What’s the Best Sunscreen To Use?
What’s the Best Sunscreen?
Everything You Need to Know About Sunscreen
Choosing the right sunscreen used to be easy when everyone would go for the brand with the girl getting her swimsuit pulled off by a puppy. If you’re into Platinum Sun rashguards and leggings that offer sun protection, you may be asking yourself ‘what’s the best sunscreen?’ Learn everything you need to know about sunscreen and why our Platinum Sunscreen Stick is a sound choice.
Why do I need to wear sunscreen?
The ozone layer naturally provides a defense for the sun’s most harmful rays. However, as the ozone depletes, cases of skin cancer rise. Let’s face it; the sun is stronger than ever. While you may look great with a tan, it’s essential to protect your skin from the harmful rays that cause cancer and skin damage. You should wear a sunscreen daily even if you are not out basking in the sun. But when you are basking, or kiting or surfing, you need to be adamant about applying and reapplying sunscreen.
What are UVA and UVB Rays?
UVB rays cause sunburn. In relation, Sun Protection Factor aka SPF is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Here’s how it works: If your skin turns red in 10 minutes, using an SPF 30 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 30 times longer, 300 minutes or about 5 hours. Still, skincancer.org suggest reapplying every two hours anyway.
We have no way to rate how well a product can protect from UVA rays, but we do know which ingredients do a good job at it. According to WebMD, UVA rays are the really dangerous rays that cause skin cancer and wrinkles. A sunscreen that contains one of the following ingredients will protect against UVA Rays: ecamsule, avobenzone, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, sulisobenzone, or zinc oxide.
Water Resistant or Sweat Resistant Sunscreen
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A water-resistant or sweat-resistant sunscreen means the SPF works 40-80 minutes after you’re wet. The fact is, sunblock will always wash or wear off when you’re sweating or in the water, So, if you want to stay protected it means you have to reapply.
Our Platinum Sunscreen Stick uses Zinc Oxide and is formulated to be non-greasy water-resistant. Boom!
Active Ingredients in Sunscreen
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According to the Environmental Working Group, there are hazards posed by sunscreens that can be worse than those posed by the sun’s rays. In several studies chemicals like oxybenzone penetrate the skin and can cause hormone disruption in both males and females. Their report on sunscreens details a list of active ingredients in sunscreens and the hazard score the EWG gave it.
Children and babies have specially formulated sunscreens, so their sensitive skin does not absorb potentially rash causing chemicals. People with skin conditions often use “for kids” sunscreens for the same reason. These sunscreens designed for sensitive skin will often contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and have no fragrance or preservatives.
Our specially formulated zinc-oxide based sunscreen should not cause skin rashes, allergic reactions, or any harmful effects that may happen to your skin from chemicals. The inactive ingredients in Platinum Sun sunscreen are so safe you can eat it! Though, we don’t suggest spreading it on your toast. It’s not very tasty. We use Calendula Extract, Tamanu Oil, Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Avocado Oil, Castor Seed Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, and Vitamin E.
How Sunscreen Can Damage the Environment
Marine Biologists have learned that sunscreen pollution has become a big problem for reefs and marine life in tourist areas thanks to chemicals that cause coral bleaching.
Oxybenzone is the most common chemical found in sunblock lotions. Therefore many tests have been performed on the ingredient. One study concluded oxybenzone is detected in the urine just 30 minutes after application. This finding means the chemicals exit your body and head right into the sewers.
Oxybenzone is toxic to corals, algae, sea urchins, fish, and mammals. It inhibits embryonic development in sea urchins meaning it’s hard for them to grow in early stages of life. It can result in gender shifts in fish, in which male fish take on female attributes, while females have reduced egg production and embryo hatchings meaning less fish. In mammals, it has been demonstrated to be a potential mutagen and to exhibit pro-carcinogenic activity in other words many sunscreens can cause cancer. Read more about how sunscreen affects the environment.
Natural Sunscreens
After learning about the chemicals in sunscreen and how they can damage the skin, our bodies, and marine life, it may be worth trying a natural sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are good for protecting against UVA and UVB rays. Also, mineral sunscreens are not absorbed by the body and do not damage marine life.
Knowing that sunscreen plays a big role in damaging the oceans, we made our Platinum Sunscreen stick with non-nano zinc oxide along with other natural and chemical-free ingredients. It’s safe for kids, people with sensitive skin, the environment, and we’ve made it portable so you can use it regularly.
Please let us know what you think, or you have any questions in the comments below.
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