Leave it to Venus Williams to hit a grand slam in the mineral sunscreen world. Just to make things trickier, keep in mind that the FDA doesn’t regulate the terms “reef-safe” or “reef-friendly.” That means you need to check labels for two things - no oxybenzone, octocrylene, or octinoxate, and no nano-particles. If your goal is an eco-friendly option, a mineral sunscreen in a cream or lotion form is typically a better option than a mist or spray, and it’s certainly a better option than a chemical sunscreen. But it’s not because of their ingredients - it actually has to do with particle size.Ĭoral reefs can absorb nano-particles, or excessively small particle sizes, from sunscreens - no matter what ingredients they contain. This doesn’t mean mineral sunscreens are automatically a better environmental choice. Some of the ingredients in chemical sunscreens - looking at you, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and octinoxate - have been linked to the dying coral reefs. There’s also a serious environmental consideration at play. Troublesome ingredients aren’t the only debate in the physical versus chemical sunscreen decision. “For that reason, many of my patients prefer chemical sunscreens, because they’re easier to apply and wear,” Hale says. Mineral sunscreens also tend to be less water-resistant than chemical formulas, which means you may need to apply them more frequently, especially after swimming or sweating. This was particularly noticeable on darker complexions. Criticisms of mineral sunscreensĮarly versions of mineral sunscreens - and even some formulations floating around today - were chalky and hard to spread, and they left a noticeable white cast on skin. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, there are downsides to mineral sunscreens.
#BEST EWG SUNSCREEN 2018 SKIN#
She also says they offer broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, and they work to prevent UVA-related skin damage, like wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. “Zinc oxide sunscreens are often recommended for people with skin sensitivities (including acne), and they’re gentle enough to use on children,” Hale explains. Common mineralsĪs it happens, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the main ingredients in most mineral sunscreens. Until we know more, just two active ingredients currently used in sunscreens are generally recognized as safe and effective: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. That’s a red flag, because the FDA doesn’t have enough information about if these lingering chemicals are causing harm. They are detectable on both the skin and in the blood up to 3 weeks after application. Nothing is finalized, even now, but the FDA reported on a clinical study that showed these six active ingredients entered the bloodstream after a single application and stayed there for a lengthy amount of time.
#BEST EWG SUNSCREEN 2018 UPDATE#
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new rules and regulations that would update sunscreen requirements to ensure their safety and efficacy. If you’re side-eyeing some of those ingredients, you aren’t alone. “There are six types of chemical UV filters commonly used in sunscreens: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate,” Hale says. If we’re being completely honest, the latter is typically recognized for its nicer texture.
“There are two main types of sunscreen ingredients: physical (otherwise known as mineral) and chemical,” says Dr. First off, it’s important to understand the distinction between the different types of sunscreen.
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