But do not panic, these are concerns under investigation.
Once absorbed they might form unwanted complexes with proteins and they might promote the formation of evil free radicals.
The main concern with nanoparticles is that they are so tiny that they are absorbed into the skin more than we want them (ideally sunscreen should remain on the surface of the skin).
The itsy-bitsy Nano-sized particles improve both spreadability and reduce the whitish tint a lot, but unfortunately, it also introduces new health concerns.
The cosmetic industry is, of course, really trying to solve this problem and the best solution so far is using nanoparticles. Sunscreens containing Titanium Dioxide are often hard to spread on the skin and they leave a disturbing whitish tint. The disadvantage of Titanium Dioxide is that it's not cosmetically elegant, meaning it's a white, "unspreadable" mess. Regular sized Titanium Dioxide also has a great safety profile, it's non-irritating and is pretty much free from any health concerns (like estrogenic effect worries with some chemical filters). Its protection is very good between 290 - 350 nm (UVB and UVA II range), and less good at 350-400 nm (UVA I) range. It's definitely one of the best, or probably even the best option out there for sun protection available worldwide.Īnyway, it doesn't matter if it reflects or absorbs, Titanium Dioxide is a pretty awesome sunscreen agent for two main reasons: it gives a nice broad spectrum coverage and it's highly stable. This seems to be true even if the skin is damaged, for example, sunburnt.Īll in all, if you've found a Zinc Oxide sunscreen that you are happy to use every single day, that's fantastic and we suggest you stick with it. But luckily, so far research shows that sunscreen nanoparticles are not absorbed but remain on the surface of the skin or in the uppermost (dead) layer of the skin. We wrote more about nanoparticles and the concerns around them here, but the gist is that if nanoparticles were absorbed into the skin that would be a reason for legitimate health concerns. Still, it's white and disturbing enough to use Zinc Oxide nanoparticles more and more often. Pinnell, it's slightly less white than TiO2. It leaves a disturbing whitish tint on the skin, although, according to a 2000 research paper by Dr. It's also often used to treat skin irritations such as diaper rash.Īs for the disadvantages, Zinc Oxide is also not cosmetically elegant. So much so that Zinc Oxide also counts as a skin protectant and anti-irritant. It's also highly stable and non-irritating. It protects against UVB, UVA II, and UVA I almost uniformly, and is considered to be the broadest range sunscreen available today. The first main difference is that while TiO2 gives a nice broad spectrum protection, Zinc Oxide has an even nicer and even broader spectrum protection. Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Re-apply as required every two to three hours during the day.Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Apply evenly over face 15 minutes before sun exposure. Use daily at the last step of your skin care routine.
Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Trideceth-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid HOW TO USE Lightweight texture leaves a sheer finish with no white cast.Provides exceptionally powerful protection.