The concerns over the possible long term effects of some of the chemicals traditionally used in the production of sunscreens are causing many people to re-evaluate their choice of product. Increasingly the whole subject of the safety of sunscreens are causing the market to look towards natural or chemical-free alternatives.
Two active ingredients that form the basis of chemical-free sunscreens are the natural minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide; naturally found in clay and beach sand deposits, zinc oxide has been used as a safe sunscreen for over 70 years. These two minerals act as a barrier that sits on the surface of the skin, protecting it from the damaging UVA and UVB rays of the sun.
Well known scientific studies by the Institue of Pharmacology in Switzerland have proven that chemical sunscreens have unintended detrimental consequences. Synthetic chemicals to avoid are:
- 4-methy-benzyldencamphor (4-MBC)
- Oxybenzone
- Benzophenone-3
- Octyl-methoyl-cinnamates (OMC)
- Octyl-dimethyl-para-amin-benzoic Acid (OD-PABA)
- Homosalate (HMS)
Environmental Working Group, the EWG, carried out a study of the safety and effectiveness of over 1500 skincare products containing sunscreen and many brands failed to meet its criteria. However, 19% less products were found to contain oxybenzone, a suspect chemical commonly used, than the previous year and chemical-free sunscreens top their Best Beach and Sport sunscreens list, which was published in July 2009.
Chemical-Free Additivies Commonly Used to Enhance Natural Sunscreens
Many organic ingredients are used in natural sunscreen production for their moisturising and skin conditioning properties. The additives include:
- Soya Bean Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Shea and Cocoa Butter
- Coconut Oil
- Eucalyptus Oil
Antioxidant rich green tea and grape seed oil are used to help protect the skins cells as well as cooling chamomile. Sunflower oil is an active ingredient in many products due to its natural vitamin A, D and E content. Another chemical-free supplement is tocopheryl acetate. It may not sound like a very natural ingredient, but it is in fact Vitamin E. A natural preservative, it is used in place of "parabens," harsh chemical preservatives that have been linked to breast cancer and undesirable hormonal effects on the body, as well as, skin irritation and allergic skin reactions.
In addition to moisturising enhancements, aromatherapy fragrances such as French Lavender and Indian Mint, are increasingly utilised in chemical-free sunscreen production to enhance their appeal and provide a natural barrier against bugs and mosquitos.
Many companies specialise in organic and mineral sunscreen products and a full range of skin protection is available from SPF 2 to 30+. However, some mineral based products leave a white residue on the skin, but that too is improving with enhancements in production techniques. But many feel that this is a small price to pay for using a safer, more natural product.
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