Ever wonder how some women look daisy fresh under the sun, while you seem to wilt? These simple summer beach essentials will keep you looking hot while playing in the surf and sand.

You put effort into getting ready for the beach. The key to getting your look to last is some smart planning and using summer worthy products.

Prep items, melt resistant makeup, skin fresheners, and sun protection are musts. They’ll make your day at the beach seem like, well you know…

7 Beach Essentials for Your Beauty Kit

All Good Sunscreen Butter

1. Best SPF: Let’s start at the top. Safe and effective sunscreen is an absolute must when spending time in the sun. And when at the beach, make sure it is reef safe. Remember to reapply every two hours, or if you’ve been sweating or swimming, whichever comes first.

inVitamin Cleansing Micellar Water

2. Skin refresher: Hydrate and revitalize overheated and dry skin with micellar water. Tiny beads of oil make sure skin isn’t parched once you return from fun in the sun.

Earth Tu Face Dead Sea Salt Scrub

3. Smooth Operator: Before heading out into the sun, give skin a thorough sloughing. Also key to a smooth application of self tanner.

URSA Major Fortifying Face Balm

4. Ingrown hair treatment: Sleek, hair-free skin is a no-brainer for beach season. If you are still experiencing ingrown hairs on bikini line even with the best shaving technique, try applying a dab of soothing balm post shave to ward off those little buggers before they become a problem.

ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15

5. Lip color with protection: Lips get sunburned too. Choose a safe lip sunscreen to protect your pucker. Want color with your UV protection? Ilia Beauty has two delicious hues.

Little Barn Apothecary Coconut + Mint Cooling Mist

6. Body refresher: Natural deodorants are good for keeping odor at bay. But no deodorant can last through a full day of 90-degree temps, swimming, and sweating. Refresh your bod with a spritz of this body mist made with aloe, dead sea salt, jasmine, and peppermint.

NCLA Bikinis & Martinis

7. Perfect polish: What do you need to complete your look other than a pretty hat and maybe a new pair of shades? Perfectly polished tootsies. This shade ought to do nicely.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Sunscreen season is here. We opt for the safest sun protection for ourselves and our little ones because chemical sunscreen is not the healthiest choice. And guess what, it’s not a day at the beach for marine life either.

My family and I took a vacation to Mexico a few years ago and did some snorkeling. Before we even set foot on the boat that would take us out to the reef where we’d get to see gorgeous fish and even a barracuda, the guides checked all of our sunscreen bottles and tubes.

No, they weren’t concerned with the number of SPF we’d chosen, but made sure everyone was using reef-friendly sunscreen. They even had a stand selling the stuff in case you’d toted along your chemical sun protection.

Chemical Sunscreen and Marine Life

Harmful chemical sunscreens, like oxybenzone and octinoxate, have a toxic effect on young coral, causing endocrine disruption, DNA damage, and death. Essentially, killing off coral.

Coral reefs support more species than any other marine environment. It is estimated that up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen washes off of swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers every year. Tons! That is huge exposure to these delicate and important ecosystems.

Even worse news, it only takes a small amount (the equivalent of a drop of water in six Olympic-sized pools!) to cause damage. Concentrations of oxybenzone in seawater near coral reef populated Hawaii and U.S. Virgin Islands have been estimated at 12 times what is needed to harm coral.

And it is not just the chemical sunscreen ingredients that are detrimental to the health of reefs. Synthetic preservatives, like parabens, have been linked to problems like coral bleaching.

Safe Sunscreen Ingredients

Zinc oxide is a mineral sunscreen that, unlike oxybenzone and other chemical sunscreens, dissolves in saltwater and eventually settles on the seafloor and becomes buried in sediment. This makes zinc a reef-friendly option.

Of course, it doesn’t stop with minerals. Choosing sun protection that is also free from other harmful ingredients, like synthetic preservatives and fragrance, and chemical emollients, is not only better for marine life but human bodies too.

Because sunscreen is important in protecting against premature aging and disease, we can’t simply go without during a day at the beach. The best way to protect coral reef life and ourselves at the same time is by using nontoxic mineral sunscreens. Water resistant options help sunscreen to stay on our bodies longer too.

