Vegan SPF Moisturizer: For Safe & Carefree Days in the Sun
When the heat of summer arrives, so does the stress of staying protected from the sun. No matter how much you love your current SPF moisturizer, it probably isn’t vegan-friendly and doesn’t have all-natural ingredients.
Fortunately, there are plenty of safe and effective alternatives to keep your skin healthy and hydrated without compromising your ethics or risking your health. With this helpful list of vegan SPF moisturizers, you can protect your skin without sacrificing principles or putting yourself at risk. Each entry is approved by the Vegan Society and has ingredients that are safe for vegans to use on their skin every day. Use these simple tips and tricks to find a new SPF moisturizer that will keep you looking great all summer long.
Our mineral sunscreen contains only safe ingredients and is not only a great form of sun protection, but a fantastic overall moisturizer that you can benefit from every day.
Look for Natural UV Protective Ingredients
The easiest way to find vegan SPF moisturizers is to look for natural ingredients that provide UV protection. Top ingredients to watch for include:
Hemp Seed Oil - Hemp seed oil can offer an additional 6 SPF in additional coverage when included in your vegan SPF moisturizer.
Shea Butter - When shea butter is included in your sunscreen, it can add about 4 SPF coverage. We'll take all that we can get. :)
Zinc oxide - Zinc oxide is a mineral that acts as a physical barrier to block the sun’s harmful UV rays. It’s what gives sunscreen that distinct white tint and texture. It can also be used to create vegan SPF moisturizers with a thicker texture, which is great for combating wrinkles and dry skin.
Titanium oxide - Titanium oxide is a mineral that is also used as a physical barrier. It’s often found in vegan SPF moisturizers with a thicker texture, and gives a white tint to the skin.
Our mineral sunscreen contains only safe ingredients and is not only a great form of sun protection, but a fantastic overall moisturizer that you can benefit from every day.
Some Unnatural SPF Ingredients to Avoid
Because most commercial sunscreen is synthetic, there are particularly dangerous ingredients to look out for in your SPF moisturizer. These synthetic ingredients are not biodegradable, making them particularly harmful to the environment. These include:
Retinyl palmitate - This chemical compound is often used as a chemical exfoliant in commercial SPF moisturizers. It’s also been linked to an increased risk of developing skin cancer.
Oxybenzone - Although oxybenzone is FDA-approved as a sunscreen, it’s also been identified as a synthetic chemical that damages coral reefs. As a result, many sunscreen companies are voluntarily removing oxybenzone from their products.
Octinoxate - This is a common ingredient used in sunscreens, and is absorbed through the skin, and it is also found in blood, urine, and breast milk. Studies show that octinoxate is absorbed systematically in the body, and that this chemical messes with hormones and the body’s metabolic system. Other endocrine targets have also been linked to this. This includes progesterone signaling and androgen. In addition, octinoxate also causes allergic reactions once exposed to ultraviolet light.
Tips for Using Vegan SPF Moisturizers
There are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing and applying a vegan SPF moisturizer.
First and foremost, always read the ingredient list to make sure there are no animal byproducts or other substances you’re allergic or sensitive to. The ingredients list will also indicate how long the SPF moisturizer lasts, so you can adjust your application as needed. Most vegan SPF moisturizers last between four and six hours, unless you sweat excessively or get wet. Then you might want to touch up your application.
Always apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes (and up to two hours) before you go outside. This ensures you get the full SPF protection without looking too shiny or greasy and has a chance to settle as a barrier.
Finally, make sure to be prepared to touch up your application every couple of hours, even if you’re using a vegan SPF moisturizer.
Our mineral sunscreen contains only safe ingredients and is not only a great form of sun protection, but a fantastic overall moisturizer that you can benefit from every day:
Conclusion
Choosing a safe and effective vegan SPF moisturizer is one of the most important parts of protecting your skin from harmful UV rays. When in doubt, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to your health and well-being. Now that you know what to look for in a vegan SPF moisturizer, there’s no excuse to not enjoy your summer safely.