Everything You Need To Know About Organic Sunscreen Before Hitting The Beach

With the summer fast approaching, plans for sunny beach days and long hiking trips are not far away. Before grabbing your next sunscreen off the shelf, read on to learn how to choose the best type of sunscreen while avoiding the sun’s harmful UV rays.

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May 17 2019, Updated 7:49 p.m. ET

While everyone knows that sunscreen is one of the best tools to keep skin safe from the sun’s harmful UV rays, the decision of which sunscreen to slather on can sometimes be tricky. Although there are more sunscreen options than ever, organic formulas may be a good choice when heading outside this summer. 

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So what sets organic sunscreens apart from other sunscreens? Sunscreens basically break down into two groups because they work differently and often have different kinds of ingredients. 

First, there are chemical sunscreens which sink into the skin and work to absorb UV rays. On the other hand, there are physical sunscreens which are usually a thicker consistency and work by blocking or reflecting UV rays.

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While it may sound relatively simple, things can get confusing because the word “organic” is often misused. Doctor Sarah Villafranco, founder and CEO of Osmia Organics explained to Mind Body Green that organic sunscreens are technically ones that use carbon-based chemicals. However, when consumers think of organic sunscreens, they’re usually thinking about non-toxic ones. 

The people who have the final say on what is or isn’t organic is The National Organic Program of the USDA, but their published list doesn’t always clear up the confusion because it is based on things used in agriculture or food production, not necessarily skincare ingredients.

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What do the doctors recommend? Doctor Villafranco suggests using sunscreen with non-toxic ingredients. In an interview with Green Matters, Dermatology specialist Doctor Diana K. Cohen shared, “Physical sunscreens overall do a better job of protecting against UVA and UVB, so I often recommend people opt for the ‘inorganic’ version. Of course, then you must look at the many other ingredients in the sunscreen.” 

Whatever your preference, reading the ingredients is always the best thing to do before tossing any sunscreen into your shopping cart. When scanning ingredients, it helps to know which ingredients might be red flags and which are generally considered as better options.

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Some types of ingredients which are generally considered to be safe include antioxidants, natural plant oils, and anti-inflammatories like jojoba oil or shea butter. Ingredients to consider skipping include petrochemicals, silicones, synthetic preservatives, and synthetic fragrances.

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One sunscreen free of scary sounding ingredients is Surf Mud. In an email interview with Green Matters, Eir founder Jun Lee says, “The Surf Mud pro comes in 100% compostable packaging and all the ingredients are clean and it's practically edible. Containing chocolate, it's loaded with antioxidants, moisturizing, and long lasting.”

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Into something more fruity? Coola’s Guava Mango Sunscreen Spray includes over 70 percent certified organic ingredients. It’s also water resistant and created to stay even through the sweatiest of sports sessions.

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Another great option is All Good’s Zinc Sunscreen Butter. The brand is making strides to help stop coral reef bleaching which can occur when the reefs are exposed to harmful toxins in sunscreens. A representative from All Good explained to Green Matters in an email interview, “We use all certified organic ingredients in production, protecting your skin and the ocean ecosystem with every use!” She continued, “As an entirely clean, biodegradable, mineral-based sunscreen, All Good provides an alternative to these chemical ingredients with a reef-friendly sunscreen that helps protect coral reefs and your skin.”

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Kypris Beauty’s Pot of Shade Heliotropic is another great option for your UV ray fighting arsenal. A representative from Kypris Beauty tells Green Matters that all their ingredients are “100% natural and nature-derived, scented and preserved with essential oils and plant extracts.” This sunscreen is also packaged in glass, which is helpful in avoiding plastic packaging, and never tested on animals.

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Alba Botanic offers a sunscreen with organic ingredients for bright sunshiny days. This popular brand’s Hawaiian sunscreen green tea lotion is a must-have for beach goers since it’s coral reef safe and biodegradable. It’s also on the Skin Cancer Foundation's recommended list of sunscreens.

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Last but not least, Goddess Garden’s Face the Day works double duty. This sunscreen not only protects against sun, but it firms skin while doing it. A representative from Goddess Garden tells Green Matters about its perks in an email interview, saying, “Face the Day is a natural alternative to retinol-containing products, offering plant-powered results that are suitable for sensitive skin instead of the harsh side effects common to retinol.”

Whichever sunscreen type you choose to use this summer, always remember to check with your doctor first to make sure it’s a good choice for your personal skincare needs. Also, don’t skip the hat and long sleeves whenever possible, since those can also help protect from sun damage. Once you settle on a sunscreen of your choice, remember to reapply every so often throughout the day to get the best coverage. 

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