As any other skin care product available in the market, Sunscreen can be confusing and difficult to make a choice between Natural Organic vs Chemical vs Physical Mineral Block sunscreen lotions. To understand better, lets deep dive into each type.
Chemical Sunscreen – Chemical-based sunscreens use chemicals to guard against the sun. This means that chemical-based sunscreens actually absorb ultraviolet rays from Sun before they reach the skin’s surface by converting it from light to heat energy. The chemicals such as Benzophenones, Oxybenzone and Cinnamates are used as UV absorbing ingredients. A chemical reaction turns the harmful rays into heat, which is then dissipated from skin into the air. However, the use of chemical sunscreen is linked to the higher incidence of skin cancer due to its free radical generating and DNA/hormone disrupting properties.
The chemicals used in Chemical sunscreen’s absorbed into skin and bloodstream which can cause health issues from allergies to infertility and also destruction of coral reefs.
List of Chemicals to avoid
- Oxybenzone
- Octinoxate
- Homosalate
- Octocrylene.
Physical Mineral Block Sunscreen – Physical sunscreens contain active mineral ingredients, such as Titanium dioxide or Zinc oxide which are non-toxic and ground up minerals. They work by sitting on top of the skin and provide a reflective barrier against sun damage by scattering damaging UV rays away from the skin. These are also referred to as mineral or natural sunscreens. Together, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide provide broad-spectrum protection from the sun without the concerns of hormone-disrupting chemicals. Not only that, mineral sunscreens protect from the sun immediately upon application – unlike conventional chemical sunscreens, which take up to 20 minutes to become effective.
These Mineral sunscreens protect against both types of Ultraviolet radiation UVA and UVB and protect from the sun as soon as they are applied. Zinc oxide can block against both UVA and UVB rays, covering the whole spectrum or broad spectrum, while titanium dioxide only delivers protection from UVB rays.
Organic Sunscreen – Organic or Natural sunscreens work by providing a reflective barrier against sun damage using active blocking agents like zinc oxide or titanium oxide. However organic sunscreens are chemical free as organic sunscreens will not contain any chemical UV-absorbers, synthetic preservatives, benzoates, petrochemical, artificial fragrances, artificial flavors or color and other harmful chemicals.
Your Sunscreen Checklist
- Try to avoid chemicals like Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Homosalate and Octocrylene.
- Make sure its broad spectrum or whole spectrum which protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Look for water resistant sunscreens while you swim or get into water.
- Always prefer a Mineral or Organic Sunscreen which is chemical free.
More and more awareness still needs to be made in prevention of skin allergies. This includes minimizing sun exposure, wearing a hat, slipping on a shirt and protecting yourself with chemical free sunscreen.