4 Best affordable natural sunscreen brands in 2019
Why is natural sunscreen better than chemical sunscreen?
The summer is knocking on our doors and you are dreaming of a relaxing sunlit vacation. It is the season of sundresses, bikini’s with a pair of Havaianas flip-flops and long beach days. You will visit new places, taste some local food, meet new people and of course enjoy the sunshine the summer is abundantly pouring all around. The summer brings light and joy to all.
Everyone wants to look nice and attractive this summer and you do too, right? If you want to have young and beautiful skin longer you know you have to be moderate with your time spent on the beach and you have to use a good sunscreen.
But what is good sunscreen? The market is flooded with different brands, shapes, colors and of course prices. Each one claims it is the best one for you.
So, which one should you choose?
In this article, I will tell you why should you go for a mineral sunscreen and not for chemical sunscreen. I will also review the best affordable mineral sunscreen brands this summer.
And be aware that “Even the best sunscreen won’t protect you well if you don’t apply it right”.
What is chemical and what is mineral sunscreen?
About two-thirds of the available sunscreens use a cocktail of chemicals. They contain a combination of two to six of the following active ingredients: oxybenzone and octinoxate, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene and homosalate. These chemicals absorb into your skin and scatter the sun rays to prevent the skin from burning.
Mineral sunscreens use natural minerals such as titanium and zinc. These minerals do not absorb into your skin. They spread a thin layer on your skin which acts as a mirror to reflect the rays away. That is why they are considered to be gentle for your skin and also safe. Especially if you are prone to acne or other skin conditions you would prefer natural sunscreen with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as filters.
Because of their mineral ingredients, these natural sunscreens are often considered as chalky, thick and very white.
Why choose a natural sunscreen?
Have you ever had this redness on your skin after applying some cream or body lotion? Usually, they are packed in bright shiny packages, smell good and look attractive. But often, especially if you have a bit sensitive skin it gets irritated, or you get a rash and it is itching all the time. All this is because of some harsh chemical compound in your skin product.
Did you know the chemical sunblocks are hormone disruptors? Have you ever wondered why you are advised to apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside? It ‘s because chemical sunscreens need to be fully absorbed into your skin before they start actually protecting you.
Natural mineral sunscreens work immediately after you apply them.
Chemical sunscreens are bad not only for you. They are bad for the environment too. The state of Hawaii is banning these chemicals by 2021, because of its damaging effect on the coral reefs and marine life. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, the main chemical compounds of the majority sunscreens available on the market are toxic, and they are destroying the oceans.
That is why you want to choose a natural, non-toxic formula to protect your skin from the UV sun rays. These natural sunscreens are the ones containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as a key ingredient. Often they contain also skin nourishing ingredients like aloe and moisturizing organic oils.
Are there any downsides of the mineral sunscreens?
A lot of the natural sunscreens often have a white cast and a sticky feeling. This is because zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are white minerals. Nowadays the production technologies are developing very quickly, so do the new brands of mineral sunscreen. These contain smaller particles which make it easier to apply and the compound is not that sticky anymore.
There has been a lot of concern about the nanoparticles in the mineral sunscreens. That is why you see often “non-nano” on some labels. All the testing done to this moment gives no reason for concern, given the cream is applied on unbroken skin. This goes for lotions and creams.
The best affordable mineral sunscreen brands in 2019
It is known that the European sunscreens offer better protection compared to the sunscreens from the US. The requirements that Europe imposes on the production of these products are stricter and more than half of the US sunscreens do not qualify in Europe.
That is why I will review a few natural sunscreen brands which comply with the European standards. These according to me are the best affordable brands available at the moment.
Lovea
Lovea sunscreen is lightly scented, water resistant, not greasy and doesn’t leave white traces. It contains titanium dioxide combined with coconut oil and organic plant extracts. Does not contain nano-particles and is paraben-free.