Reef Safe Sunscreens for Days at the Beach

Here is a list of sunscreens that are made with zinc oxide and contain no parabens or other harmful ingredients. Reef safe claims are not regulated in the U.S. As with all cosmetic products, it is important to read beyond the front label, and check ingredient listings and brand information. All of the following sunscreens have been proven to be reef safe.

All Good: Makes A selection of sun protection for the whole family, from Sunsticks to Lip Balm. Broad spectrum and Sunscreen Butter is water resistant.

Badger Balm: This brand has been creating reef-friendly sunscreens since before we knew about the issue. A wide range of sun protection for the whole family in a variety of formulas. Active and Sport sunscreens are water-resistant and broad spectrum.

True Natural: Another extensive line of healthy sunscreens. This brand offers protection in a variety of SPFs and even a sunscreen stick for your beach loving pooch. All are broad spectrum and Sport Stick is water resistant.

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Image of woman snorkeling via Shutterstock

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You wear sunscreen every day, exfoliate regularly, and never go to sleep with your makeup on. Still seeing troubled skin? It’s true: some healthy skin habits are too much of a good thing.

Taking good care of your skin and using healthy products is key in maintaining beautiful skin. But overdoing it can damage skin, cause irritation and blemishes, and speed up aging.

Let’s take a look at the top healthy skin care habits women tend to overdo.

6 Healthy Skin Habits You May Be ODing On

1. Over-cleansing: Didn’t know you could get skin too clean? Using a foaming cleanser has definite benefits, but using this product on skin that is dry or sensitive leads to dryness, irritation, and even breakouts. Curb your sudsing by washing skin only when it actually needs it (post workout, when it feels greasy…) and use a cream or oil cleanser the rest of the time.

2. Over-exfoliating: Another skin care technique that tends to get overused is exfoliation. We’ve all heard that this step helps with acne, and keeps skin fresh and glowing. More than once per week (twice if skin is not sensitive) is overkill, and can irritate and damage skin. The best way to exfoliate the face is with non-abrasive fruit acids, which remove dead cells without abrasive granules.

3. Using the wrong healthy skincare: Yes, going nontoxic with your skincare is the healthiest choice. But if you are using skincare that is wrong for your skin type it can be causing problems. If you are experiencing dryness, zits, irritation, or excessive oiliness, chances are you are using the wrong skin care products. Choose skin care designed for your skin type.

4. Going oil-free: For those who battle oily skin, steering clear of excess oil is essential in keeping the complexion clear. But did you know drying out the skin leads to breakouts too? That dry, flaky layer traps the oil your skin creates naturally and causes pimples. Choose products made with healthy natural oils that are formulated for oily and acne prone skin types, and skip the super drying potions.

5. Sticking with your tried and true: So you’ve found the skin care products you love and they love your skin right back. Great! Do you find they don’t work quite as well some months as others? To keep skin balanced and happy year ‘round, switch up your routine for the seasons. It doesn’t have to be a drastic overhaul, but a bit more moisture in the winter and lighter products in summer make all the difference.

6. Using chemical sunscreen: Wear sunscreen daily. We’ve all heard this precaution a thousand times. And you are applying your moisturizer with SPF every day like a good girl. But if that product is made with nasty chemical sunscreens you are doing more harm than good. Opt for a safe mineral sunscreen for face. You can even use a tinted moisturizer and ditch your foundation.

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Summer means lots of time spent enjoying the great outdoors. One drawback? This may mean sun spots. Learn how to lighten spots and brighten skin naturally.

Sunshine makes us feel good. Why does there have to be a downside? We know that overexposure means skin aging and can even lead to skin cancer. It also causes skin discoloration and those nasty dark spots we hate to see.

Obvi, the best way to deal with sun spots is to prevent them in the first place. Proper sun protection will help to ward off discoloration. Still, you may end up with a spot or two. Before you go running to the nearest laser spa or purchase a bullet proof concealer, read on.

It’s true. There are natural ingredients that do a great job of lightening spots and brightening skin. And most are gentle enough for sensitive skin. Regular use can help to lighten damage and get your glow back.

Natural Ingredients to Lighten Sun Spots (Plus Product Picks!)

