Choose the right sunscreen with this beauty-editor approved guide

How to Choose the Right Sunscreen: A Beauty Editor’s Guide

Megan Douglas simplifies the process of selecting the perfect sunscreen for your skin and the environment. Learn how to understand the ingredients in your sunblock.

Summer and Sun: A Delicate Balance

Summer is finally here, and with it comes the sun, a bright beacon signaling the end of last year’s chaos. Like many, I find that being out in the sun lifts my spirits and makes me feel more alive.

There are good reasons for this. Summer evokes feelings of holidays, relaxation, and celebration. Moreover, the summer sun helps us replenish our vitamin D levels, boosting our immune system and aiding in stress reduction.

When enjoyed responsibly and in moderation during the safer hours (before 10 am or after 4 pm), the sun can be beneficial. However, like anything else, too much of a good thing can be harmful. This is especially true for the intense New Zealand sun.

Protecting Yourself from the Sun

To avoid premature aging and reduce the risk of skin cancer, it’s crucial to protect yourself during the hottest parts of the day. There are two main ways to do this:

• Wearing wide-brimmed hats and lightweight, protective clothing.
• Applying sunscreen.

While sunscreen is essential, how much do we really know about the products we’re using beyond their SPF rating and availability? For most of us, the answer is not much. It’s time to change that for the sake of our health and the planet.

Types of Sunscreen

There are two primary types of sunscreen:

• Physical sunscreens: These contain active mineral ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which work by sitting on the skin’s surface to deflect and scatter UV rays.
• Chemical sunscreens: These contain organic (carbon-based) compounds that absorb UV radiation and convert it into heat, which is then released from the skin.

Chemical sunscreens are widely used due to their lightweight application, lack of stickiness, and absence of a white cast. However, they come with significant drawbacks.

The Problems with Chemical Sunscreens

Firstly, chemical sunscreens pose a threat to our environment, particularly coral reefs. They can adversely affect coral and other aquatic life. Studies show that up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotions are discharged into reefs worldwide each year, causing devastating effects on natural wonders like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Secondly, there’s growing evidence that chemical sunscreens may not be safe for us. The FDA has found that common chemical sunscreen ingredients (such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, and avobenzone) are absorbed into our bodies at higher levels than previously believed and can be detected on the skin and in blood weeks after application. A report from May 2019 also suggests a link between oxybenzone exposure and risks to developing fetuses.

Given these findings, why take the risk with chemical sunscreens? It’s always better to err on the side of caution. That’s why I recommend using physical sunscreens that rely on natural ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which the FDA labels as GRASE (Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective).

Physical sunscreens not only protect against the full spectrum of ultraviolet radiation but have also improved in terms of ease of application. So, when it’s time to slip, slop, and slap, think zinc! Think titanium! It’s time to get physical with your sunscreen.

For more information on sunscreen safety, you can visit the FDA website.