With summertime in full swing, odds are that by now you’ve been christened with your annual sunburn thanks to either a long day at the beach, by the river, or hiking your local trails. Why do we know this? Because it’s the inevitable result of months behind closed doors, softening your skin and making it even more sensitive to sunlight in the process. There’s also the questionable nature of sunscreen – in terms of what’s in the bottle – and the occasional ignorance of just how strong the sun can be this time of year. Luckily, for fans of anything “all natural,” there’s organic sunscreen that’s positioned to protect your body’s largest organ without the worry of laying on creams filled with unwanted chemicals.
It’s all part of the perils involved with prolonged exposure to the sun. Yes, it’s warmth in the summer is a cherished trait this time of year, and tanning your skin will remain a goal of any beach goer, but there’s also the need for protection. Because underneath all that warmth is a combination of harmful rays that can lead to serious health problems down the road – not to mention turn your skin into leather over years of exposure. That’s why we decided to take matters into our own hands and mitigate this damage from coming to fruition through our diligent dedication to protecting our skin with natural and organic options while out and about under the summer sun.
All Natural Protection
Preventing You From Searing In The Sun
Broken down, the electromagnetic spectrum consists of multiple wavelengths of light – a portion of which is invisible to the human eye. What we see on a daily basis is – obviously – referred to as visible light consisting of wavelengths between 400-700 nanometers. However, there is invisible light on the outside of this spectrum on both ends. Longer wavelengths that make up infrared light and shorter wavelengths that make up ultraviolet light.
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are what damage our skin. From here, they’re broken down further into three sub categories based on wavelengths (two of which concern humans). UVA light is the longest of the three and accounts for up to 95 percent of the UV radiation that reaches the earth’s surface and penetrates deeply into the skin – playing a major role in subsequent aging and wrinkling of the skin. On the other hand, UVB light isn’t as prevalent as UVA. However, these are the rays that cause skin reddening, burning, and play a key role in the development of skin cancer over prolonged exposure due to their shortened wavelengths resulting in mere surface penetration of the skin. UVB light isn’t as prevalent as UVA. However, these are the rays that cause skin reddening, burning, and play a key role in the development of skin cancer.
From here, it’s important to use a protective sunscreen when these rays are the strongest (April-October in the Northern Hemisphere). And thanks to the rise of organic and natural sunscreens, you can get the protection you need during peak daylight hours without any pesticides or harmful chemicals making their way onto your skin. There are also mineral sunscreens (made with zinc oxide and titanium oxide) that work quite well to protect against UVB rays immediately following application.
Needless to say, there’s quite a variety to choose from out there. So to simplify things a bit, we decided to narrow it down and present you with 5 of our favorites this season that are outdoor friendly, water resistant, and chemical-free.
Badger SPF 30 Sport
Just like any other organic products on the market, less is certainly more – especially when you can pronounce the ingredients on the label. Such is the case with each tube of reliable Badger sunscreen. Their Zinc Oxide offering, in particular, is made from an antioxidant-rich Sunflower Oil base along with just 5 ingredients. From here, Badger’s 100 percent certified natural sunscreen is also both water and sweat resistant for at least 80 minutes, protects against both UVA and UVB rays and is biodegradable meaning it’s safe for coral reefs and other ecosystems.
All Good Sport Sunscreen
In terms of protection, Elemental Herbs takes sun protection seriously with their All Good Sport Sunscreen. As friends of both personal health and the environment, Elemental Herbs crafts their sunscreen out of pure non-nano zinc oxide that’s safe for coral reefs, kids, and you while its clear mineral zinc goes on without any greasy residue. Enjoy both UVA/UVB protection, a hypoallergenic formula, and both a PABA and Paraben Free sun protective layer for that’s both water and sweat resistant.
Purchase: $16
Sunbum Signature SPF 30 Sunscreen
Part of what makes sunscreen undesirable for those who work outdoors is the risk of it running with every bit of sweat or drop of water and comes in contact with your skin. In these instances what you thought was protecting you now becomes a messy and irritating nuisance. Not with Sunbum though. Here, their Signature line is full of high-performance sunscreens complete with a premium zinc formula that free of harmful ingredients and made right here in the USA. Enjoy both UVA/UVB protection and 80 minutes of water resistance on any sultry afternoon.
EiR Surf Mud
When it comes to skin damage from the sun, surfers have it rough. Spending hours in the water at a time not only shortens the lifespan of the applied sunscreen but also enhances the strength of the sun’s rays due to the reflection of the water. Fortunately, EiR NYC makes a premium all-natural waterproof and hydrating sunblock both your face and hair. It’s made from trusty zinc oxide, contains cocoa for deep hydration, and antioxidants to fight free radicals. The inspiration comes from the traditional Mayan Chocolate Mask and is sulfate, paraben, and cruelty-free.
Suntegrity 5-in-1 Tinted Sunscreen
As an all-inclusive sunscreen for skin protection and restoration, Suntegrity’s 5-in-1 formula works to treat, hydrate, protect, prime and cover the skin while out and about this summer. Thanks to their made in the USA formula, it’s all natural and free from any harmful chemicals. Some of the ingredients include the likes of cucumber, green tea, aloe vera, leaf juice and red algae. Its non-greasy formula is ideal for all skin types and cruelty-free nature ensures guilt-free protection for hours on end.
Time To Relax With A Good Summer Read
Summer’s also a great time to spend some time at the beach with a good book. So if you’re looking for some suggestions before that beach vacation commences, be sure to check out this list of the best beach books to keep you entertained during those lazy afternoons.
