Choosing a Healthy Sunscreen: Part 2

What to Look for in a Healthy Sunscreen

As I mentioned in my last post, Choosing a Healthy Sunscreen: Part 1, I have some very specific criteria when choosing the right sunscreen products. Some of the things I look for in a sunscreen are:

mineral sunscreens (i.e. zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide) as the active ingredients and no chemical sunscreens (such as oxybenzone)
no parabens (i.e. chemical preservatives linked to cancer and other health hazards)
no retinyl palmitate or any variations of vitamin A (which can actually accelerate the development of skin cancer).

In addition, to finding products that meet my health criteria, it’s also important for me to find products that are easy to apply, don’t leave a pasty look and leave a nice texture. I shared my favorite sunscreens for the face in my previous post, so as promised, here are my favorite sunscreen products for the body and lips:

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Healthy Sunscreen for the Body

Goddess Garden Organics Sunny Kids, SPF 30: yes, this is technically a kids’ sunscreen. But as I’ve mentioned before, sometimes the best and most gentle products are made for kids and/or babies. I’ve tried a lot of mineral/natural sunscreens and they can be quite thick, pasty and difficult to apply (plus, they tend to dry up fast). Goddess Garden has a nice texture, however. Of course, please keep in mind that it is still a mineral sunscreen and will require a little extra rubbing; but be patient, it’s worth the extra few seconds. I love the trigger spray bottle version, which appears to be a slightly different ingredient formulation than the tube version, but they are both great. (Please note: the spray bottle is not actually a spray; it’s just a different way of dispensing the lotion, but it is still a lotion consistency. This is a good thing, because sunscreens that spray into the air are dangerous to breathe in.)

One last note about using mineral sunscreens: if you find any of the products to be thicker than you’d like, you can always add a little of your regular moisturizer and rub them in together. Just don’t go overboard on the moisturizer, as diluting the sunscreen too much will compromise the sun protection it’s meant to provide (and this suggestion is not recommended if you’re planning to spend a good amount of time in direct sunlight).

Healthy Sunscreens for the Lips

It is not easy to find lip balms with mineral sunscreens that aren’t chalky looking. That’s why I was excited to find these two options:

Alba Botanica Mineral Terra Tints SPF 15 glides on nicely, is moisturizing and has a few shade options (I chose Bloom and it’s the perfect hint of rosy color).

Liptect SPF 45 by Solar Protection Formula is another great choice. It also glides on easily, is moisturizing and has a tint, but this is a subtle shade that matches natural lip color once applied (making it colorless and therefore, a good choice for women and men.)