As you enjoy your outdoor playtime this summer, make sure your sunscreen is as safe as possible, not just for the earth, but for you as well. lavera makes natural, toxin-free products for both kids and adults.

lavera Sun Block SPF 40 Neutral is completely fragrance free and can not only be used on your body, but is safe to use on your face as well. This sunscreen is ideal for anyone and everyone since it was developed with those suffering from allergies and skin conditions such as eczema in mind. Among the things you won't find on the ingredients list are fragrances, parabens or gluten. What you will discover are organic ingredients such as evening primrose oil and liquorice extract, as well as almond oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E.

The sunscreen is also waterproof so when you do decide to take that dip in the water, you won't have to worry about immediately frying your shoulders and back, a common problem since water reflects the sunlight and can cause you to burn much more quickly. However, despite using waterproof sunblock, you should always remember to apply your sunscreen every few hours as per the instructions on the bottle, and if you're not sure how to properly do so, check out this video tutorial for proper instructions.

» lavera (Official Site)

Though it's important to use a facial moisturizer containing SPF all year-round, you may have done without it for the winter due to the short days and weak sun. Well if memory serves correctly, we bid adieu to winter awhile ago so if you haven't switched to a moisturizer with built-in sun protection yet, now is the time to do so.

The Green Tea & Ginkgo Moisturizer SPF 15 by Aubrey Organics will not only protect you from harmful UV rays, but pollution as well. The matcha green tea and vitamin E will act as damage control, while the organic jojoba oil and organic Rose Mosqueta ensure your face remains well hydrated.

If you'll be exposed to the sun for any extended period of time, don't forget to wear a hat to further protect your face and to keep the top of your head from burning as well!

Hit the jump to visit Aubrey Organics online for more product information and to place an order.

» Aubrey Organics

Never mind global warming, coral reefs are facing an entirely different threat: your sunscreen. Believe it or not, scientists have recently discovered that the chemicals used to make ultra-violet (UV) filters contained in sunscreen are causing coral bleaching, which eventually causes the organism to die.

“Different sunscreen brands, protective factors and concentrations were compared, and all treatments caused bleaching of hard corals,” said the researchers, who were led by Roberto Danovaro, at the University of Pisa in Italy, in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

The lotion is said to wash off in the water and leave behind a residue. Researchers say that in order to protect the coral from further destruction, human contact with the reefs needs to be restricted.

"Our results provide strong scientific evidence of the potential impact of these products in tropical habitats and represent a pointer for outlining specific regulations for protecting coral reefs,” the team said.

A 20-minute dip in the sea could wash off about a quarter of the chemicals in the sun lotion, they said. They concluded: “According to these estimates, we believe that up to 10 per cent of the world's coral reefs would be threatened by sunscreen-induced coral bleaching.”

Some of the chemicals said to have a detrimental impact on coral reefs include parabens, cinnamates, benzophenones and camphor derivatives.

» Times Online