5 Cruelty-Free Sunscreens To Protect Your Skin This Summer

There's no way around it: sunscreen is important. Especially during summer. Keeping your skin protected from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays on a regular basis can decrease your risk of skin cancer by as much as 80 percent. In fact, it's important to wear sunscreen no matter the season, as the sun's rays can impact your skin whenever you spend time in the sun, beach-side or not.

Even if you aren't lounging by the pool, it's important to prioritize protecting your skin from the sun with sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, umbrellas, and some comfortable shade. For families, getting kids and teenagers into the habit of wearing sunscreen on a regular basis is an excellent one to form young, as taking care of your skin is something you'll want to do for life.

But for health-conscious people, sunscreen can pose a bit of a dilemma. Many mainstream sunscreens contain potentially-harmful chemicals, GMOs, and artificially-produced scents that can irritate skin. And like other cosmetics, traditional sunscreens are sometimes tested on animals, making people who live cruelty-free or vegan lifestyles potentially uncomfortable. If you're looking for a healthier, kinder alternative, try these 5 organic, cruelty-free brands instead.

Badger brand offers great variety in their sunscreens. From unscented varieties to those meant only for the face to special blends for kids, there is truly something for everyone. Badger's basic sunscreen is made with natural zinc oxide, is 100 percent hypoallergenic, and GMO-free. Badger also ensures that their sunscreens are biodegradable, coral reef safe, and safe for marine ecosystems. This means that Badger sunscreen won't do any harm to the environment when it washes off of skin in natural bodies of water.

Shop the full range of Badger sunscreens here.

DeVita Solar Protective Moisturizer is exactly what it's name makes it sound like: a sunscreen and daytime moisturizer in one. This 100 percent vegan and paraben-free sunscreen is formulated specifically for the neck and face. It promises a light feel, and is scented only by the natural aloe extract used in its creation. According to DeVita's website, it is "formulated specifically for those sensitive to breakouts," so this may be a great choice for those with sensitive skin.

Find it here. 

Safe for kids and adults, Juice Beauty's Sport Sunscreen is "made especially for an active outdoor lifestyle," according to the Juice Beauty website. This head-to-toe sunscreen is made with luscious natural ingredients, like organic coconut, aloe, and jojoba. It also contains C and E vitamins, to nourish the skin. With water-resistance up to 80 minutes and an SPF of 30, it's hard to beat the coverage of this sunscreen. It's also worth noting that Juice Beauty sources local ingredients whenever possible reducing the company's environmental impact. 

Shop Juice Beauty here. 

As the whimsical artwork on the bottle indicates, this sunscreen was primarily formulated for kids, but is just as protective for adults. Effective for full head to toe use, this sunscreen provides a full spectrum of UVB and UVA protection. It was chosen as one of the best sunscreens by the Environmental Working Group, which takes a sunscreen's ingredients and environmental safety into consideration. This sunscreen is non-nano (which makes it paraben-free), fragrance-free, and certified by both the FDA and Health Canada. 

Shop for it here. 

With a whopping 50 SPF, this full-body sunscreen is a good choice for those who are prone to sunburns. Micronized minerals, such as zinc and  titanium dioxide, are responsible for this sunscreen's protective power. The Organic Pharmacy makes only petrochemical-free products with all-natural colorants and natural scents. The preservatives present in many traditional sunscreens will not make an appearance in any Organic Pharmacy products. 

This company also engages in ethical, energy-conscious business practices, buying fair trade whenever possible and sourcing many of its ingredients locally. If you're a lover of luxurious beauty products, this could be the sunscreen for you, as it is made with shea butter, marigold, and rose hips. 

Find it here.