Sunscreens that are safe for everyone

With about a month left of summer, I'm finally posting my very first blog, which is about finding a sunscreen that is safe for the entire family to use. My passion for clean products specifically beauty products began when I was in college after writing a research report for my environmental health class. The assignment opened my eyes to the use of harmful chemicals in beauty products and since then I've been in search of safer products that actually work!

Today just because a product is marketed as organic or all natural doesn't mean it is free from harmful chemicals. I found this to be especially true when I was searching for a safe sunscreen. After doing extensive research these are the sunscreens that I feel are safe enough for my family.

My top picks

Manda

Manda has two awesome products. The organic sun paste consists of non-nano zinc oxide, organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, organic cocoa butter, thanaka (is wood from a tree native to Myanmar), organic cacao powder, organic shea butter, and organic cinnamon oil. The organic sun creme is a thinner formula which is easier to spread over the entire body where the organic sun paste works well for the face. The organic sun creme consists of non-nano zinc oxide, organic coconut oil, organic almond oil, organic beeswax, organic cocoa butter, thanaka (is wood from a tree native to Myanmar), organic cacao powder, organic shea butter, and organic cinnamon oil. The organic sun creme comes in a unique bio-plastic tube that is derived from sugar cane.

Raw Love

Raw Love is made here in the US and offers plastic free packacing! It has an SPF of 35 and the ingredients consist of non-nano zinc oxide cold pressed unrefined coconut oil, raw shea butter, sesame oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, vitamin e oil, carrot seed oil and pure essential oils: lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus. It is also cruelty free, coral reef safe, plant based, water resistant, FDA compliant, baby safe and goes on clear. With this sunscreen and really any of my top picks a little goes a long way, so it's best to apply small amounts to your fingertips and then rub it in. I recommend purchasing the sunscreen online from Well Earth Goods which is an awesome plastic free store that offers free shipping!

Zeb's organics

Zeb's organics offers sunscreen in a tube with options for SPF protection in 20, 30 and 50. The ingredients for the sunscreen with SPF 30 are Non-Nano Zinc Oxide 12%; Organic Coco nucifera (coconut oil), Organic Olea Europaea (olive oil), Sunflower Wax, Organic Vitellaria paradoxa (shea butter), and Helianthus Annuus (sunflower oil). They also have a zero waste option that comes in a tin with an SPF protection of 50. The ingredients for the sunscreen in the tin are Non-Nano Zinc Oxide 25%; Organic Coco Nucifera (coconut oil), Bees Wax, Vitellaria paradoxa (shea butter), Organic Helianthus Annuus (sunflower oil), and Organic Coconut Flavor. Zeb's Organics sunscreen is an EWG top rated pick with a safety rating of 1, the best rating possible from the Environmental Working Group. What I love about this product is you can buy it locally at places like Wholefoods and if they don't offer it you can submit a request form for it. 

Shade^TM All-Natural Sunscreen

Shade sunscreen only consists of four 100% natural ingredients: Soil Association certified organic unrefined shea butter, unrefined virgin organic coconut oil, unrefined beeswax, and non-nano zinc oxide. This is a UK product, but Plastic Freedom offers international shipping.

Shopping for Sunscreen on the go

In a perfect world, we all have the time to plan ahead and purchase sunscreens before we travel. But sometimes we are at the mercy of what the drugstore has to offer. In this case Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen, SPF 50 is a safe option. Another recommendation is to download the Environmental Working Group app which can help guide you in finding a safe sunscreen. They don't have the rating for every sunscreen, but most are available. You can always type in the ingredients directly into the app and it will provide information regarding any health concerns. Be sure to look for the inactive ingredients which are listed well below the active ingredients as seen in the picture below.

Ingredients to avoid

• Oxybenzone - acts as an estrogen in the body as well as bleaching and killing coral reef. You can sign the EWP petition to ban the use of oxybenzone in sunscreens.
• Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) - Government studies show it could speed the development of skin tumors and lesions.
• Fragrance or parfum - associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system.
• Parabens - Human endocrine disruptors

I hope this blog provides help in navigating through the market for sunscreens that are actually all natural and zero waste. Feel free to leave any comments or questions below! 

Best,

Cheryl