Protect Your Skin Naturally: How to Choose Makeup With Safe Sun Protection
At Araza, we love the sun and understand it has many benefits to offer from vitamin D to overall improvement in cellular function. We believe getting direct sunlight in balanced doses every day is vital for our health.
However, we also understand that overexposure to sunlight can damage our skin resulting in various negative consequences including skin damage and premature aging. Because of this, it’s so important to select sunscreens that won’t harm our health when spending extended periods of time out in the sun.
The problem with conventional SPF containing makeups
- oxybenzone
- avobenzone
- octisalate
- octocrylene
- homosalate
- octinoxate
The above chemical ingredients work as a sunscreen by actually absorbing the sun’s UV rays. However, studies have shown that these synthetic chemical ingredients found in SPF products have been linked to a variety of negative health effects such as hormone disruption, allergies and skin irritation. Once applied topically; these ingredients also get absorbed into the skin and make their way into your bloodstream.
The safer alternative
Mineral based sunscreens are our preferred choice against synthetic, chemical based sunscreens. Mineral based (also called physical sunscreens) work by actually sitting on the top layer of skin and reflecting both UVA and UVB rays. When seeking a safer sunscreen look for one that has non-nano zinc oxide as the active ingredient. Non-Nano Zinc Oxide is derived from a naturally occurring mineral. Non-Nano Zinc Oxide is a larger particle than the traditional Zinc Oxide hence the name “Non-Nano”. The larger particle size assists the mineral to stay on top of the skin rather than getting absorbed into the skin. Also due to its particle size, it helps block both UVA and UVB rays simply by reflecting the sun. No toxic chemicals needed! The result is a clean, natural, and chemical-free way to protect your skin from the sun.
When looking for a makeup that offers sun protection make sure to find one that contains at least 20% non-nano zinc oxide. Any sunscreen made with 20% zinc oxide or more, will give you complete UVA and UVB protection. The higher this percentage, the higher the SPF. Araza’s All-In-One Coconut Cream Foundation is made with 25% non-nano zinc oxide. With that being said, we recommend applying a safe, mineral based sunscreen on your face first, then applying a makeup with natural sun protection on top.
Another huge win for mineral sunscreens is that they are environmentally friendly. Many of the common chemicals found in sunscreen are proven to be harmful to the environment, specifically ocean life. When those chemical-based products are used on our skin and we go into the ocean they ultimately end up in the water resulting in significant damage to marine life.
Thankfully, since Non-Nano Zinc Oxide is derived from a naturally occurring mineral, it is believed to not have any damaging effects on ocean life. What a bonus that non-nano zinc oxide is good for humans and the planet!
-The Araza Team
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Studies:
- PubMed: Systemic absorption of the sunscreens benzophenone-3, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and 3-(4-methyl-benzylidene) camphor after whole-body topical application and reproductive hormone levels in humans.
- Science Direct: Octinoxate as a potential thyroid hormone disruptor – A combination of in vivo and in vitro data