Summer will be here soon, which means it’s time to stock up on zero waste sunscreen. And if you’re one of the millions of people with sensitive skin, finding a sunscreen that won’t irritate your skin is of utmost importance.
In this blog post, I’m going to share with you what to look for when shopping for zero waste sunscreen. I’m also going to share what to look for and what to avoid in sunscreen so that you don’t have to worry about irritating your skin. As someone who suffers from eczema, I can personally attest to having sensitive skin.
Why The Ingredients Of Sunscreen Are Important
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last ten years, there’s been substantial evidence showing the sunscreen of the past is causing harm to our oceans and waters. According to NOAA a study in 2016 shows that “a common chemical in many sunscreen lotions and cosmetics is highly toxic to juvenile corals and other marine life.” The evidence also shows that these harmful chemicals are causing corral mutations and bleaching. The good news is, that companies are realizing that consumers are more vigilant about using environmentally safe sunscreens, so better sunscreen is available.
Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin
Staying on the topic of sunscreen ingredients, there are some chemicals commonly found in sunscreen that you avoid. These include but aren’t limited to the following:
- Fragrances
- Oxybenzone
- Para-aminobenzoic acid or PABA
- Just about any chemical sunscreen vs mineral
Dermatologists recommend a physical or mineral sunscreen over a chemical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens often cause skin irritations, take longer to absorb into the skin and pollute our environment. That being said, mineral sunscreen sits on top of the skin, so it can cause problems if you’re acne-prone. If you’re prone to acne, a combination of chemicals and minerals might be the best you can do.
Why Zero Waste Sunscreen Is Important
Zero waste is a consumer choice to purchase and use environmentally safe products and services. This green lifestyle is important because it’s a mindful way to minimize the impacts on Earth. A big goal of zero waste is keeping trash out of our landfills. But in the context of buying zero waste sunscreen, the goal is to purchase from a company that uses environmentally safe production, uses natural ingredients, minimal or environmentally conscious packaging, and ideally does business with other green businesses.
So now that you’ve got a better understanding of what to avoid and what to look for, here are some zero waste sunscreens that should be easy on sensitive skin.
Best Sunscreens For Sensitive Skin
1) Raw Elements Sunscreen – What I like about this one is the tin packaging, so it’s plastic-free. It’s corral safe and spreads safe (compared to other sunscreens). And with a tin container, it’s much easier to control how much you use vs squirting sunscreen out of a plastic tube. Customers like this because it makes it last longer, with less waste.
2) Butterbean Organics – Butterbean organic sunscreen spray is chemical and preservative-free, providing broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays, and is water-resistant for at least 40 minutes. It will nourish and protect even the most sensitive skin with silky smooth organic goodness. The other benefit to Butterbean is, that the sunscreen comes in a variety of eco-friendly packaging.
3) Reef Repair Sunscreen – The name says it all. Reef Repair is a revolution in eco-friendly sun protection and one of the safest sun creams for sensitive skin that you will find anywhere in the world. All Reef Repair sun care products are 100% Oxybenzone free, Octinoxate free, Silicone Free, Titanium Dioxide free, and best of all made from all-natural biodegradable ingredients for a healthier Ocean and vibrant coral reefs.
4) Badger Sunscreen – Badger is a family-run company out of New Hampshire. Badger doesn’t just treat your skin right: it supports the environment, independent farmers, and the small staff over at Badger. They’re a certified B-Corp, meeting rigorous third-party standards in every aspect of production and manufacturing. Many customers who are prone to acne, say Badger doesn’t give them any redness or bumps during or after use and will continue to use Badger.
5) Raw Love Sunscreen – Raw Love is one of the few sunscreens that is suitable for all ages. It’s one of the most eco-conscious, environmentally friendly, plastic-free sunscreens available. It’s free of all toxic chemicals, parabens, PABA, preservatives, or synthetic fragrances! Customers rave about it not melting in the hot sun and some enjoy the natural fragrance. A little goes a long way, and no eye burn.
What To Look For
If you’ve used any or all of these sunscreens and they just didn’t work for you, here’s what you want to look for when you try others.
Packaging
It’s a no-brainer, but what the packaging it’s in is big. The ingredients can be perfect but if the sunscreen comes in a plastic container or plastic wrapping, it kind of defeats the purpose. For the most part, companies are aware of this and tend to use eco-friendly packaging. So not a big worry.
Materials
Next is the raw materials. You want to look for ethically sourced and sustainable materials. It does no good if the raw materials are obtained through responsible and sustainable methods. This means the workers are being paid a sustainable wage, and the factories they are working in are clean and safe. Again, most eco-friendly companies are aware of this and are afraid of greenwashing. On the opposite side of that is a company out of Australia that is doing some awesome work, using solar power as part of the manufacturing process. Best management practices by companies are who I like to support.
Reef Safe
Again, this is a no-brainer, but try finding something that won’t harm our reefs. The first sunscreens need up causing a lot of harm and bleaching our reefs. Thankfully, we can still get sunscreen to protect our skin without having to cause harm to reefs.
Wrapping up Zero Waste Sunscreen
Zero waste is the ultimate goal, right!? If you really want to pick away at a company and find some piece of the manufacturing or production that isn’t completely eco-friendly or sustainable, you’re going to find it. But the goal is to use products that have as little waste as possible and don’t deplete our natural resources. Getting our carbon footprint to 100% is virtually impossible. One of my favorite quotes is “the perfect is the enemy of the good.” At a certain point, there is a law of diminishing returns. Let’s strive to do the best we can without going overboard or being too extremist.