Biodegradable Sunscreen

Many varieties of sunscreen do not offer enough protection from harmful UV rays; but with our helpful guide, you’ll learn not only what kind of sunscreen can offer the adequate amount of UV ray defense, but also, which of the many biodegradable sunscreen brands are -really- environmentally friendly, and safe for reefs and coral.

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.