Rosehip oil is nature’s Retin-A. It contains a healthy dose of retinol (Vitamin A)which is a great anti-ager and, you guessed it, skin lightener. Can be used on its own as a spot treatment or facial as part of a facial serum. One note of caution – when using a product that contains Vitamin A, avoid direct sunlight as it may form free radicals which accelerate skin aging and the spread of existing skin cancer. Dr. Alkaitis Organic Night Crème delivers this healing ingredient to skin while you sleep.

Vitamin C is another effective skin brightener. Try Dr. Alkaitis Organic Day Crème with Vitamin C complex to repair damage during the day. Aloe helps to soothe upset skin. This moisturizer is very light. For dry skin types, use in combination with a facial oil or serum.

Turmeric calms inflammation, slows skin aging, and promotes even skin tone. It also adds the lightest touch of natural glow. May Lindstrom Skin The Problem Solver is an antioxidant rich facial mask, which includes detoxifying charcoal, to bring skin back into balance.

Licorice Root extract lightens sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and lends overall brightness to skin. Also said to boost the mood, this ingredient is definitely worth a shot. Try Amala Rejuvenating Serum which also addresses anti-aging issues, decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Can’t decide which of these fabulous ingredients to enlist first? No worries. The lovely RMS Beauty Oil contains Rosehip, Turmeric, Licorice, plus skin brightening Tamanu in a super light, divinely scented facial oil.

Seeing spots on backs of hands? Amala Hydrating Hand Cream contains Papaya Fruit extract. The fruit contains an enzyme called papain, said to boost cell turnover and brighten the skin.

Adequate SPF plus some of these natural power lighteners equal even, healthy skin. Now go enjoy your summer!

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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The post How to Lighten Sun Spots and Brighten Skin Naturally appeared first on EcoSalon.

You’ve got this whole mineral sunscreen thing. How difficult can it be? Mineral is safer than chemical, use a facial sunscreen on face, body sunscreen on body, choose your appropriate SPF/Broad Spectrum/Water Resistant option as needed, and make sure you use safe sunscreen ingredients. Off you go into the UV bathed sunset.

Then you wake up and realize you have an issue or two with your bare bones sunscreen selecting method. Are non-whitening sunscreens invisible even on darker complexions? Will your facial sunscreen give you zits or dry your skin out? What if your sensitive skin doesn’t like your sunscreen? Do you put foundation over or under your sunscreen? Is it okay to wear foundation with sunscreen, is that even done?

Yikes! You’ve gotten yourself into quite the sunscreen conundrum. Not to worry, we are here to help. Yes, mineral is the safe sunscreen choice. Yep, it is best to use products designed for face on your face. Sure, SPF and Broad Spectrum protection are valid concerns. And of course, avoid toxic chemicals.

But there are other concerns to take into account too. Like skin type and tone. You wouldn’t purchase any old facial moisturizer and expect to be happy with the results, would you? Of course not! You would make sure it is designed for your skin type. Same goes for makeup. A foundation has to match your skin tone and it is equally important to use a sunscreen that does the same.

Lucky for you, there are options. Products for every skin type and tone that provide serious UV protection. Oh, and you are going to love them.

Safe Sunscreens for Face by Skin Type

Oily/Acne: Consonant The Perfect Sunscreen SPF 30 is made with aloe and ultra light oils to provide non-greasy hydration and is fragrance-free, so ideal for sensitive skin too. Pratima Skincare Neem Rose Face Sunscreen SPF 30 provides anti-aging benefits in a light, breathable formula. Bonus product: Use Kahina Giving Beauty Serum while not in the sun for anti-aging benefits along with spot and sun damage diminishment, all in a breakout-proof formula.

Dry/Mature: A rich formula that absorbs into skin, True Natural Sunscreen: Face Broad Spectrum SPF 15 is perfect under makeup. Karen’s Botanicals Lovely Lavender Day Cream SPF 15 is thick and creamy, hydrating to mature skin, but also gentle enough for sensitive skin types. Bonus product: Get max anti-aging support with absolutely no irritation with Yuli Modern Alchemist.

Sensitive: RawSkinCeuticals Rosacea Day Cream SPF 30 is strong protection for delicate skin in a super mild formula. (Also see products marked sensitive in oily and dry categories) Bonus product: Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Oil Blend calms and protects skin, while fading scars and spots. Perfect post-sun skin recoup.

