Now that summer has finally graced us with her presence, it’s time to cover yourself in sunscreen...and lots of it. This is the number one summer essential on everyone’s list, but don’t think you can skip it if you’re just hanging out in your own backyard.

SPF is the only thing that will protect your skin against harmful UV rays that accelerate the aging process...ain't nobody got time for that!

Shopping for sunscreen should be a no-brainer; but just like most conventional products, even sunscreen can contain some nasty chemicals. Yep, we know how frustrating it can be to hear that yet another skincare staple may be putting your health at risk, but that’s why we put this handy guide together to help you out a bit.

Keep reading to learn the difference between the two most common types of sunscreen - so that you can easily determine which one is best for you.

Chemical Sunscreen: The Standard

This one is likely hanging out in your beach bag right now, as it’s the most popular sunscreen on the market. It is a lot more common than its sister product, physical sunblock, which we will discuss in a bit. The reason this one is so popular is because of its thin consistency and quick absorption into your skin.

Of course, it’s not all good. As the name suggests, this sunscreen contains chemicals, such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate that can mimic certain hormones in your body and completely disrupt your endocrine system.

This sunscreen works by acting as a sponge. It absorbs deep into your skin where it neutralizes UV rays; unfortunately, it will also flood your body with these nasty chemicals at the same time.

The ingredient, oxybenzone, in particular, has been shown to have a negative impact on our oceans; so, if you are eco-conscious then this may be another reason for you to avoid this type of sunscreen.

Physical Sun Block: A Healthier Alternative

The name of this one kind of gives it away. Rather than acting as a sponge, this sunscreen blocks UV rays by providing a protective barrier on the skin. This means sunlight will bounce right off your skin and back into the environment.

Now you’re probably wondering about the ingredients and why this sunblock is less popular.

It’s all good news when it comes to the ingredients, thank goodness for that! This sunblock contains only natural minerals, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Since it sits on the skin rather than soaking in, it’s less likely to cause irritation - even if you have sensitive skin.

This one is a little less popular as it can be a bit thick and chalky, and no beach babe wants that! The good news is that because more people are becoming aware of the benefits of using natural ingredients, more companies are jumping on the all-natural train. So, instead of just a few choices of physical sunblocks, there are now an endless variety of options; such as this one that we love, or even our own Zinc SPF Face Stick!

We hope this guide makes it easy to make the right choice for you and your family. Take your time, shop around, andalways read labels!