Safer Sunscreens

Practicing "safe" sunning just means slathering on and reapplying some every few hours — right? Not exactly. If you really want to stay safe while playing in the sun, then you might want to steer clear of chemical sunscreens — which means just about every product found at your drugstore (including, unfortunately, Kiss My Face Sunspray, which though free of other chemicals was revealed to contain a chemical sunscreen, and so was cut from this article after this group shot was taken). Research suggests that ingredients meant to protect us from carcinogenic rays may actually be damaging our DNA and causing cancer! They're not exactly safe for the Earth, either: Sunscreens have been linked to the deaths of coral reefs, contamination of waterways, and the feminization of male fish. Yikes!

Fortunately, there are plenty of natural alternatives. Most are loaded with minerals that block the sun's rays instead of absorbing them like chemical sunscreens. And these days, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide-based products blend in beautifully — no white streaks. Click through for Sprig's favorite sun care products to find the one you need.

photo: Jacob Krupnick