Normal/Combo: Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer SPF 30 is a moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup primer in one. Non-greasy and provides anti-aging benefits. Bonus product: Hailed as an anti-aging miracle, Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum minimizes fine lines, improves texture and tone, and reduces inflammation.

Tinted Facial Sunscreens

Now about that makeup over or under sunscreen problem. How about nix the makeup and use a tinted, moisturizing sunscreen instead. If that sounds too good to be true, hold onto your bikini bottoms because these natural tinted mineral sunscreen moisturizers are going to makeover your summertime get ready sesh.

Suntegrity5-in- Natural Moisturizing Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 30 offers high quality sun protection, super natural color, and feels great on skin. Use in place of your daily moisturizer and foundation for ultra natch UV protection with light coverage. These tints are so blendable, they easily match any skin tone. Suited to all skin types, especially good for mature, dry, and normal/combination.

Those with sensitive or oily skin will love Ilia Beauty Sheer Vivid Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20. A semi-matte facial moisturizer with mineral sun protection and easy to blend tint. Six natural shades to suit all skin tones.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Chemical sunscreens, vitamin A, parabens, phthalates, petro-chems. At this point, it’s safe to say you know what you don’t want in a sunscreen. But have you thought about what you do want in a natural sunscreen?

It is not just about avoiding this nasty chemical or that risky ingredient. Think of sunscreen as you do skincare. You wouldn’t buy any old facial or body product just because it was free from harmful ingredients, right? Same goes for sunscreen. What you really want is optimum protection that also offers healthy ingredients in a product that suits your skin.

Sound like a dream? Not with natural sunscreens. High quality, nontoxic SPF products are designed with the betterment of your skin in mind. Brands dedicated to safety in cosmetics don’t just put up sunscreen that sounds healthy. They walk the talk, using nourishing, anti-aging, antioxidant ingredients to nurture and support skin.

It is not difficult to find information on what you should avoid in sunscreens. We know that chemical sunscreens oxybenzone and octinoxate can cause hormonal disruption and allergic reaction. We’ve heard plenty about vitamin A and its link to accelerated tumor growth when exposed to sunlight. And the usual synthetic suspects? We can see those coming a mile away.

We are talking about ingredients you do want to see when perusing sun protection product ingredient listings. Healthy plant oils, butters, and extracts that hydrate skin. Protective antioxidants and natural anti-aging ingredients to ward off further UV damage. There are even some natural plant ingredients with SPF.

Mineral Sunscreen Ingredients

So, what are these highly beneficial ingredients to look for? Let’s start at the top. Mineral sunscreens, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are much safer than chemical sunscreens and provide far better protection against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays penetrate to deeper layers of skin and are responsible for more serious damage, like premature aging and skin cancer. UVB rays affect the top layers of skin and are the ones associated with sunburn.

Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing into the skin, allowing UVA rays to reach deeper layers. Common chemical sunscreen ingredients are oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. All have been detected in human urine and/or breast milk, and most are linked to hormonal disruption and allergic reaction.

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are derived from chalky minerals with reflective properties. Zinc is often used on its own in sunscreen products, while titanium dioxide is generally used in combination with zinc. Titanium dioxide has come under scrutiny by some critics as having health risks when inhaled. The FDA is currently doing more research on the health risks and effectiveness of spray and powder form sunscreens. For now, we advise staying with creams, lotions, butters, and stick sunscreens.

Mineral sunscreens provide a physical barrier on top of skin, providing immediate, effective protection and are less likely to cause allergic reaction. A much safer choice over chemical sunscreen ingredients. All products listed in our guide are mineral sunscreens.

Moisturizing Ingredients

Sun and wind tend to be drying, so hydration is key even in hot, humid months of summer. Sunscreens made with rich plant butters and oils keep skin supple and help to hold in natural moisture. Shea butter, mango butter, and sunflower seed oil contain fatty acids and skin-supportive vitamins, to soften and moisturize dry skin.

