Whether you’re pruning the plants on your patio garden or harvesting the fruits of your veg plot, all gardeners and horticulturists need to protect their skin from sun damage.
In this post we share tips for avoiding gardening sunburn and reveal the best natural and organic sunscreen for gardeners.
Do I need to wear sunscreen in the garden?
You spend hours tending to your plants, so why not spend seconds protecting your skin from sun damage by applying sunscreen before you go out into the garden?
Spending any time in the garden risks exposing your skin to harmful UV rays, making a broad sun hat and high-factor SPF30 sunscreen your go-to summer gardening essentials.
In addition to sunburn, gardeners who do not protect their skin from sun damage can risk premature ageing, pigmentation problems and even melanoma skin cancer.
What is the gardeners’ 3-hour rule?
With summer heatwaves more frequent and incidents of skin cancer on the rise in the UK, many gardeners follow the ‘3-hour rule’ and choose not to garden between the hours of 11am and 2pm, when the sun is at its strongest.
Instead, they whip out the watering can when it’s that bit cooler and once the UV index has fallen below 4.
Did you know that UVA sunrays can pass through greenhouses?
That makes your greenhouse a hot spot for sun damage. Always apply sunscreen before working in the greenhouse and if possible, avoid working in the greenhouse when the sun is at its strongest.
Shop natural sunscreen for gardeners
Protect as you plant with Green People’s natural sunscreens for gardeners. Made with organically grown plant extracts and broad-spectrum UV protection, they are both gentle and effective. They have also been clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin.
Facial SPF30: the professional gardener’s choice
Scent Free Facial Sun Cream - SPF30 50ml
Defend against sun damage every day with our best-selling SPF30 facial sun cream
£27.50
“Brilliant: I am working outdoors mainly being a professional gardener and garden designer and this works just perfectly for me from March to October.
My skin is very much exposed to the elements and early sun can really damage and burn the skin on my face after the winter so it’s very important for me to apply this early spring.
It is very comfortable to wear as it’s light. I love this product and can apply the tinted moisturiser on top then a bit of blush and eyeliner and I’m ready to go.” Venture K
Body SPF30 for sensitive skin & prickly heat
Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 200ml
Protect sensitive skin naturally with our best-selling SPF30 sun cream
£31.00
“I have a skin reaction with most sun creams but this is the only one can use without causing a rash. I use it when I am gardening and it protects and works perfectly.” Lynette G.
SPF with insect repellent for gardeners
Like you, your plants and a little shade on hot sunny days are welcome. A midday drink will only evaporate, so water in the morning and evening instead.
While the risk of sunburn is lower outside of peak sunshine hours, you should still apply a minimum of SPF15 sunscreen when gardening in the morning or evening and
Sun Cream SPF15 with Natural Insect Repellent is a great choice for this.
It provides broad-spectrum sun protection and contains Citrepel®75, which protects against midges, mosquitoes, ticks, and leeches - ideal for gardening near woodland.
Entirely DEET-free, its active ingredient is derived from Citronella, a plant known for its insect-repellent properties. This has been clinically proven to protect against biting insects for up to 4 hours, and that’s with just one application.
SPF15 Sun Cream with Natural Insect Repellent 100ml
Protect, soothe and repel with organic sun cream with insect repellent
£30.00
After sun with insect repellent for gardeners
We also offer a Moisturising After Sun with Natural Insect Repellent which uses the same natural insect repellent, Citrepel®75, and is ideal for gardening as the sun goes down and the mosquitoes gather.
Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent 100ml
Soothe, hydrate and protect with this organic after sun with insect repellent
£17.00
“Great when I'm watering the garden in the evening when the mosquitos are about.” Trudi H
Do you need help finding the best natural and organic sunscreen for gardeners? Our UK customer care team is happy to help and can be contacted on 01403 740 350 or at @GreenPeopleUK.
Reviewed by:
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
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