Best Natural Sunscreens for Summer 2021

Are you summer-ready? If you haven’t stocked up on sunscreen for summer 2021, then we’re afraid you can’t answer that with a yes! Wearing sunscreen is important all year round. But it’s even more vital that you keep your skin protected when UV levels are high, as this is when most damage occurs. In the hot Australian sun, UV damage can happen quickly and causes serious adverse effects—we’re not talking just sunburn.

You don’t have to enter the world of harsh chemicals if you want to keep your skin protected from UV rays. Discover the best natural sunscreens for summer 2021 so you can enjoy healthier skin without experiencing irritation or harming the environment. Find out more about keeping your skin protected from harmful UV rays in our Ultimate Guide to Sunscreen.

Why Is It Important to Wear Sunscreen?

Wearing sunscreen is important if you want to protect it from harmful UV rays that can cause sunburn, premature ageing, and skin cancer. Although your makeup may contain some SPF, it isn’t enough to keep your skin protected. Find out more in No, Your Foundation Doesn't Have Enough Sun Protection.

Sun protection comes in two forms: physical and chemical. Physical sunblocks are designed to physically block UV rays at the surface of your skin, whereas chemical sunscreens work deeper within the dermis to absorb rays before they can cause damage. If you want to look into the different types of sunscreen more, we recommend reading Chemical vs Physical Sunscreen: What's the Difference?

What Is Natural Sunscreen?

Natural sunscreens are free of the harsh chemicals that can be found in sunscreens, particularly modern ones. These chemicals may cause irritation and sensitivity as well as damage our reefs and oceans. Natural sunscreens typically contain physical sunblocks such as Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, which work on the surface of your skin to block UV rays. If you’re after a sunscreen for sensitive skin or just prefer to use natural ingredients, we have some top recommendations for the best natural sunscreens.

Looking for a child-safe SPF? Discover some of the best sunscreens for babies and young children in our guide Best Sunscreen for Babies, Toddlers, and Kids

Do Natural Sunscreens Work?

Natural sunscreens are just as effective as chemical sunscreens, but you must make sure you apply enough of a natural sun product for it to fully work. Because physical sunblocks might not be as lightweight and sheer as chemical sunscreens, it may be tempting to use less product.

It’s recommended that you apply around 2 milligrams of sunscreen per square centimetre of your skin. This works out to around 1/2 teaspoon for your face, 1 teaspoon per arm, 2 teaspoons for your torso, and 2 teaspoons for each leg. You should reapply every 2 hours when in direct sunlight.

The Best Natural Sunscreens

We’ve picked out five of the very best natural sunscreens, so you can protect your skin all year long without resorting to harsh, irritating chemicals.

Edible Beauty is an Australian beauty brand that’s dedicated to harnessing the powers of botanicals and natural ingredients. Edible Beauty Basking Beauty Natural Sunscreen is an Australian-made sunscreen containing only nourishing natural ingredients that are good for your skin and the planet. This ocean- and reef-safe sunscreen is free of chemical filters such as Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, PABA, and Parabens, all of which can damage the environment.

Ultra Violette is a brand that’s dedicated to changing the world of sunscreen. Saying goodbye to heavy and disruptive formulas, its sunscreens are designed as both skincare and suncare, working to nourish and protect your complexion. Traditional physical sunblocks can wreak havoc on oily skin, but Ultra Violette Clean Screen SPF 30 50ml won’t disturb your makeup or skincare routine with its lightweight, mattifying texture. We love Ultra Violette Clean Screen SPF 30 50ml so much that we featured it as one of our top sunscreens for oily skin in The Top 6 Sunscreens for Oily Skin.

Hunter Lab is known for its modern aesthetic, outstanding craftsmanship, and high-quality natural ingredients. Founded in Melbourne, this Australian beauty brand expertly combines green science with research to create the highest-quality skincare and haircare products. Hunter Lab SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen featured as one of our top physical sunscreens for 2019 in Our Top 5 Picks for Zinc Sunscreen for Summer 2019.

Presented in a handy stick formula, Hunter Lab SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen is perfect for travel and on-the-go application.

Medik8 puts research at the heart of the company, working to provide green cosmeceuticals that deliver amazing results while remaining gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. Medik8 Physical Sunscreen SPF 50+ is a lightweight broad-spectrum sunscreen designed to shield skin from UVA and UVB rays without nanoparticles. Physical Sunscreen is perfect for incredibly sensitive skin and for skin showing signs of ageing. Medik8 featured in our list of the best physical sunscreen brands in 2019; see The 7 Best Physical Sunscreen Brands for Sensitive and Acne Prone Skin in 2019.

Discover our favourite cosmeceutical face sunscreens in our guide Best Sunscreen for Your Face

Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty’s highly trained Customer Service team. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.

This article has been updated on 12/02 to replace discontinued products with our recent product recommendations. Hannah from our Customer Service team has helped to bring you our most recommended products and up-to-date information.