Some beauty accessories are just that – an unnecessary accessory. Sunscreen does not fall into that category. It is categorically a unique and necessary body care product. Regardless of where you live – including the unpredictable weather in this county, (usually rain) when the sun is out, you will always need an SPF factor to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays.
UVA & UVB Rays
The British Association Of Dermatologists explains the difference between these two rays: “UV radiation from the sun is transmitted in three wavelengths – UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC does not penetrate the earth’s atmosphere, so we only really need to protect against UVA and UVB”
The way I remember what the main difference is between both rays is that the ‘A’ in UVA will age your skin and the ‘B’ in UVB will burn you. Always be mindful that UVA penetrates the skin much more deeply than UVB.
UVA rays affect the elastin in your skin which will then lead to wrinkles and sometimes brown pigmentation. Again, be mindful that UVA can also penetrate through window glass (think of young children in cars).
The Independent wrote about a truck driver with serious Photodamaged skin, also known as dermatoheliosis. This picture published in the New England Journal Of Medicine shows what 28 years of sun exposure through a window without an SPF, has done to one side of his face.
UVB is mainly responsible for sunburn and has strong links to malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma risk (types of skin cancer).
Our bodies need Vitamin D to absorb calcium and for healthy bones, teeth and muscle growth. Too little Vitamin D can result in bone softening diseases such as Ricketts.
According to the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital – Sunshine is the “main source of Vitamin D.”
Plenty of studies have shown and the NHS advocates that “Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, and in the UK from around late March/ early April to the end of September we get most of our vitamin D from sunlight exposure.”
How much time should we be spending in the sun to make enough Vitamin D and how can we protect our skin from the harmful sun rays?
Cancer Research UK gives lots of practical advice on ways to enjoy the sun safely such as “spending time in the shade between 11am-3PM” and “using a sunscreen with at least SPF15.”
Unfortunately the most common sunscreens on the market contain chemical filters. According to the Environmental Working Group – typically “a combination of two to six of the following active ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate.”
One of the most worrisome and controversial ingredients is Oxybenzone.
It is believed that this chemical compound is a hormone disruptor and is the cause of so many skin allergies.
According to a study published in 2015 – Oxybenzone bleaches coral reefs, disrupts reproduction and growth, leaving young corals fatally deformed.
Goddess Garden Organics wrote a really informative piece about what Oxybenzone is and why it’s used in sunscreen. They said that “The EWG has rated oxybenzone an 8 on their toxicity rating scale, meaning it is one of the most toxic ingredients found in cosmetic products.”
More worryingly though is the fact that “other toxicology experts are concerned about the compound because it has been linked to hormone disruption and has the potential to damage cells that may lead to skin cancer.”
The Daily Mail wrote about how a five year old girl who suffered “first degree burns to her back” from using Banana Boat Sunscreen.
The burns in this horrifying picture were caused after just one hour in the sun with Banana Boat SPF 50+ applied.
Banana Boat rescinded saying that they had “never found any issues with its product range.”
The Daily Mail then reported that “Consumer watchdog, Choice Australia, with the help of laboratory, Eurofins Dermatest, have found that seven sunscreens by popular brand, Banana Boat, have failed to meet the advertised SPF 50+ claims.”
Rather alarmingly it was found that “some of the factor 50 products tested to be factor 10 or less than factor 20.”
Banana Boat have since responded and disagreed with these results.
Mineral sunscreens use the perfectly safe active ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. According to the Tropic Skincare blog – “Chemical sunscreen works by absorbing and converting UV rays into energy on the skin. While mineral sunscreen sits on the skin and reflects UV rays away, rather than absorbing them.”
It should be noted that Zinc Oxide is also a well known astringent. So, to prevent your skin from drying out moisturise before you put it on and use aftersun at the end of each day.
