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Whether you want to use plant-based personal care supplies or support the animals by changing how you consume, there are vegan options for your every need. If you’re ready to upgrade your skin care products to clean and green, here are seven best vegan sunscreens.
A sunscreen is considered vegan if its formula doesn’t contain any animal or animal-derived ingredients and isn’t tested on animals. Why would someone choose vegan over other options? The main reason for the many is to promote sustainability and animal welfare. Many products on the shelves today have been produced or tested using animals, with some being harmed or dying in the process.
How do you know if a product is vegan? The labels often tell if the ingredients are entirely plant-based. Third-party certifications also help differentiate vegan products from non-vegans.
There’s a myth about plant-based sunscreen being inferior to products with animal derivatives, but no evidence can prove this claim. In contrast, the compounds found in plants are as effective and safe in filtering UV rays as other ingredients derived from animals.
Scientists have recently discovered an Asian plant species called sanshool, which can absorb UV light. They’ve stabilized the skin care formula by combining it with polyphenols containing natural antioxidants.
After testing on cultured human skin cells, they found the product retained around 90% of their UV-absorbance ability after two hours and over 80% protection after five days. Leveraging each plant’s strength makes it possible to create effective vegan sunscreens.
Reading the labels is key to choosing genuine vegan products. For beginners just starting to explore the plant-based versions of their sunscreen, here are some tips to help you choose the right one.
Look for any marks of third-party organizations certifying the product is vegan. Nonprofit companies like Vegan Action allow manufacturers to attach a Certified Vegan logo to their products if it’s proven they don’t contain any animal or animal by-products and have not been tested on animals. Another option is the USDA Organic logo.
The Leaping Bunny Program, run by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, set comprehensive rules for cruelty labeling to help customers shop for genuine vegan products. The logo on a product guarantees buyers that what they’re buying has met a rigorous and international standard for cruelty-free assessment.
Some labels can be misleading since manufacturers don’t include where the ingredients are sourced from. For example, honey and beeswax come from the bees and lanolin from sheep, so anything with them isn’t pure vegan. Other common ingredients you may think are vegan but aren’t are gelatin, casein, wine, lactic acid, whey and L-cysteine.
The sun protection factor (SPF) measures how well the product stops sunburn. Get a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to prevent premature aging and sun damage. It’s a must for those with sensitive skin.
Are you looking for a vegan sunscreen for the first time? If so, here are some of the bestsellers to give a try.
For less than $15, you can get optimum SPF 50 protection and extra vitamin E to moisturize the skin. This premium sunscreen is unscented, perfect for those looking for everyday protection without unnecessary chemicals. It’s also water resistant, making it an excellent choice for beating down the summer. To use, apply 15 minutes before sun exposure and enjoy the outdoors without worrying about burning your skin.
This Korean vegan sunscreen is for those who don’t have 10 minutes or more to do their face care routine. iUNIK combines moisturizing, anti-aging, hydration and sun protection in this calming centella product, allowing you to streamline your skin care in one application. This vegan sunscreen for oily skin smoothly blends on the face without any white cast or greasy feeling.
Another daily staple from Korea is this sunscreen from Face Republic. A brand globally recognized for its quality products, this sun essence glides effortlessly on the skin without leaving a white cast. Any makeup goes on top of it nicely, making it a holy grail for people looking for a water-resistant formula that is a joy to wear on the outdoors.
This hybrid vegan sunscreen with SPF 50 has both mineral and chemical filters to cancel and deflect UV rays so they don’t reach your skin. It comes in a fluid form with ingredients like bamboo water and fructan that have been carefully selected to suit the most sensitive skin type. Because it’s safe for both the face and the body, you don’t have to carry a second bottle of sun protection if you go out. It’s convenient and easy to use.
From a famous vegan sunscreen brand in Korea, SOME BY Mi’s mild SPF solution is packed with 10 vitamins to defend the skin from the sun’s rays and minimize photodamage, hyperpigmentation and melasma. Its hyaluronic acid boost forms a moisture barrier on the skin’s surface and keeps it hydrated.
It’s FDA-approved and has a broad-spectrum SPF 50 that soaks in quickly. Moreover, it contains niacinamide, which helps dry out active pimples and soothe excess sebum. It’s the perfect vegan sunscreen for oily skin, leaving no greasy feeling even after multiple retouches.
Solara has one of the best vegan sunscreens in the U.S.A. The milky liquid comes in a glass bottle with a squeeze dropper for the dispenser, which is unique for a product often packed in squeezable plastic tubes. It’s sustainable, vegan, cruelty-free and verified by the Environmental Working Group. It’s safe for use and does not include ingredients that can cause allergy, skin irritation or even cancer. Its formula is loaded with 12 skin-compatible actives, providing everything your skin needs to stay plumpy and healthy under the sun.
Royal SunFrog has the most convenient, travel-size, vegan sunscreen stick to retouch your skin’s defense against the sun anywhere without the mess — no more squeezing bottles or spreading the product on the skin with your hands. To use, glide it on the face or body.
This sunscreen is made from 100% natural ingredients and is manufactured in an FDA-regulated facility. It’s the perfect product to minimize tans while hiking, surfing, biking and running.
Vegan sunscreens are made of natural ingredients safe for the skin and the environment. When choosing a brand, read the labels and look for animal-friendly logos to ensure you get a genuine vegan product. Now, you can enjoy the summer even longer, knowing you’re protected under the sun.
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