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LiveWell — Eco-Friendly Sunscreen Shopping Guide

by Alex Robinson

Eco-Friendly Sunscreen Shopping Guide

With the weather getting warmer by the day and beach trips on the horizon, you need to make sure to have your beach bag stocked with the best sunscreens for you--and for the environment.

The best way to protect your skin from damaging UV rays is with a physical or mineral sunscreen—with active ingredients listed as either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Sunscreen should be a part of your daily skincare routine, whether or not you will be spending the day in the sun, and even when the sun isn’t shining.

Sunscreen is crucial for protecting your skin not only from fine lines and wrinkles, but from skin cancer. Without it, your other efforts to keep your skin at its best may be going to waste.

When choosing a sunscreen, it is important to have not only your skin in mind, but the environment as well. The coral reefs are endangered and many of the chemical-based sunscreens contribute to their ongoing deterioration. This is one of several reasons why mineral sunscreens are the better option—they don’t harm the reefs. Physical or mineral sunscreen is also great for sensitive skin as the minerals are not absorbed, they just rest on the surface to protect your skin.

Our curated guide to keeping your skin safe from harsh UV rays with eco-friendly sunscreens will help you make the best and most informed choices.



The Coral Reefs


Saving the reefs is so important and switching to mineral sunscreen is such an easy way to make a difference. The National Ocean Service explains “Healthy coral reefs are one of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. They provide billions of dollars in economic and environmental services, such as food, coastal protection, and tourism.”

The chemicals in some of the most popular brands of sunscreen cause extreme harm to the coral reefs throughout our oceans including bleaching, damage to DNA, and even death. These chemicals don’t just hurt the environment, they can also wreak havoc on humans, potentially causing skin irritation, hormonal disruption, or even skin cancer.


Good and Bad Ingredients


Here are some chemicals to avoid, often listed as
“active ingredients”:

• Oxybenzone

• Octinoxate

• Octocrylene

• Avobenzone

• Homosalate     

• Nanoparticles (nano- )

If you have sensitive skin, it would also be advised to avoid sunscreens with any perfumes or alcohol as those ingredients could irritate the skin.

The good ingredients to keep an eye out for, often listed as
“active ingredients” include:

• Zinc oxide

• Titanium oxide

Our Recommendations

Badger Protect Land
& Sea Sunscreen Cream - SPF 40


Badger has many types of reef friendly, biodegradable, and certified cruelty-free sunscreens for every one of your sun protection needs. With only four ingredients, the Protect Land & Sea Sunscreen Cream is a great environmentally conscious option for sensitive skin.

Goddess Garden Daily SPF 30
Mineral Sunscreen Lotion


Dermatologist tested Goddess Garden has a wide range of sheer water resistant (for 80 minutes!) sun protection including daily, sport, kids, and baby as well as products for after the sun.

Eminence Lilikoi Mineral Defense
Sport Sunscreen - SPF 30


Eminence has a sustainable, natural, and organic sunscreen with key ingredients including zinc oxide, passion fruit seed oil containing and raspberry seed oil both rich in Vitamin C, and aloe vera  soothing the skin and keeping it nice and moisturized.

Acure Seriously Soothing SPF Day Cream
& Radically Rejuvenating SPF Day Cream


The 100% vegan brand makes two broad spectrum products to help protect your skin from the harsh sun rays with the Seriously Soothing cream, and the Radically Rejuvenating cream to revive your skin with turmeric, ferulic acid, and vitamin C.

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