Sunscreens
We want to keep our youthful beauty for as long as we can, but how can we prolong this beauty?
Firstly, we must understand why skin ages:
❗ 90% of the reason for wrinkles is the direct result of exposure to the sun. ❗
Sunscreen is EVERYTHING. We should be lathering it on religiously to protect our beauty. Applying anti-aging skincare to our skin everyday is a great thing, but if we are not using SPF with it too, there is no point. That being said, in order for sunscreen to properly protect our skin, it must be
Mineral-only,
At least SPF 30
‘Broad-spectrum’
1. MINERAL-BASED
You need a sunscreen that is mineral-only, no gunk.
Gone are the days of chemical sunscreens that contain endocrine disruptors, which are specifically terrifying as they’re most harmful in small doses. They are a threat to everything in our body from our reproductive system to our metabolism.
When shopping outside of our list, be cautious of any product labeled Mineral ‘BASED’, as this often means the good minerals are still mixed with harmful chemicals. Make sure the sunscreen is Mineral-ONLY, not Mineral-based.
You need to apply clean products to your skin, and only clean. Simply put, if the products are not clean everything you are doing is pointless, and honestly even worse than pointless, counterproductive and harmful. Clean beauty products are not expensive or hard to find anymore and in a few short years non-toxic beauty care is easily going to be the customer’s standard. The all-natural beauty industry is booming and that couldn’t be better for us!
2. SPF 30+
So, besides being clean, AKA mineral-only, you want a sunscreen that has SPF 30 or higher. Do not bother with anything less than that. SPF 15 is considered very low, it only blocks 93% of UV radiation whereas SPF 30 blocks 97%. Ideally you want to use SPF 50, which blocks 98%, but SPF 30 is honestly completely good. Please know that there is no way to fully prevent the sun, the highest SPF (100) can only block 99% of UV rays and trust me you really don’t want to cake that onto your face all the time. SPF 30 is perfectly safe and SPF 50 is even better!
3. BROAD-SPECTRUM
Besides having clean ingredients and the proper SPF, the sunscreen you choose must be broad-spectrum. Broad-spectrum means that the sunscreen blocks both types of harmful UV rays, UVA and UVB. It’s silly that they would make any other kind but they do, don’t use it, use broad spectrum only.
SUNSCREENS TO SHOP FOR
You can be well assured that these products pass every test and you can blindly trust that anything below is the safest and the best.
Before we begin the product list, I want to remind you once again, if you are not shopping from our choices then you must double check with the sunscreen formulas. Sunscreens are known to be one of the beauty products that are most commonly loaded with toxic ingredients. If you are not shopping from our list please be on the lookout for these harmful ingredients: phthalates, sodium, sulfate, fragrance and anything that ends in ‘-paraben.’
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Highest SPF 50: The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 50
Additional dose of nourishment and protection from marine botanicals and algal extracts: Mara Algae + Zinc Sea Kale Sunscreen Serum
Firms skin: Grown Alchemist Natural Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30
Acts as primer, pore smoothing: Saint Jane Luxury Sun Ritual Pore Smoothing SPF 30
Plumps skin: Saie Sunvisor
Tinted, can be used as makeup, for all skin colors: Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen
The Second Highest SPF 40 (almost the same): Supergoop Zincscreen 100% Mineral Lotion SPF 40
SHOP THE BEST
The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 50
This sun cream gets the top spot on our list because it is SPF 50 and also because it contains more than just the minerals we need for sun protection, the formula contains additional skincare gold, such as aloe, shea butter, rose hip, and calendula. This extremely protective sunscreen also soothes and moisturizes your skin.
Another reason that finalizes our decision to buy this cream is its water resistance. Sun protectants can easily sweat off during the day little by little, but with this one you have nothing to worry about!
The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 50 is likely the absolute best sunscreen product on the market right now. It is definitely a pricey option but it gives you something that is completely priceless, youthful beauty.
Mara Algae + Zinc Sea Kale Sunscreen Serum
This product has a tiny difference in that it is a serum, but know that it does exactly the same thing as a more lotion-like sunscreen would. With an SPF of 30, the serum utilizes nonnano zinc oxide to prevent UVA and UVB rays from penetrating your skin (broad spectrum) AND it has three types of oils in it, specifically moringa, sunflower, and raspberry seed oil, which all intensely hydrate your skin.
