Safer Sunscreens - Why You Need To Consider Mineral Suncare For You and Your Family

July 27, 2020
Posted by

Summer is here! And I am sure you and your family have been enjoying the sun. While the sun can feel amazing, radiation from the sun - in the form of UVA and UVB rays - can cause skin damage every day, not just during the summer or on bright, sunny days. Exposure to the sun can cause sunburn, skin aging (such as skin spots, wrinkles, or “leathery skin”), eye damage, and skin cancer, the most common of all cancers.

Sunscreens provide a barrier against those harmful UV rays, giving your skin the protection, it needs. But before you make your sunscreen purchase, lets dive into some sunscreen basics.

There are two kinds of actives in sunscreens – mineral (or physical) and chemical. Each use a different mechanism to protect skin and maintain stability in the sunlight.

Most common mineral sunscreens are Zinc oxide and Titanium Dioxide. These have been studied by the FDA and deemed safe to use. These provide broad spectrum protection (unlike chemical sunscreens) and are now available in non-whitening forms.

Most common chemical sunscreens are oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. Most of these have huge data gaps--we simply don’t know what they might be doing to humans or to the environment. But for what we do know gives us pause: Studies indicate that some chemical UV filters may mimic hormones or cause skin allergies, and oxybenzone (the most common one) is toxic to coral reefs and marine life. It has been banned by several beaches including in Hawaii because of these very reasons. Most recently, the FDA conducted studies that show how we absorb these potentially toxic chemicals into our bodies and bloodstream where they accumulate for several days after use. Several studies have also shown how all the approved chemical sunscreens are allergenic and extremely sensitizing.

People wear sunscreen, and diligently use it on their family to protect them from the harmful effects of sun. Ingredients in these sunscreens should not be irritating or cause skin allergies. These products should be able to withstand powerful UV radiation without losing their effectiveness or forming possibly harmful breakdown products. People could inhale ingredients in sunscreen sprays and ingest some of these ingredients when applied on their lips, so ingredients must not be harmful to lungs or internal organs.

It’s troubling to put these things together. But rest assured, Kiss My Face got you covered. Our mineral based sunscreens are safe and easy to use. They are also affordable and contain added skin protection actives and antioxidants that protect your skin against dehydration, provide moisture and help avoid further skin damage.