As I was preparing for our summer family vacation I picked up a bottle of sunscreen to throw in the bag. I noticed two things right away: the bottle was empty and the list of ingredients was a mile long. I couldn’t pronounce most of them. Why am I spending so much money on organic food and making homemade cleaners just to slather chemicals all over myself and my family? I started reading up on homemade sunscreen recipes. I’m not ready to venture down that road yet, but the one thing I noticed is the recipes all had few ingredients and zinc was always top of the list.

Sunscreen and your body

Sunscreen can use chemicals to filter the sun or minerals. The most alarming issues with chemical sunblock is the potential of for hormone disruption, penetration of the chemicals into the skin, and skin reactions. Some traditional companies are hopping on the all natural marketing train, but just because minerals are on the list doesn’t mean the sunblock is chemical free. While natural sunblock tends to feel like spreading thick white toothpaste on your body it’s worth it. Zinc oxide shows no negative side affect to the user and is known the block the sun more effectively.

Sunscreen and the environment

Whether you’re swimming in the ocean or a pool, or showering your sunblock off it will end up in the water supply. According to NPR, 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in the ocean each year. Oxybenzone, the hormone disrupting ingredient, is devastating to coral reefs. The fragile reefs are left bleached and depleted of nutrients.

What you can do

The good news is you can make a big impact! Research what natural sunscreens will work for your lifestyle. If you’re vacationing at the beach research reef safe sunblock. The video below describes the differences in sunblock a little better and lists some favorites. I just ordered ThinkSport sunblock because I’ve used it before, it works well, and it’s not too pasty. It’s more expensive than traditional sunblock, but your family and the environment is worth the cost!