Summer has finally arrived and for anyone sensible this means upping the SPF factor in your skincare even on cloudy days.
Most people know that sun protection is imperative not only for preventing things like premature aging but, and more importantly, also reducing the risk of developing life-threatening diseases such as skin cancer. However, although all protection is of course good, what most people don’t realise is that there are SPF products that are a better choice for your skin than others.
Sunscreens you’ll typically pick up in a supermarket or local pharmacy, while protectant, are often packed with strong chemicals that lie-on or absorb-into your skin. This can create surface-level dryness, reactions and discolouration and if absorbed can actually mean the cream and accompanying toxins are absorbed into your bloodstream and have to be filtered by your liver.
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Moreover, one of the most notably dangers of chemical SPF is that they typically contain hormone and endocrine disruptors. Most dangerous in small doses, as they are in chemical sunscreens, these disruptors essentially mimic the hormones our body naturally produces daily and can result in triggering cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders as well as interfering with our metabolisms and reproductive systems.
Essentially, chemical sunscreens, containing the likes of oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, homosalate and octinoxate, work by absorbing the sun’s harmful UV rays whereas mineral or natural based creams simply deflect them.
So, how do you know what to shop for when it comes to skincare this summer?
Firstly, opt for 100% mineral products rather than mineral-based, this often means they’re only part non-chemical. Mineral creams will list zinc and/or titanium dioxide active ingredient only.
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If you are doing sport or swimming on holiday, make sure your sunscreen is clearly labeled as waterproof, otherwise it is not. All the sunscreen you use should be broad spectrum as an absolute rule which means you’ll be protected from both UVA and UVB rays.
With mineral creams becoming slowly but surely more common place, many of the leading beauty sites will allow you to tick mineral-only in search but if not, we’d recommend Clinique’s SPF50 Mineral Sunscreen Fluid for general use or Soleil Toujour’s 100% Mineral Sunscreen Glow SPF 30 for a tinted cream. For children, Attitude Little Ones 100% Mineral Sunscreen SPF is very good.
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