Organic Sunscreen

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What Makes a Sunscreen Organic? An organic sunscreen (also known as a physical sunscreen) should not contain any chemical ingredients in it. Instead, a truly all-natural and organic sunscreen uses the minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients are known as physical blockers because the ingredients reflect the sun's rays, and the minerals are not absorbed into the skin. This is key because the ingredients in chemical sunscreens absorb the harmful rays of the sun, which can actually induce skin cancer! Read the Ingredients Be aware of purchasing sunscreens that say they are organic but contain chemicals in them. Many manufacturers of "organic" or "all-natural" sunscreens will make these claims on their labels, but then include the chemicals in them. This is because they are trying to help block the UV rays of the sun, but in fact zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sufficiently do this (there is some debate about using these minerals but you can read my other articles for more information about the debate). Also, there are no regulations on what can be put on labels, so it pays to read the ingredients carefully. If you see ingredients like avobenzone, octinoxate, and others, the sunscreen is not truly organic. What About the Whitish Tint? Major complaints about organic sunscreens are that they don't work, that they are oily or greasy, that the sunscreen is too thick, and that it leaves a whitish tint on the skin. All of this has to do with how the sunscreen is manufactured, and how much zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is used, and what the nanoparticle rate is (measured in nanometers). The nanoparticle rate in organic sunscreens is typically very small, compared to half the size of a DNA strand. However, there are a few organic sunscreens that have the right mixture of ingredients so that the sunscreen does not apply oily and does not typically leave a whitish tint (one tip if you feel your sunscreen does: this can help you know where you've applied sunscreen and where you missed spots - especially important with moms with kids). And if the sunscreen is manufactured correctly, it should sufficiently protect against the sun's harmful rays. Final Thoughts Given how much harm the chemicals in most sunscreens can do to the body, choosing an organic sunscreen is the best choice. Organic sunscreens pose little, if any, threat to our bodies, they are biodegradable so they will not harm the environment, and they allow us to get the most out of the sun (primarily Vitamin D absorption). And there are organic sunscreens that do not have the pesky complaints related to them.

What Makes a Sunscreen Organic?

An organic sunscreen (also known as a physical sunscreen) should not contain any chemical ingredients in it. Instead, a truly all-natural and organic sunscreen uses the minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients are known as physical blockers because the ingredients reflect the sun's rays, and the minerals are not absorbed into the skin. This is key because the ingredients in chemical sunscreens absorb the harmful rays of the sun, which can actually induce skin cancer!

Read the Ingredients

Be aware of purchasing sunscreens that say they are organic but contain chemicals in them. Many manufacturers of "organic" or "all-natural" sunscreens will make these claims on their labels, but then include the chemicals in them. This is because they are trying to help block the UV rays of the sun, but in fact zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sufficiently do this (there is some debate about using these minerals but you can read my other articles for more information about the debate). Also, there are no regulations on what can be put on labels, so it pays to read the ingredients carefully. If you see ingredients like avobenzone, octinoxate, and others, the sunscreen is not truly organic.

What About the Whitish Tint?

Major complaints about organic sunscreens are that they don't work, that they are oily or greasy, that the sunscreen is too thick, and that it leaves a whitish tint on the skin. All of this has to do with how the sunscreen is manufactured, and how much zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is used, and what the nanoparticle rate is (measured in nanometers). The nanoparticle rate in organic sunscreens is typically very small, compared to half the size of a DNA strand. However, there are a few organic sunscreens that have the right mixture of ingredients so that the sunscreen does not apply oily and does not typically leave a whitish tint (one tip if you feel your sunscreen does: this can help you know where you've applied sunscreen and where you missed spots - especially important with moms with kids). And if the sunscreen is manufactured correctly, it should sufficiently protect against the sun's harmful rays.

Final Thoughts

Given how much harm the chemicals in most sunscreens can do to the body, choosing an organic sunscreen is the best choice. Organic sunscreens pose little, if any, threat to our bodies, they are biodegradable so they will not harm the environment, and they allow us to get the most out of the sun (primarily Vitamin D absorption). And there are organic sunscreens that do not have the pesky complaints related to them.