To continue with our goal of being your best source of all things beauty related, we’re rounding up the best biodegradable sunscreen on this list. The products in this list were carefully picked based on their organic ability to decompose which will help save the environment. We believe these Mother Earth-approved products deserve a permanent place in your beauty arsenal.
The sea covers about 75 percent of the world and man has only explored 5 percent of it.
You could just imagine how vast the sea is and what lurks in those uncharted waters, all those things that we watch or read about, the other 95 percent has yet to go through thorough studies.
However, we can leave that image for now. The 5 percent that we have already explored is in danger.
This is because marine life is slowly declining, the animals and plants are constantly struggling to keep themselves alive because of the state of their homes.
There are many factors as to why this is happening, mostly due to man’s doing.
Such factors include pollution, oil spills, illegal fishing, and a lot more. These factors not only destroy marine life but there is a sad chance that they get killed and are unable to regrow.
We are responsible for the world that we live in. Thus, what we do reflects the environment and even the tiny bit of care can make a difference.
Chemicals used in sunscreens are not always safe once you go underwater.
There are times when the product that we use can help protect us from the UV rays, but it can also bring harm once submerged in water.
We have researched the top five best biodegradable sunscreens that are completely safe for the environment.
These products break down naturally and do not cause harm to the marine life. We are hopeful that these will help you care not only for your body, but also for our delicate marine life.
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Quick Review: Our Top 5 Best Biodegradable Sunscreen
OUR TOP #1 PICK - Our top pick for the best biodegradable sunscreen is the Alba Botanica, Aloe Vera Sunscreen. This sunscreen not only protects you from the harmful UVA and UVB rays, but it also is safe to use around corals.
OUR TOP #2 PICK - The second top pick is the LureLux Organic and Natural Biodegradable Minerals Sunscreen, This product has Zinc Oxide as its active ingredient which is safe when submerged in water. It provides great protection from the sun without worrying about the reef damage.
OUR TOP #3 PICK - The third pick on our list is the Mineral Sunscreen SPF 25 which is gentle to use even on sensitive skin and is non-comedogenic. It sits on top of your skin, providing you the best protection it can offer without being harmful to water life.
OUR TOP #4 PICK - The fourth best pick is the Badger Baby Sunscreen Cream. This cream does not only have lasting sun protection, but it also has organic products that are good for the skin. It also is not harmful to the environment.
OUR TOP #5 PICK - The last and certainly still the best pick is the Raw Elements Eco Form Sunscreen this product is hypoallergenic, making it gentle to use not only on sensitive skin, but also under water. It contains natural ingredients to help your skin stay smooth and moisturized.
Are Biodegradable Sunscreens Just as Effective as Regular Sunscreens?
Biodegradable sunscreens come in different SPFs, just like the regular ones that help keep your skin protected from the sun.
Most biodegradable sunscreens have active ingredients such as Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide; both ingredients break down naturally without affecting reefs.
These types of sunscreens usually sit on top of the skin’s surface or may take time to get into the skin compared to its regular counterpart.
However, it does not mean that you are getting any less of the protection as it still powerful enough to protect you from UVA/UVB rays that can cause extreme damage to your skin.
Biodegradable sunscreens are typically worn by divers, but that doesn’t mean that we should only wear them then.
Remember that marine life does not only consist of corals, but also houses tiny marine animals that are sometimes even too small for us to see.
Overall, biodegradable sunscreens are best worn if you are going to the beach since it protects you from the sun and also keeps our reefs safe.
Regular sunscreens, on the other hand, have slightly more powerful ingredients that can harm to our reefs. Such ingredients include Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, and Octisalate.
These ingredients do not break down underwater and will harm our reefs. These ingredients are one of the many factors that contribute to Coral Bleaching.
These types of sunscreens do provide the protection that we need from the sun and have other benefits such as soothing burns and preventing sting from the sun. However, we do not recommend using it when you need to go underwater.
What Is Coral Bleaching?
Coral polyps are tiny, soft bodied organisms that form the structure of coral reefs.
When coral bleaching occurs, these coral polyps release algae that basically give life to the coral reef. You can try imagining your color being seeped out of you until you become paper-white.
Corals can survive coral bleaching, but if the damage is too severe, it might be too late to turn back. Remember that coral reefs are important to marine animals, they rely on it for food and shelter.
This does not only impact underwater life, but it also impacts those who live on land, including us. The coral reefs serve as barrier trees that help break down strong waves that hit the shoreline.
Sadly, the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral system, is slowly dying due to coral bleaching. This means more animals are driven away from their homes and food support and less protection for us humans.
We can only do so much as coral bleaching can occur in so many other ways, but we can help by reducing those factors.
We can do our part in saving these corals and even alleviate their stress (Yes, they do get stressed as well!) by using biodegradable sunscreen, disposing of trash properly, and even swimming in areas where you won’t bother these magnificent creatures.
It may be as simple as learning where our waste goes or even just by educating others. One small good deed can multiply to a massive number.
Reviews of the Best Biodegradable Sunscreen
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Not only is this product biodegradable and organic, but it also provides broad spectrum protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
This product contains natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Sunflower Oil, and tropical fruit extracts that help lock in moisture to keep your skin hydrated and supple.
