The non-nano zinc oxide is the ingredient that makes the sunscreen SPF. The more non-nano zinc oxide added, the higher the SPF will be. Formulated with EWG green grade ingredients and completed skin irritation test, suitable even for sensitive skin (does include handful of synthetics) While the above is, of course, very crucial for a sunscreen to be fully effective, Dr. Akhavan says that the most important thing he looks for in a zinc oxide sunscreen is that it has a comfortable, elegant feel to it. “Mineral sunscreens need to feel silky and luxurious and go on sheer. Otherwise, I find that my patients won’t use them regularly.” Public perception of sunscreen safety has driven the market to use certain ingredients in abundance while limiting others, based upon relatively little data. Two trends have emerged in recent years because of public perception. First, oxybenzone has been essentially discontinued due to concern over its hazards to coral reefs [ 2]. On January 1st, 2021, the State of Hawaii prohibited the sale and distribution of sunscreen formulations that contain either oxybenzone or octinoxate [ 14]. Second, inorganic sunscreens containing TiO 2 and ZnO are increasingly marketed as safer alternatives to small-molecule (“chemical”) sunscreens [ 5, 6]. However, claims of product safety appear to ignore the hazards that can result from UV irradiation of metal oxides in these products, including well-documented generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [ 15, 16] and degradation of organic compounds [ 17]. In a nutshell, mineral sunscreen is better for you and the environment because of the ingredients used. More on that soon.

Environmental Working Group. (2020). EWG’s 14th annual guide to sunscreens. https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/executive-summary/. Accessed 26 Mar 2021. Hollert, H., & Keiter, S. H. (2015). Danio rerio as a model in aquatic toxicology and sediment research. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22, 16243–16246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5362-1 For a diaper rash cream to be effective, it should contain ingredients that are clinically proven to help, such as:

Mineral Sunscreen vs. Chemical Sunscreen

All sorts of inactive ingredients — the ones that make up the scent and texture, for example — can be found in both mineral and chemical sunscreens. And some of them aren’t that kind to your skin or your body. Synthetic Fragrances This is not a one size fits all type of answer. Everyone has different skin tones and it depends on the time of day. Noon sun is much hotter and brighter than evening sun. It also depends on the amount of zinc you add to the recipe. Dr. Debra Jaliman is a New York City board-certified dermatologist. She’s an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai and the author of " Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist."

Sayre, R. M., Dowdy, J. C., Gerwig, A. J., Shields, W. J., & Lloyd, R. V. (2005). Unexpected photolysis of the sunscreen octinoxate in the presence of the sunscreen avobenzone. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 81(2), 452–456. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-1097.2005.tb00207.x Before we wrap up, we want to mention two diaper cream options that allow you to treat your baby’s bum to zinc oxide and other natural ingredients. Diaper Rash Cream 1 2 3 You’ll also feel good about Burt’s Bees ethics. The company sources its ingredients responsibly by protecting and nurturing the workers and communities that grow them, and by participating in the Global Shea Alliance, Responsible Mica Initiative, Sedex, and AIM-Progress.

Do dermatologists recommend mineral sunscreen?

In addition to providing broad-spectrum protein, zinc oxide also helps reduce redness and inflammation, as well as soothe and heal irritated skin. You can see why zinc oxide has been so popular for thousands of years! Zinc Oxide’s Role in Sunscreen As you can see, sunscreens are not all created equal, and that’s why you’ll want to choose a safe, effective sunscreen made with non-nano zinc oxide. Our special ingredient helps develop the skin's barrier function by strengthening protein and lipid production. It also protects the cell capital found in the underdeveloped skin of young children. This cream has received certification from a product-testing company NSF International for its organic ingredients.

All mixtures were formulated in DMSO, as described in Sect. 2.2. It is worth noting that past studies have found that the extent of UV-filter photodegradation is solvent dependent, with polar solvents generally reported as more stabilizing than non-polar solvents, therefore even more degradation might have resulted had we used a non-polar solvent [ 20]. Despite DMSO’s polarity (and stabilizing effect), the stability of the mixture depends upon the formulation because identity-dependent UV-filter interactions with one another can promote or hinder photodegradation [ 46]. In the range of ~ 7–18% active ingredients, and for 120 min of UV irradiation, the mixtures were stable when the proportion of octocrylene was high enough to protect the avobenzone from photodegradation. Past work has found that octocrylene likely hinders avobenzone photodegradation by quenching the excited triplet state of the avobenzone β-diketo isomer (formed upon irradiation); but, other stabilizing processes can also occur [ 46]. We did observe photodegradation when the ratio of avobenzone: octocrylene was larger than in mixture 1 (see Figure S2). Webb, A. R., Slaper, H., Koepke, P., & Schmalwieser, A. W. (2011). Know your standard: clarifying the CIE erythema action spectrum. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 87(2), 483–486. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-1097.2010.00871.x Cons: Strong natural sunscreen scent, skin should be well moisturized for this to spread evenly and absorb well This women-owned and family-operated business has an FDA-Certified Organic farm where some of the key ingredients are grown. The facility also gets more than 75% of its energy from solar power. That means this product has a reduced carbon footprint by using locally sourced ingredients and green power while also ensuring greater quality control compared to some other brands. California Baby also founded a nonprofit, Natural Advisory Council, dedicated to advocating for consumer protection legislation for natural products. When you wear sunscreen on a daily basis, you lower your risk of developing different types of skin cancers, especially melanoma.There are two main active ingredients in mineral sunscreen: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. And mineral sunscreens can have either (or both) nano and non-nano zinc oxide particles. The results show that formulas containing both ZnO and small-molecule UV-filters can undergo photochemistry that results in two different types of deleterious effects; they can have significantly decreased UV-A protection due to degradation of the organic UV-filters, and they can generate toxicity-inducing photodegradation products. Loss of UV-A protection is especially problematic in US sunscreens where the list of approved filters is so small; only avobenzone and zinc oxide are regularly used for long-wave UV-A protection in commercial US sunscreens [ 50, 51]. This finding motivates the need to identify additional UV-A absorbers that can be approved for use in the US. Some of the European ingredients such as bisoctrizole and DHHB show promising photostability [ 4, 52] and have no reported toxic photodegradation products, currently. Hopefully, the pipeline of US-approved UV-filters can be strengthened through continued study of promising chemicals. Even in a best-case scenario where new UV-filters end up being better performing and safer than current options, obtaining regulatory approval is time-consuming and expensive [ 51]. In the meantime, further work should be done exploring the phototoxicity of various architectures of coated ZnO. Prior work has indicated that the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide particles can be minimized by coating them with silica or aluminium hydroxide [ 20], so similar strategies may be helpful for minimizing ZnO-induced photodegradation.

It also prevents overhydration of the skin. Overhydration can cause the breakdown of the skin’s protective barriers, potentially leading to:Just remember that the risk of sunburn isn’t the only reason to wear sunscreen. As we mentioned, over time, sun exposure can leave you at risk for premature aging and skin cancer. You might be surprised to learn that this ingredient is used in cosmetics, but it’s also used to make plastics more flexible and durable. For skincare products, phthalates serve to enhance the scent or make products less stiff.