10 Sustainable Sunscreen Options
Week 22
Summer is quickly approaching, which means it's almost time to start lathering on the sunscreen. In my last post, The Environmental Impact of Sunscreen, I touched on the fact that both the ingredients and the packaging are problematic. So, here are 10 low-waste options that will protect your skin without harming the environment.
Butterbean Organics
Butterbean Organics is a mom-owned and operated business looking to make safe, eco-friendly sunscreen for the entire family. On their website, you can find an array of options, from cardboard tubes, to metal tins, to aluminum spray bottles. They even offer refill packs so that you can keep using one bottle. All sunscreens are reef-safe, all-natural, organic, biodegradable, and cruelty free. Prices start at $14.99 for a 1 oz sport stick.
Raw Elements
Raw Elements sunscreen is all-natural, reef-safe, and cruelty-free. You can choose from compostable cardboard tubes, reusable metal tins, and aluminum squeeze bottles. A 3 oz plastic-free face and body tin costs $18.99 on their website, making this one of the more economical choices on this list.
Meow Meow Tweet
Meow Meow Tweet 25 SPF is a reef-safe, plant-based lotion intended for daily use on the face (and body). It comes in an aluminum bottle with an optional plastic pump (the pump can be returned for Terracycling). A 2.7 oz bottle costs $22 on their website.
Little Hands Hawaii
Little Hands Hawaii is a family owned and operated company based in Hawaii. They offer all-natural, reef-safe 35-40 SPF sunscreen in recyclable metal tins or biodegradable paper tubes. Prices start at $8 for a 0.5 oz travel tin.
Sea & Summit
Sea & Summit is a Califonia based company that offers 36 and 50 SPF sunscreen, one of the highest on this list. Their sunscreens come in plastic-free tubes or 100% recycled plastic bottle. All products are reef-safe, all-natural, organic, and cruelty-free. Prices start at $10 for a small travel stick.
Avasol
Avasol is another California based company offering all-natural, reef-safe sunscreen at either 30 or 50 SPF. You can choose between a biodegradable cardboard tube or an aluminum pump bottle. A 1 oz stick costs $19.95 and a pump bottle is $29.95 for 2.5 oz.
Badger Balm
Badger Balm 40 SPF sunscreen tins are one of the few plastic-free and reef-safe options I've seen in a local store. Badger sunscreen is reef-friendly, natural, and biodegradable. A 2.4 oz metal tin costs $14.99 on their website.
Surf Durt
Surf Durt is a female owned and operated company based in California. They offer all-natural, reef-safe, cruelty-free 30 SPF sunscreen in reusable plastic-free bamboo/aluminum tins. Prices start at $18.99 for a 1.5 oz tin.
All Good Sunscreen
All Good is yet another woman owned business that offers an array of natural, organic, and cruelty-free skin care products. Their 30-50 SPF reef-safe sunscreen comes in metal tins or 50% recycled plastic bottles. You can find a 1 oz tin on their website for $11.
Apothecary Muse
Apothecary Muse is a Pennsylvania based company that uses all-natural ingredients to make environmentally friendly, vegan cosmetics. Their sunscreen comes in a compostable tube and starts at $10 for a 1 oz stick.
Wondering what I'm taking to Seychelles?
After doing a ton of research for this week of my Tiny Waste Resolution I decided to go with Raw Elements certified natural sunscreen. This product felt the most economical for a reef-safe, plastic-free, and cruelty-free option. Two weeks on the beach will be the perfect test for this sunscreen, so I'll be sure to review it after my trip.