The product has a creamy consistency that leaves a temporary white film. This product comes in a lotion form. However, it is also available as a spray on.
The product is thick and has to be blended well into the skin for full absorption.
After application, the product is practically weightless on the skin; so you won’t have to worry about that heavy, greasy feeling.
It has a fruity fragrance due to the ingredients in the product such as Pineapple, Papaya, Mango, and other extracts.
The product is water-resistant, but it still needs reapplication after 80 minutes in the water.
What we did not like about the product is that when you apply it on your face, it tends to get oily in the long run. We do not recommend using this product to those who have oily skin.
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This product’s main ingredient is Zinc Oxide; this mineral ingredient does not bring harm to aquatic life.
It comes in a slightly creamy texture that absorbs quickly when applied. The product sits nicely on the skin and will leave a white cast but will absorb in a few.
Since the formula is lightweight, you can feel the product sitting on your skin.
It is non-greasy, so you won’t have to worry about the sticky feeling, and it is also water-resistant. You can use this through various water activities such as diving, surfing, and even just plain swimming.
Another ingredient is Vitamin D, which is not a common nutrient included in most sunscreens. It stays on the skin for a good amount of time whilst keeping your skin moisturized and healthy.
The Vitamin D ingredient is extracted from Fresh Mushrooms, Grape Seed Oil, Beeswax, and Grapefruit Extract. Other ingredients include Aloe Vera and Spring Water.
The only feature that we didn’t like about the product was that it has a mild smell once it’s been applied on the skin for a while. It is not a totally terrible smell, but it can be off-putting to those who have a sensitive sense of smell.
The ingredients for the natural fragrance is Pineapple and Coconut extract which some people might not like the combination of.
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This mineral-based sunscreen applies smoothly onto the skin. It is hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic, so it does not clog pores and cause breakouts.
It is gentle to use even on sensitive skin. The product is non-greasy, so you can forget the sticky feeling after application.
This sunscreen contains Zinc Oxide for that well-protected skin that does not affect the coral reefs. It also has natural ingredients that include Aloe Vera juice, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, and Cucumber extract.
All these natural ingredients not only protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun, but they also provide your skin with the moisture that it needs.
Applying the product will not leave your skin dry or flaky due to the natural ingredients’ hydrating properties.
The product is a bit thick when applied so it would be best to put only a small amount as a little goes a long way. However, the product is lightweight after a while.
It also has a natural clean smell which is good for some, but you might want to consider it as an added ingredient to the product. It also tends to leave a white cast after application.
Overall, its moisturizing ingredients work very well in keeping your skin healthy and hydrated while the sun protection delivers rather well. It can be used in water or everyday use.
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The last but still best sunscreen on our list provides protection from the sun and sea with only a few ingredients.
Zinc Oxide serves as its active ingredient while the rest includes Virgin Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, and Jojoba Oil.
It has a non-greasy cream texture that does not leave a sticky after feeling. It is also hypoallergenic and is gentle enough to use on sensitive skin.
It is water-resistant; however, reapplication will be needed after 40 minutes instead of 80 minutes. The product is rather thick, but it does its job very well.
This product is long-lasting and can be used as an everyday product and not just for beaches and pools.
Just like any other biodegradable sunscreen, it leaves a white cast, but you can easily apply the product onto your skin a small amount at a time before putting on another layer.
What we didn’t like about the product is that it is a bit difficult to blend due to its thickness. It also has a mild smell to it which can be off putting to those who are sensitive to smells.
Unlike other sunscreens of its kind, it is rather difficult to spread it on the surface, so it will take some time and effort to actually put it on.
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This sunscreen contains Zinc Oxide as its active ingredient. It also contains other natural ingredients, making it hypoallergenic and gentle to use on sensitive skin.
These natural ingredients include Organic Green and Black Tea, Beeswax, Sunflower Oil, Shea Butter, and Rosemary Leaf Extract.
Its natural ingredients will help keep your skin smooth and moisturize while it is being protected.
It is completely reef-safe, and it provides deep protection from the sun. This product comes in a thick cream that will leave a white cast if you do not blend it properly.
It may be a bit difficult to spread on to the skin due to its thickness.
Since it is a bit heavy on the skin, so we do not recommend using the product as a base for makeup. The product also has a certain smell that might be bothersome to others.
The product is water-resistant, but just like other sunscreens, reapplication is needed after 80 minutes of use. What we do not like about the product is that it is a bit difficult to remove.
We recommend using a shower loofah to remove the product.
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The Bottom Line
Remember that in choosing biodegradable sunscreens, most of the active ingredient includes Zinc Oxide which only sits on the skin surfaces.
The intent is to act as a physical barrier on your skin and protect you from the sun without being washed or wiped off completely.
This is also the same reason why most of these types of sunscreen leave a white cast.We highly recommend using Alba Botanica, Aloe Vera Sunscreen.
This product provides you with the best protection from the sun while keeping your skin healthy and moisturized.
Our top choice of sunscreen is totally safe to use while you are underwater. Thus, you won’t have to worry about harming the coral reefs.