So, we have the sun repellent minerals, plus the hydrating oils - and then there’s even something more! This sunscreen serum also has a proprietary blend of marine botanicals and algal extracts, a heaven-sent blend of nourishment and protection.
Grown Alchemist Natural Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30
This sunscreen does everything the previously mentioned serum does, it protects against both UVA and UVB rays (broad-spectrum) with SPF 30, while it also nourishes and moisturizes your skin. What makes this sunscreen stand out from other options is its additional ability to firm our skin! The product’s skin firming add on is thanks to three oils, rose hip, lavender and parsley seed.
This sunscreen product is chic and silky and sinks right into the skin. Also the brand, Grown Alchemist, is super trustworthy and well-liked in the clean beauty community. Five stars!
Saint Jane Luxury Sun Ritual Pore Smoothing SPF 30
What will they think of next?! We already have nourishing, hydrating, and firming… now we have yet another spectacular sunscreen benefit, pore smoothing!! This sunscreen melts right into the skin to subtly blur the look of pores, acting as a makeup primer. This idea is super smart because we already use sunscreen and makeup primer together before doing our makeup. The ingredients of these two layers easily mixed to make one smoothing lotion.
As for the sunscreen’s primer abilities, the product is made with jasmine and desert rose which both nourish the skin and leave your pores beautifully smooth as primer would. This specific formula is also packed with hibiscus and green tea antioxidants, powerful anti-aging ingredients that can protect you from oxidative damage on the surface of your skin.
Lastly, for what it’s worth, (to me so much always), the packaging is BEAUTIFUL!! All around outstanding product.
This Sunvisor has all the add ons you want, everything you should literally soak your skin in whenever you get the chance, grape-seed oil, hyaluronic acid, and aloe, all stuff SUPER soothing and hydrating, and get this - included too is vitamin E, just to, you know, * plump *, I will instantly second the need for plumping.
The sunscreen is extremely sheer, silky and gorgeous, and melts beautifully into your skin. Take note that this sunscreen is slightly tinted, something everyone really likes about it, but you have the option to warm it with your fingertips, it just takes a few seconds, to blend the sunscreen invisibly into your skin leaving a translucent, dewy finish.
Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen
This is the perfect eco-friendly tinted sunscreen for people of color. You are accounted for, your beauty needs are taken care of, and that’s a big reason to support this brand whether the tint in the sunscreen is something you are wanting or not. Working for virtually any skin tone, this product can be worn on its own without makeup. Amazing! And like almost every other option, this one nourishes and hydrates skin with its unique skin-loving combination of ingredients, specifically aloe and shea butter.
Supergoop Zincscreen 100% Mineral Lotion SPF 40
As always, Goop products are saved for last. Best that is? In my bias opinion yes, when it comes to clean beauty, I say drink the Kool-Aid. Whatever they’re drinking is straight from the fountain of youth.
The special add ons in this sunscreen include coconut, blueberry, and ashwagandha extracts, which all intensely soothe, nourish and hydrate.
The only, ONLY, reason this sunscreen isn’t the absolute best (and or ‘only’) choice is because it doesn’t have the highest SPF. But remember, there’s practically no difference between SPF 50 and SPF 40. Probably less than a .5% difference.
Once again, I am in love with Goop, hopelessly devoted to the most hopeful health brand of our time! If it is a product of theirs it has been created to literally be better than anything on the market, and some of their products are completely unmatched, one-of-a-kind products made by Goop to fill a void. I can talk about Goop for hours, and I have, here, if you’re interested in continuing this conversation head to that link for more!
When you are applying sunscreen don’t ever, EVER, forget about your neck and chest. Treat these areas exactly how you treat your face, using the same products and application process. It is the same type of skin as you have on your face and it needs to be given the same amount of care. Wrinkles show badly on your neck and decalage, early on too, but only if you neglect SPF, hydration, and other treatment.
Sunscreen is a product that you NEED for beauty, and after finishing this article, you are more aware of this than ever. Now is the time to order one (or two!) of the only ‘treatment’ you really need (repel those UV rays my friends!) The clock is ticking and you can’t make up for lost time, but you can definitely start now.
