Why Chemical Sunscreen Could Be Harming You + 5 Non-Toxic Options
- Lea
- Mar 31
- 5 min read
For centuries, people lived, worked, and thrived under the sun without chemical sunscreens — and without the modern surge in sun-related skin issues. So why is it that today, we’re told to fear the sun at every turn?
The truth is, the sun was never made to harm us. But the way we live, eat, and slather chemicals on our skin has changed, and it’s affecting how our bodies respond to sunlight.
In this post, we’ll explore the real dangers of chemical sunscreens, why our ancestors didn’t struggle with sun damage like we do today, and how you can protect your skin naturally with safe, non-toxic options — from simple DIY recipes to the best store-bought mineral sunscreens you can grab on Amazon.
🌞 The Benefits of the Sun (Yes, You Need It!)
Before we talk about sunscreen, let’s talk about the sun itself. The sun isn’t your enemy — it’s essential for life, health, and wellbeing. Your body was designed to thrive with daily sun exposure.
Benefits of sunlight exposure include:
Natural Vitamin D production (crucial for immunity, hormones, bones, mood, and more)
Regulating your circadian rhythm and sleep cycles
Supporting healthy skin and collagen production in balanced doses
Boosting serotonin levels and mental health
Enhancing hormone balance and overall vitality
The issue isn’t the sun — it’s how our modern world has disrupted the relationship we once had with it.
🧪 The Real Dangers of Chemical Sunscreens
Most conventional sunscreens you find on store shelves contain chemical UV filters like oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, and avobenzone. These chemicals don’t just sit on your skin — they are absorbed into your bloodstream within hours and have been linked to:
🚫 Hormone disruption🚫 Allergic reactions and skin irritation🚫 Coral reef damage and environmental toxicity🚫 Increased free radicals and oxidative stress when exposed to UV rays
Many of these chemicals can actually break down in sunlight, creating more free radicals and cellular damage — the very thing sunscreen is supposed to prevent.
⚡️ Why Are We Struggling with the Sun Now?
You might wonder: Why didn’t people in history have sunburns, sunspots, and skin cancer epidemics like we do today?
The truth is, several modern factors have made us more sensitive to the sun:
🔥 Diet & Oxidative Stress
One of the biggest culprits is the modern diet loaded with inflammatory seed oils (canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower oils) that are highly processed and oxidized. When we consume these unstable fats, they incorporate into our skin cells, making us more prone to burning and oxidative stress when exposed to UV rays.
Our ancestors ate traditional, nourishing fats like butter, tallow, and olive oil — fats that don’t oxidize under heat or sunlight the way seed oils do.
🧴 Chemical Overload
Daily use of harsh, synthetic skincare products, perfumes, and chemical sunscreens can weaken the skin’s natural barrier, increasing photosensitivity and reactivity.
🕶️ Lack of Gradual Exposure
Most people today spend 90% of their time indoors under artificial lights. When they finally head outside in summer, they get sudden, intense sun exposure without building up a natural sun tolerance.
🌿 Safer, More Natural Ways to Protect Your Skin
If you want to protect your skin without the chemicals, you have options. Here’s how you can practice holistic sun protection:
☀️ 1. Practice Safe Sun Habits
Avoid harsh midday sun exposure (10 AM - 2 PM) when UV rays are strongest.
Build up sun exposure gradually in spring and early summer.
Wear natural fiber clothing, a sunhat, or sit in the shade when spending long hours outdoors.
🧴 2. Use Natural, Mineral-Based Sunscreens
Mineral sunscreens made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide create a physical barrier on the skin without hormone-disrupting chemicals.
🍳 3. Nourish Your Skin from Within
Reduce or eliminate seed oils, ultra-processed foods, and sugar. Instead, focus on:
Pasture-raised animal fats
Extra virgin olive oil
Fresh fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants
Omega-3s from wild fish or cod liver oil
This helps your skin stay resilient and healthy in the sun.
🌸 4. DIY Sun Protection
For short-term, mild sun exposure, some people choose to make their own gentle sunscreen using:
Whipped tallow
Shea butter
Coconut oil
Non-nano zinc oxide
(Note: Homemade sunscreens can be tricky to get an accurate SPF, so they’re best for low-exposure days.)
⭐️ 5 Clean & Natural Sunscreen Brands (Available on Amazon!)
Here are 5 clean, effective, mineral-based sunscreens you can trust — and you can conveniently grab them on Amazon (affiliate links below). All of these brands avoid common toxins like parabens, synthetic fragrances, and chemical UV filters.
1. Badger Mineral Sunscreen
💰 Price Range: $10 – $20✅ Organic ingredients, reef-safe, family-friendly⭐️ Great for sensitive skin and kids
Free of: Parabens, oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, and other hormone disruptors.
2. Sky & Sol Mineral Sunscreen
💰 Price Range: $14 – $25✅ Ultra-clean ingredients, non-nano zinc oxide, nourishing oils⭐️ Lightweight, non-greasy formula
Free of: Parabens, oxybenzone, octinoxate, synthetic fragrances, silicones, nano particles, and chemical UV filters.
Sky & Sol is a growing favorite among holistic skincare enthusiasts for their commitment to pure, non-toxic ingredients and lightweight formulas that blend beautifully without leaving a white cast. Their mineral sunscreen uses non-nano zinc oxide along with nourishing oils like jojoba and raspberry seed oil to protect and hydrate without harsh chemicals.
3. Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen
💰 Price Range: $14 – $22✅ Gentle enough for babies, fragrance-free option⭐️ Leaves minimal white cast
Free of: Parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, oxybenzone, octinoxate, and chemical sunscreens.
4. Beauty by Earth Mineral Sunscreen
💰 Price Range: $12 – $22✅ Non-nano zinc oxide, reef-safe, clean ingredients⭐️ Lightweight, rubs in easily without a heavy white cast
Free of: Parabens, oxybenzone, octinoxate, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, and chemical UV filters.
Beauty by Earth is a clean, woman-owned brand that makes natural skincare and sun care products using simple, earth-based ingredients. Their mineral sunscreen is non-toxic, non-nano, and enriched with soothing aloe vera, green tea, and jojoba oil for extra skin nourishment while you’re in the sun. It’s great for adults, kids, and even sensitive skin.
✨ Use my exclusive discount code: BEAUTYBYEARTH for 10% off your order!
5. Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen (Sensitive)
💰 Price Range: $11 – $25✅ Dermatologist recommended, fragrance-free⭐️ Great for beach days and high sun exposure
Free of: Parabens, oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, and chemical UV filters.
The sun was created to give life, not take it. By returning to ancestral wisdom, caring for our bodies from the inside out, and avoiding harmful chemicals, we can enjoy the benefits of sunlight while keeping our skin safe and healthy.
Choose real food. Protect your skin naturally. Live in harmony with the sun.
Don't forget to use my exclusive discount code when shopping Beauty By Earth products: BEAUTYBYEARTH for 10% off your order!
✨ Ready to Glow from the Inside Out?
If you're passionate about holistic living and nourishing your body naturally, don't miss my 30-Day Glow-Up Reset Challenge — a complete roadmap to radiant wellness, hormone balance, and daily habits that will help you feel your best, inside and out. 🌿
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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them — at no extra cost to you.
Wow, this was super informative and helpful! Thank you, Lea! 🙏