Sunscreen is a HOT TOPIC for me after dealing with a couple skin cancers myself and watching my Dad’s battle with melanoma. My goal here is to help demystify ingredient labels and create empowered label readers!
Safe sunscreen options will have either Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide as the active ingredients – preferably non-nanoparticle! These are called mineral (or physical) sunscreens 🌞 Be sure to still check your labels for unsafe preservatives in this type of SPF.
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are natural minerals that physically block the sun’s radiation by forming a barrier that sits on top of the skin and reflect the sun’s rays, causing them to scatter versus being absorbed into the skin through the use of chemical sunscreens. These are the sunscreens that historically leave you with the white streaks, but other formulas are out now that are tinted and refined so the streaks don’t show as often, if at all. Zinc oxide is the more popular of the two because it performs better… and choosing brands with Non-Nano minerals creates a perfectly performing protective layer! 😄
So why are Mineral sunscreens preferred over chemical ones?
☀️ They offer protection against broad spectrum UV rays (UVA/UVB) whereas chemical sunscreens typically block only UVA or UVB rays.
🌞 These minerals do not penetrate the skin’s barrier and enter into the bloodstream like the ingredients in chemical sunscreens do.
☀️ They are gentle on the skin and are recommended for people with skin conditions like eczema.
🌞 They work immediately upon application, unlike chemical sunscreens where you have to wait 20 minutes before they work. Mineral sunscreens do have to be absorbed (I.e. rubbed in correctly) to be most effective and to keep clothes from being stained.
☀️ They don’t break down as quickly in the sun like chemical sunscreens do, so you don’t have to reapply as often (does not mean you don’t have to reapply at all!! You should but you won’t have to quite as often).
🌞 They are environmentally friendly and great alternatives to protect coral! Several of the options I found are proud to be reef-friendly!
☝🏼A couple of things though…the best recommendation even safer than mineral sunscreen is to wear clothing that protects your skin…avoid spray on sunscreens if you can, but if you want to use one, hold your breath because breathing in Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide still isn’t good for you…and just because these two minerals are listed on a sunscreen doesn’t automatically mean they are safe! Refer to the ingredients to avoid tab and double check your ingredients there.
Tips for applying mineral sunscreens to avoid the white tint 😆
🌸 Moisturize your skin before putting on sunscreen. This is important because if your skin is dry, it will quickly absorb the lotion part of the sunscreen before you can spread the minerals out and you get left with the white cast.
🌸 Start by using a little sunscreen at first, rub in, and then add some more. If you put too much on at first, the lotion will absorb faster than you can spread the minerals.
🌸 When you apply, also work with small areas versus one giant area to help you spread the minerals evenly before the lotion gets absorbed.
🌸 If your skin is white, you aren’t done. If the minerals were not rubbed in and spread evenly, you’ll be left with a dry, white cast that will stay until it is washed off. If this happens, wash off the area and try again 😄
