Natural Sunscreen: Everything You Need to Know
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With the summer sun warming our skin, we are thinking about natural SPF sunscreens. Growing up, a day outside meant sunscreen was a must. There were plenty of sunscreens to choose from: spray-on, thick lotion, and the favored coconut scented. We weren’t presented with chemical vs. mineral sunscreen. We were trying to enjoy a day at the beach without being burnt to a crisp.
Skincare has changed a lot since then. We know that the most common form of cancer is skin cancer. We understand the sun increases signs of aging, so facial sunscreen is important to wear daily. We have also discovered that not all sunscreen is created equally. Some common chemicals in chemical sunscreen aren’t necessarily good for our bodies or the environment.
What Is “clean” Sunscreen?
Clean sunscreen isn’t made at home in your personal bathtub. Some people have gone that route, but we prefer our sun protection to have more oversight. Clean sunscreen is a modern term that has increased in popularity as the main forms of sunscreen have become a topic of discussion: chemical vs. mineral sunscreen.
Chemical Sunscreen
Chemical sunscreens contain many chemicals that most of us cannot easily pronounce. We, the consumers, are used to this. We don’t necessarily check the entire ingredients list. Life is busy enough, and remembering which chemicals are good and bad for us is a full-time job.
The three most common active ingredients in chemical sunscreen include avobenzone, octocrylene, and oxybenzone.
A 2019 research study found that sunscreen chemicals aren’t just sitting on your skin. Instead, some substances are absorbed into your bloodstream. The FDA originally believed that a low amount of these chemicals in our blood was harmless. However, the main ingredients that caused concern had higher blood concentrations than recommended:
- Avobenzone
- Oxybenzone
- Octocrylene
- Ecamsule
These initial results were concerning. You will notice the above ingredients are common in chemical sunscreen. Scientists are still uncertain what effect these chemicals have on our bodies after entering our bloodstream. Given that there were only 24 people in the initial study, additional research is being conducted today.
Concerns regarding chemical sunscreen intensified when several chemical spray sunscreens were recalled in 2021 upon discovering they contained Benzene, a known human carcinogen.
Ongoing exposure to benzene can weaken your immune system and is linked to anemia, leukemia, and fertility complications.
Mineral Sunscreen
So are all sunscreens dangerous? No.
Mineral sunscreen contains ingredients that stay on top of your skin, creating a protective barrier between you and the sun. These active ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Researchers have found that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do not enter your bloodstream. Mineral sunscreens have been intensely tested by scientists and are considered non-toxic.
What Is Nano Zinc Oxide?
Nanoparticles have started to become a hot topic. There are nanoparticle versions of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Some companies use nano zinc oxide because it helps reduce the white caste of the mineral compounds. There are concerns regarding nanoparticles in sunscreen when created as a spray or a powder because nanoparticles could be inhaled. Nanotechnology isn’t a problem when in lotion or cream form, but many companies use non-nano zinc oxide to avoid potential health or environmental concerns.
How Chemical Sunscreen Hurts The Environment
It is concerning we don’t fully understand how chemical sunscreens might be unhealthy for our bodies. However, the National Ocean Service has identified several common ingredients in chemical sunscreens that are damaging to our environment. These chemicals, such as oxybenzone, can wash away into our waterways when we swim or shower.
Coral Reefs
Coral reefs deserve a lot more publicity than they get. As one of the most crucial ecosystems, it provides billions of dollars in food, coastal protection, and tourism each year. Studies have discovered common chemicals in sunscreen (chemical UV filters) cause reef bleaching, damage reef DNA, deform young coral, and sometimes kill coral ecosystems. The chemical UV filters that damage coral are not in mineral sunscreens.
Coral reefs face many environmental threats: climate change, pollution, disease, unsustainable fishing, coastal development, and invasive species. The inclusion of harmful chemicals from washed-off sunscreen adds insult to injury.
Aquatic Species
Coral ecosystems are not the only ones affected by chemical sunscreens. Studies have found UV filters damage the immune and reproductive systems of fish and sea urchins. Scientists have found sunscreen chemicals collected in dolphin tissues that are passed onto their young. UV filters can also cause defects in mussel offspring. Our aquatic ecosystems can only adapt to so many threats.
The threat to our coral ecosystems and aquatic species is so significant that Hawaii, Key West, the Pacific islands of Palau, and the Virgin Islands have banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Not only has research shown these two ingredients cause genetic damage to coral, but the chemicals also limits the coral’s ability to fluctuating water temperatures. Scientists have determined that the pollution of these fragile ecosystems can only be mitigated by removing non-mineral sunscreens from the market.
Things To Know About Mineral Sunscreen
Mineral sunscreen provides ample sun protection and is kinder to our environment. What is there not to love? Mineral sunscreen certainly has a reputation. Mainly, people don’t like the texture. Chemical sunscreens sink into your skin and convert the sun’s UVB rays into heat. The rays are reaching your skin but are causing less damage. Mineral sunscreen creates a protective barrier over your skin and reflects UVA and UVB rays away from skin. Mineral sunscreen works like a mirror. Both forms of sunscreen minimize the harm of the sun’s strong rays but use different methods.
As a result, mineral sunscreen can leave a white residue that represents the physical barrier of zinc protecting your skin from the sun. It’s not a fashion statement any of us wants to make, and if you have darker skin tones, the white cast is more stark.
Fortunately, many mineral sunscreens have departed from the heavy white cast they are known for. Companies have found ways to make non-nano zinc oxide less thick. Some sunscreen producers like Stream2Sea have tinted the mineral product to avoid a white residue altogether.
Common Terms To Watch For
There are a few terms to be familiar with while reading a sunscreen label.
SPF | SPF stands for sun protection factor. It measures a sunscreen’s ability to protect against sunburn (UVB rays). The SPF number tells you how long the sun’s UVB rays would take to darken your skin if you applied the sunscreen (as directed) compared with the amount of time without sunscreen.
Broad Spectrum | A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects you from UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are a form of ultraviolet radiation from the sun that can penetrate deep into the skin. They are primarily responsible for causing skin aging, wrinkles, and long-term damage such as DNA changes that can lead to skin cancer. Unlike UVB rays, which cause sunburn, UVA rays can cause harm without immediate signs, making broad-spectrum sunscreen protection important.
PA Ratings | PA ratings indicate the level of protection a sunscreen offers against UVA rays, which cause skin aging and long-term damage. The rating ranges from PA+ (some protection) to PA++++ (extremely high protection). Asian sunscreen products frequently utilize this particular rating system.
EWG Verified | Since 1993, EWG (Environmental Working Group) has researched harmful everyday chemicals and identified companies using them. Their EWG Verified mark means products are free from concerning chemicals, such as hormone disruptors or chemicals known to cause cancer, ensuring a safer, stress-free shopping experience. The EWG seal can be found on some of our favorite mineral sunscreens!
Take a chance on mineral sunscreen. Products are constantly improving! Check out some of our favorite mineral sunscreens. New research suggests it’s important to wear sunscreen each day, so consider a new daily mineral sunscreen!
Let us know what you think about mineral vs. chemical sunscreen. Do you have favorite sunscreen products?