Sunscreen is an essential beauty product and should be applied daily (with the exception of infants under 6 months). But how exactly does sunscreen protect our skin?
Sunscreen products contain two primary elements: its active ingredient and its emulsion. This latter component typically contains ingredients like humectants, thickeners, emulsifiers and preservatives to prevent it from breaking down too soon on your skin.
Physical Blockers
Sunscreen works to block UV rays that damage skin and lead to sunburn, freckles, wrinkles and cancer. Two forms of UVA and UVB rays cause the most harm: while UVB affects only the surface layer and causes sunburn; UVA penetrates deeper into your pores causing premature aging or cancerous growths in some instances.
Physical sunscreens (commonly referred to as mineral or natural sunscreens) use ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to physically block UV rays, reflecting them away from the skin like a mirror or shield. Physical sunscreens are especially suitable for people who are heat sensitive as well as those suffering from conditions like rosacea as it doesn’t absorb into your pores and cause any clogs.
Newer physical sunscreens often come with tinted forms to more effectively blend in with most skin tones and conceal its white appearance on the skin. Reapply often, especially after sweating or swimming to stay safe.
Chemical Absorbers
Chemical sunscreens such as octinoxate absorb the sun’s UVA and UVB rays and transform them into heat energy that’s released through your skin, providing long-term UV damage protection from wrinkles, sun spots, and dryness.
Some chemical sunscreen ingredients have received criticism in recent years, particularly oxybenzone (banned in certain European countries), yet experts continue to advise using sunscreens with these chemicals as protection from sun’s damaging rays.
Sunscreens come in the form of creams, gels, lotions and sprays; “the key is for it to spread easily over the skin,” according to Baalbaki. To achieve this effect, Romanowski uses ingredients like thickeners, emulsifiers, chelating agents pH-balancing agents moisturizers to create an easy to apply formula that’s comfortable on wearer’s skin – this may make people more likely to use their sunscreen regularly!
Octinoxate
Octinoxate (also known as octyl methoxycinnamate) is an essential chemical sunscreen ingredient, designed to shield skin from UVB rays that cause sunburns and potentially can lead to skin cancer. Its clear liquid form prevents absorption by skin pores. It appears in many sunscreen products as an additive ingredient to provide additional sun protection.
Sunscreen products designed to protect from both UVA and UVB rays should be applied broadly-spectrum, providing adequate UVA/UVB coverage. Unfortunately, like oxybenzone, some experts fear it may have potential endocrine disrupting effects and possibly trigger sun allergy reactions in certain individuals.
The FDA allows octinoxate-containing cosmetic products up to 7.5% concentration, while many countries around the world utilize this chemical. Unfortunately, Hawaii and other places prohibit its use due to concerns it could damage marine ecosystems; luckily, finding mineral sunscreen without this ingredient should not be difficult.
Other Ingredients
Recently, sunscreens have expanded their offerings by including ingredients to filter UVA and UVB radiation – such as organic compounds that absorb solar radiation and release it as heat – though there’s little evidence they reduce skin cancer or photodamage; indeed they may actually increase it.
George says the best sunscreens combine physical blockers and chemical absorbers into one product. Physical blockers such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide sit on the surface of skin to reflect UV rays away, much like mirrors would. Meanwhile, chemical absorbers like oxybenzone or avobenzone form protective layers around skin that absorb UV rays.
These compounds have been available on the market for many years, and the FDA has found no indications of harm or significant absorption through skin contact. Nonetheless, some individuals may have adverse skin reactions to them which can be uncomfortable or even hazardous.
How Does Sunscreen Work to Protect Your Skin?
Sunscreen is an essential beauty product and should be applied daily (with the exception of infants under 6 months). But how exactly does sunscreen protect our skin?
Sunscreen products contain two primary elements: its active ingredient and its emulsion. This latter component typically contains ingredients like humectants, thickeners, emulsifiers and preservatives to prevent it from breaking down too soon on your skin.
Physical Blockers
Sunscreen works to block UV rays that damage skin and lead to sunburn, freckles, wrinkles and cancer. Two forms of UVA and UVB rays cause the most harm: while UVB affects only the surface layer and causes sunburn; UVA penetrates deeper into your pores causing premature aging or cancerous growths in some instances.
Physical sunscreens (commonly referred to as mineral or natural sunscreens) use ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to physically block UV rays, reflecting them away from the skin like a mirror or shield. Physical sunscreens are especially suitable for people who are heat sensitive as well as those suffering from conditions like rosacea as it doesn’t absorb into your pores and cause any clogs.
Newer physical sunscreens often come with tinted forms to more effectively blend in with most skin tones and conceal its white appearance on the skin. Reapply often, especially after sweating or swimming to stay safe.
Chemical Absorbers
Chemical sunscreens such as octinoxate absorb the sun’s UVA and UVB rays and transform them into heat energy that’s released through your skin, providing long-term UV damage protection from wrinkles, sun spots, and dryness.
Some chemical sunscreen ingredients have received criticism in recent years, particularly oxybenzone (banned in certain European countries), yet experts continue to advise using sunscreens with these chemicals as protection from sun’s damaging rays.
Sunscreens come in the form of creams, gels, lotions and sprays; “the key is for it to spread easily over the skin,” according to Baalbaki. To achieve this effect, Romanowski uses ingredients like thickeners, emulsifiers, chelating agents pH-balancing agents moisturizers to create an easy to apply formula that’s comfortable on wearer’s skin – this may make people more likely to use their sunscreen regularly!
Octinoxate
Octinoxate (also known as octyl methoxycinnamate) is an essential chemical sunscreen ingredient, designed to shield skin from UVB rays that cause sunburns and potentially can lead to skin cancer. Its clear liquid form prevents absorption by skin pores. It appears in many sunscreen products as an additive ingredient to provide additional sun protection.
Sunscreen products designed to protect from both UVA and UVB rays should be applied broadly-spectrum, providing adequate UVA/UVB coverage. Unfortunately, like oxybenzone, some experts fear it may have potential endocrine disrupting effects and possibly trigger sun allergy reactions in certain individuals.
The FDA allows octinoxate-containing cosmetic products up to 7.5% concentration, while many countries around the world utilize this chemical. Unfortunately, Hawaii and other places prohibit its use due to concerns it could damage marine ecosystems; luckily, finding mineral sunscreen without this ingredient should not be difficult.
Other Ingredients
Recently, sunscreens have expanded their offerings by including ingredients to filter UVA and UVB radiation – such as organic compounds that absorb solar radiation and release it as heat – though there’s little evidence they reduce skin cancer or photodamage; indeed they may actually increase it.
George says the best sunscreens combine physical blockers and chemical absorbers into one product. Physical blockers such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide sit on the surface of skin to reflect UV rays away, much like mirrors would. Meanwhile, chemical absorbers like oxybenzone or avobenzone form protective layers around skin that absorb UV rays.
These compounds have been available on the market for many years, and the FDA has found no indications of harm or significant absorption through skin contact. Nonetheless, some individuals may have adverse skin reactions to them which can be uncomfortable or even hazardous.