Rain or shine, indoors or outdoors, on the beach or on the mountaintops. Wherever you are or whatever Mother Nature brings you, sunscreen is essential for radiant, healthy-looking skin. While the blazing sun is a glorious part of our natural existence, with overexposure its UVA/UVB rays can negatively impact your skin—whether it’s marked dullness or an increased risk of skin cancer [1]. With sunscreen, you can decrease these effects. But, of course, not all sunscreens are created equal. There are chemical sunscreens and physical sunscreens with significant differences between them. Let’s explore the safest type of sunscreen to use for your face and why it’s important to use safe sunscreen not only for your own health but for the environment too.

When it comes to SPF (sun protection factor), aim for at least SPF 30. One misconception about SPF is that the higher the number, the longer you can go without reapplying—but that’s not the case. According to dermatologist Steven Q. Wang, MD, “The SPF number tells you how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to redden your skin when using the product exactly as directed versus the amount of time without any sunscreen.”[2] Given that, choosing SPF 100 seems like your best bet, but Wang says people tend to generally misuse higher-SPF sunscreens by not reapplying them often enough or staying out in the sun for longer, thinking a higher SPF will offer more protection, giving you “a false sense of security.” [3] Ultimately, your best strategy is to ensure you use your sunscreen correctly.

Chemical and mineral, or physical, sunscreens are the two options you will encounter. Chemical sunscreens will typically contain one or more of these ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, or octinoxate. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the sun’s UV rays like a sponge, as opposed to deflecting them away and are less likely to leave behind a white residue. They can also be easier to apply and be absorbed by your skin. 

Physical/mineral sunscreens sit atop the skin and work by deflecting the sun’s UV rays like a shield. The two main ingredients you will encounter in physical sunscreens are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are considered “generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE)” by the FDA. In fact, only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are considered GRASE by the FDA, while other popular sunscreen ingredients have been determined to need more testing to ensure their safety.[4] Also, chemical sunscreen ingredients are better for sensitive skin.

In Hawaii, a recent bill was passed to ban chemical sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate. The bill states that the Hawaiian legislature finds oxybenzone and octinoxate are harmful and damaging to coral reefs and marine organisms that reside in coral reefs. These ingredients have been found to increase mortality of coral reefs, lead to increased coral bleaching and cause genetic damage to reefs and organisms by increasing the probability of disruption to the endocrine system.[5] There is some inconclusive evidence that chemical sunscreens disrupt the endocrine system in humans as well. The ban on chemical sunscreen ingredients in Hawaii will go into effect in 2021. 

Naturally Yours, The LUXE Botanics Team

[1] https://www.aad.org/media/stats/prevention-and-care/sunscreen-faqs

[3] https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/ask-the-experts/does-a-higher-spf-sunscreen-always-protect-your-skin-better

[5] https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/SB2571_.HTM