Pack a Safe, Effective Sunscreen

Daily Green
Published July 18, 2008

Choose a safe, natural sunscreen that gives you effective protection, but does not contain potentially harmful chemicals.

Protect your skin from sun damage with a safe, effective natural sunscreen, and avoid the potentially harmful chemicals found in many conventional brands.

As you probably know, the best way to prevent sun damage is to stay in the shade or cover up. But that can sometimes put a damper on summer fun, so you need other options. While sunscreen isn't perfect, it can help reduce burns and damage from UV rays.

However, many common sunscreens contain questionable chemicals such as oxybenzone, which has been implicated in allergies, hormone disruption, cellular damage and low birth weight. When the Environmental Working Group analyzed 783 sunscreens, the group determined that only 16% of sunscreens on the market are both safe and effective. Only 125 blocked both UVA and UVB radiation, remained stable in sunlight and contained few if any ingredients that are known or suspected health hazards.

Check out our list of best natural sunscreens, compiled from EWG data and our own sleuthing.