Everything gets a little easier during the summer season. Workloads slow down, family picnics are frequent, and your biggest worry is what kind of tacos to make for dinner (we recommend the jackfruit). It’s a time to sweat, swim, and build sandcastles. Unfortunately for our skin, summer is a little less kind.
With all we know about the link between UV rays and skin damage, it’s more important than ever to be applying sunscreen regularly. But choosing a safe sunscreen opens up a whole new set of concerns. Many commercial sunscreen brands contain harsh ingredients ( like oxybenzone) that can actually do more harm than good. If you’ve been purchasing the maximum SPF in hopes of blocking out wrinkle-causing UV rays, you’ve been doing yourself a disservice. According to the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Guide to Sunscreens, “higher SPF ratings don’t necessarily offer greater protection from other UV-related skin damage and may lead users to spend too much time in the sun.”
Luckily the market has seen a rise in mineral-based sunscreens that are made from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which offer stable protection for your skin without the need for toxic additives. But why stop there? In classic VerMints style, we decided to go on the hunt for natural, organic sunscreen recipes and brands to rid our medicine cabinets from half-emptied tubes once and for all. Here’s what we came up with:
DO-IT-YOURSELF ORGANIC SUNSCREEN RECIPES
Natural Homemade Sunscreen by Wellness Mama
We love the ingredients list in Wellness Mama’s homemade sunscreen recipe. She’s included the natural SPF values for each item, all of which can be purchased organic.
Easy to Make DIY Sunscreen by Scratch Mommy
Jessica Healey breaks this sunscreen recipe down into easy-to-follow steps and follows up with lots of information about her chosen ingredients.
Homemade Sunscreen by Dr. Axe
Dr. Axe offers a relatively simple solution to the sunscreen situation. The combination of pomegranate oil and shea butter leaves your skin smelling summer sweet.
ORGANIC SUNSCREEN FOR KIDS
Let’s face it, when you’re packing the whole family up for a trip to the beach, concocting your own organic sunscreen is the last thing you have time. So for all you sun-bathers-on-the-go, we’ve curated a convenient list of ethical companies that are making great organic sunscreen products you can trust to help keep you and the kids burn-free* all summer.
Badger Natural & Organic Sunscreen for Kids
Badger brand’s sunscreen is safe, effective, organic, and cruelty free. They make a variety of gentle, kid-friendly sunscreen creams available online or at Whole Foods Market. While you’re there, pick up some VerMints for fresh, summer breath!
Kiss My Face Mineral SPF 30 Organic Sunscreen
This kid-friendly natural sunscreen is made from 87% certified organic ingredients and stays water-resistant for 80 minutes. Pick it up at Whole Foods Market or order online at Amazon.com.
California Baby Super Sensitive Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
California Baby makes a whole line of award-winning organic sunscreens. Their SPF 30 mineral-based recipes come in many blends, from 100% unscented to citronella and lemongrass.
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*As with any product, don’t depend on sunscreen alone. Shade and clothing provide much more reliable protection from the sun — especially when it comes to the little ones.
