Ideal Bite

Want to save your hide from sunburn?

06.26.2007

Submitted by tmeronek on Tue, 06/26/2007 - 12:01am.

The Bite:

Rub on some mineral-based sunscreen. Healthy - not leathery - skin is what's in, but some sunscreens contain chems that do more harm than good. Luckily, natural, mineral-based versions are now widely available and better than ever.

The Benefits:

Avoiding free radicals (associated with the sunscreen chem Parsol 1789), which has been linked to cancer, liver damage and Parkinson's disease.
Effectiveness. Mineral-based options work just as well as old-school sunscreens without leaving toxins behind on your skin and in the surf.
Cruelty-free protection. The production of our picks didn't harm a flea.

Personally Speaking:

Heather loves Lavera's spray-on sunscreen. It smells like cinnamon heaven and is the first all-natural version that doesn't make her look like the guy in the movie Powder.

Wanna Try:

Lavera Family Sun Spray SPF 15 - a higher-end spray-on that does the job right with just one application ($26).
Juice Beauty SPF 30 Tinted Moisturizer - a three-for-one: Even out your face's skin tone, hydrate, and protect at the same time ($29).
California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion - made especially for sensitive skin, it's non-greasy and smells like fresh lemongrass ($18).
Weleda Sun Lotion SPF 15 - great option for UK Biters ($18/£9).
Skin Deep - see how safe your sunscreen is, ingredientswise.

Cocktail Fact

The ancient Greeks used olive oil to ward off sunburns. As you might expect, this wasn't very effective.

Bang For The Bite

Natural sunscreens that don't leave a white sheen are a bit pricier and may irritate mineral-sensitive skin, but they won't make you look like Powder or his girlfriend.

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