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Most people are becoming better informed when it comes to the products they purchase. A good marketing campaign is no longer enough to attract buyers. Increasingly, we want products that are not only good for our health and wellbeing but that are also environmentally friendly. The same goes for our skin care, specifically the types of sunscreen products that we use daily. We must protect ourselves from UV rays but it’s now possible to do so without pumping our bodies full of harmful synthetic chemicals.
What the adverts don’t tell you
A number of studies have found that three of the most common UV filters used actually soak into and penetrate our skin so deeply that they leave the top layers vulnerable to the very UV rays they are meant to protect against.
In addition, filters such as octylmethoxycinnamate, benzophenone 3 and octocrylene interact negatively with our skin and produce compounds which have been linked to skin cancer and premature ageing. Other ingredients are found to be toxic, over the long term, when they are absorbed into our bloodstream and they may also build up in our bodies.
Work with your body
Although there are no effective, regulated legislation in place regarding the production and labelling of natural and organic sunscreen products, you can be a smart consumer.
When choosing a sunscreen, watch out for ingredients such as avobenzone (Parsol 1789), oxybenzone and benzophenone-3, methoxycinnamate based compounds, cinoxate, parabens (synthetic preservatives have been linked to cancer), artificial fragrances, petrochemicals, PABA (4-Aminobenzoic acid), octocrylene and mineral oils (choose vegetable carrier oils rather).
There are also mineral substances such as zinc oxide which are inorganic but occur naturally and are excellent sun protectors.
Because our bodies are themselves organic, they work best with naturally-occuring and organic substances. The less interaction you have with synthetic chemicals, the better for you.
A few tips
You should use broad spectrum sunscreen lotions with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. Also make sure that the product is not past its expiry date.
It can never be said enough, but you should apply sunscreen regularly throughout the day, as often as every three to four hours.
The idea behind sunscreen is not that you should be able to spend all day in sun without any shade. Be sensible. Wear protective clothing and use that parasol you bought on your last beach trip. Your skin will thank you.
And if you’re feeling creative, you can also find out how to make your own organic sunscreen from natural, non-sunthetic ingredients.
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