$4.99 – $23.99
Sun Shield is a natural sun protection lotion (not a sunscreen) that soothes skin and protects against free radical damage at a cellular level. Organic, cold-pressed oils and butters are rich in antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties, natural SPF, and are high in vitamins A, C, and E to soothe and protect your skin naturally.
We love the sun (and all the vitamin D it provides)…but we don’t love the skin damage excessive exposure can cause. Traditional sunscreens contain potentially cancer-causing ingredients like avobenzene. Safer options contain physical blockers, like zinc oxide. Both help avoid burns, but also block vitamin D.
We decided to go for a new approach to skin health! Give Sun Shield a try!
Key Ingredients:
- Olive Oil – SPF 3-5, soothes skin
- Avocado Oil – SPF 15, anti-inflammatory
- Raspberry Oil – SPF 25-50, phytosterols
- Mango Butter – SPF 4, rich in vitamin A and antioxidants
- Comfrey – repairs skin, antioxidant
- Calendula – antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
ABSOLUTELY NO colors, flavors (natural or artificial), preservatives, added sugar, sodium benzoate, citric acid, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, top allergens (corn, soy, nuts, gluten, dairy, fish) or other junk!
Learn More:
NOTE: Sun Shield 6 oz size is being discontinued. We will no longer make the 6 oz size once the stock is gone.
Description
Sun Shield is a sun protectant lotion that provides a completely natural way of safeguarding your skin from sun damage. This lotion doesn’t absorb the sun’s rays or reflect them. Instead, it penetrates deeply into the skin to help protect against damage at the cellular level. Raspberry seed oil protects against UVA and UVB rays, while the oils and butters naturally have SPF ranging from 2 to 50 SPF each.
We use pure, plant-based oils infused with whole organic herbs that are rich in antioxidants. This formula nourishes your skin, blocks free radicals, all while protecting your skin from redness, wrinkles, and damage. Please keep in mind that Sun Shield is not an official sunscreen. Depending on your skin type, you may prefer to pair this with a mineral-based sunscreen for particularly hot or sunny days or you may find it to be enough protection on its own. Looking for an after-sun lotion? Try Sun-Soothe!
Benefits:
- Protects skin against skin damage at a cellular level
- Promotes cellular repair and new skin growth
- Protects against UVA and UVB rays
- Nourishes and moisturizes skin
- Repairs skin damage
- Rich in antioxidants
- Oils with natural SPF
- Helps with dry, itchy skin
- Rich in Vitamin A, D, E
- Rich in omega-3s
- Anti-inflammatory properties
Don’t love your product? Contact us within 30 days and we’ll refund your money. The best way to reach us is through email at [email protected].
Ingredients
Complete Ingredients:
- Extra Virgin Olive oOil*
- Avocado Oil*
- Raspberry Seed Oil*
- Grapeseed Oil*
- Mango Butter*
- Comfrey Leaf*
- Dandelion Flowers*
- Calendula Flowers*
- Candelilla Wax
*Certified Organic Ingredients
Studies:
Olive Oil
- Hydroxytyrosol, a natural antioxidant from olive oil, prevents protein damage induced by long-wave ultraviolet radiation in melanoma cells – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Effect of Olive Oil on the Skin – ScienceDirect
- Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils – PMC (nih.gov)
Avocado oil
Raspberry seed oil
Grapeseed oil
- (PDF) THE EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANT OF GRAPESEED OIL AS SKIN ANTI-AGING IN NANOEMULSION AND EMULSION PREPARATIONS (researchgate.net)
- Grape Seed Oil Compounds: Biological and Chemical Actions for Health – PubMed (nih.gov)
Mango butter
- Vegetable butters and oils in skin wound healing: Scientific evidence for new opportunities in dermatology – PubMed (nih.gov)
- The effect of mangiferin on skin: Penetration, permeation and inhibition of ECM enzymes – PMC (nih.gov)
Comfrey leaf
Dandelion flowers
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4630464/Dandelion Extracts Protect Human Skin Fibroblasts from UVB Damage and Cellular Senescence – PMC (nih.gov)
Calendula flowers
Candelilla wax
Usage
Rub a small amount of our natural sun protection cream into all exposed areas of skin 10 – 15 minutes before going outside. Reapply every 2 – 3 hours. Use our stick version on the face, neck, and other areas you don’t want to apply an oily product.
Safety
Shelf Life: 1 year. Safe for ages 6mo+. Safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
This product and these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. We make no claims about the SPF rating of this product because it has not been tested in any lab (only real-world tests). It is not “official” sunscreen in any capacity. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure anything.
FAQs
Q: Is this a replacement for sunscreen? Is it a sunscreen?
A: Sun Shield is not a sunscreen. Products must contain either a chemical blocker (like oxybenzene) or a physical blocker (like zinc oxide) to legally be considered a sunscreen. Instead, Sun Shield uses plant oils and herbs that have a natural SPF and protect skin on a cellular level. Some people use it instead of a traditional sunscreen and some people use it along with a traditional sunscreen.
