Eight of Our Favorite Natural Sunscreens
Get maximum protection—and avoid nasty chemicals—with these eight natural sunscreens
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Want to protect your skin, but don’t want to expose yourself to nasty chemicals or other substances? Here are eight options to keep you from being a lobster this summer.
Bare Republic Mineral Sport Spray SPF 40 ($17)
We shaved minutes off application time with Bare Republic’s handy spray. Just don’t forget to shake it—zinc oxide settles to the bottom of ultralight formulas like this one.
Hurraw Sun Balm SPF 15 ($3)
There’s no excuse for leaving lips exposed. This vegan balm has zero shine and just a hint of Creamsicle scent that doesn’t interfere with post-surf beers.
Zinka Colored Nosecoat SPF 50 ($7.50)
The original look-at-me skin safeguard packs 25 percent zinc oxide and comes in every color under the sun.
Eir NYC Surf Mud SPF 30 ($24)
Antimicrobial tea tree oil makes this product especially great for hands, feet, and any scraped-up areas.
Ursa Major Daily Defense SPF 18 ($54)
This nine-to-five moisturizer provides broad-spectrum protection, plus plant stem cells that repair and strengthen skin.
Sweat Cosmetics Twist-Brush and Translucent Mineral Powder SPF 30 ($42)
Powder beats lotion for tricky spots like the scalp, eyes, ears, and nose. We like Sweat’s for its bombproof refillable container and washable brush.
Avasol Environmental Defense Cream SPF 30 ($30)
UVB rays damage dark skin just as much as fair, which is why Avasol deserves props for delivering its organic, fair-trade cream in skin-tone-inclusive tints—light, tan, and deep.
Manda Organic Sun Paste SPF 50 $18
Think really old-school zinc: Manda’s opaque formula includes sustainable thanaka wood, which has been used in sunscreens in Myanmar for more than 2,000 years.