The sun has many benefits, which is why you shouldn't overuse sunscreen. One of the benefits, which most people have heard about, is that when the sun's rays hit the skin, the important substance vitamin D is formed in the body. If you therefore want to increase the amount of vitamin D in your body, you should spend at least 15 minutes per day outside in the sun during spring, summer and autumn without sun protection.
If you use sunscreen with SPF 8 and above, vitamin D is not formed in the skin. But on the other hand, too much sunlight can be harmful to the skin. This is where common sense comes in.
What is the best sunscreen?
We usually say:
Hat/cap and thin clothing on the most exposed areas.
Spending a moderate amount of time in the sun.
Adding plenty of antioxidants through food, supplements, superfoods and herbs.
Natural sunscreens (so-called physical filters) when spending long periods in the sun.
Can you get natural sun protection from within?
Absolutely. We can strengthen our skin so it doesn't suffer from the sun or free radicals. How do you do that? Well, the absolutely most important thing is what we eat and drink; consuming vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients (what makes fruits, berries and vegetables colorful).
The skin's protection and quality improves significantly through nutrient-rich diet. So indulge in vegetables, sprouts, algae, fruits and berries. Take supplements, herbs and superfoods with antioxidants and phytonutrients.
A close-up of various colored carrots, including purple, orange and yellow, together with fresh parsley.
Antioxidants
All antioxidants or substances with antioxidative functions such as vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, zinc, beta-carotenes and astaxanthin have a positive impact on the skin.
Beta-carotenes provide extra protection against the sun's harmful rays, can inhibit the development of sun eczema and contribute to a faster and more even tan. Beta-carotenes are found in parsley, sprouts, carrots, spinach, kale, dill, papaya and spirulina and other algae, but especially in the algae Dunaliella salina, which you can find in our product Biosuperfood, which also contains the powerful antioxidant Astaxanthin.
Essential fatty acids like Omega-3 also have a beneficial effect on the skin and its ability to handle the sun's rays.
Many people use Chaga as a supplement to support the skin since the mushroom is extremely rich in antioxidants.
Should I not have sunscreen at all?
Of course it's not good to get burned. When needed, you need to choose a sun protection that works. If you need sunscreen to be able to stay in the sun for a longer time, we recommend natural sunscreens with physical filters.
However, keep in mind that it's not always the sunscreen with the highest SPF that gives the best effect. Several studies show that the quality of the cream is at least equally decisive.
What is the difference between chemical and physical sun filters?
There are sunscreens with physical filters or chemical filters.
Physical filters function as a total barrier against UV radiation. Physical filters are applied to the skin and reflect solar radiation. In cream form, these mineral-based filters (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) are an invisible protection that prevents UV radiation from reaching down to the lowest living cells in the skin.
As soon as the cream is applied, the filters work immediately until they are washed or sweated off.The only thing that can seem bothersome with physical filters is that they can make the skin appear whiter. There are ways to address this issue, which we've covered in detail in our skincare guides.
Chemical filters transform UV light into a less harmful form of radiation such as infrared (heat). To do this, the chemical filter must change structure, and in this process they gradually lose their ability to shield against sunlight. In other words, they get used up.
That's why it's important to apply sunscreen with chemical filters half an hour before you go out in the sun and then regularly reapply while you're in the sun.Chemical filters are applied to the skin and absorb solar radiation.
The problem with these chemical filters is that they are toxic to both humans and nature. Not least the ocean (and coral reefs) are affected by this as millions of sun-lovers swim with these chemicals on their bodies every year. And nobody really wants that.
A woman with a sun hat applies sunscreen to her shoulder. The sunscreen has the shape of a sun.
So what should I choose?
Physical filters are an obvious choice in our opinion. To get a functioning natural sunscreen with as few harmful ingredients as possible, either the mineral titanium dioxide or the mineral zinc oxide is used.
The sunscreens we have chosen to sell have so-called nano-free zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. We think this is the best choice for people seeking good UVA and UVB protection without harmful chemicals (which have been shown to be hormone-disrupting) or synthetic preservatives.
In addition to the basic protection of titanium oxide and/or zinc oxide, these natural sunscreens usually contain beneficial oils such as olive oil, shea butter, macadamia oil, sunflower oil, cocoa butter and no harmful preservatives, synthetic fragrances or other health-hazardous substances.But they should still be used in moderation when sun protection is needed.
Zinc oxide is considered a relatively harmless metal compound from a health perspective since it is not stored in the body. There has been much discussion about zinc oxide potentially containing so-called nanoparticles, which can be very harmful and are believed to cause DNA damage and, in combination with UV light exposure, can cause the formation of free radicals.
The size of these particles plays a significant role. Therefore, it is important to mention the difference between micro- and nanoparticles.Nanoparticles are smaller than 100 nm, while microparticles are larger than 100 nm. There is therefore non-nano zinc oxide made from microparticles that is used in most organic, natural sun protection products. This also significantly reduces the ingredient list.
If you don't want zinc or titanium oxide, you have to choose a sunscreen with chemical filters and accept that they always contain at least one chemical ingredient that is classified as hormone-disrupting, along with many synthetic preservatives and substances that are toxic to aquatic organisms.
Summary
Consume nutrient-rich, colorful foods and antioxidant supplements. Plants rich in phytonutrients are powerful allied friends for your skin.
Moisturize the skin with beneficial, organic oils.
Spend moderate time in the sun without sun protection to produce vitamin D.
During other times, use physical filters or cover the body with thin clothing and avoid the sun when it's strongest.
Avoid chemical filters for both your own and nature's/the ocean's sake.
List of substances in chemical sunscreens that you should avoid
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane is poorly biodegradable, accumulates in living organisms and is likely very toxic to aquatic organisms. Causes allergies when broken down by UV light.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate & 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor (4-MBC) accumulate in living organisms and are very toxic to algae and invertebrate aquatic animals. These substances are hormone-disrupting.
Octocrylene accumulates in living organisms and is toxic to aquatic organisms.
Cyclopentasiloxane is poorly biodegradable, accumulates in living organisms and is toxic to aquatic organisms. The substance is suspected of having carcinogenic properties. The substance has been found in fish, indicating that the substance can spread on a large scale.
Cyclohexasiloxane is very poorly biodegradable and very toxic to aquatic organisms. The substance is also believed to be able to accumulate in living organisms.
Oxybenzone and Octyl methoxycinnamate: There are reports suggesting that this chemical filter mimics hormones in the body with various health risks as a consequence, especially children and sick people are vulnerable groups.
Vitamin A i.e. retinol and retinyl palmitate is suspected of increasing the spread and production of malignant cancer cells according to a report from the Environmental Working Group in the USA (a non-profit group in Washington).
Two types of so-called siloxanes, substances that can be used as softeners and to increase the sun protection factor, are poorly biodegradable, toxic and can accumulate in very high concentrations in living organisms.
Other very harmful substances in chemical sunscreens: 3-benzylidene camphor, benzophenone-3, Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Homosalate, Menthyl anthranilate, Octocrylene, Octyl methoxycinnamate, Octylsalicylate, Padimate O, Phenylbenzimidazole, Sulisobenzone and Homosalate (Eusolex / HMS).
You can find information about which SPF you should use in our comprehensive sun protection guides.
Now you know a bit more and can choose for yourself. Sunny regards from all of us at Glimja.
