9 Natural Sunscreens That Work

You want to spend time outside, enjoying the sun and water; however, you are worried about the harmful effects of sun exposure. We all know that store-bought sunscreen lotions have chemical ingredients that can do more damage than good. More than this, in a vast majority of cases, they are not water-resistant, even when marketed as such and you need to reapply them many times during the time spent at the beach. This translates into a rather costly business, not to mention the health concern.

So, what is the solution to enjoy your experience outdoors to the max? Well, the experts recommend trying a natural sunscreen (mineral lotion) that can also be used as a baby sunscreen. The baby sunscreen is a mineral lotion safe for their delicate skin, but very efficient in providing the much-needed protection from the sun.

Unlike the traditional sunscreen lotions, the mineral ones are focused on reflecting the light of the sun – and this is what the mineral filters do. Instead of applying a sunscreen lotion that penetrates the skin, we can use the mineral filters baby sunscreen that creates a protective barrier at the surface of the skin. Much healthier, not to mention that even the costs can be reduced in the long run.

Check out our list of the best natural (mineral) sunscreens currently available on the market.

Our Selection

1. Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen SPF50

If you are looking for a natural sunscreen that really allows you to enjoy your time at the beach or pool without worrying about getting sunburnt, you might have just found your match made in heaven! One thing is for sure when it comes to Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen SPF 50 and that is – it works! Isn’t this what we are all really looking for in a natural sunscreen? To do its job!

Australian Gold is a company with a good moto – for them experience is everything. More than this, they also believe that the time spent out in the sun should be celebrated while being responsible about protection from the sun. The mineral lotion from Australian Gold is made with an eco-conscious formulation, this means that it was designed to be free from parabens, SLS, dye, oil, and other harsh chemical ingredients.

What you will love most about the Australian Gold Botanical Sunscreen SPF 50 is that this natural sunscreen is water resistant – its effects last on your skin for up to 80 minutes! In any case, it is recommended to reapply every time you get out of the water! The product is also suitable to be used as baby sunscreen, but a doctor should be consulted if the baby is under six months old.

Gentle on the skin and suitable even for people with sensitive skin, this mineral sunscreen doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue on the skin. If anything, the finishing touches are powder-like, so you don’t have to worry about leaving oil on everything that you touch. Enjoy your day out in the sun and protect your skin with this luxurious feeling natural sunscreen!

Also worth reading: Best Anti-Aging Eye Creams

2. Baby Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 by Badger

The packaging of this baby sunscreen is just so sweet, you will fall in love immediately. However, this might not be the main reason why you will want to use it each and every time you go out. There is something else about it that makes it so lovable… Do you have any idea what this might be? Yeah, you are right, it’s the smell!

The Badger Baby Natural Sunscreen SPF30 smells just as lovely as it looks. Are you now thinking whether a fragrance is a good idea for a natural sunscreen for babies? Well, the smell is incredibly delicate, so the product is suitable for your baby. Another thing we should mention is that there are no harmful chemicals in this baby sunscreen – it offers great protection for your baby’s skin using the mineral filters.

This mineral sunscreen is created only with natural ingredients that are safe not only for your baby’s skin, but also for the environment. The baby sunscreen won’t hurt coral as it contains only seven natural ingredients such as: zinc oxide, sunflower oil, beeswax, vitamin E from sunflower, chamomile, calendula, and seabuckthorn. Badger Baby Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 is a hypoallergenic product made with 98% organic ingredients, providing broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays.

Also worth reading: Best Aloe Vera Gels

3. COOLA Face Mineral Sunscreen SPF30

If you’d love to get some color on your skin with your natural sunscreen, the COOLA Face Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 might become your favorite skincare product ever. This is an eco-friendly and award-winning sunscreen (“Best Natural Sunscreen”, awarded by New Beauty Magazine in 2013 and 2014) that soothes and smooths your face without leaving a white cast behind.

This sunscreen is lightly tinted and acts also as a face moisturizer and a mineral BB cream, giving your face an elegant yet natural matte finish. The matte finish is perfect if you have oily or combination skin as it prevents your face from shining due to the excess sebum. The mineral face moisturizer is just lightly tinted, so you are getting just a bit of color – the effects are similar to the ones of a good quality BB cream, but with the added benefit of being water resistant for about 40 minutes and infused with lots of antioxidants.

Rosehip seed oil is among the most powerful antioxidants and a popular ingredient to find in high-quality facial creams and lotions. The high contents of vitamin C is what makes rosehip seed oil the perfect ingredient to be included in this mineral face tinted moisturizer. Vitamin C is essential for skin elasticity and also contributes to making your skin brighter and visibly clearer. To make the most out of your COOLA Face  Mineral Sunscreen, apply it on the face and neck about 15 to 20 minutes before going out of the house and reapply as recommended.

Also worth reading: Best Natural Lip Balms

4. Thinkbaby Sunscreen SPF 50+

Are you doing extensive research to find just the safest baby sunscreen product on the market? Are you concerned with the level of chemicals often found in traditional baby sunscreen products that are anything but healthy or natural? Well, the good news is that the Thinkbaby company shares your concerns and has made it their mission to find questionably safe baby products and create natural alternatives for them. One of these amazing products that were designed to keep your baby’s skin safe and protected while you are out in the sun is the Thinkbaby Sunscreen SPF 50+.

The Thinkbaby Sunscreen SPF 50+ is the standard for safe sunscreen. The zinc oxide helps protect your baby’s skin, without being absorbed into the body. The broad-spectrum protection, as well as the high water resistance factor are among the main benefits that have made this baby sunscreen an award-winning skincare product. And do you want to know what is even better? It has a texture that spreads easily, so you don’t have to spend all day rubbing it into the skin. Also, it doesn’t leave behind a sticky film and it is not oily.

