Sunscreen – Mineral vs Chemical

Summer is almost here which means it’s time to load up on sunscreen for the year!

When I was growing up, I was either in the pool, playing golf or on my horse every day in the summer.  My grandmother passed away from melanoma skin cancer so sunscreen has always been important in my family.  Little did I know that I was spraying harmful chemicals on my skin all those years!

Sunscreen has been a hot topic in the news recently.  There has been so much press around the FDA stating that chemicals in sunscreen enter our bloodstream within one day of use.  You can read the entire article from CNN HERE if you like.  Below is a little blurb from the article.

“According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined. Around the world, melanoma ranks as the 19th most common cancer in both men and women, the World Cancer Research Fund says.” – source CNN

It wasn’t until I became a consultant for Beautycounter that I began to learn about the chemicals used in our sunscreens.  Not only are they harmful to humans, they are harmful to our oceans as well.  Hawaii and Key West, FL have banned the use of oxybenzone and octinoxate in sunscreen because it is bleaching coral reefs and damaging the ecosystem of our oceans!  Let me say that again.  The ocean’s coral reefs are being damaged by the chemicals in our sunscreen!!!!!! 

Let’s take a minute to process that and discuss the differences between chemical and mineral sunscreens.

Chemical Sunscreens are technically sun filters. The vast majority of sunscreens on the market contain chemical sunscreen ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone or octocrylene. They’re called sun filters because they absorb the sun’s UV energy (YIKES) and release it back into the air as heat. They are popular because they provide easy application and are transparent on skin.

Mineral Sunscreens (physical sunscreens) are the preferred sunscreen technology, according to the FDA.  Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are physical particles that sit on the surface of the skin and scatter or reflect sun’s rays away from the skin.

SUNSCREEN RECOMMENDATIONS

In February, I was in sunny, jungle-y, beautiful Costa Rica.  I was exposed to the sun every day and I didn’t burn once.  Even after a full day in the direct sun on ATVs.  I was 100% protected with Beautycounter’s Countersun Mineral Sunscreen. The main active ingredient is zinc oxide. It goes on so easily, it is not greasy or hard to rub into your skin and it doesn’t leave a white film on your skin like other zinc oxide sunscreens.

Beautycounter offers a full line of sunscreen products that are safe for your entire family, including babies over 6 months old!  You can see the full line of Countersun products HERE.

There are plenty of safer sunscreen options at your local Target or even at your grocery store.  Check out my highlighted stories in my Instagram bio for other safer sunscreens and what to look for when you are shopping for sunscreen this summer.

Enjoy your summer and stay protected with mineral sunscreen this year!