Biodegradable sunscreen is organic, causes no harm to the ecosystem, and ideally, creates minimal or no disturbance to the surrounding aquatic environment. Any sunscreen that claims to be ‘organic’ or ‘biodegradable’ should contain zinc oxide, or similar minerals, like titanium oxide as its primary ingredient.

Zinc oxide collects, like silt, on the ocean floor, and blends easily back into the sand, with no discernible effect on the surrounding environment. Other ingredients should be recognizable, non-chemical elements, like plant oils, butters, and natural waxes, like beeswax. However, keep an eye out for synthetically created ‘natural’ ingredients, for example, shea butter can be synthesized from a variety of chemicals.

Needless to say, biodegradable sunscreen has a variety of benefits for the environment, but also for the body as well, whereas, chemical sunscreen has been determined harmful to the body by researchers. By choosing organic, biodegradable sunscreen over harmful chemical sunscreen, you’re making a decision to protect yourself, your family, and your environment. You’ll also be putting a dent in the estimated six thousand tons of chemical sunscreen being dumped in the ocean every year. Swimmers go in the water with sunscreen on, the water washes it away and circulates it, poisoning the water and environment.

Many protest that biodegradable is hard to find; actually, there are several brands available online, and in health stores. Another reason to procrastinate is that biodegradable, or organic sunscreen, is too pricey for them, because of current economic troubles. Many brands are not that expensive; they’re often sold at reasonable prices, both online and in stores. Furthermore, by spending an extra dollar or two, you can start a trend that may lead to a cleaner planet – and saving our planet is worth every penny.

Some of the most popular ingredients within non-biodegradable sunscreen, are varieties of parabens, cinnamates, and benzophenones. Clinical research conducted, determines these same ingredients, that are the most destructive to the natural environment, are also harmful to the human body, which isn’t really that big of a surprise. After all, if it harms the planet, it harms you; whether it’s directly or indirectly.

Biodegradable organic sunscreen, isn’t exactly biodegradable. The only biodegradable sunscreen that actually works, contains a mineral ingredient such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, or similar minerals. The mineral element is what makes the product work; there are other things mixed in as well, which ideally would be organic butters, plant oils, and other natural elements. It’s important to keep an eye on popular ‘natural’ ingredients such as shea butter, though, because it can be synthesized from chemicals, which makes it cheaper to produce, and sell at high prices, with a label claiming the contents are ‘all-natural’.

The zinc oxide or titanium oxide within the organic sunscreen varieties may wash into the ocean, from the wearer’s skin. However, the minerals do not affect the surrounding environment. They sift to the sea floor like silt, and get buried in the sediment over a short period of time. Zinc and titanium have low toxicity levels, which means that, on the chance that any organic life form ingests them, they are passed through the system with little or no effect on the body. The same goes for people; the advertisers of biodegradable sunscreen often say “You can eat this stuff!” And it’s true. The ideal sunscreen can be eaten, because it contains only natural, organic ingredients that won’t harm the body (ps: doesn’t mean you should actually be eating it!).

If you look on the back of a bottle of non-biodegradable sunscreen, or in the instructions, you’ll probably see a warning notice, advising you to call poison control in case of accidental ingestion. Does that sound like a safe product to you?

What is SPF? It’s estimated that around 78% of Americans don’t know what SPF stands for, and another 53% don’t know how the SPF number system works. SPF stands for ‘Sun Protection Factor’, and the number beside it, is the laboratory tested amount of radiation that will cause your skin to burn: if you’re wearing SPF 50, then it will take 50 times the amount of UV rays to burn your skin, than if you were not wearing sunscreen. The most powerful ingredient known to effectively prevent sunburn, and damage from the sun? Zinc oxide, which is the primary ingredient of organic and biodegradable sunscreen.

Here are some of the best brands of organic, biodegradable sunscreen available:

Soleo Organics SPF 30 – Contains no harmful ingredients, the primary effective ingredient is zinc oxide. The other ingredients are all natural, and listed right on their website. They have a great variety of sun care products, and they’re affordable.

Keys Soap Solar Rx SPF 30+ – Keys Solar Rx contains smaller particles of zinc oxide than other sunscreens, even other biodegradable sunscreens, –this spreads out the effective ingredient in a more thorough layers. Instead of chunkier, larger zinc oxide particles, with a lot of space and reflection points in between, Keys Solar Rx spreads in a fine layer that UV rays bounce right off of.

TruKid Sunny Days Face Stick SPF 30+ – This biodegradable sunscreen has several chemical ingredients, though its effective ingredient is zinc oxide. Another problem is that it’s poisonous if swallowed, and you have to re-apply every 80 minutes, so that it will ‘last all day.’

California Baby Stick SPF 30+ – This stick sunscreen is much more high quality than the above; all the ingredients are certified organic, and the company who produces it, is very customer oriented. The website has all the information someone with a green lifestyle could ever hope for. There are no poison warnings, you don’t have to apply it as often, and it’s safe to use on infants, and small children – it won’t melt and run into the eyes.

