The 7 Best Eco Friendly Sunscreens for Summer 2020

You’ve probably been indoors because of covid-19, so your skin is going to need this list of the seven best eco friendly sunscreens for Summer 2020.

After being shut inside pretty much since March, I was in the sun for six straight hours. (Basically a death sentence.) Despite my darker complexion, my body was not about all those UV rays. Then I got a killer sunburn, skin rashes, blisters, and some good ole peeling. Yay.

(This is the second time in my 28 years of life I’ve even gotten a sunburn. Aloe vera is my new best friend. I dream of taking a bath in a tub of this healing cooling-gel.)

Whether you have darker skin or fair skin, get yourself some eco-friendly sunscreen ASAP!

Why do you need an eco friendly sunscreen?

Sunscreen is a great way to protect your skin from sunburns and skin cancer. Did you know about 20% of Americans will get skin cancer by age 70? After five or more sunburns, your chances of getting melanoma increase, according to skincancer.org. So lather up, loved ones!

But why the eco friendly sunscreen? Turns out typical sunscreen has chemicals like oxybenzone and benzophenone that hurt aquatic ecosystems.

According to National Geographic, up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen wash into the ocean every year causing unwanted effects. Some of the effects include:

Impairing green algae’s growth and photosynthesis.
Accumulating in coral‘s tissues causing bleaching, damaging its DNA, deforming the young, and even killing it.
Causing defects in young mussels.
Damaging sea urchin‘s immune and reproductive systems and deforming the young.
Causing fertility and reproductive issues among fish and cause female characteristics in male fish.
Accumulating in dolphins‘ tissues and transferring it to its young.

(This information is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.)

How to reduce how much sunscreen you need

Okay, so we need the sunscreen, but aquatic ecosystems also need to exist. How do we balance the two? Luckily, NOAA gives us two easy tips to reduce how much sunscreen we use.

Stay inside during the hottest times of the day and seek shade while you’re outdoors.
Cover up your skin as much as possible using Ultraviolet Protective Factor (UPF) clothing or regular clothing in light colors. Only use sunscreen on the exposed skin.

How to pick an eco friendly sunscreen

Ok, but let’s say you have an awesome beach, river, or lake fun to enjoy, and you can’t help the sun exposure. What do you do then? NOAA suggests we opt for eco-friendly sunscreen with ingredients that are safe for aquatic ecosystems.

Check the ingredient list. Even products marked as reef safe sunscreen can have chemicals that aren’t good for the environment! (I know, V sneaky!) Remember, you’re on the lookout for oxybenzone, benzophenone, camphor, nano-Titanium dioxide and nano-Zinc oxide.

If you don’t want to have to remember these five funny-sounding ingredients while you’re in the store, just choose a sunscreen from our list!

Seven of the best eco friendly sunscreens on Amazon

There are so many sunscreens to choose from. All of the options below are natural mineral sunscreens. They are made with wholesome ingredients that absorb into your skin and don’t wash away into the water. This also means you’ll have to use less of it!

We’ve also looked for companies promising cruelty-free testing. Most of the products are also made with recycled, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging. Our final criteria is to recommend products that are around or less than $15. We want to make eco friendly sunscreens accessible for all travelers.

1 - Best for carry-on: Beauty by Earth SPF 30 Sunscreen Stick

Why we love it: The ingredient list is packed with moisturizing ingredients you actually recognize like coconut oil and aloe vera. It’s also vegetarian friendly because there is no animal testing involved. We also love that it’s a carry-on safe stick with protection that lasts 80 minutes.

2 - Best Value Sunscreen: Jason SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen

Sometimes the eco friendly option is the expensive option. Price tags can be a roadblock from making the initial switch. That’s why this whole list is focused near or under $15. We especially love this option for it’s affordable price tag. Not only is it affordable, but it’s a mineral sunscreen! So you get the benefits of a long-lasting mineral ingredients that protect your skin and don’t hurt aquatic life.

It also comes with moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, jojoba, and sunflower oil. Special kudos for being cruelty free and using a recyclable container.

3 - Longest-Lasting Sunscreen: Tropic Sport SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion

If you spend a long time in the sun doing water sports or love your long days at the beach, you have to get this one. It’s a mineral sunscreen so it goes on all the way requiring you to use less of it. This sunscreen was developed in Australia for surfers, so it can last up to 240 minutes! Three times the typical average.

4 - Best Spray-on Suncreen: Babo Botanicals SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray

Those who love spray-on options will love this sunscreen. Truly we also give the entire line another eco-friendly thumbs up. It’s filled with moisturizing ingredients like aloe that aren’t testing on animals. So vegans, this is also a great option for you. Additionally, it’s all natural ingredients are hypoallergenic so it’s safe for the whole family.

5 - Best Sunscreen for Vegans: Sun Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion

We’ve given some shout out to vegetarian-friendly sunscreen options, but this sunscreen is great for vegans! Unlike previous options, this formula doesn’t include any animal products like beeswax. The Sun Bum line also has a sunscreen spray, lip balm, face stick and cool down gel.

This vegan bad boy will keep you safe through 80 minutes of sweating and swimming. (Also, special shout out to Sun Bum because it’s made in our home state, Florida!)

6 - Best Tinted Sunscreen: Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion

This one packs a punch. It is especially great for travelers who want to enhance their complexion or for makeup lovers. The splash of color gives you a natural sunny glow. It also comes in a hypoallergenic formula that’s cruelty-free and and kid-friendly. The coverage lasts up to 80 minutes.

7 - Best for sensitive skin: Badger SPF 30 Sunscreen Cream

This formula is made with only four ingredients, and you can name all of them! It’s also unscented because sometimes you want all of the protection with none of the smells. (Seriously, nothing invites all those summer bugs over like sweating while smelling like fruit. I should know I use coconut scented products in my hair.) This is also great for sensitive skin and kids. Probably the one thing we don’t like is that the protection only lasts 40 minutes.

Alright y’all, that’s it for our seven best eco friendly sunscreens for Summer 2020. Stay safe out there against coronavirus and the sun. Your skin isn’t used to it anymore!