This natural sunscreen can be safely used on the baby’s sensitive skin but is also great for your skin too. So, don’t worry if you didn’t pack your sunscreen, every family member can use this baby sunscreen and the effects will be just as good. When applying Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen on your baby’s skin, make sure to cover all areas that are exposed to sunlight about 15 to 20 minutes before sun exposure. The manufacturer doesn’t recommend spreading the product too thin as it might reduce the effects.

5. Alba Botanica Sensitive Sunscreen SPF50

A Leaping Bunny Certified, 100% vegetarian and reef-friendly, the Alba Botanica Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 50 is a skincare product recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Providing broad spectrum protection and designed to be water resistant for 80 minutes, this fragrance free clear spray sunscreen is ideal for people who prefer a spray instead of a lotion or a cream. And the reality is that a spray is much easier to apply. More than this, the chances are that you will better cover areas hard to reach using a spray rather than another type of sunscreen.

Aside from the lightweight formula, one of the best things about this natural sunscreen is that it is made with botanical ingredients such as aloe vera and chamomile. It is biodegradable and therefore safe for the environment. There is no greasy or heavy film left on the skin after applying the air-powered mist. One of the things you will like most about this product is that, as the name suggests, it is a clear spray, meaning it doesn’t leave behind a white cast.

So, it’s time to say goodbye to that lavender-looking skin in the middle of summer and hello to a nice, healthy tan. This natural sunscreen spray needs to be applied on clean skin at least a quarter of an hour before sun exposure. Hold the bottle 4 to 6 inches away from the area you are spraying on. However, the recommendation is to not spray directly on the face. What you could do is apply a small amount on your hands and then gently dab on the face.

6. Beauty by Earth – Facial Sunscreen SPF20

Ever dreamed about getting everything you need in just one facial skincare product? And we mean everything – hydration, sunscreen protection, protection from skin damage and so on. Well, this proudct now exists – it is the Beauty by Earth Facial Sunscreen SPF 20. The formula is based on an organic moisturizer, so it contains only natural ingredients that are safe for the skin.

While the formula is non-greasy, it is highly moisturizing, which is something that is rarely the case when it comes to sunscreen lotions. This means that you get to enjoy all the benefits of a natural sunscreen in a cream deeply hydrating. Your face will thank you now, and years from now! This mineral sunscreen is part of our selection of the best sunscreens because, aside from the fact that it is all-natural, with organic ingredients and does a great job, it is also biodegradable and safe for the coral reefs.

What we sometimes fail to understand is that sun damage can happen within minutes. We go out shopping in the middle of the day and only spend less than half an hour in the sun. Even if your skin is not sensitive and doesn’t show signs of sunburn immediately, this doesn’t mean that the damage is not there. Often, we see this damage as wrinkles and pigmentation spots in time. Using Beauty by Earth Facial Sunscreen can help prevent premature aging. This might be the well-kept secret to flawless skin, every day!

7. Tropical Sands All Natural Sunscreen SPF30

Choosing the best natural sunscreen is not only about protecting your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, but also protecting the environment. Tropical Sands All Natural SPF 30 sunscreen is a great choice for your skin, as well as the environment.

You might already be aware of the fact that store-bought sunscreen lotions can contain harsh chemicals that can trigger allergies and irritations in people with more sensitive skin. It is not uncommon even for people with normal skin to experience rashes and redness when applying sunscreen lotions containing certain ingredients. This is the reason why a biodegradable natural sunscreen, that could be used also as a baby sunscreen is your safest bet.

Tropical Sands All Natural SPF 30 sunscreen is actually formulated with a secret recipe in mind, a recipe used by the natives of Acapulco. It is suitable to be used as a baby sunscreen as the ingredients are completely safe for the skin and the formula has no nanoparticles or harsh chemicals. This all-natural sunscreen contains green tea which has amazing antioxidant properties. This means you get even more benefits for your skin that is soothed and protected from the sun, all at the same time.

8. Aveeno Baby Zinc Oxide Sunscreen

You want to spend time out in the sun, but you can’t help but worry about keeping your baby protected from the damaging effects of the sun rays. Applying a store-bought sunscreen lotion can be quite a struggle, not to mention that it can get in the baby’s eyes and cause irritation and tears. But we have news for you! With the Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Zinc Oxide Sunscreen lotion, you can keep your baby safe and well-protected.

Aveeno Baby sunscreen lotion was designed to soothe sensitive skin, it is paraben and fragrance-free, so completely safe and healthy for the baby. The non-greasy formula is a pleasure to apply and you can forget about oil stains on your baby clothes when using it.

The baby sunscreen comes in a travel-friendly packaging, so you can take it away when you go on a holiday. More than this, it is both sweat and water resistant, which is really great for those incredibly hot summer days.

9. Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen

Do you feel that your baby’s skin is so delicate that you should apply a sunscreen with a SPF higher than 50? Well, you are in luck as this Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen Stick has a board spectrum SPF of 60+. The baby sunscreen is ideal for very fair and the delicate skin of the babies and it offers good protection from sun damage.

Of course, the recommendation is to limit sun exposure especially during certain hours. However, this Neutrogena mineral baby sunscreen is one of the best baby products you can get on the market today. Is safe for even the most sensitive skin, and, the added benefit is that it’s actually a stick, not a lotion!

Doesn’t it just drive you crazy putting on sunscreen lotion on your baby and the product getting from the hands to the eyes triggering irritation? Yeah, we have been there, and it is so annoying. With the Neutrogena baby sunscreen you won’t have this problem as it is actually a stick. The solid consistency is similar to the one of a deodorant stick. Don’t worry, it doesn’t melt in the sun, but it can take a while to get the hang of applying it without pushing down too much.

Frequently Asked Questions