Zinc Oxide is of course the first and most important ingredient to look for. This special ingredient acts as a physical natural barrier against the sun. A chemical sunblock uses scary ingredients like Avobenzone, Homosalate, and Octisalate. These product components are dangerous for the skin and are known as “nano” particles. However, Zinc Oxide is safe, natural, and non-nano particle based.

Some type of anti-oxidant ingredient should also be in your natural sunblock. Alba Organics often adds in soothing anti-oxidant ingredients like green tea and lavender. These are just a bonus but they help your skin in more ways than one.

A “butter” is also recommended for sunscreens. Shea Butter and Jojoba Oils are highly recommended ingredients for natural sunscreens. Products that contain these are hydrating and protecting. This will keep your skin supple and youthful for years to come with regular usage.

Other ingredients that are nice, but not necessary, include aloe vera, black tea gel, green tea polyphenols, and plant extracts. These provide a significant barrier against the sun alongside Zinc Oxide. Your skin will thank you for using products containing these ingredients.

Even though a natural sunscreen doesn’t come with 100 SPF, many of them are still more effective in protecting your skin. Choose the highest natural SPF you can find to boost safety from UVA and UVB rays. If you have sensitive skin then you should also choose natural sun blocks with soothing ingredients to keep your skin healthy and safe from the sun.

Does going natural mean absolute safety? Despite many schools of thought on the matter, one needs adequate discernment before jumping on the bandwagon and joining the many who extol the virtues of unproven theories. Natural, in the basic sense of the adjective, implies its origin or existence from nature. Although that should result in a general thumbs up from all quarters, does bearing this tagline mean that something is good? Consuming wild mushrooms, foraged from the woods, without prior knowledge or experience is food for fools. Albeit their natural state, it is potential cause for a tummy upset or even premature termination of one’s life.

Natural sunscreens, as such, are no different from aforementioned fungi. The list of ingredients which decorate the label at the back of the bottle or tube may boast perfectly harmless components to man and environment. Despite occurring in nature, zinc oxide, the pride of the parade, is not necessarily extracted from air and water itself. Many a time, laboratories analyze components and perform some reverse engineering to ascertain their basic elements. Certain factors may also dictate production via laboratory involvement is more effective from an economic standpoint. Further manipulation of elements to produce a better outcome also tips the so-called natural balance of things.

So, what does it take to pick out a natural sunscreen, suited to one’s skin condition as well as state of mind? If the many varieties lining the store shelves are too confusing to decide on one, it may be ideal to cook up one’s own concoction. One recipe revolves around various types of oils and wax, slowly heated and then added with distilled water to thin it out. Short of sounding like a salad dressing, the mixture is then beaten to an emulsion and finished off with a shot of zinc oxide. Some may opt to add some tea infusion as they claim to steer away free radicals. Frequent application is advisable as sweat as well as contact with external elements such as water, clothes and towels rub off the protective layer, leaving the skin exposed to harmful rays.

If sourcing ingredients for home blends is too much work, ready-made versions are easily available from health and sports stores. One should bear in mind that commercially produced natural sunscreens may boast a higher level of protection as they tend to incorporate stronger ingredients.

Since the young in the family, especially infants and toddlers, have yet to adapt to the harsh elements of the sun, their skins burn easily with added risk of overheating and sunstroke. As such, it is best to keep them away from direct exposure. In the event total restriction is not possible, some form of baby sunscreen with a sufficient sun protection factor alongside adequate clothing and a wide-brimmed hat is advisable to ensure maximum protection.

To ensure these formulae do not pose any harm to these young individuals, the recommendation is to go for hypoallergenic versions. Since the immature skin can become sensitive to direct contact with chemical components, these versions tend to pose minimal problems to the wearer and caregiver. Select fragrance-free and PABA-free versions as these tend to give rise to olfactory and respiratory discomfort as well as skin irritations. Children are known to stick their fingers and hands into their mouths. Hence, it is crucial to keep a close eye on the child that he or she is not consuming the sunscreen in great amounts. Baby sunscreen products with broad spectrum protection are recommended to keep out the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.

Experts tend to advocate water-resistant versions for longer lasting protection. Whatever the case may be, frequent application is always recommended with shorter intervals if the child comes in constant contact with water or sweat. Select a formula for easy application in case conventional cream-based versions from tubes or squeeze bottles cause too much hassle. Easy-to-use options present themselves in the form of sprays, lotions and gels.

Despite much hype regarding usage on younger children, adult versions normally suffice so long as their compositions are friendly to the skin whilst delivering maximum broad spectrum protection. All in all, the purpose of these adult or baby sunscreen products is to avoid undesired post-sun exposure for the short as well as long term. With proper precautions put in place, one is assured of solar enjoyment.