Q: What is the SPF of Sun Shield?
A: Because it is not legally a sunscreen, it doesn’t have an official SPF rating. However, based on the SPF of each plant oil in it, we estimate a level of 12 – 15.
Q: This is just a bunch of oils…isn’t that like cooking yourself in the sun?
A: No. Our skin naturally protects itself with oils! This will penetrate your skin to protect your skin at a cellular level. It will not make you ‘cook’ in the sun.
Q: Some of these oils are seed oils! I thought we were never supposed to use those? Won’t they become toxic when exposed to sun?
A: It’s best to avoid seed oils that have been heated to high temperatures, like when frying food, because they do become denatured and potentially toxic then. However, small amounts of raw, cold-pressed seed oils are fine, especially topically. The heat level at which these oils become denatured is at least 300 degrees F (which is fairly cool for cooking, but much higher than they would ever get on your skin). You’re safe here!
Q: Is Sun Shield strong enough for ________?
A: It varies greatly. Some people who are very fair can use it exclusively in strong sunlight and not burn. Others may burn even in moderate sunlight. It depends on genetics, tendency to burn, strength of sun, time of year, and even diet. A person who consumes an anti-inflammatory diet will be less likely to burn and experience more success with Sun Shield than those who eat more sugar, vegetable oils, and white flour. (Yes, really!)
Q: What if Sun Shield doesn’t work for me?
A: Like anything else, Sun Shield doesn’t work for 100% of people. We recommend trying it out during shorter sun exposure first (rather than a long day at the beach). If it doesn’t work, we have a money-back guarantee — just let us know.
Emily –
Best sunscreen I’ve used! Very effective and lasts a decent amount of time. I felt comfortable putting it on my littles because the ingredients are natural!
Morgan Marshall –
I’m a huge fan of this! We took my extremely fair skinned baby boy to the beach and used only this the entire time. He didn’t burn not even once! It takes a little bit to get used to using an oil based sunscreen versus a lotion, but I am so pleased with it that it doesn’t even matter. We try not to have too much sun exposure, and we reapply hourly, so I feel that is why it was so beneficial for us. Definitely a must have for all sun-fun!
Bethany (verified owner) –
This does feel greasy going on but soaked into the skin pretty well and it doesn’t leave a white residue like sunscreens with titanium or zinc, so that’s a plus. I live in the Midwest and have very very fair/sun-sensitive skin, and I will say I have to reapply REGULARLY (like before 2 hours) to prevent a burn. This could be just me & my personal level of sensitivity, because my kids use it as well and have not burned (actually the tend to tan more when using this). However, I do love it for babies as it is so light and performs really well. I only give a three star because of my own experience with it.
Heidi Hayes (verified owner) –
I received a sample size in a kit last summer and kept it in my diaper bag all summer. I didn’t test it on a beach day, but it seemed to work well for times we needed a little sun protection, and I hadn’t plan for it.
Madeline (verified owner) –
Loved this during the summer for my daughter! Its very oily but kept her from getting burnt.
Sarah F. (verified owner) –
I was skeptical, but so excited at the potential for sun protection without the chemicals! I tested it on my self first before my kiddos. I have extremely sensitive skin. If the sun sets at 7:30 then I’ll get a sunburn at 7:00, walking from my car to the store. It doesn’t matter how indirect or brief the exposure.
This stuff works! My skin felt all the better for using it, too. So much so that I found myself applying it before bed after a full sunny day and it’s nurturing properties continued. Definitely an excellent solution for sun protection!
My family’s go to from now on!
Carol (verified owner) –
I have been using it with different essential oils as a bit of a moisturizer for my 63 year old skin. I was surprised when more then one person asked me if I had some sun and that my skin has just a touch of color. So that is nice. I do not like make up…gets into my crinkles. I really try to stay out of the sun in the middle of the day, so I know the different oils in Sun Shield add a bit of tint.
Emily (verified owner) –
I have fair skin. I used Sun Shield at the beach, and it worked like a charm. I didn’t get sun burned. My skin felt soft and moisturized when I got out of the sun. I will definitely use this on my baby next year.
Tara W. (verified owner) –
I have very fair skin and burn easily. I live in Michigan and we take a two week vacation to southern Florida in early June each year so I am extremely pale when we go. To say I was skeptical of this product would be an understatement. I had been using a very popular natural sunscreen with zinc oxide and even though it prevented most sunburns, it dried my skin out so much that I would start to peel while washing it off so I decided Sun Shield was worth a try. I used it every single day and never burned! I had the best tan I have ever had, zero redness and zero peeling. By day three I was confident enough to use it on my kids and even with their fair skin, no one burned. I even used it as a moisturizer on days we weren’t going to be in the sun enough to warrant the use of sun screen.
I don’t think I would call it greasy, maybe a little oily, but it sinks in fast and makes your skin feel so soft. I cannot say enough good things about this product. I would love to see it come in some kind of container with a screw on lid though. I had a hard time keeping the lid completely closed on it so I kept it inside a ziploc bag in my beach bag.
