Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Beauty

BlissMark may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

These clean sunscreen brands are best at protecting your skin from sun damage

Amelia Wilson
By

It can be challenging to find sunscreen brands that not only protect your skin from sun damage but also protect the environment. Unfortunately, many sunscreen brands include chemical ingredients that are harsh on your skin and detrimental to the ecosystem, especially to the ocean and its coral reefs.

So what are the best clean sunscreen brands? Where can you find them? And how do you know what ingredients to avoid when making your selection? This guide will answer all of your clean sunscreen questions and help you choose the brand that best suits your needs.

woman applying sunscreen to her skin at the beach
HQuality/Shutterstock

What ingredients to look for when buying clean sunscreen

When purchasing clean sunscreens, it’s important to look into the details of the ingredient list. There are several chemicals to avoid, including oxybenzone, octinate, avobenzone, cyclopentasiloxane, microbeads, parabens, and phthalates. Many of these can be irritants, especially for sensitive skin. Further, if you swim in the ocean with these chemicals on your skin, they can seep into the water, disrupting the natural processes.

Recommended Videos

If you’re looking for clean chemicals, aim for sunscreens that include ingredients such as aloe, bromelain, calendula, cinnamidopropyltrimonium chloride (UV absorbent), coconut oil, and titanium dioxide (non-nano)

Related

Many clean sunscreens use plant extracts and minerals that absorb or deflect UV light and offer natural protection for your skin.

Oxybenzone and octinoxate free sunscreen

Oxybenzone also referred to as benzophenone-3, is a common ingredient in many FDA-approved sunscreens because this chemical is great at penetrating the skin and offers strong UV protection. However, it is classified as an eye irritant and is hazardous for direct skin contact. Additionally, this ingredient is a common cause of coral bleaching when millions of people descend on the beaches coated in a chemical sunscreen.

Octinoxate, also known as octyl methoxycinnamate, is another FDA approved ingredient in sunscreens. It filters UV light and protects the skin from sun damage; however, but early studies suggest the chemical invades the inner organ systems, and traces have been found in urine and breast milk. Similar to oxybenzone, it is also a known chemical for coral bleaching.

Below are some clean sunscreen brands that are all-natural and protect you from harmful sun damage.

person squeezing sunscreen tube in their hands
yurakrasil/Shutterstock

Goddess Garden

Goddess Garden creates powerful UV protecting sunscreen, specializing in sensitive skin sunscreen and products safe for children. This company offers sunscreens up to SPF 50, so it’s perfect for people prone to sunburns. 

Some of the main ingredients include titanium dioxide (non-nano) and zinc oxide (non-nano). Zinc oxide pairs well with the natural zinc found in your body and the environment to deflect UV rays away from your skin.

Goddess Garden is also reef safe and environmentally friendly.

Stream2Sea sunscreen

Sream2Sea is one of the biggest names in clean sunscreen. This company informs its audience about harmful ingredients in sunscreen and offers clean, natural solutions for many sun-loving folks. Stream2Sea also advocates for protecting the coral reefs from bleaching and uses ingredients that will not harm you or the environment.

These sunscreens include titanium dioxide (non-nano), water, green tea extracts, wakame seaweed, aloe extract, and other natural plant-based ingredients. The products are only available from SPF 20 to 30, so they are not best for people who are prone to burning. However, if your skin is perfectly protected by SPF 20 or 30,  consider making the switch to Stream2Sea!

All Good Sport Mineral sunscreen

All Good mineral sunscreen is a sunscreen brand that aims to create family-friendly sunscreen. This sunscreen is kid-safe and non-detrimental to coral reefs. A few main ingredients include non-nano zinc oxide, aloe, calendula, safflower seed oil, sunflower oil, and other natural plant extracts.

The sunscreen sprays and lotions range between SPF 20 to SPF 50 and are safe for sensitive skin. You can rest assured that there won’t be any irritations or allergies to their products.

Disclaimer: BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Amelia Wilson
Amelia Wilson
Contributor
Amelia Wilson (author pen name Amelia J. Wilson) is a content writer in Greenwood, IN. She often enjoys topics on…
5 essential beauty tools for your self care routine
the best feminine wash

Practicing self care is an important part of encouraging health and wellness mentally, physically and even spiritually. A common way that many people exercise self care is through pampering themselves with a spa day at home. This can include lighting a scented candle, turning on some calming music or meditating in a warm, bubble bath. For many people, recreating a spa-like environment at home provides a calm, serene frame of mind without the hefty prices that you’d typically find at a beauty parlor. You can transform your living space into a sanctuary with the help of some essential beauty tools that are available on Amazon right now.
Here are five essential tools to use for your self care routine:

Indulging yourself with these five beauty products can help you turn a boring beauty regimen into an extravagant spa experience. Let's face it, from daily work commutes to heating up frozen dinners after a long day, our every day routines can sometimes become monotonous and lackluster. It's important that we take special care of our mental and physical wellbeing so that we can tackle the highs and lows of life. Something as small as treating yourself to a pretty, glass nail file or applying a nutrient-rich face mask can brighten your mood. Participating in self care has been shown to provide ample health benefits as well as reduce the risks and effects of anxiety and depression. Set aside some time to celebrate yourself with these purposeful beauty tools for the perfect self care day.
 
 
 

Read more
Better skin while you sleep: The best overnight skin care treatments for winter
a beauty shot of a woman who is touching her chin

It turns out, beauty sleep isn’t just a cliche. While we sleep, our body replaces dead cells and restores new ones, keeping our skin radiant, hydrated, and clear.
In the winter, it’s arguably even more important to log hours of quality sleep and give our skin some extra TLC. The chillier air outside and drier air inside due to heat can wreak havoc on our skin. In the winter, you may notice an increase in dry, flaky skin or even lip eczema. In addition to pulling out hats, scarves, and gloves, you will want to have some go-to skincare products and routines you take out of hibernation during the cooler months.
You can maximize your beauty sleep by finding products that get to work while you’re catching some Zzzs. These overnight treatments for skin will keep your skin soft and smooth, even when the temperatures are harsh.

What are overnight treatments?
As the name implies, overnight treatments help soothe, repair, and rejuvenate your body as you sleep. For example, some people put on a deep conditioner and wrap their hair, so their mane looks silky and healthy in the morning.
Overnight treatments for skin can do the same. Experts share that these treatments are usually different than standard night creams or serums. Ingredients may be more concentrated than typical night creams. Formulators often design the products to work with the body’s circadian rhythm, delivering key components to the skin at the optimal time.
Overnight treatments can help with a variety of conditions, including dryness and acne. When shopping, you’ll want to know your goals, so you can choose a product that best meets your needs.

Read more
6 tips for taking care of your skin in the winter
A happy woman wearing a winter sweater.

You love winter’s fashion and festivities. Sweater socks and Christkindlmarkts non-stop make the season the most magical one. The coziness of curling up in front of the fire to escape the wintery weather is everyone’s favorite activity. But one of winter’s favorite activities is taking a toll on your skin.

It might be fun to be able to see your breath in the air, but that means there’s a lack of moisture. Between the roaring fire, the cranked-up heat, and the blustering winds outside, your skin needs all the help it can get to stay moist and glowing. Let’s go over some winter skincare tips so your skin can keep its glow all season long.

Read more