“I regret taking such good care of my skin” – said no one ever.
We have heard it all of our lives — “don’t forget to put on sunscreen and reapply!” It has been ingrained in us since we were little and some of us listen and some of us don’t, those who don’t usually pay for it in the end. Either way, as I have gotten older I have more understood my mom’s reasoning for protecting my skin and I now have my own reasons. For starters, I am very freckly and the sun really brings them out, as I get older they begin to bleed together and look more like sunspots if I am not careful which is not a good look! I also am very aware of the chance of skin cancer over the course of my life if I do not protect myself.
On the other side, there have been more studies done over the years on the actual sunscreen we are putting on our bodies and more and more we are finding out about the harsh chemicals that have been put in some of them. So not only do we have to make sure we wear sunscreen but now we have to inspect the sunscreen we are putting on our body to make sure it is safe for ourselves and especially the children in our lives!
There are two different types of sunscreen that protect skin from the sun in different ways: chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens have some combination of oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate and mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. A few studies suggest chemical sunscreens interact with human sex or thyroid hormones and the ingredient to be most worried about is oxybenzone which can cause skin allergies, it is a weak estrogen and has potent anti-androgenic effects not to mention the toxicity of the ingredients. CLICK HERE to read the full article I am paraphrasing above, it is really interesting and has some great information!
A few reasons why mineral sunscreens are the way to go:
-Strong protection from the full spectrum of ultraviolet radiation
-Less irritating to sensitive skin
-It protects the moment you put it on (chemical takes 20-30 minutes)
-Less likely to promote acne
Below I am sharing some of my favorite mineral sunscreens that are safe for the whole family, reef friendly (the ingredients do not harm our oceans) and provides UVA & UVB defense. Click on any of the titles or photos to get more information on each of the products!
{Full disclosure, I am a Beautycounter consultant, I love their products so much and believe that they are some of the best on the market. I only share the products I have tried and believe in and I am always testing and using other products to be fair in my assessments}
Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Mist
This is the best option for families, it is super easy to spray on when kids don’t want to stay still and when you do it goes on white so you know exactly where it landed. You can either leave it like that or rub it in and it turns clear. I am always spraying this all over my nephews and myself when we are outside and it is so quick and easy to use!
Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
This lotion is another great option, it just depends on what type of application you prefer. This bottle will last all summer long, the smell is amazing and it can be totally rubbed in.
Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Stick
This stick is amazing for on the go. I always have one in my purse and apply it to my face, shoulders, chest wherever I need to make sure I don’t burn. It rubs in pretty easily and it is the perfect size to travel with!
Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer
This is one of my favorite makeup products, it has SPF in it so I know that my face is covered throughout the day. It can be applied alone for a sheerer no makeup look or it can be combined with another foundation for more coverage (click here for my favorite foundation). It is so weightless but still protects which is amazing in the summer when you dont want to feel like there is a lot on your skin!
Supergoop 100% Mineral Smooth & Poreless Matte Screen
I recently tried this face tint sunscreen and I was pleasantly surprised! When I put it on a clean face for a day in the sun at my parent’s shore house it instantly blurred any imperfections because of the matte formula and it made my skin so soft and not shiny at all! It didn’t feel like I had anything on my face and I did not burn so this is perfect for those no makeup days but still want to look semi put together and protected!
These are my favorite go-to’s this summer! They all are super effective but apply different ways so depending on what you are looking for there is an option for everyone! It is so important to protect your family from the sun and these products make it easy to do that, there is also the piece of mind that the ingredients are non-toxic. If you have any questions leave them below and I would be happy to answer them! I would also love to hear your thoughts on any of these products if you have tried them or any other clean sunscreens that you are loving so I can try them!
If you make a Beautycounter purchase of $100+ I will send you a Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Stick for free! Just email me (holly@hollybmurphy.com) or DM me (@HollyBMurphy) letting me know you placed an order thru me and I will send it over! CLICK HERE to head to the website to start shopping!
XO,
Thanks for such good information!
Glad it was helpful!!