this mineral sunscreen for kids uses worry-free, natural ingredients like non-nano zinc oxide, for the safest sun care possible. Easy to apply, smooth and clear, this mineral sunscreen has never made it easier to have fun under the sun! This also comes in a face stick to make application easier on your little ones.
This natural sunblock is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested and is gentle on your little one’s sensitive skin. Your kids will love its naturally delicious vanilla blossom scent. Attitude loves nature, animals and marine life, so this sunscreen is PETA certified, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Earth Mama
This sunscreen has all the power of non-nano mineral sunscreen, minus the pale cast — using just a hint of iron oxide for a sheer tint that seamlessly blends with most skin tones. It protects and moisturizes using the perfect balance of naturally high-SPF organic red raspberry seed oil plus non-nano zinc that creates a barrier on the skin so it can scatter sun rays. This tinted mineral sunscreen is dermatologist tested and clinically tested for irritation, broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and water resistant for 40 minutes.
This formula is a mineral sunscreen for kids that have super sensitive skin. It slides on smoothly to keep delicate, rashy skin happy and protected with organic colloidal oatmeal which is the eczema warrior for all skin types. Plus, it contains both organic red raspberry seed oil (which has the highest naturally occurring SPF value in the plant world) and organic pomegranate seed oil for a cruelty-free boost in UV protection.
This mineral sunscreen moisturizes delicate baby skin with shea butter and calendula (one of Earth Mama’s favorite herbs!). It is formulated to protect sensitive skin – on babies, toddlers, kids and adults – without any chemical sunscreen ingredients or irritating chemicals. Instead, it contains organic red raspberry seed oil (which has the highest naturally occurring SPF value in the plant world) and organic pomegranate seed oil for a cruelty-free boost in UV protection.
MD Solar Sciences
This gentle physical SPF mineral sunscreen from MD Solar Sciences is silky-smooth on the most delicate skin, making it ideal for the whole family. The water-resistant broad-spectrum protection is sheer and weightless, gliding on effortlessly and blending into all skin tones with no white cast. This smooth formula makes re-application on wiggly little ones quick and easy. It is non-stick and has a barely-there-feeling which makes it ideal for the beach, as sand will not stick to the skin. It comes in three types of applications such as stick, lotion, and spray and also comes in two different formulas, one for kids and one for adults. Here are the adult formulas; stick, lotion, spray.
This is what I have found for options so far. I will of course keep looking and add more as I find additional options that are clean and safe to use. I hope you found one that you would like to try. If none of these are ones you want to try and you would like to look for your own brand to use, I recommend using my list of ingredients to avoid that you can find here.
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