Why is organic sunscreen so important?
A good organic sunscreen is a vital part of any complete skin care routine. While sunlight can provide all sorts of health benefits, like aiding in the body’s production of Vitamin D, the sun is also a source of environmental stress.
Ideally, you’ll want to reapply your organic sunscreen every two hours; however, this can be a difficult and inconvenient habit to build. Try using a solid SPF 30 product (longer protection), wearing a hat and sunglasses when outdoors, and making a note to reapply your sunscreen before going outside.
Are all sunscreens created equal?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of ineffective sunscreens on the market today. A recent Consumer Reports article found that “one-third of tested sunscreens delivered less than half of labeled SPF protection.”
Most sunscreens available today typically offer protection in the form of either a mineral sunscreen or a chemical sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens are made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These minerals sit on the surface of your skin and physically reflect sunlight away from the skin. Chemical sunscreens work a bit differently and have caused concern amongst dermatologists and researchers. Instead of physically deflecting UV light away from the skin, chemical sunscreens absorb the UV radiation into the skin and dissipate the energy via a chemical reaction under the skin.
Additionally, there is concern that chemical sunscreen ingredients can permeate the skin and cause hormone disruption and allergic reactions. Because of this, the Environmental Working Group and many dermatologists recommend using mineral sunscreens instead of chemical sunscreens. Common chemical sunscreen ingredients to avoid include oxybenzone (one of the worst offenders), avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate.
From Atlantir we recommend the use of natural and less chemical sunscreens, which is better for you and your family and also helps the environment. Please check online or with you health practioner as there are a lot of different products available.