The summer is right around the corner, and so are the harmful UV rays!
The Sun - our good old friend that we love to use as a "natural - tanning" machine; emits UV rays that are incredibly dangerous for our skin and overall health if exposed without protection.

Infact, constant exposure to UV rays can lead to problems such as premature aging, and also signs of sun damage such as wrinkles, liver spots, and solar elastosis.
Not only this, they can weaken the immune system and can even cause cancer.
But, don't you worry, there's a solution to this.
And that is Sunscreen!
Yup! I know. Pretty easy to guess.

Sunscreen, also known as sunblock, sun protectant, sun cream; call it whatever you may like, is a photoprotective topical product that reflects the harmful UV rays and protects your skin against
sunburn and most importantly skin cancer.

 

"Don't rely on Sunscreen alone.

Even after protecting your skin, sunscreen isn't the only reliable source."

There are mainly two types of sunscreen:
1. Chemical sunscreen.
2. Mineral sunscreen.

1. Chemical sunscreen:

Chemical sunscreens are absorbed by the skin, the chemicals present in these sunscreens then absorb the UV rays, convert the UV rays into heat, and then release them from the body.

2. Mineral sunscreen:

Mineral sunscreen also known as physical sunscreen works the opposite way.
The ingredients present in mineral sunscreen sit on top of the skin and prevent the UV rays from entering your skin by reflecting them.
Now that we know the two types of sunscreen. How do we choose the right type of sunscreen?
Well, it turns out choosing the right type of sunscreen is actually pretty simple and also a bit unfair at
times.
Let us elaborate.

Our recommended sunscreen type is mineral sunscreen. But, why?
As we've already discussed, mineral sunscreen sits on your skin and prevents the UV rays from ever entering your body. Though this isn't 100%, it blocks out most of the UV rays.
But this isn't true in the case of chemical sunscreen.
The same harmful UV rays that you used a sunscreen to avoid are actually entering your body and then released out of your body in case of chemical sunscreens.
Ironic, isn't it?

You use a sunscreen to block out UV rays but they end up being absorbed by the same sunscreen.
And then people wonder why we have trust issues!

Also, turns out, Sunscreen not only affects the user but also the environment.
A review published by Samantha L. Schneider, MD and Henry W. Lim, MD in July 05, 2018 stated that a common chemical sunscreen ingredient such as oxybenzone may be a possible contributor in bleaching and damage of coral reefs.

For this reason, many tourist destinations have banned oxybenzone.
On the other hand, the ingredients present in mineral sunscreens - zinc oxide and titanium oxide are extremely safe for the skin and the environment.
And the best part? They are FDA approved!
Need a sunscreen that is safe for your skin and also the environment and our lovely coral?

OUR MINERAL SUNSCREENS RECOMMENDATIONS:

REEF-SAFE SUNSCREEN BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 36 by Zoca
It has non-nano zinc oxide!
This sunscreen can be rubbed into the skin easily. The base ingredients soothe and nourish while Non-Nano Zinc Oxide safely blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays. This lotion has a mild natural scent of chamomile, calendula, and lavender.

 

ESSENTIAL SPF by Kari Gran

A natural sunscreen that does double duty: providing broad-spectrum mineral protection against the sun’s harmful rays while moisturizing skin with naturally derived organic oils. This mineral sunscreen uses non-nano zinc oxide as an active barrier to shield the face from the UVA rays which cause signs of aging, and UVB rays responsible for sunburn. Made with botanical oils, this organic sunscreen protects while it hydrates to promote healthy, glowing skin. This nourishing face SPF is a moisture-rich formula made to prevent damage associated with daily sun exposure whether we’re at the beach or just going about our daily business. 

MALU DAY CREAM SPF 30 by Honua

MALU marries modern natural protectants with traditional Hawaiian ones and contains all reef-safe ingredients keeping our oceans in mind. Scents of jasmine merge with antioxidant noni and nourishing laukahi for a creamy, luxurious day cream that does not leave a white cast.

Now that we've looked at the good and the bad let's look at some pros and cons of both sunscreens.

Pros and cons of chemical sunscreen:

Pros: Chemical sunscreen does not leave a white cast on your skin and tends to provide a longer protection form the UV rays.

Cons: Chemical sunscreens are not for everyone. They may cause skin reactions in people with sensitive skin. Which can give you some bad experience form a sun protectant. Their active ingreidents are hormone disruptors.

Pros and cons of mineral sunscreen:

Pros: Mineral sunscreens are safer on the skin. They can be used on children, and are also suitable for people with skin conditions such as melasma.

Cons: Unlike chemical sunscreen, mineral sunscreen leaves a white cast on your skin.

This makes the options for people with more melanin( dark skin) a lot less. This is the unfair thing we
were talking about.
But times have changed, and there are a few mineral sunscreen options out there that don't leave a white cast.

So which one do you choose?
We would definitely recommend mineral sunscreen. Even though they might leave a white cast on your skin, they're better than chemical sunscreens in the long run.

Now that we've chosen sunscreen, here are some tips to apply it properly:
1. Always remember to apply the cream 30 minutes before leaving the house.
2. Before applying the sunscreen make sure to shake it well.
3. Make sure to use enough to cover your whole body.
As a rule of the hand, put the sunscreen in the same length as your index, middle, and ring finger. This would be enough to cover your face and neck.
4. Use on all parts of the body, every part that is exposed to the sun.
5. Don't forget to reapply the sunscreen every few hours, a spray and stick sunscreen would be easy for reapplying.

And the most important tip.
Don't rely on Sunscreen alone. Even after protecting your skin, sunscreen isn't the only reliable source.

Always remember to wear full sleeve clothes, hats, scarf, sunglasses. And every other thing that can
protect you from the sun.

So, no matter how much of an erge you have to tan in the sun.
Don't!
Stay safe from the sun and use sunscreen!