The 21 Most Affordable Natural Sunscreens

For safe summer fun, you want to protect your skin. After all, more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. Prevention means blocking not only UVB radiation, but UVA radiation too, too. But it also means steering clear of suspect chemicals that the Food and Drug Administration and manufacturers might feel are ok, but that worry watchdogs. Those suspect ingredients include oxybenzone, which could disrupt the human hormonal system, and Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), which may boost skin cancer risk. (Though Good Housekeeping talked to a noted researcher who said retinyl palmitate is probably safe.)

But you also don't want to pay more than you have to for protection, and some of the natural sunscreens on the market are quite expensive. That's why we took the best-rated mineral sunblocks (with zinc or titanium) from the Environmental Working Group's annual Sunscreen Guide and did some price comparisons. (While watchdogs worry that the nanotechnology that makes most mineral sunscreens is inadequately regulated, they're considered the safest options on the market.) You'll find here, in order starting with the least expensive, only sunscreens that sell for $6 an ounce or less.

Remember, though, "the best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt," as Environmental Working Group puts it.

Related:
> What You Need to Know About New Sunscreen Labeling Rules (from Good Housekeeping)
> 15 Affordable Natural Sunscreens for Babies and Children
> 5 Sunscreen Myths (from Good Housekeeping)