You and your baby bump are about to hit the beach. But before you SPF-Up, make sure you're putting on a sunscreen that's totally safe for you and your baby. Maybe you've heard about the controversy of chemical sunscreens and are ready to go mineral. But is mineral sunscreen really safe for pregnancy?

In a word, YES. Mineral sunscreen is totally safe to use during pregnancy and post-partum. It's also safe for kids too.

That's because mineral sunscreens create a physical barrier on the surface of your skin that effectively blocks UVA (think "aging") and UVB ("burning") rays. Thought that's what all sunscreens did? Nope.

Why should pregnant women avoid chemical sunscreen?

Chemical sunscreens actually absorb the UVA/UVB rays from the sun. During this absorption process, chemicals convert the rays to heat and release this heat from your body.

This can cause inflammation, breakouts, and lasting irritation to those with sensitive skin. Worse still, these same chemicals can penetrate into your bloodstream and cause toxic side effects (affecting you and your baby's fragile development).

Why is mineral sunscreen safe for pregnancy?

Mineral sunscreen, on the other hand, doesn't even let those nasty rays past your surface layer of skin. Instead, it reflects UVA and UVB rays right off your body. That means you can enjoy the waves, sand, and sun without worrying about burning, wrinkling, or sun damage.

As if that's not enough to please, mineral sunscreen is also reef-friendly, in stark contrast to its chemical alternatives. That's a major reason why mineral sunscreens are preferred by beach-front cities across the U.S. (We see ya, Hawaii! 🏄🏽‍♀️)

How to choose the best sunscreen for pregnancy

1: Check for good ingredients — no synthetic fragrances, dyes, additives, or other toxic junk.

When selecting a sunscreen for pregnancy, it's important to turn the bottle over and just read the darn ingredients. Sounds a bit amateur, right? But actually you'd be floored by the kind of toxic junk most companies stuff into their products.

Beauty by Earth's mineral sunscreens, conversely, have loads of wonderful natural ingredients like Aloe Vera, Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Cucumber Extract, and Green Tea Extract. You'll find ZERO toxins that endanger you and your baby. Instead, these ingredients help keep your skin protected, healthy, and moisturized.

2: Look for Active Ingredients of Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide.

Mineral sunscreens primarily use two minerals: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Both of these are good options for blocking harsh rays and staying burn-free.

3: Find a sunscreen with an Environmental Working Group Score below 3

You want the highest safety and efficacy rating when it comes to keeping you and your baby safe. That's why checking the Environmental Working Group's site is a must! This incredible organization evaluates hundreds of sunscreens every year for safety and effectiveness. FYI, the highest safety score on EWG is a 1.

4: Don't be a guinea pig — READ THE REVIEWS

Not all products are created equal. It's always a good idea to read what others have said about a product before diving in and trying it on yourself. I mean, come on, you don't have to be a guinea pig. Let some strangers play that role for you and learn from their successes (and mishaps).

5: Check out Beauty by Earth's Sunscreen Lineup

The Beauty by Earth mineral sunscreen lineup is extensive and crazy-effective. We're talking body mineral sunscreen, facial sunscreen, tinted facial sunscreens, and sunscreen sticks (tinted and untinted versions).

Like so many others, you'll love their subtle, summer scent, how effective they are, and their cruelty-free status (leaping bunny certified).

Until next time, take care of yourself and your little tagalong!

Jenny