11 Best Natural Sunscreens — To Protect Yourself Without All The Harmful Chemicals

We know we need to protect our skin from the harmful rays of the sun, and sunscreen is essential. But it's not as easy as that. The wrong sunscreen can make your skin red, inflamed and itchy, and it’s often due to those chemicals. 

But a natural, chemical-free sunscreen, which may use buzzwords like organic, natural or hypoallergenic, are better for you and the environment! And most choices for the best natural sunscreen often contain ​zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as their active ingredients.

It’s important to find a sunscreen that works in protecting you from the sun but also doesn't irritate you. It’s a tall order, but there are a lot of other choices you can make. Take these, for example.

RELATED: The 4 Types Of Sunscreens You Must Use (Unless You Want Skin Cancer)

1. Margaritaville Z Blok Sunscreen Stick

In partnership with Z Blok, Margaritaville recently introduced a new line of sunscreen products including a fragrance-free, SPF 45 natural Sunscreen Stick. The Stick contains zinc oxide, which blocks UV rays but also poses no danger to reefs, which supports Margaritaville’s overall mission of protecting the fragile ecosystems. 

(Margaritaville Store, $14.95)

2. Osmosis Skincare Protect Ultra Sheer SPF 30 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen

This vegan, gluten-free and oncology-friendly moisturizer is a non-nano, coated, zinc-oxide-based sunscreen. It provides full coverage of SPF 30 for long-lasting protection while also delivering hydration to the skin and body. It is sheer and light-weight for a delicate feel on the skin while actively shielding against harmful UV rays.

(Amazon)

3. Alba Botanica Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ 

Whether you’re off to the beach or heading to the playground with the kids, this hypo-allergenic, pediatrician-tested mineral sunscreen keeps your baby’s delicate skin safe from the sun.

(Amazon)

4. Earth Mama Organics Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 40

Made with the most premium organic ingredients available and rigorously tested, the new SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen is non-toxic and certified to the NSF/ANSI 305 Organic Standard. Earth Mama Mineral Sunscreen contains non-nano zinc balanced with organic ingredients purposefully sourced with great consideration to either boost the sunscreen’s SPF value, its ability to moisturize or its gentle, safe effect on uber-sensitive skin.

(Amazon)

5. Alastin HydraTint ProMineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36

This sunscreen is lightweight, oil-free, absorbs quickly and has a complexion-enhancing tint. The physical block protects against UVA/UVB rays and includes age-defying antioxidants and skin hydrating ingredients so you not only ward off wrinkles, but fight existing signs of sun damage. Plus, the mineral-based SPF is paraben-free, cruelty-free, and vegan!

(Alastin, $55)

6. TiZO Ultra Zinc Body& Face Sunscreen SPF 40

It’s free of chemical sunscreen filters, dyes, fragrances, oils and preservatives. Soothing 20 percent zinc oxide also helps calm skin as the weather changes, triggering irritation. TIZO Titanium and Zinc Oxide offers a full line of mineral sunscreen products that protect the skin from harmful UVB/UVA rays without the use of oxybenzone, avobenzone and other chemical sunscreen filters.

(Amazon)

RELATED: The 5-Letter Cheat Sheet That Will Save You From Skin Cancer

7. Sanre Supple Sunshine Solar Rosemary Lavender Day Cream SPF 30

This natural sunscreen helps to protect skin from sun exposure and pollution. It also works great as a daily moisturizer that can reduce skin irritation, inflammation, and free radical damage.

(Amazon)

8. Brush On Block Translucent Mineral Powder Sunscreen

This all-natural mineral sunscreen comes with a built-in brush, so you can simply brush on your sunscreen instead of rubbing it in with your hands. It’s portable and even good for sensitive skin.

(Amazon)

9. Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF 30

Add a hint of tint for a gorgeous, glowing finish with a sheer physical sunscreen that delivers powerful broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and helps aid in the prevention of free radical and oxidative damage. It also helps with photoaging for a more youthful-looking complexion.

(Amazon)

10. 100% Pure Tomato Lycopene SPF 20

Full spectrum SPF 20 protects against the sun's UVA and UVB rays while lycopene, an antioxidant in tomatoes, protects against other environmental damage like smog, pollution, radiation, smoke, and other damaging free radicals. It doubles as a silky moisturizer with olive squalane, coconut, and sunflower oils for extra skin comfort and protection.

(Amazon)

11. Farmacy Green Screen SPF 30

This is a non-greasy broad spectrum mineral sunscreen and daily skin shield that guards against the environmental factors associated with skin aging. Echinacea GreenEnvy™ is a unique variant of echinacea purpurea, which contains the highest known concentration of the phytochemical cichoric acid — a potent, natural antioxidant that helps support an evenly-toned-looking complexion.

(Sephora, $36)

RELATED: 4 Serious Dangers Of Sunburn That Will Convince You To Get Your Sun Protection Ready For Summer

Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her at alywalansky@gmail.com.