Lorna Hansen (verified owner) –
We have to send sunscreen to daycare with our 2 year old, she goes outside daily and has never burned. I love that it’s not greasy and doesn’t have an over powering scent.
Hilary (verified owner) –
Okay, I’m reading these reviews again and wonder if I got a “bad batch”. I really want it to work since I don’t like the other natural sun screens. I wouldn’t say I’m very fair skinned, but I’ve burned twice when using this on my chest that wasn’t already tanned. I feel like my arms still got a little pink even though they are tan. Was in sun about 1-2 hrs both times. Use with caution!
Elise (verified owner) –
This stuff is AWESOME. I got it in the kids summer first aid kit at the beginning of the summer for my then 11-mo daughter, and I am solidly hooked! I put it on her if we’re ever out during peak sun hours, and she –
coming from two blond, blue-eyed, fair-skinned parents – is our lovely little tan baby. AND WE LIVE IN TEXAS. One time we went to a splash pad in the middle of the day, I put Sun Shield on my face, put some natural zinc-based stuff on my shoulders, and missed part of my back. Let me tell you, I got a nice burn on my back, rosy enough on my shoulders, and nothing but a little tan to my face. This will become a staple for my household.
Hanna (verified owner) –
This not only protects skin from getting burnt, but actually moisturizes. Finally sun protection that’s good for your skin! Doesn’t irritate or dry out my daughter’s eczema. We have used this several times at the beach and pool without getting sunburned.
Kara (verified owner) –
Ok, I was truly skeptical about this, but ordered the 4oz anyway since it was on sale. I decided to be brave and use only this while gardening with my mom in 90 degree weather and sun beaming down. I burn easily. I was out for about 2 hours and went in for water and reapplied. Back out for 3 more hours and no reapplication. I didn’t burn at all and got a few shades darker. I love the herbal smell of this and so does my mom. She ordered some to try the next day. I feel good about using this on my baby and my family. It is an awesome product and the cleanest ingredients I have ever seen in a sun product. I will continue using this for as long as they make it!
Kristyn D (verified owner) –
we LOVE this product! We have used it on our 13 month old who has sensitive and fair skin and she has not gotten burnt once. We just spent a weekend at a festival in the sun and it protected her perfectly. I just ordered the big one after using up the sample I got. Thank you for these products 🙂 Am looking to try more products from you.
Traci Elliott (verified owner) –
I don’t want to leave a bad review because I love the other products I’ve tried and I love what you all do, but I’m just going to be honest here.
I have very fair skin and live in Southern California. I really wanted to love this, because I wanted something super natural and gentle for me and my family. So, I put it on and it’s super oily on your skin. That’s no surprise since it has olive oil in it, but if you don’t like greasy sunscreens, this will definitely not be for you! We were only out in the sun for 2-3 hours, but me and two out of three of my kids burned (the ones who inherited my fair skin). Maybe it would have worked if I had reapplied…I don’t know.
So, for me, the greasiness and the lack of effectiveness for a couple hours is enough to make me not want to use it again. But, I’d say if you can put up with those two things, you might still want to give it a try.
Molly –
I haven’t tried this outside yet. The smell reminds me a little of salad dressing, probably just all the olive oil. It is not offensive, but I was wondering if you could but an essential oil in it perhaps to make it smell a little more appealing. I am so thrilled that is natural though, and this is what is prompting me to buy more than the sample. Thanks for doing what you are doing. I considered making these products myself, but it can be a big time commitment. So you are making my life easier. 🙂
JESSICA M CARMAN (verified owner) –
I used this on several consecutive hot sunny days, a few weeks ago. To my surprise, I wasn’t even a little pink! As long as you reapply every hout or so, you are good to go. A little goes a long way for me.
Amanda (verified owner) –
The first and only time I used this product, I got the WORST sunburn I’ve ever had in my life. My kids and husband were also burned, thankfully not that bad. But after only being in the sun for barely an hour at the beach, I was very burned. I woke up with blisters on my shoulders and was in so much pain. I should have realized this would not be effective as it is OIL BASED and the first 4 ingredients are OILS. And the majority of the remaining ingredients are moisturizers. I don’t see anything that is actually PROTECTING you from the sun. I would never use this product again, or recommend it to anyone. This was a huge letdown. I have followed Modern Alternative Mama for quite a while now, and after purchasing several products, I am incredibly disappointed.
Catlyn (verified owner) –
Okay, So I will start off by saying I live in Sunny (and hot) El Paso Texas. I was a little reluctant to try this here, thinking it may not be strong enough to withstand this sun, so I only bought a sample size.
WOW.
The first time I tried it I only tried it on myself, and used a “chemically infused sunscreen” with my children “Just in case” I have very fair skin and swear I could burn on a rainy day. I didn’t burn at all.
The next time I used it on my children and in the midst of the chaos of having three children- I forgot to put any sun protectant on myself- I burned so bad, but my kids were fine.
Technically, this isn’t waterproof- However, because it does seep into the skin, we have used it at the splash pad and just reapplied a little more often with amazing results. Definitely a must have for summer fun.