Sunscreen

It's very important to apply sunscreen as long as it's chemical free. Sunscreens loaded with chemicals can actually do more harm than not wearing sunscreen at all. There are two kinds of sunscreens, one that contains chemical filters and one that contains mineral filters. The easiest way to find a chemical free sunscreen is to read the label. 

Mineral sunscreens should only have two ingredients under active ingredient; zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Zinc oxide protects against UVA and UVB light rays, prevents burns and signs of photo-aging. Titanium dioxide is a fine white powder that occurs naturally. It's a very effective UV filter.

Chemical sunscreens have active ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalte, oxtocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate. These chemicals are linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, and may impact hormones. They are highly toxic to you and the environment.

The most common sunscreens on the market are the ones that contain chemical filters so always be sure to read the label. Sunscreens in the U.S. have not been regulated since 1978 so you need to be responsible for what you buy and what you apply.

Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes their guide to safe sunscreens every year. Of the 2000 sunscreens and 257 brands reviewed, 75% of them contained toxic chemicals. EWG Guide to Sunscreen

Below are my recommendations:

Bare Republic Mineral SPF 30
Sold at Target, Amazon, or on their website

Alba Botanical Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
Sold at Target, Walmart, Amazon, or on their website

Badger SPF 30 Zinc Oxide Lavender Sunscreen
Sold at Walmart, Amazon, or on their website

Jason Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
Sold on Amazon

All Good Sunstick SPF 30
Sold on Amazon and on their website

Beautycounter All Over Sunscreen SPF 30
Sold on the Beautycounter website or from a Beautycounter rep

Perfectly Posh Throwing Shade SPF 30
Sold on the Perfectly Posh website or from a Perfectly Posh rep

Make your own

I make my own sunscreen. I found this recipe on Pinterest:
1/4 cup shea butter
2 tbsp jojoba oil
2 tbsp beeswax
1 tsp vitamin E oil
10 drops carrot seed oil
1 tbsp zinc oxide powder

Melt the jojoba oil, beeswax, shea butter, and vitamin E oil in a double boiler until well combined
Remove from heat and add 10 drops of carrot seed oil
Very carefully add in the zinc oxide, taking care not to breathe any in. You might want to cover your mouth with a cloth if you do not trust yourself to be a careful mixer
Mix slowly and thoroughly until there are no more powdered clumps of zinc oxide
Pour into your desired container and let it return to room temperature
Use as you would any facial sunscreen of SPF 30-40