beauty safer sunscreens
Am I getting enough UVA protection? When you get burned, UVB rays are the culprits. A sunscreen’s SPF, which stands for Sun Protection Factor, measures protection from UVB rays only, not UVA rays, which make up about 95 percent of those that reach Earth and are actually more detrimental to long-term health. Responsible for a seemingly harmless
tan, UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and generate free radicals in your skin, leading to wrinkling and skin cancer over time. T e most eff ective ingredient for UVA protection is zinc oxide, according to Lunder. And although products frequently include the chemical avobenzone for UVA protection, it absorbs rays rather than refl ecting and scattering them. Avobenzone also is unstable, so it may break down into unknown chemicals. Raise your protection odds by
reapplying sunscreen frequently, or better yet, by avoiding the sun altogether midday, when the rays are stronger. “Consumer expectations [of sunscreens] are too high,” Lundy warns, adding that there is no evidence proving that sunscreens prevent malignant melanoma.
What about nanoparticles? Many sunscreens make non-nano claims, indicating they don’t contain the tiny particles used to achieve sheer coverage. But the FDA doesn’t require nano testing or enforce labeling standards. “Nano is really tricky because there’s no formal defi nition of what size is a nano particle,” Lunder says. Sunscreen makers often defi ne nano as anything less than 100 nanometers. But should you always avoid
nanoparticles? T e EWG maintains that they’re safe in lotion form but not in sprays, which may cause lung damage when inhaled. Research implies that particles larger than 30 nanometers aren’t absorbed by the skin. However, 2012 research published in the Chemical Engineering Journal indicates an unforeseen risk of titanium dioxide sunscreen nanoparticles: Chlorine may strip the nanoparticles’ coating and react with water, forming compounds that could contribute to skin damage and even cancer. If you have concerns, look for
products that provide specifi c nano information on labels; you might even want to contact companies directly.
Sun care standouts
Badger SPF 34 Baby Sunscreen. A high zinc concentration protects baby’s skin; plant-based ingredients like olive oil and calendula soothe it.
Goddess Garden Sunny Body. The fi rst of its kind: spray-on mineral formula certifi ed to the NSF “contains organic” standard.
True Natural All Natural Tropical Tan Self Tanner.
Stay out of the sun and still get a rich hue with this plant-based bronzer.
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deliciousliving.com | april 2013
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