When it comes to protecting your skin from harsh rays, today’s modern formulas have come a long way since the rule of thumb involved slathering your body in baby oil. But the downside is there are so many options to choose from, it can make a summer purchase feel downright overwhelming. Luckily, everything on thrivemarket.mom is made with good-for-you ingredients to protect you and your family from sunrise to sunset.

What Is SPF?

SPF stands for “sun protection factor,” and refers to how much UV radiation would be required to burn skin protected by sunscreen in relation to skin without sunscreen. SPF refers to the amount of solar exposure that the skin can withstand, not necessarily the amount of time you can spend in the sun. So while it may seem like a no-brainer to simply reach for the sunscreen with the highest SPF, the SPF scale isn’t linear. According to Dr. Brooke Grant Jeffy, MD, at a certain point the difference in effectiveness between SPF levels actually begins to decrease, making the higher levels fairly similar in terms of performance. “I recommend a minimum of SPF 30 for daily use on exposed skin and SPF 50 or more for outdoor activities,” he advises.

How Much Sunscreen Should I Use?

It’s not just the SPF number that plays a role in your protection. Proper application, the amount of sunscreen you use, and reapplication all impact the effectiveness of your chosen sunscreen. The moral of the story? Be generous. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that adults use enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass for their entire body.

Top Sun Protection Brands

Protect your skin with our lineup of top family-friendly brands.

THINK

THINK is known for making eco-friendly products for the entire family. This brand sources the safest ingredients and materials for everything from sunscreen to baby care essentials.

ThinkBaby SPF 30 Clear Zinc Sunscreen

Protect your baby’s delicate skin for up to 80 minutes with this zinc oxide formula that blends nourishing oils like jojoba and raspberry seed with moisturizing vitamin E and aloe. Plus, it dries sheer without a white cast. Thrive Market member Jaime from California has been a loyal fan for more than a decade. “This starts out white but blends in well. It works amazing—we’ve been using this brand for about 12 years!”

ThinkSport SPF 50 Clear Zinc Active Face Sunscreen

For an easy year-round routine, make this SPF 50 formula part of your morning. The formula features zinc oxide, nourishing oils, and reef-friendly protection. Amy from New York says: “I had a hard time finding a waterproof vegan SPF face sunscreen. This one was just what I needed.”

Larkly Suncare

Larkly makes non-greasy, mineral-based SPF formulas that are easy to put on and good for the planet, too. The brand was started by two moms who were tired of struggling to slather sunscreen on their kids every day. Their innovative brush is a simple way to deliver protection without the sticky feeling from traditional sunscreens.

SPF 30 Mineral Powder Sunscreen

Sunscreen and makeup in one? Larkly makes it simple to head out the door with a self-dispensing (and refillable) brush that buffs a reef-safe SPF 30 mineral powder directly onto skin. Britt from South Carolina made this a summer go-go: “It’s the perfect addition to a purse or beach bag for midday SPF touch-ups. Works well, light application, and it does the job.

How to Choose the Right Sunscreen

There are plenty of options when it comes to picking your go-to sunscreen.

All About Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Some brands use chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate—toxins that are believed to bleach and damage coral reefs. Head to the blog for a deep dive into reef-safe sunscreen, and why you might want to choose it for you and your family.

Physical vs. Chemical Sunscreens

Get the scoop on the difference between physical and chemical sunscreens so you can make an informed decision on which might be best. Either way, you’ll want a broad spectrum option that offers protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

Are You Using Sunscreen Wrong?

Watch out for these five sunscreen blunders, including skipping sunscreen on cloudy days and forgetting to reapply.

Sun protection