After a winter full of rain, it sure has been nice to see the sun these past few weeks. But with all of that sun, comes the need to protect the skin, and this is where things can get confusing. While shade, clothing, hats and the like are your best options for sun protection, using a form of sunscreen is often necessary for those who plan on spending time outdoors, especially in the hotter sun of the summer.
One of the key differences between types of sunscreens is whether they use a chemical or mineral as the active ingredient. The chemical filters used in the most common sunscreens have been shown to disrupt hormones, and I do not recommend their use. The mineral sunscreens use either zinc or titanium, both of which create a physical block to both UVA and UVB rays of the sun. Zinc actually provides the most protection, shielding from the full range of UVA rays, while titanium only shields from the shorter UVA rays (both shield from the full range of UVB). For this reason, I generally recommend sunscreens that either contain only zinc or zinc and titanium together.
I recently had the ability to test a variety of sunscreens on vacation — I literally brought 6 different brands and types of applications with me. I love being in the sun, but have fair, freckly skin and my children have inherited the same. Sun protection for all of us is a must! After using all of them, I have made my favorites available at our office so that everyone has access to high quality sunscreens when needed. Some are also available through our online dispensary (with the 5% discount) – contact the office to add any to your next order.
Badger is known for their high quality, non-toxic products, and their sunscreens did not disappoint. Unlike other non-micronized zinc-oxide products, I found their baby sunscreen left no white streaks or clumps, was non-greasy, and spread super evenly on adults and children alike. Their lip balm also uses zinc, and was smooth and easy to use. Goddess Garden is another company making high quality, organic sunscreens using minerals. Their facial sunscreen, made with non-nano zinc, spread easily, left no residue, and smelled great. Even my partner, who can’t stand anything on his skin, gave this one a big thumbs up. DeVita Rx Ultra Solar 50 uses micronized zinc in addition to titanium, which leaves the skin looking natural and clean. This is a great light sunscreen for the face.
For more information, I recommend checking out the Environmental Working Group annual sunscreen guide. I love this guide for it’s ability to search individual sunscreens and review each ingredient. The rating system of 1-10 is also quick and easy to understand – a huge benefit in the world of information overload! Pull out your sunscreen from your bag, and see where it rates!