Mineral sunscreen is not easy. It has to fight against prejudice: ‘It makes the whole face white’, ‘it does not work as well against UV rays as the latest chemical filters’. Is that correct? Or is mineral sunscreen perhaps the only true sunscreen?
Mineral sunscreen versus chemical filters
Certified natural cosmetics do not work without: Mineral UV filters are in the organic sunscreen, which guarantees UV protection without side effects . Mineral sunscreen, usually with particles of titanium oxide or zinc oxide, forms a reflective layer on the skin that reflects the sun’s rays like a mirror. They are superficial and purely physical – in contrast to chemical filters . They penetrate the upper layers of the skin and convert the UV radiation into heat energy. Chemical UV filters that are stuck in conventional sun creams can trigger allergies and are suspected to act like hormones in the body – especially pregnant women and nursing mothers should use sunscreen so be careful.
Is mineral sunscreen better?
Whether sunscreen with mineral filter is the better alternative to conventional sunscreen with chemical filters, everyone has to decide for themselves. The high-end products with high sunscreen filters naturally have the advantage that their textures are extremely easy to apply and blend with the skin. The new sun creams often contain nourishing additives that protect the skin from drying out and develop an anti-aging effect parallel to the sunscreen. In the meantime, mineral and chemical filters are often mixed together to combine the advantages of both.
With nano or without?
- Nanoparticles in sunscreen are under discussion. Critics fear that they could penetrate through the skin in their microscopic structure into the body, where they accumulate in organs, even cause cancer or damage the brain and nervous system. Long-term studies on the effect of nanoparticles in the body do not yet exist.
- However, recent studies give the all-clear: Nanoparticles can not penetrate into the skin cells of humans, but remain on the skin surface.
- If the skin has no small wounds, there is no danger anyway: healthy skin forms a barrier that nanoparticles do not let through into the body. Problem: Who thinks of microfine injuries when he creams?
- Mineral sunscreen without nanoparticles often only provides sunscreen with SPF 30 . Otherwise, it will become a white paste that is difficult to disperse.
- How nanoparticles affect our environment is also unclear. One thing is certain: Nanoparticles can dissolve in water and pollute ecosystems .
Mineral sunscreen with nanoparticles
Mineral UV filters are also available in nano-size. Because the splitting of mineral pigments has many cosmetic advantages: It no longer forms a white film on the skin, as was previously the case with mineral sunscreens with a high sun protection factor. Also a sun protection factor between 30 and 50 is possible without problems. Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide may be in a sunscreen at a level of up to 25 percent as nanoparticles. Problem: Under the influence of UV rays, nano zinc oxide and nano titanium dioxide can produce so-called free radicals. These aggressive molecules can damage the skin structure and DNA.
Can I tell if nanoparticles are in my sunscreen?
Do not worry, since 2013 manufacturers have to declare nanoparticles on the packaging of the product. Mostly the reference is even quite prominent on the tube. If you want to be on the safe side, check out the INCI list or enter the product at the Product Check Portal Codecheck , where the INCI lists of thousands of beauty products are listed and rated according to their ingredients.