Protecting ourselves from the sun’s rays is very important not only in summer but throughout the year.
Using sun creams with an appropriate SPF reduces the risk of sunburn and prevent the risk of skin melanomas. Knowing, also, the meaning of acronyms like SPF, UVA, and UVB can help us to make more informed purchases. To learn more about them, have a look at my previous post. I explained their meaning and how to tan in a healthy and safe way.
In this article, we will see my best sunscreens for this summer based on the ingredients contained.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. By clicking through them and making a purchase, I may receive a small commission WITHOUT any additional cost to you.
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Gabi
Best sunscreens for summer | filters
The efficiency of sun creams is due to ingredients that are able to absorb solar radiation and prevent skin layers from being damaged. These ingredients are commonly grouped into two categories: “physical” and “chemical”. The former are inorganic minerals (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) while the latter are products obtained in the laboratory. There are, however, much-discussed ingredients, which some countries have even decided to ban. Let’s see which and why.
Ingredients to avoid in sunscreen | Oxybenzone
Among the main controversial ingredients is oxybenzone. Belonging to the category of chemical filters, this molecule has long been the focus of debate. As also recently reported by the BBC, filters such as oxybenzone are absorbed by the skin and end up in the bloodstream.
While it is not yet clear how sunscreens behave in our bodies, scientific studies have shown how devastating they can be for coral reefs and the marine environment.
Every year between 4,000 and 6,000 tons of sunscreen enters the coral reef areas.
An exorbitant amount that produces irreversible damage to the marine ecosystem. Researchers have in fact discovered that ingredients like oxybenzone are really dangerous for the coral reefs. Deposited on their surface induce them to get sick, changing their color from red to white and ending up dying. To prevent this devastation, some countries (Hawaii or Australia) have decided to ban certain sunscreens such as oxybenzone and octinoxate.
Other controversial ingredients, potentially harmful to the marine environment are:
- Benzophenone-1,
- Benzophenone-8,
- OD-PABA,
- 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor,
- 3-Benzylidene camphor,
- nano-Titanium dioxide,
- nano-Zinc oxide
more info here.
Best sunscreens for this summer
Now that we know that some sunscreens can irreversibly damage the marine environment, let us instead see which ones are best with sun creams for this summer:
Reef Safe Sunscreen SPF 30+
Raw Elements Face and Body Certified Natural Sunscreen
Lavera Sun Sensitive
Note: a bit pasty when applying it but ensures perfect protection. I used it on my last eco trip to Costa Rica, and it was perfect! Not even a sunburn, despite the intense sunny days. If you want to know more about Costa Rica, click here.
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen
Alternatives to sunscreens
I recently started wearing SPF 50+ t-shirts to protect myself from the sun. My skin tone is very pale and I tend to burn my back easily. I don’t always manage to spread the cream perfectly on my back, so with these T-shirts, I’ve solved it. I enjoy the pain, the heat, and I’m not afraid that the sun’s rays will irritate or redden me. Take a look, I highly recommend it.
Hey, don’t miss my FREE natural skincare challenge! Grab it now!!
If you like my content, help me with a small donation. With your support, I would like to buy new ingredients and create original healthy beauty products! Thank you 🙂
Gabi