Best Sustainable Sunscreen Brands
As summertime circles around once again, so does the reminder to wear sunscreen. Choosing sunscreen used to be as simple as grabbing a bottle with the appropriate SPF and a scent you enjoy.
Today this is not the case. It’s been discovered that mainstream sunscreens have various chemicals in them that are allergens to some of the people wearing them. Not only that, sunscreen is wreaking havoc on our oceans by damaging the coral reefs.
As responsible sunscreen consumers, we need to do our research and make better choices for our skin and the environment. Let’s ditch the oxybenzone, octinoxate, microplastics, and parabens.
Look toward mineral-based sunscreens with sustainable packaging. Let’s make a difference this summer. Here are six sustainable sunscreen brands for you to check out.
1. Raw Elements Face and Body Sunbalm
The first thing you’ll notice about Raw Elements Face and Body Sunbalm is the flat circular tin it comes in. The company is committed to plastic-free packaging, and that’s a big gold star in our books.
Raw Elements started as a grassroots project in founder Brian Guadragno’s kitchen. He went in search of a more environmentally friendly sunscreen for sports-minded people.
The result is a formula that includes all certified natural ingredients. Its 30 SPF sun protection comes from non-nano zinc oxide. There’s also skin nourishment such as green and black tea, hemp seed oil, cocoa butter, vitamin E, and rosemary oil extract.
2. Stream2Sea
US-based company Stream2Sea is a member of 1% For The Planet. It’s a global organization for businesses, individuals, and non-profits committed to solving environmental issues.
With packaging made from sugarcane resin, Stream2Sea is able to contain its sunscreen in a tube. You can toss it into your beach bag and then toss it into the recycling bin when it’s empty.
Stream2Sea is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes after it’s applied and won’t sweat into your eyes or run off into the water. Some of the key ingredients in this mineral-based sunscreen are non-nano titanium oxide, green tea, tulsi, wakame, and olive oil.
3. Juice Beauty
Juice Beauty sunscreen is specially formulated to not clog your pores. It has some added bonus ingredients such as vitamins C, E, and B5 and hyaluronic acid.
Juice Beauty is an SPF 30 broad-spectrum UV protector. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, reef safe, contains certified organic ingredients, and comes in sustainable packaging.
4. Dirty Hippie Sunscreen Balm
Dirty Hippie Sunscreen Balm packages its item in a compostable cardboard tube, a compostable cardboard sample pot, or a reusable tin pot. Their labels are also made from vegetable ink.
The company makes its products vegan and cruelty-free. Beyond the sunscreen, they also sell make-up, hair, and other skincare products.
Dirty Hippie’s headquarters is set up in a zero-waste community in Bywong, Australia. They use rainwater and solar power to run their operation.
5. Kinlo Golden Rays Sunscreen
Kinlo’s golden rays sunscreen is an SPF 50 sunscreen that has a melanated tint. It was created for melanin-rich skin.
No white residue is left behind, and it contains nutrient-rich ingredients such as glycerin, vitamin E, and niacinamide. The sunscreen comes in an aluminum pump bottle.
6. Manda Organic Sun Crème
Manda Organic Sun Crème is made from food-grade natural organic ingredients. The paste is made from bark called Thanaka. It is antifungal, antimicrobial, and helps with age-fighting.
Manda Organic Sun Crème has thoughtful recyclable packaging made from cane sugar. The sun crème itself is reef safe, but be mindful that it’s not vegan because it contains beeswax.
It has some eco-friendly ingredients like organic coconut oil, organic almond oil, organic cocoa butter, and organic cinnamon oil. Even better, their sun crème is not tested on animals.
Sunscreen is important for our skin, and the choice is not always simple. The decision of which sunscreen to use for you and your family must be made with thought, care, and consideration. Hopefully, this list of premium eco-friendly sunscreens helped point you in the right direction.
