Finally, the temperature is on the rise and the days are getting longer. I think we’re all itching for a little time in the sun. We love spending as much time as possible at the pool during the summer and we also love heading to the playground or hosting backyard gatherings and all of that amounts to a lot of time in the sun. But before you reach you reach for your conventional sunscreens, I’ve got my top picks for safer products for the whole family to enjoy the warm weather.
Natural Sunblock vs. Chemical Sunblock
Sunblock is a biggie since skin cancers have been steadily on the rise the last couple of decades. My mom has had a couple of different types of skin cancer and they keep coming back. After watching her go through a few surgeries and seeing the effect, protecting my skin and my family’s skin from the sun has been a top priority. On the flip side, most conventional sunscreens can actually be harmful because they contain chemical blockers such as oxybenzone, which bioaccumulate in your body (as in, your body has a hard time getting rid of it, so it stays there) and studies have shown that oxybenzone and other chemical blockers can disrupt hormones and since they hangout in your body for so long, that’s a problem. You can learn more about what to look for in the EWG.org’s 2016 Guide To Sunscreens, but I’ve found a few brands that I really like that work well and are safe for the whole family.
If you’ve never used natural sunscreen before, the difference is that they use physical blockers rather than chemical blockers. Ingredients like zinc oxide act like a shield on top of your skin. That also means that sometimes they can be a bit whitish and hard to rub in. That’s why I’ve been super impressed with Babo Botanicals new Sheer Zinc line. We’ve used their products for a couple of years now and after I shared a picture on Instagram of their sunscreen during spring break, they offered to send me their updated formula to try and it seriously may be the best natural sunscreen I’ve tried. Although I do still rub it in just a bit, it does go on incredibly sheer, especially for a natural sunscreen. One thing I’ll note is that these rated a bit high on EWG.org. According to EWG, they estimate the total SPF protection to be less than what the packaging states. While I do use EWG as a resource, sometimes they’re not 100% accurate and it can be hard to interpret their scores when they pull in other factors. All of the ingredients scored well individually on EWG, so I reached out to Babo Botanicals to ask about that and they stated that all Babo Botanicals mineral sunscreens are approved by the FDA and an independent lab for performance and safety. That being said, we’ve not had any issues with these products. We always reapply after swimming or toweling off and haven’t gotten any sunburns using this brand. Here’s what we tried:
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Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Spray SPF 30– This sprays on mostly sheer, but quickly disappears into your skin. I always rub in sprays just a little to make it sure it covered all areas. This says it has 80 minutes of water and sweat resistance and seemed to meet that standard during our use. I will update you guys as we get deeper into summer with it though. The EWG, along with some other groups, advise against using spray sunscreens, especially around children, because of the inhalation risk. For that reason, I’m careful using it on the kids.
Super Shield Sport Stick SPF 50– This is great to throw in my purse for trips to the park or when the kids have outdoor sports. It’s small enough to easily rub onto the kid’s faces and necks and rubs in surprisingly clear. I use it on my husband too, since he burns easily. It’s such a convenient size and application, so we end up using it a lot. I wouldn’t use it to cover large areas (like if you’re at the pool), but covering faces, necks and small arms is quite easy with this.
Nutri-Soothe Lip Treatment SPF 15– I haven’t used a lip specific sunblock before, but it does make sense to use one (I’ve gotten a sunburn on my lips once or twice). The coconut apple scent smells delicious and goes on like a lip balm without any whitish tint.
Clear Zinc Sunscreen SPF 30– This is the product my family used all last summer and loved. It’s a lotion and easily rubs on and it’s my go-to for the kids. Babo Botanicals new sheer sunscreens do go on a little easier than this, but for the price and the fact that a lotion is the way to go with the kids, this will still probably be my go-to for them this summer as well.
For kids and babies, I also really like Nurture My Body’s Organic Baby Sunscreen SPF 32 and Badger also makes great sunscreen for children.
Face Sunblock
For my face I usually try to go with something that I know won’t break me out and that will give me a little coverage since I’ll be otherwise bare-faced at the pool or beach. I have two favorites:
Suntegrity 5-in-1 Tinted Moisturizer– This zinc formula offers the best coverage of any natural tinted moisturizer I’ve tried. It acts as a great primer for makeup and always does a great job protecting my face in the sun. It is moisturizing, but when I wear it in the winter I also use a serum or another oil under it for an extra boost of moisture.
Josh Rosebrook Tinted Nutrient Day Cream– I love how moisturizing this formula is and the dewy glow it gives me. I find the coverage to be a bit lighter than Suntegrity’s, which can be a good thing if you have great skin or just don’t want such a heavy layer on at the beach.
Other Favorites For Sunny Days
When the sun’s out, bugs come out and our skin and hair all need a little extra TLC. Here are some other products that we reach during warm weather.
Kosmatology Bug Repellent– We’ve been using this twist up, stick bug repellent the last few weeks and have had great success with it! Even here in NC where the bugs are relentless (and that says a lot because I tend to be a major target!!). This also scores points for being pocket-sized and easy to take a long wherever we go.
Leahlani’s Mahana Coco Infusion– This is such a treat for your skin after a long day in the sun or anytime you bare you skin these warmer months. The warm tropical scent is one of my favorites and it gives your skin the most amazing glow, while moisturizing it. You can even put a little in your hair for some frizz control and to add a beachy scent.
Florapothecarie Rose + Sea Salt Hair Spray– This stuff is divine! It smells like roses and adds just the right amount of salty, beachy texture and waves to your hair. When you shake the bottle, you see it turn a pretty pink color and the smell is just gorgeous. During the summer my hair is a mess due to the humidity, so a messy beach wave is a go-to for me. This hair spray gets high scores with me.
There are so many safer choices out there these days. With summer upon us, enjoy your time in the sun safely! xo
I find it really curious how the EWG estimates SPF based on the ingredients list–I thought perhaps the issue they found with Babo is a low zinc percentage, but I checked and 22% zinc is quite good, better than badger I think!