What to Know About Vegan Sunscreen

Anyone who spends time in the sun on a regular basis needs to make sure that they take care of their skin and protect it from the harsh rays of the sun. Unfortunately, many types of sunscreen have animal by-products in them or are tested on animals, leaving vegans feeling like they have very limited options when it comes to protecting their skin. Rather than leaving a sunburn up to chance, vegans can protect themselves and ensure that they avoid sun damage by using vegan sunscreen. Before going shopping for this type of sunscreen, however, it’s important that you know what to look for and what to expect from your new favorite sunscreen.

When Is a Sunscreen Vegan?

The first thing that people need to look for when shopping for a vegan sunscreen is whether it contains animal products such as beeswax. This is a really common ingredient in a lot of sunscreens, which is why it can be so difficult to find a sunscreen without it. While many people assume that sunscreens labeled “natural organic” or “cruelty-free” are going to be vegan, that is not always the case.

Vegans need to make sure that the sunscreen they choose doesn’t include animal by-products by checking the ingredient list and even contacting the company. Additionally, vegans need to make sure that the products that they choose haven’t been tested on animals. This information is usually clearly displayed on the packaging.

Is Eco-Friendly Sunscreen Important?

Vegans who want to make a smart decision when it comes to the sunscreen that they use will also want to consider the benefits of eco-friendly sunscreen. It is possible to buy sunscreen that is vegan but not eco-friendly, but most vegans will want to look for a sunscreen that is both. This means that when the sunscreen comes off of the body, such as from sweating or when swimming in the water, that it won’t harm the environment.

Biodegradable sunscreens will break down instead of allowing harmful chemicals to leak into the environment. Vegans who are worried about the health of animals all over the world will want to consider eco-friendly sunscreens that are also vegan.

What to Look For

Finding a great vegan sunscreen can be really tricky, but it’s easier when you know what to look for. Vegans need to look for sunscreen that is broad spectrum, which means that it will protect against both UVA and UVB rays, providing the best overall protection when in the sun. This is important because UVB rays are the ones that can cause a sunburn.

Additionally, shoppers need to consider the SPF of the product they want to buy. This will tell users how long they can stay in the sun without worrying about a sunburn. It’s a common misconception that vegan and eco-friendly sunscreen won’t last as long as traditional sunscreens will.

Common toxic ingredients to look out for are:

• Oxybenzone
• Octinoxate
• Avobenzone
• Retinyl Palmitate

Be Aware

Just because a company calls their sunscreen “healthy” doesn’t mean that it is vegan or eco-friendly, so shoppers need to be willing to do research and make sure that the sunscreen they want to buy meets their needs. Another word to watch out for is “organic.” Many people think that this type of sunscreen will be vegan and good for the environment, but this is not always the case. In fact, the “organic” label may have to do with how the ingredients are grown, but it doesn’t always mean that all ingredients are organic or that the sunscreen itself is safe for the environment.

There are a lot of things to consider when shopping for vegan sunscreen, but vegans who want to make sure that they use healthy and reliable options can easily find the right one for them. By considering the reputation of the company and whether or not there are any animal by-products or animal testing done on the product, vegans can rest assured that no animals were harmed in the production of their sunscreen.

With a little research and effort, everyone can be protected when spending time in the sun. This can be done without harming the environment or any of the animals in the world. By shopping with reliable and high-quality companies, vegans can make sure that they get the health sunscreen that they need.