Best Natural Sunscreen For Summer Travel
Sunscreen is a summer travel essential and a necessity for every topical getaway. With the many over the counter sunscreens, it is easy to assume that all the products are safe for ourselves and our families. But are they?
Is Your Sunscreen Toxic?
We wear sunscreen to “protect” us from the sun, “prevent” skin cancer and keep our skin from turning red like a hot chili pepper. Ouch! Yet, many sunscreens are proving to do more harm than good. Rather than preventing cancer, can you believe the ingredients in sunscreen have been shown to actually cause cancer too?
In the state of Hawaii, they are even working on a law to ban chemical sunscreens because of the harm it does to marine life. Studies have shown that as the sunscreen washes off of people into the water, the chemicals contribute to bleaching and killing of the coral reefs.
So, what can we do?
Luckily there are natural sunscreens that can protect you and your family’s health without chemicals. Plus, making the switchover to natural can help save the beautiful coral reefs too! Ever since I found out about the toxicity of sunscreens, I only use natural sunscreens that protect skin using “Zinc Oxide.”
Zinc Oxide is a mineral that provides a physical barrier on your skin and UV ray protection to prevent overexposure of your skin to the sun. If you are wondering where to start with choosing a good natural sunscreen, I have some great suggestions for you.
In this post, I will recommend my top 2 favorite sunscreens that I use on every summer vacation and even daily use.
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#1 Pick – Thinksport SPF 50 Waterproof Sunscreen
When I found this sunscreen, I finally felt like I found “the one” sunscreen that was perfect for me. It has a great creamy texture, applies easy to the skin and protects sensitive areas like the shoulders, neck and back while snorkeling.
The challenge with a lot of zinc oxide sunscreens is that they may leave a white ghosty appearance on your skin, some more than others. The pasty look at the beach is probably not the look you are going for! LOL
I tried many sunscreens over the years and ThinkSport SPF has been my favorite because it blends in so well. Once you rub the lotion in, the “whiteness” of it begins to disappear so you don’t look like a ghost.
Other pros of Thinksport SPF
- Cost effective – Natural SPF’s can range greatly in price. Thinksport is a fair price at about $9- $12 on Amazon. Get it here.
- A 3oz tube will last you for about 2-3 weeks with daily use. Or save what you don’t use for your next vacation.
- Nice creamy texture on the skin.
- Great sun protection. I snorkel for hours in the sun and I am pleased with the sun protection. Be aware that you do have to reapply every 80 minutes if in the water since the product works best with a generous layer of lotion applied.
Other Sunscreen Brands
Badger SPF 35 Sport Sunscreen
Badger has a wide range of sunscreens including a baby sunscreen, kids waterproof sunscreen, daily sunscreen and even SPF lip balm. It is not my #1 pick, although it is a good alternative. It is commonly found in stores around the US or you can buy here.
The Badger SPF 35 Sport Sunscreen is fairly thick and feels a bit like Vaseline on my skin, but because of this, I feel like it stays applied on the skin a bit longer than other brands. This is a good one to consider if you are easily sunburned.
The “whiteness” of the sunscreen on the skin is a bit more apparent and harder to blend in than the ThinkSport SPF. You will have to rub with a bit more love! I like using this on the back of my knees and legs when snorkeling.
Best Natural Face Sunscreen – For Daily Use
Mychelle Sun Shield Unscented SPF 28
I have used this product for several years. While I am more tolerant of a slight white film on my body, it is unacceptable on my face, especially for everyday wear. This face lotion is quite sheer and feels very nourishing on my face. It allows my natural skin to glow through and even works as a good base primer for mineral makeup.
It does not clog pores and ok even for acne prone skin.
This product lasts me 3-6 months. The price can range from as little as $18 to $32. You can find it here on Amazon for $17.81.
The also have a coconut version. Try it here.
