Is Your Suncream Toxic?
- Emma Deborah Ward
- Jun 14, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 21, 2023
Sounds silly doesn't it? Suncream is meant to protect you from the harmful sun rays and from skin
cancer.
But what if I told you some suncream may be toxic to the body?
Our skin absorbs everything we put on it and more often than not, we don't know what we're putting on our skin.
We read the front to see what SPF it is, where we can use it. How often we should apply it and if it has natural ingredients so surely they'll put it on the front... but clever marketing tactics mean that chemicals that our body doesn't like can be hidden.
But why?
Well, some chemicals such as oxybenzone, benzophenone-3, octinoxate and octylmethoxycinnamte are the main ingredients in mainstream suncreams that absorb harmful UV rays however, they can also cause all kinds of chaos to our hormonal system.
So, if big, mainstream companies are using these chemicals to "protect" us from the sun, what are these other companies using that is natural and why isn't everyone using them?
Well, the active ingredient in the following is zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is a natural mineral that blocks the UV rays and doesn't break down in water making it highly protective. The particles rest on the outermost layer of skin, where they scatter, reflect, and absorb ultraviolet radiation.
Mineral-based suncreams tend to be a little more expensive but you don't need to apply them as often. This is probably why chemicals are used instead, because they'll be cost effective whilst doing the job of blocking UV rays. But there are plenty of suncreams that contain no harsh chemicals and still protect us from the harmful rays of the sun.
Should we wear SPF everyday?
The sun's ultraviolet light can cause major damage to the skin. The outer layer of the skin has cells that contain the pigment melanin. Melanin protects skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can burn the skin and reduce its elasticity, leading to premature aging. Wear suncream everyday can protect against photoageing, cellular DNA damage and hyperpigmentation even when it's not sunny!
YUKA
Have you ever heard of Yuka?
It's my favourite app. I use it for almost everything that I buy.
Yuka is a free app which can identify harmful ingredients in food, cosmetics and household items.
All you have to do is scan the barcode of the product and, if it's on the database, it will bring up all the harmful ingredients and the completely harmless.
It then rates the product out of 100 and rates them as Excellent, Good, Poor or Bad.
Unfortunately, unless you pay for the app then you have to scan the barcode meaning you have to have either purchased the product already or found it on the shelf. Once purchased, however, you can search for specific items.
Below I have listed 5 of Yuka's top rated suncreams all with a Yuka score of 100/100 making them all Excellent creams to look out for.
1. ThinkSport Everyday Face Suncream SPF30+ - £25.24
This is naturally tinted and feels like a BB cream. It's my go-to and I use it everyday. A little goes a long way. Enriched with Vitamin C & E a, this ultra-moisturising sunscreen claims to help to reduce skin aging by 24% when worn daily. They also offer body SPFs and baby-safe suncreams too!
Organic
BPA free
Non-Aerosol & Biodegradable
Reef Safe
Non-Toxic
Travel-friendly packaging
Dermatologist tested
No animal by-products or testing
Gluten and dairy free
Available at: https://amzn.to/43D2Q2p
2. Salt & Stone Suncream SPF50 - £29.00
An all natural, fragrance-free, water and sweat resistant. This non-greasy, reef safe formula sinks into the skin effortlessly with no white residue with rosehip seed to soothe and moisturise the skin. They also offer a natural sunscreen face stick with a matte finish designed to blend to all skin tones.
Available at: https://amzn.to/3NtNjfR
3. Tropic Sun Day Facial UV Defence SPF50 - £24.00
Blended with hyaluronic acid to hydrate, tropical banana flower extract to calm, and prebiotics to nourish your skin’s microbiome, Tropic's Sun Day Facial UV defence glides onto the face without leaving any white chalkiness. Vegan and cruelty-free, Tropic is becoming very popular so you may already know someone who sells it!
Available at: https://tropicskincare.com/
4. Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF50 - £21.76
Supergoop!’s founder, Holly Thaggard,was diagnosed with skin cancer and then set on a mission to learn everything she could learn about sun and the damage it causes. Winning multi-awards, Supergroop! has many products within the range.
Available at: https://amzn.to/3NEMKA9
5. Ethical Zinc SPF50+ Natural Clear Zinc Sunscreen - £17.99
With a light vanilla scent, Ethical Zinc offered a high protection suncream which is made using solar energy and recyclable packaging. Cruelty-free and suitable for sensitive skin.
Available at: https://ethicalzinc.co.uk/
What suncream do you use? Have you checked it on Yuka? Have you tried any of the above?
Let me know in the comments!
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