Every year we hear more and more about the importance of sun protection. Dermatologists are talking about it, fashion magazines are talking about it, beauty gurus are talking about, and it would seem that everyone is finally on board with this simple fact: we have to wear sunscreen every day. It’s an added step for our morning routine, but it’s a small price to pay for the protection it gives us. But now there’s another question posed that we must consider: what kind of sunscreens are the best for us? As with most cosmetics, it’s the organic kind. And here we’ll tell you why all-natural, organic sunscreen is a good choice for any skin type.
They don’t contain harmful ingredients
There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and physical. Chemical formulations work by penetrating into your skin and causing a reaction that changes the UV rays into heat. It basically filters out the photons and prevents them from being absorbed, but in order to do that, it uses things like oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, and ethylhexyl methoxycrylene. All of these chemicals can be effective at filtering out UVA rays, but the trouble with them is that since they’re absorbed into our body, they are often there to stay.
Small amounts of them haven’t been proven to be particularly toxic, however, the problem creates itself after these ingredients start piling up in larger quantities and begin disrupting our hormones. Not to mention that often times preservatives, parabens, and fragrances are used, and they can cause allergic reactions, particularly in people with sensitive skin. There is also the fact that chemical sunscreens simply aren’t nearly as effective as physical ones. They filter out fewer UV rays, and while they seem to be good at protecting our skin from losing collagen, they aren’t nearly as good at preventing cancer-related damage.
They leave a protective barrier
Now we come to the physical sunscreen. These creams work by creating a protective barrier that sits atop our skin, never penetrating it. To accomplish this, most sunblocks use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, two ingredients that have been shown to be perfectly harmless, and entirely effective at preventing both UVA and UVB rays from reaching our skin. They reflect them away from you and keep you safe.
You need to apply them less frequently
Think of your sunscreen as a sort of battery. When you apply it, it has a lifespan and it slowly starts losing power after a while. With chemical sunscreens, this happens pretty fast, and you need to keep reapplying them if you want those active ingredients to do their work properly, but with natural sunscreens, you won’t have to worry as much because they’ll simply sit on top of your skin and work as a barrier for a longer time.
However, bear in mind that any sunscreen will need to be reapplied if you sit in direct sunlight for a long time and if you sweat too much or go swimming. You can use something like the Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 if you want a formula that will protect you and that’s full of anti-oxidants to further keep your skin healthy.
They’re eco-friendly
A lot of natural sunscreens are actually made by companies who are environmentally conscious and seek to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s now easy to find a great organic sunscreen because a lot of brands want to be responsible with the way they create their products. For example, companies such as Wotnot actually put their formula in recyclable packaging and don’t use GMOs, sulphates, petrochemicals, fragrances, or parabens, and even their preservatives are of organic origin.
They are less likely to cause irritations
If you’ve got sensitive skin, you will definitely want an organic sunscreen. As we’ve mentioned, they don’t use toxic chemicals in their formulations, and you’ll less likely to be allergic to any of the ingredients. If you are fighting with rosacea or dry, flaky skin, this is an excellent way to protect it.
They don’t clog the pores
There are some magnificent formulas out there that are actually amazing even for acne-prone skin! Physical sunscreens are much better for those who struggle with clogged pores, and products such as the Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer are going to give you protection without irritating your skin. If you want to reduce the number of layered products you have to apply to your skin, you can pick the Marie Veronique Everyday Coverage Tinted Sunscreen which will work as a moisturizer, a sunscreen, and it will offer a little coverage to even out your face tone.
Organic sunscreen is simply more effective. The formulations that are being made are really good for our skin and there’s no reason to settle for a product that will harm your face in the long run when you can simply use something better and safer.
Guest post by Sophia Smith
Have you used organic sunscreens on your skin?
Which are your favorites?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
Leave A Comment