It goes without saying that sunscreen is an essential component of skin care. Sun damage, sunburns, and skin cancer are not to be taken lightly.
You want to do everything you can to protect yourself, whether you’re spending the entire day at the beach or pool or just running errands.
Not only can wearing protective clothing, applying sunscreen, and seeking shade when possible help reduces your chances of getting skin cancer but limiting harmful sun exposure can also help prevent the signs of aging.
You might be thinking, Yeah, yeah, I know all of that, and I always wear sunscreen. First and foremost, congratulations on an excellent start and habit. But, second, have you considered what’s in your sunscreen? Not all of them are created equal, as formulations differ depending on the brand and the product itself.
It can be difficult to decipher the words on a sunscreen bottle. As difficult as it can be to select a sunscreen, it is critical to find one that is beneficial to your skin.
Sure, terms like “nontoxic,” “organic,” “all-natural,” and “non-comedogenic” sound nice and helpful, but what exactly do they imply? What should you look for and avoid when purchasing sunscreen? And are we being misled by clever marketing and labels when we may be using something harmful to our bodies? I sought advice from dermatologists and other healthcare professionals on this one.
Toxic vs Non-toxic
To begin, one must curious about what made a sunscreen product “nontoxic” or “toxic.” Well, it turns out the definitions weren’t so simple—as you’ll see throughout this story when it comes to deciphering sunscreen terms and ingredients.
Nontoxic and toxic are unregulated terms that are frequently used as a marketing claim with no clear definition, doctors explain. Unfortunately, even though it should be obvious what makes something toxic, it is not for many ingredients, and it is up to the consumer to decide what he or she is comfortable with.
Sunscreen is used by a very small percentage of Indians daily, and many have never used it. Finding a broad-spectrum sunscreen that you can incorporate into your daily skincare routine is critical for preventing UV-induced aging and skin cancer.
Of course, some sunscreens do contain chemicals. Sunscreens, as we all know, are frequently made with either chemical or mineral (aka physical) active ingredients to provide sun protection. Chemical sunscreens such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone must be absorbed into the skin before they can protect us from UV rays.
These ingredients protect the skin by absorbing UV rays and converting them into heat that is then released from the skin.
Although these are not natural and are most likely nontoxic, they do accumulate in our blood and waterways. This effect is being researched further. Mineral sunscreens, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are nontoxic and natural. They sit on top of your skin and, like reflectors, block the sun.
The bottom line is that choosing between chemical and mineral sunscreen is a matter of personal preference.
INGREDIENTS YOU SHOULD AVOID
It’s also not as simple as you might think when it comes to ingredients to avoid. It all comes down to personal preference and how comfortable you are with certain ingredients being absorbed into your body. Here are a couple of ideas…
Avoid insect repellents
Avoid sunscreens containing insect repellent ingredients such as Deet. Because sunscreens are meant to be applied liberally and frequently, using a combination product may result in excessive exposure to repellents.
Avoid oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone
Many dermatologists believe that these chemicals are likely non-toxic, but in our world, one should minimize the accumulation of any unnecessary chemicals in the body, so mineral/physical sunscreens are preferable, especially since avobenzone is a common cause of sunscreen allergy and oxybenzone is contributing to the death of coral reefs.
Also Read: Brands Of Korean Skincare That Will Be Talked About In 2022
All chemical sunscreen ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone should be avoided due to the risk of allergy, irritation, accumulation in myself and our world, and possible association with coral reef bleaching.
HOW TO SELECT A SUNSCREEN
If you’ve ever walked down the sunscreen aisle at your local drugstore, you know how many options there are. Our experts advised keeping the following points in mind when deciding on a product:
Skin type
As for sunscreen by skin type, there are huge differences in sunscreen formulas and so many available for different skin types. If you have dry skin, look for formulations with hydrating ingredients.
If you have oily skin, choose an oil-free matte finish. Mineral-based sunscreens are especially important if you have sensitive skin because the most common chemical sunscreens can be irritating, whereas zinc oxide is calming.
Search for Zinc Oxide
Zinc oxide offers the broadest range of UV protection and is more photostable than some chemical sunscreens that may degrade over time. Zinc oxide is a mineral that the body requires and recognizes. It is also non-comedogenic and suitable for use on sensitive skin.
Choose a water-resistant sunscreen for high-intensity activities and swimming! Zinc oxide shields the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
SPF 30 or higher
We typically use half the amount of product that was used during testing. So, even if a product claims to be SPF 30, you’re probably only getting SPF 15 protection.
A higher percentage of sun-protective ingredients is frequently associated with a higher SPF. SPF, on the other hand, only protects you from UVB rays. It is also critical to ensure that the product provides broad-spectrum protection (meaning it protects you from UVB and UVA).
Zinc offers the most comprehensive protection of any sunscreen ingredient.