Weleda
Weleda sunscreen works immediately after application. It is based on organic sunflower oil and contains coconut and jojoba oils. Weleda sunscreen is water resistant and suitable for all types of skin, also for sensitive skin. It contains non-nano mineral UV filters.
Lavera
This sunscreen is a produced by the German brand Lavera Naturkosmetik. The cream is waterproof and nourishes the skin with the organic calendula extract and organic sunflower oil. This natural sunscreen has non-nano dioxide filter as a mineral sunblock. It is free from synthetic preservatives, perfumes, colorants & mineral oil products. It is suitable for sensitive skin.
Attitude
In my opinion, there is one more brand worth to consider when you look for a natural sunscreen for you and your family. This brand is called Attitude and it comes from Canada. The whole product range of Attitude is all about protecting your health and protecting the environment. They work towards:
“Compassion and care, health and well-being, and living consciously — always.”
Attitude has a broad range of sunscreens. You can find sunscreen for sensitive skin, for baby’s and kids and also scentless sunscreen. These are free from perfume and are scented with natural oils. All Attitude sunscreen is not greasy and easy to apply. The products of Attitude do not contain nano-filters, they are sustainable for the environment, made out of minerals and plants. These sunscreens are reef-friendly, meaning they are free from oxybenzone, octinoxate and benzophenone-3 (BP-3) – potentially harmful ingredients for coral reefs.
Few more tips about getting the most of your summer this year:-)
Eat lots of fruit and veggies for a nice suntan
Broccoli, carrots and the melons help you get a healthy tan, according to researchers at Leeds and St Andrew’s universities.
Tomato juice, sweet potatoes, spinach and pumpkin have the highest content of carotenoids, which are natural pigments for the skin. Take care that your skin is well hydrated.
When your skin is well hydrated then it is easier to get a healthy tan. Use good exfoliants to clean the dead cells and then apply hydrating cream or body lotion. Let your skin absorb these and then you are ready to apply your natural sunscreen.
Use suitable clothing for summer.
What I mean by that is that it is important you wear clothes made out of natural materials, such as cotton and linen. These let your skin breath. Moreover, you do not sweat that much wearing cotton or linen clothes. The light colors make also a difference in absorbing warmth. Bear in mind that you may burn unevenly or get funny sun patterns from inappropriate clothing. If you intend to go outside for a longer period then get a nice hat and protect your head from the burning sun rays.
Did you know that you get the best tan when you are in motion?
You know these chickens on a skewer, or a grill they sell on the market? They are all the time turning around, and they get nicely brown everywhere. This was just an example though :-) You would benefit more if you not only lie on your beach chair, but play some beach volley, or just take a walk on the beach. After all, what’s the fun of just lying and turning from one side to another from time to time?
And if you get a sunburn anyway?
Don’t panic. The first thing you can do it to get a short cold (not ice-cold) shower. Better don’t apply any creams on the skin, because it usually gets worse. What you can apply on your skin is yogurt. Yes, just whatever yogurt you have at hand. Without any sugar and fruit added. And it does work! Just get some simple yogurt and apply it gently onto your skin. It cools down the burned skin and soothes quickly the warmth and the burning sensation.
Another natural remedy that could be of help is oats. Make a not very thick oath porridge and apply it on the burned skin area.
If you like taking a bath you could fill your bath with cool water and add one teacup of oatmeal. Well, then you know what to do. Just enjoy your bath:-)
Conclusion
The skin is the largest bodily organ you have. Have you ever heard the saying “Don’t put on your skin what you wouldn’t put in your mouth”.? Although it is not directly related to the natural sunscreens you can imagine how important is it that you take good care of your skin in the summer.
After reading this article you are also aware of which possible brands you could safely use when you are in the sun. Do your own research too, I would say. There are more and more new brands on the market which could offer you safe and good protection this summer.
But, maybe you have made your choice for this summer already. I will love to hear from you which brand do you prefer and why did you choose this sunscreen this summer?