Prevention is better than cure. No better time is this adage truer when it comes to exposure to elements of nature such as the sun.

When traveling using environmentally friendly sunblocks may be specifically requested and mandatory by resorts. Ocean life is particularly susceptible to being damaged by chemical based products. Using something that is environmentally friendly and as natural as possible is less likely to harm the delicate ocean life. This is especially true for coral in coral reef areas. The chemicals wash off quickly and can damage the coral and plants living in the ocean.

Chemical based sunscreen can wash off of your skin when you are in rivers, lakes, or other natural bodies of water. Even though it may seem insignificant, when thousands of people do this each summer the amounts add up quickly. Overtime the plant life and fish begin to drop in numbers, and many even become infertile and unable to reproduce due to those chemicals.

Of course, even if sea life isn’t a concern for you then consider your own skin and health. When people use chemical based sunblocks they are doing more harm than good. A biodegradable sunblock on the other hand, protects you longer without the negative effects of a chemical block. When a conventional sunscreen begins to wear out the chemical reaction makes your skin more likely to burn and get sun damage than if you used a more natural type of sunscreen.

There are plenty of other reasons for using a safe and biodegradable sunblock. They are no more expensive than a typical bottle and work better for protecting your skin from harsh sunrays while doing outdoor activities.

In the drive to seek the feel-good factor and select one which hopefully helps more than harm our constitution, organic sunscreen makes its debut in the dermal protection industry with flags flying high. First and foremost, it is imperative to select a concoction suitable to one’s skin. No different from Cinderella’s glass slipper, our skin types dictate which work and which do not. Skin tones play an important factor as lighter skin tends to burn quicker than darker ones. Hence, it is not uncommon to see lobster-red individuals who have spent too many an hour in the heat of the day, thus missing the perfect tan by a mile.

Its ingredients can provide indication as to how the solar protection element is carried out. Some absorb the ultraviolet rays and convert them to less harmful components whereas others reflect or scatter the rays away from the skin. Whichever the case may be, these helpful ingredients may change form as they continue to perform this function. As such, they then lose their effectiveness in due time and require re-application in due time.

Organic sunscreen is touted to be a better alternative than its non-organic counterpart for obvious reasons. Elements which form its list of ingredient are claimed to be less harmful to the wearer as well as his surrounding environment. As the mixture is lathered onto bare skin, pores absorb whatever it comes in contact with. If the wearer chooses to go for a dip in open waters, more often than not the protective layer washes off. It is therefore imperative the ingredients also function as nutrients to the skin whilst protecting it and do not pose any harm to the ecology.

With the continual snowball effect of going organic, many a consumer has adopted this approach into their lifestyle. Although the most obvious is the dietary change, its influence extends as far as a simple walk in the park.

With the latest news about the fiasco of many sunscreens, nonprofit Environmental Working Group found that four out of five brand sunscreens offer protection against the sun that also contain ingredients that are potentially carcinogenic. A handful of clothing manufacturers are taking action to the growing demand for shirts, pants, dresses and hats with SPF (sun protection factor) ratings and still be in fashion.

The first of its kind is Sun Precautions Inc., which began 15 years ago by dedicated downhill ski enthusiasts and outdoor activities Shaun Hughes after being diagnosed with skin cancer at age 26. The company Solumbra clothes of defensive and sporty clothes blocks over 97 percent of all UVA and UVB rays it bumps into, and is recommended by many dermatologists. To verify that your product range offers the kind of protection of people promote, Sun Precautions issues all their Solumbra clothing to 500 wash cycles, then shears samples that are exposed to UV equivalent of 500 days . If the samples pass the test, the line can be sent.

Another leader in the rapidly growing field is Coolibar, which has a rating of SPF 50 + for all his clothes. Their clothes, including wide-brimmed hat and long sleeved jerseys, among many other subjects are made from a fabric tightly weaved yet comfortable, is Suntect. Another great supplier is Sun Protective Clothing, which makes their casual clothes and sports from a proprietary blend fabric called Solarweave, which blocks UVA and UVB light while maintaining a “summer weight” feel.

Some radical environmentalists avoid using sunscreens, because it contains polyester, nylon or Lycra, all of which were derived from petroleum and contains harmful chemicals. However, Marta Phillips from SunGrubbies.com believes it is better to wear the clothes instead of directly coating your skin with sunscreen. That is why her company sells a wide range of sun protection pants, jackets and hats as well as specialty items such as cover-ups, sun gloves, long sleeves and scarves nose.

If you getting a completely new wardrobe with sun protective clothing is not an option, you can wash your clothes with SunGuard Rit, a product that is composed of fabric that provides 96 percent UV protection through about 20 washings can be a way to go. In addition, sun lovers should not forget to protect their eyes. A good pair of sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection will not cost an arm and a leg more, everyone needs a couple of my own family.