How to Choose Safer Sunscreen
Who is ready for days of fun in the sun? With warmer weather comes increased risk of harmful sun exposure and the need for sun safety. But what exactly is sun safety? When was the last time you took a look at your sunscreen and how it rates for toxicity and harmful ingredients? Knowing what to look for is the first step in how to choose safer sunscreen.
According to the EWG, “Almost three-fourths of the products we examined offer inferior sun protection or contain worrisome ingredients like oxybenzone, a hormone disruptor, or retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that may harm skin. And despite scant evidence, the government still allows most sunscreens to claim they help prevent skin cancer.”
What to Avoid
Chemical sunscreens: Chemical sunscreens, like those with the ingredient oxybenzone, absorb through the skin and may disrupt the hormone system.
Nanoparticles: Extremely small molecules— one billionth of a meter—nanoparticles are often found in mineral sunscreens. Little is known about their safety, and their size means that they may be easily absorbed and enter the bloodstream.
Retinyl palmitate or retinol: These forms of vitamin A may speed the development of skin tumors when applied to sun-exposed skin.
What to Choose Instead
Non-nano mineral sunscreens: Such as those using non-nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Staying covered: Did you know that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating of 15? Also consider sun-protective clothing with 50+ UV protection.
And accessorize with a broad-brimmed hat and UVA- and UVB-blocking sunglasses.
How Beautycounter can Help
Beautycounter Sunscreen is made with non-nano zinc oxide, an effective alternative to oxybenzone as a sun filter.
Why non-nano? Because there isn’t enough data available to know for sure whether or not nanoparticles cause damage once they are in the body, but Beautycounter doesn’t think it’s worth the risk.
With a variety of choices, from the All Over Sun Protection Sunscreen to the Protect Stick Sunscreen you are likely to find your new favorite method for how to choose safer sunscreen.