It’s scary to think that so many of the sunblocks on the market today cause much of the damage they’re meant to protect us from. With scary ingredients like parabens, PABA, oxybenzone, avobezone, and octisalate, the sun is the least of your worries. That’s why choosing organic and natural sunscreens is so important.

Thanks to the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Safer Sunscreens, finding good products has never been easier–in fact, all of these products are low hazard in terms of the ingredients used. At the same time, I chose natural sunscreens that are easy to apply, leave your skin feeling soft, and use yummy ingredients like avocado oil and shea butter. Let’s take a closer look.

17 of the Best Natural Sunscreens for Your Favorite Beach Bum

1. Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 26

I live about 10 minutes by bike from the beach so I’m well aware of the importance of natural sunscreens. I’m constantly looking for  naturally effective ingredients like kukui and macadamia nut oils and other plant-based skin hydrators, that’s why I’ve long been a fan of Aubrey Organics because the brands products are both clean and effective. Its natural sunscreens are no exception. Price: $12.76 EWG Rating

2. BALM! Baby SUN!, SPF 30

BALM! Baby SUN!, SPF 30 is thick like body butter and it’s safe for parents and kids alike. Enjoy ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, apricot, and essential oils. Price: $9.99 EWG Rating

3. MDSolarSciences Mineral Creme Sunscreen, SPF 50

With MDSolarSciences Mineral Creme Sunscreen, SPF 50’s excellent UVA/UVB coverage, you’ll be well protected from the sun. This product is really effective and it’s safe. Price: $30.00 EWG Rating

4. Suntegrity

Suntegrity is a natural mineral sunscreen that’s rich while at the same time non-greasy. It’s chemical-free and infused with antioxidants like astaxanthin, red algae, and pomegranate. It’s superfood for your skin. Price $45 EWG Rating

5. All Terrain AquaSport Face Stick Skin Protectant SPF 28

All Terrain AquaSport Face Stick Skin Protectant SPF 28 is free of harmful ingredients, sweat proof, and absorbs quickly. It’s effective but not so thick that it clogs your pores and causes acne. Price $8.99 EWG Rating

6. COOLA® Suncare ‘Unscented’ Baby Mineral Moisturizer SPF 50

COOLA is a mineral sunscreen and moisturizer made with shea butter, coconut oil, and safflower oil–it’s a slew of my favorite ingredients all wrapped up in a delicious sunscreen. Price: $36.00 EWG Rating

7. Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen, SPF 30

Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen, SPF 30 has some great qualities in terms of good sun protection, hydration, and it’s good for acne prone skin. Price: $15.16 EWG Rating

8. Beyond Coastal Lip & Face Screen, SPF 30

Beyond Coastal Lip & Face Screen, SPF 30  is made with aloe vera, shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter, beeswax, and vitamin E. You can’t get much cleaner than that. Price: $5.99 EWG Rating

9. Juice Beauty Tinted Mineral Moisturizer, SPF 30

Juice Beauty Tinted Mineral Moisturizer, SPF 30 is non-toxic and non-greasy. While it’s on the pricier end of the spectrum at $30, it’s both effective and it doesn’t include a single chemical. Price: $29.99 EWG Rating

10. California Baby Super Sensitive Broad Spectrum SPF 30+ Sunscreen

California Baby is a little thick to apply, so it takes a while to work into the skin, but at the same time it’s a high quality sunscreen that you don’t need to reapply as often. Price: 17.99 EWG Rating

11. Sunology Natural Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 50

Sunology Natural Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 50 makes for great sun protection without oxybenzone, avobezone, octisalate, homosalate or other chemical active ingredients. Price: $14.99 EWG Rating

12. thinksport LIVESTRONG SUNSCREEN SPF50

thinksport LIVESTRONG SUNSCREEN SPF50 is chemical and fragrance free and contains no parabens, phthalates, PABA or 1,4 dioxane. Price: $15.99 EWG Rating

13. Honest Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Honest Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30  is free of parabens, PABA, phthalates, fragrances, petrochemicals, dyes, synthetic chemical sunscreens, and most common allergens.. With no harsh chemicals, it won’t burn tender skin. What’s more, it provides maximum protection for beach bums. Price: $19.99 EWG Rating 

14. Marie Veronique Organics MVO Everyday Coverage

I love Marie Veronique Organics MVO Everyday Coverage because it provides ample protection and it’s easy to apply. It’s ideal for sensitive skin. Price: $48.00 EWG Rating

15. Goddess Garden Sunny Body Natural Sunscreen

Goddess Garden is free of chemicals and made with 92 percent organic ingredients. It’s also biodegradable and includes sunflower oil and aloe vera. Price: $19.99 EWG Rating

16. Thinkbaby Sunscreen SPF 50+ Benefiting LIVESTRONG

Thinkbaby Sunscreen SPF 50+ Benefiting LIVESTRONG is gentle on your skin but tough on the sun’s rays. It’s made with aloe, cranberry seed oil, castor oil, papaya oil, and epsom salts. It’s easy on your skin and the planet. Price: $14.99 EWG Rating

17. Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Sunscreen Stick

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Sunscreen Stick is a great product because when you sweat, it doesn’t run into your eyes and burn like some products. It’s also chemical and fragrance. Price: $7.99 EWG Rating

Check out and shop our top sunscreen picks here:

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Image: Randy Robertson

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This week’s Link Love we get the skinny on urban foraging, the best in natural sunscreens and gorgeous swimwear, and Pat Sajak makes a big boo-boo about climate change while we reflect on the sounds of 1994 (that was 20 years ago, in case you’re wondering).

A new urban foraging app – RipeNearMe – is aiming to take urban foraging to the next level by letting growers share, swap, or even sell their bounty. [via Eat Drink Better]

It’s time. 9 Essential natural sunscreens. [via Well+Good]

2014 swimsuit trends to love. [via O Magazine]

We’d like to buy an “oh-no”, please. Pat Sajak ruins your sick-day game-show viewing with climate denial. [via Grist]

10 reasons 1994 was the best year for music. Yeah, think about it! [via LA Weekly]

The post Link Love: Swim Suits and Sunscreen + Pat Sajak on Climate Change + 1994 appeared first on EcoSalon.