Tropic Skincare Broad Spectrum Mineral Suncare
Harpers Bazzar magazine blogged about Why Mineral SunScreen Is Better Than Chemical Versions and they recommended nine of “the best mineral sunscreens for you – whether you have sensitive skin, are worried about premature ageing or simply want to avoid the tell-tale signs of traditional sun protection”.
Tropic Skincare Skin Shade Suncare was recommended for avoiding stickiness.
Dr Catherine Borysiewicz (NHS consultant at Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust and is the Lead for the Skin Cancer service) assisted The Independent to research and rigorously test eco-friendly, (and free from chemicals) sunscreens.
They released a blog titled 5 Best eco-friendly Sunscreens and said that Tropic Skincare Sun Balm (SPF 50) was “the first sunscreen of its kind that we’ve tried” and that its a “mini pot ideal for popping in the pocket of a sundress if you’re having a bag-free day”.
Sun Balm comes in a pocket sized pot yet this hero product will last you ages as a little goes a long way.
Dr Catherine Borysiewicz also recommended that “Young babies and children ideally need SPF 50, plus high-necked, long-sleeved UV suits with protective large-brimmed sunhats to shade their delicate faces and chests.”
Beauty and travel blogger – Sarah from iheartcosmestics wrote about three of the Tropic Skincare Mineral suncare range – Skin Shade SPF30, Tinted Skin Shade (face) SPF50 and Sun Balm SPF50.
Sarah said that “the silky smooth lotion sinks in quickly and smells gorgeous.” That will be the coconut and various oils used in this formulation.
Tropic Skincare Skin Shade Mineral Sun Protection comes in three SPF’s – 15, 30 & 50. They are all broad spectrum, water resistant and suitable for even the most sensitive skin styles including babies and children.
Some of the beautiful exotic ingredients include Australian kakadu and illawarra plum. Providing long term hydration, nourishment for the skin, and are rich in antioxidants that protect skin from free radicals.
Skin Shade also contains Kahai oil, (which protects skin with high levels of essential fatty acids) and Roucou oil (which is 100 times richer in beta carotene than carrots), to provide protection against UV rays.
It also stimulates the production of melanin in your skin to help your skin respond faster to UV rays
Sarah’s personal favourite was the Sun Balm SPF50 – a facial sunscreen balm and for those areas of the skin prone to burning – such as the nose, lips, forehead, scalp, eye-lids, ears and tops of shoulders.
Obviously aside from Zinc Oxide it also contains Tamanu Oil to help soothe and repair skin, Vitamin E and Rosemary Leaf Oil helps to repair and protect the skin from free radicals.
Sarah likes the range because its “kinder to skin and the environment too.”
Like all Tropic Skincare products, owing to the naturally derived ingredients it is kinder to the marine life.
Hawaii Ban Chemical Sunscreen
In May of this year The Guardian reported that “in a bid to protect its marine environment, Hawaii has passed a bill banning sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, chemicals that have ‘significant harmful impacts’ on ecosystems.”
If this bill is signed by the state governor it could come into force in January 2021.
Craig Downs, a scientist whose 2015 peer-reviewed study found oxybenzone was a threat to coral reefs claims that “lots of things kill coral reefs but we know oxybenzone prevents them from coming back.”
SPF Boots star rating system
Using Sun Beds
One popular myth is that by using a sun bed you will get a base tan to prepare your skin for the sun. I completely bought into this myth in my early 20’s and used sun beds for this reason to prepare my skin before holidays. I now have lots more freckles and moles, (which I have had checked out by a dermatologist) and am even more cautious in the sun since learning that I have put my skin at such risk by being so reckless. I’ll leave it up to you to decide what your thoughts are on using sun beds but at the very least, please read the factual advice from the NHS on the use of sunbeds and Cancer.
So, if you are heading off on your summer holidays and are looking for safe, natural and effective Mineral suncare then look no further than Tropic Skincare. As, in the words of The Independent – “This is the first sunscreen of its kind.”