Safe skin, safe shores: Local sunscreen brands offering summer protection with an eco-friendly touch
Kenan Christian Paguirigan, Adamsso Tejereso, and Shaunte Felicity
Protection is best in every season, and summer is certainly no exception. But what do you do to protect your skin?
Sunscreen brands have always been created to give you the best local experience. This summer, beat the heat by giving your skin only the best of the best it deserves. However, this protection should not come at the cost of our ecosystems’ natural beauty.
Here are eight local sunscreen brands carefully curated to meet the needs of healthy, glowing skin and the well-being of our environment.
Human Nature
Satisfaction Rating: 4/5
Summer gets hotter every year, so making sure that your skin is safe and protected from UV rays is more important than ever. Fit for all seasons and occasions, Human Nature’s best-selling Safe Protect SPF 30 has been a go-to for many users.
SPF 30 doesn’t only protect your skin from UVB rays and skin-aging, it also ensures your skin is moisturized without any sticky, greasy feeling. You can also enjoy swimming at the beach guilt-free! Human Nature sources 100% locally and ethically produced ingredients as part of its commitment to sustainability, making your dips in the ocean safe from reef-damaging chemicals.
Lana
Satisfaction Rating: 5/5
Looking your best while staying protected has never been better. Lana’s SPF 80 sunblock is lightweight, non-sticky, and has a matte finish that keeps your skin brighter beyond just UV protection, making your skin safe and radiant all day. Setting it apart from others, Lana’s sunblock also works as a primer, which you can include in your skincare routine.
As a proudly Filipino-made, cruelty-free brand, Lana is committed to beauty and sustainability by creating skincare that is for you and the planet. Whether you’re under the summer heat or enjoying an indoor activity, Lana’s SPF 80 sunblock will keep your skin fresh and safe without the heavy, greasy feel.
BLK
Satisfaction Rating: 5/5
Having sensitive skin can be a challenge to finding skincare products that are soothing and healing. BLK’s Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50 is ultra-lightweight and non-greasy, with added extra protection from zinc oxide that soothes inflammation and healing, especially for those with acne-prone skin.
BLK’s sunscreen dries with a matte finish, making it ideal as a primer for your daily makeup routine. It has no white cast and comes in a variety of tints, suitable for any skin tone. It’s fragrance-free, oil-free, and non-comedogenic, doing good to your skin and to the planet. As a 1% partner for the planet, BLK provides a portion of its sales to support environmental causes, emphasizing the power beauty holds.
MAGWAI
Satisfaction Rating: 5/5
Sustainability without compromise — MAGWAI is a proud Filipino brand committed to protecting the oceans through their products. Their Reef Safe Sheer Mineral Sunscreen is verified by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and offers SPF 50+/PA++++ protection without the harmful chemicals.
Made of 100% mineral, non-nano actives, MAGWAI’s sunscreen is lightweight, non-greasy, hypoallergenic, vegan, and paraben-free, making it perfect for sensitive skin and daily wear without harming your skin.
Born from their mission to protect marine life, MAGWAI embodies marine conservation with community engagement through their partnerships with local organizations, making your sunscreen a protection for your skin and marine biodiversity.
Belo SunExpert
Satisfaction Rating: 5/5
Bright skin tones, long-lasting hydration, and environmental responsibility — these are the areas where Belo SunExpert shines the most.
As an FDA-approved skincare brand, it offers broad-spectrum protection against harmful UV rays, specifically its ingredients such as niacinamide and Pentavitin. With this, the brand takes pride in how it combines science and beauty, as it earns its place as one of the priority products in the skincare desks of every Filipino out there, earning not only their confidence but also trust.
Beyond skincare, the Belo SunExpert champions environmental responsibility with their reef-friendly products. With its mineral-based UV filters, it is formulated without ingredients that are detrimental to our vulnerable marine ecosystems. Belo SunExpert is indeed reef-friendly, offering you protection that goes beyond skin-deep — a product beach goers and environmental advocates would love to have.
As you apply this product, you are not only taking care of your skin, but also the environment.
Beach Hut
Satisfaction Rating: 5/5
Given its water-resistant and high-SPF formulas, Beach Hut Sunscreen has earned its place as a leading Filipino skincare brand for those who thrive under the sun.
To keep up with everyone’s adventures, the brand has strived to offer its customers a powerful skin protection to safeguard their skin from harmful UV rays. With a clear commitment to sustainability, their sunscreens are formulated without oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals known to harm marine life. Instead, they use mineral-based UV filters that are gentle to the environment while remaining tough on sun damage.
Whether you're diving into waves or hiking under intense sun exposure, Beach Hut has carefully selected ingredients to reduce damage to coral reefs, making it a reliable choice for both your skin and your conscience.
BeachBorn
Satisfaction Rating: 4/5
BeachBorn redefines your commitment to personal care into sustainability and eco-conscious living.
At the heart of this mission is their Sunscreen Bar SPF25, a unique product that delivers effective sun protection while staying true to nature-friendly values. Unlike conventional sunscreens, this innovative bar provides a greener alternative, protecting your skin without the guilt of contributing to plastic waste. Thoughtfully designed and naturally effective, BeachBorn’s sunscreen is the perfect choice for those who want to care for themselves and the planet in one simple step.
What makes BeachBorn truly stand out is its zero-waste approach. Packaged entirely without plastic, the Sunscreen Bar exemplifies the brand’s push toward reducing environmental impact. Moreover, every ingredient is responsibly and ethically sourced from local suppliers, ensuring that each bar supports both Filipino livelihoods and the Earth. With BeachBorn, you're not just choosing sun protection — you’re embracing a movement toward conscious consumption and a cleaner future.
Say yes to sustainability and let your skincare routine make a difference with BeachBorn.
Klued
Satisfaction Rating: 5/5
If you’re someone who believes skincare should go beyond surface-level beauty, Klued is the brand for you.
Rooted in a deep passion for better skin health, Klued crafted its Ceramide Daily Barrier Hybrid Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ to be more than just sun protection — it’s a daily defense system for your skin. Infused with ceramides and niacinamide, this sunscreen not only shields your skin from harmful UV rays but also strengthens your natural skin barrier, keeping it resilient, calm, and healthy. For anyone struggling with sensitivity, dryness, or dullness, Klued offers a gentle, effective solution that nourishes as it protects.
What makes Klued truly stand out is its belief that skin health is a right, not a luxury. In a world where high-quality skincare often comes with a steep price, Klued makes sure its products remain affordable and accessible, without compromising on ingredients or efficacy. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone trying to build a skincare routine that works, Klued meets you where you are.
So if you’re ready to give your skin the care it truly deserves — protection, healing, and empowerment in one bottle — Klued is your next skincare essential.
Summer demands protection for both your skin and our precious marine ecosystems. Local brands like Human Nature, Lana, BLK, MAGWAI, Belo SunExpert, Beach Hut, BeachBorn, and Klued prove that effective sun protection can be eco-friendly.
By choosing their reef-safe, locally-sourced, or zero-waste options, you're not just shielding yourself from UV rays but also contributing to the health of our environment.
So what are you waiting for? Make sure to stay protected from that UV, while loving our pretty islands and seas!