A Quick Guide to our Natural Sunscreens

I cannot adequately express how thrilled I am to see so many wonderful new natural sunscreens on the market. Had I been paying better attention, we would definitely have added more to our site in time for Sun Season, but alas, we may have to file this under "lessons learned for next year." That being said, we have assembled a pretty respectable group of safe and natural sunscreens for you all, and so I wanted to go over them quickly, to help you choose the right one for you and your family.


Keys Solar Rx
Back on top as EWG's #1 Moisturizer with SPF, Solar Rx is my personal favorite for the face. I have no issues with whiteout (granted, I'm pretty pale, so it's possible there's just no way to tell the difference), and while the scent of the ingredients is somewhat strong at first - althought I should add it doesn't smell the least bit like sunscreen - it goes away very quickly. EWG gives it their highest marks for safety and effectiveness, and I can't get over how good it feels on my skin. The texture is creamy but not thick, and it leaves no oily residue whatsoever.




UV Natural SPF 30+, Sport, and Baby


This is the stuff you bring to the beach, my friends. Or on a mountain biking trip, kayaking expedition, you get the picture. It is powerful sunscreen that will stay on come hell or high water. While they recommend reapplying just like you would your commercial sunscreen, I have to say, I can't imagine reapplying it that often. I won't put anything else on my children, simply because I know this is going to protect them. EWG agrees, ranking it #6 on their list of best water-resistant sunscreens. I want to point out that because UV Natural does not use any fragrance in their sunscreens, this product smells sort of like canola oil. In other words, don't buy this if you're looking for a scented body lotion that doubles as a sunscreen! With this one, it's all about function.


Jane Iredale Powder Me SPF





To quote the author of the blog Hooked On Beauty: "Jane's Powder-Me SPF is one of those 'duh' products that just makes so much sense, everyone should own one." She has a point. It's basically a mineral sunscreen only without the goop, so it goes on dry and smooth as silk - it's not a mineral foundation as it provides no coverage. But it can double as a setting powder on your face, and is perfect for the entire body. With only a handful of ingredients, this sunscreen is ideal for sensitive skin. My skin tends to break out in an acne-like rash, particularly on my chest, when I combine sunscreen with sun, but with the discovery of Powder Me SPF, I no longer feel the need to search for a turtleneck tankini top. Believe it or not, it's also quite water resistant. If you want a little bronze glow, or have darker skin, use the Bronze variety. If, like me, you gave up on looking tan long ago, the translucent one leave no color at all (and does not whiten the skin, either).


Sante Soleil SPF 30




I've said it before and I'll say it again: Sante does not get the attention it deserves. It's BDIH certified, which means that both the natural and synthetic ingredients (of which there are few) have been demonstrated as safe - which is not the case with synthetics in the U.S. This sunscreen uses a physical sunblock (Titanium Dioxide) and organic oils, and is also a great choice for sensitive skin. Plus, it's only $17, which makes it a great deal to boot.