Why choose a non-toxic sunscreen?

The summer is almost here and we are already enjoying days spent outside in the glorious sunshine. Since we’ll all be spending a lot more time outside, I wanted to share my three favourite non-toxic facial sunscreens with you.

Finding a great non-toxic sunscreen that works well has been a challenge. I have tried many facial sunscreens over the years only to end up being disappointed in how they clogged my pores or how they felt and looked on my skin.

Most commercial sunscreens on the market are filled with many synthetic chemicals and toxic ingredients. For the past 20 years, I have been using natural and organic skincare and beauty products, so it was super important to me to find a great non-toxic sunscreen.

There’s a lot of great information online on how to choose a safe sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection and does not contain dangerous ingredients. I always recommend choosing a sunscreen that is well-rated by the Environmental Working Group. This is my go-to resource for education, consumer guides about the hidden dangers in food, water, and everyday products. It has helped me make better decisions for myself and my family over the years.

By choosing a non-toxic sunscreen, you are not only minimizing your exposure to toxic synthetic chemicals, but you are also helping to keep the environment safe. Hawaii is the first state in the United States to ban the sale of sunscreens containing the harmful chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate in order to help preserve their marine ecosystems. The law went into effect on January 1, 2021, and Hawaii has created a guide with 15 sunscreens that are reef safe.

I would love to advocate for similar laws here in Ontario to preserve the health of our many lakes, rivers, and waterways. Any tips on the best way to do this are welcome. Please comment below. Educating on the importance of non-toxic sunscreen for our personal health also helps us move forward in making the necessary changes to also protect our planetary health.

We are all connected. Our personal choices with the products we use impact everything. It’s sometimes overwhelming to think about climate change, the effects of pollution, and industrial manufacturing on our planet, but I believe that we can all make small changes daily to empower ourselves to live healthier and to also consider our own impact on the world around us.

I am passionate about teaching people how to live a low tox lifestyle, so this is my small contribution to our global community. We definitely know and understand that governments move very slowly to make positive changes in regards to environmental issues and safety concerns regarding chemicals in products that are sold by the millions.

I believe that we, the consumers, can speed up this necessary evolution in holding companies accountable to produce healthier products for people and for the planet. The best and quickest way to do this is to simply stop purchasing toxic products from companies that have no interest in making their products safer for people or better for the environment.

If enough of us simply switch to safer, organic, and eco-friendly products, then the companies themselves will either need to change their business practices and products or eventually go out of business. It’s tough for sure because we know that the largest corporations have big pockets when it comes to lobbying the government and we end up in limbo with no real positive changes ever being made.

We can be the change. One consumer, one product at a time.

Perhaps the change you make this summer will be to purchase a safe toxin-free sunscreen.  You’ll feel better about what you’re putting on your skin and you can also know that your purchases are having a positive impact on the environment.

AVA ISA Sun-É-Serum Drops

My first choice is AVA ISA Sun-É-Serum Drops made by the Sunscreen Company which is committed to making the best skincare while bringing expertise from across disciplines such as dermatology, green beauty, ecology, and endocrinology (the study of hormonal health). This is important especially for girls and women who tend to wear more products on their skin daily. Everything that we put on our skin can have an impact on our hormonal health. Please do your research and choose toxin-free skincare and suncare products.

AVA ISA offers mineral SPF protection without that greasy feeling. I recently added this product into my daily routine and I am in love with how beautiful it feels on my skin. The brand’s motto is “love and protection in every bottle”.

The AVA ISA Sun-É-Serum Drops is ultra-matte and very lightweight. It blends in transparently and immediately. It contains zinc oxide and Micah, which is a powerful antioxidant that prevents free radicals before they are formed. That’s an incredible bonus! The sunscreen defends against UVA and UVB rays and is perfect under makeup too. I never feel greasy and I don’t even get shiny using this product. AVA ISA Sun-É-Serum Drops is definitely a keeper for me.

Coola Rōsilliance Organic BB+ skin tint

One of my long-time favourites is Coola Rōsilliance Organic BB+ skin tint. This feels incredible on my skin and I love that I can use just this on my skin and be ready for my day. The light BB cream provides a touch of light coverage which is perfect for someone like me who doesn’t wear much makeup. It’s a tinted moisturizer that supports healthy-looking skin and gives you a natural glow. If you prefer a more dewy look, then I recommend this facial sunscreen. Coola Rōsilliance offers mineral protection, water resistance, and SPF 30 broad-spectrum protection.

The Coola tagline is A More Beautiful Healthy, and I love that they create clean beauty products that feel good that are healthy for you and for the planet. Coola products are 70%+ certified organic, farm to face, plant protection as well as being antioxidant-enriched. They are also cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free and Hawaii reef compliant.

Making the switch to Coola is better for you and better for the planet.

Coola Spectrum 360 Sun Silk Drops Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 30

This past winter I used the Coola Spectrum 360 Sun Silk Drops Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 30. I love that this sunscreen provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and also helps to mitigate the effects of HEV (blue) light, IR, and pollution. Considering that I spend more time on my computer and devices in the winter, this is a perfect choice to help protect my skin all winter long.

Coola Sun Silk Drops is very lightweight and sheer. You can barely feel it on your skin. If you also love products that are great for keeping your skin healthy-looking with a youthful glow, it also nourishes your skin with Hyaluronic Acid and is dermatologist tested. I’ll definitely bring this back into my daily routine for the winter again.

Have you discovered The Detox Market yet? It’s my favourite green beauty marketplace. They offer premium organic, vegan skincare and makeup. You can pick up AVA ISA Sun-É-Serum Drops online at The Detox Market. Check out my clean beauty page for all my current favourites too.

Want green beauty delivered to your doorstep every month? Subscribe to the monthly detox box. It’s my favourite way to try new products at a fraction of the cost.