Try these moisturizing sunscreens:

True Natural Sunscreen: Face Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Unscented
Goddess Garden Facial Natural Sunscreen
Goddess Garden Everyday Natural Sunscreen Lotion

Calming Ingredients

Strong ingredients and sun exposure can upset delicate skin. Skin calming ingredients protect and soothe at the same time. Aloe vera lightly hydrates and soothes skin. Cucumber cools and reduces puffiness. Chamomile is ultra mild and helps to tone down redness or irritation.

Try these calming sunscreens:

Badger Balm Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 – Chamomile & Calendula
The Honest Co. SPF 30 Sunscreen
Erbaviva Sunscreen SPF 30

Balancing Ingredients

Sunscreen can present a whole new dilemma for those dealing with excess oil or acne. You don’t want to use a greasy moisturizer that could leave you with breakouts, but going unprotected is out of the question. Naturally balancing ingredients that offer antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are best for this skin type. Rosemary is naturally antibacterial to help keep skin clear. Turmeric calms inflammation and evens skin tone. Light oils, like coconut and jojoba, offer oil-balancing hydration that won’t overwhelm oily skin.

Try these balancing sunscreens:

DeVita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30+
Ilia Beauty Sheer Vivid Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
100% Pure Green Tea Oil Free Hydration SPF 30

Firming Ingredients

Yes, you can have your sun protection and anti-aging benefits too. Products made with natural anti-agers, like hyaluronic acid and green or red algae, support skin and diminish the appearance of discoloration. Antioxidant rich pomegranate oil and green tea prevent further damage.

Try these firming sunscreens: 

Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer SPF 30
Suntegrity Skincare Natural Mineral Sunscreen For Body SPF 30
DeVita Solar Body Moisturizer SPF 30+

*You can check out and shop all of the sunscreens here:

image of woman on beach via Shutterstock

*Disclaimer: help support ecosalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you need to purchase any of the products.

The post Healthy Sunscreen Ingredients: What You Want in an SPF appeared first on EcoSalon.

With spring’s arrival, and summer quickly approaching, sunscreen is a hot topic. Many are touting the SPF effects of natural oils. Sounds good, but is it too good to be true?

We know that personal care products sans chemicals are better for our skin and health. This goes for sunscreen too. Chemical sunscreens easily absorb into skin and are linked to hormonal disruption and skin allergies.

Natural minerals, like zinc oxide, provide serious sun protection and are not harmful to our health. There are other natural ingredients that contain some sun protection, like some plant and essential oils, but are they effective enough to replace your sunscreen?

You’ve likely seen articles on creating your own sunscreen or simply using natural oils in place of a sun protection product. A simple, organic plant oil to protect you from damaging rays? Sounds good but before you replace that sunscreen with a bottle of olive oil, let’s take a closer look.

Do Natural SPF Oils Really Provide UV Protection?

Short answer…yes. But it’s how much protection they provide that is important.

There are two types of natural oils, volatile and nonvolatile. Volatile oils are extracted from plants and have an aroma or flavor, also known as essential oils. Nonvolatile oils are all other plant oils, like olive and almond oil. The main difference between the two is that volatile oils evaporate more easily, allowing us to experience their scent.

There are certain oils in both groups that contain some natural UV protection. Olive trees, red raspberries, and blue berries all have their own natural sunscreen and this benefit carries over to us when we use them on our skin. Theses oils are healthy and help to protect us from the sun. But don’t slather yourself in them and head out to the beach just yet.

The amount of SPF these oils contain is far from what we need to adequately protect ourselves from UV damage. Studies show that SPF values for nonvolatile oils are in the 2-8 range, volatile oils are in the 1-7 range. For instance, olive and coconut oils ranked about an SPF 8, while sesame oil is only about a 2. Peppermint essential oil contains about an SPF 7, while rose oil is only about a 1. Cool facts, but these won’t do you much good in the sun on their own.

Raspberry seed oil is currently making blog headlines as having sunscreen powers that rival mineral protection, as high as SPF 25. This would be great, but until scientific measures have been done it is best not to rely on this oil solely as sun protection.

Natural SPF oils help to keep skin hydrated and many protect against free radical damage due to sun exposure. When used in a nontoxic sunscreen natural oils are super valuable. As we’ve seen, mineral sunscreens are the best choice for our health and sun protection. They protect against both UVA and UVB rays and don’t carry the health concerns of chemical sunscreens.

So for now, pass on the oils as sunscreen or diy methods and opt for safe sunscreens instead. Following are my faves. These work like a charm, offer safe protection, and won’t leave skin greasy or white.

Suntegrity 5-in-1 Natural Moisturizing Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 30

Suntegrity Skincare Natural Mineral Sunscreen For Body SPF 30

True Natural Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Caribbean Coconut

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As the thermometer climbs and we see more sun each day, it’s time to (sigh) reach for the sunscreen. 

As we all know by now, UV rays cause skin damage, accelerate aging and skin cancer. While there is some debate as to whether sunscreen prevents skin cancer,  it does, at the very least, reduce the incidence of sunburn and slows photo aging   caused by too much UV exposure. That said, some sun exposure is important to help your body produce vitamin D, so total avoidance is also not advised.

The key here is to prevent sunburn and skin damage while avoiding a slew of  chemicals used in many sunscreens that may pose significant health risks.  The most commonly used active chemical UV absorbers are Oxybenzone, Octyl / Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate), Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, and Avobenzone.  The biggest offender is Oxybenzone, which has been shown to cause cellular changes, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies, immunotoxicity, and organ toxicity. It also tends to be persistent in the body and accumulate over time. Oxybenzone also acts as a penetration enhancer, which means it, and other less than desirable ingredients in the formula such as parabens, may be more readily absorbed by the skin. Translation?  Steer clear.

While a few of these chemical UV absorbers do rate a low risk level on the EWG’s cosmetics database, I still prefer to avoid them, opting for a mineral physical block instead. Part of the challenge of mineral sunscreens, though, is the ‘suck factor’ in using them.  They’re hard to put on, spread and get rubbed in, they’re uncomfortable to wear in warm weather, they’re tend to be sticky or really greasy, and often, they leave you looking chalky, which no doubt isn’t your preferred poolside look.  The solution?  A spray.

Spray sunscreens tend to lead to better compliance because the ‘suck factor’ is significantly reduced by lighter weight formulations that are easier to apply, spread and rub in.  They also tend to be more comfortable to wear in warm weather than their heavier, cream-based counterparts. But, a truly non-toxic spray sunscreen is hard to come by, since the only two options in the non-chemical realm are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide–minerals that act as physical UV blockers that reflect the sun instead of absorb it.

Ideally, you want to avoid products that use nano-sized minerals  as well, which are small enough to be absorbed into the blood stream or inhaled, which some feel post health risks. If a spray is what you want, your best bet is a non-nano sized, zinc oxide based formula, and honestly, there aren’t many out there. Here are the top 3 we’ve found:

1.  All Terrain Terra Sport SPF 30.  The winner here, this lightweight, easy to use formula is perfect for everyday use when spending long hours outdoors sweating, swimming and sporting. Proven to be highly water resistant, it’s also proven to still be effective after 80 minutes in the water, and is virtually sweat proof.  Uses 19 percent non-nano, transparent zinc oxide for UVA and UVB protection at 30 SPF, and won’t leave you looking chalky and white, though you will be a little shiny.  Free of fragrance and any other potentially harmful chemicals and it doesn’t sting the eyes if it happens to get in them.

2.  Aubrey Organics Unscented Natural Sun SPF 30. Made using 15 percent zinc oxide for broad spectrum UV protection, this spray lotion comes in a hand squeeze trigger bottle for easy of application. Highly moisturizing, it’s also water-resistant for up to 40 minutes of swimming and perspiring and free from any concerning chemicals. Virtually scent free other than the natural smell of the ingredients, it’s a great option for those who really prefer something with very little odor.

3.  Goddess Garden Kids Natural SPF & Continuous Spray. This continuous spray, 94 percent certified organic formula is super easy to apply to hard to reach places when you don’t have anyone on hand to get your back, so to speak. Made using sheer 6.4 percent titanium dioxide and 6 percent zinc oxide, it provides broad spectrum SPF of 30, but not quite as much protection as the higher concentration of zinc oxide in the All Terrain. It’s made using gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO ingredients.  The non-aerosol container is fully recyclable and it’s made in the USA.

Have fun in the sun, but keep your skin safe and remember to reapply any sunblock after any time spent in the water or sweating, despite claims of water resistance. Better safe than lobster.

 Top image: Youthful Sins

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