What makes a good sunscreen?
With so many options available on the market today it can be quite daunting to choose a sunscreen that will *hopefully* do the job of protecting your loved ones in the sun; but with so many different ingredients, differing factors and often-discussed concerns over the chemicals a sunscreen may contain, the process can be a bit daunting.
You may wonder:
What is the often-discussed ‘evil’ of oxybenzone?
What is the difference between zinc oxide and titanium dioxide?
And which sunscreens are harmful to marine life?
In answer to those questions you may have:
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What is Oxybenzone?
Oxybenzone is a chemical filter found commonly in 80% of commercial sun screens; its primary function is to absorb UV light. Oxybenzone is also used in nail polish and hair spray. This synthetic chemical can upset the endocrine system and pose a risk to reproductive systems; it is said to cause endometriosis in females, lower sperm count in males, and increase the risk of hormone-related cancers. Do we really want to put this on our skin?
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What is considered ‘reef safe’?
Products that are generally free of oxybenzone and octinoxate are considered ‘reef-safe’ – both ingredients are banned for use in Hawaii and Key West due to the impact they cause on coral reefs, and for their contribution to coral bleaching.
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Zinc oxide vs titanium dioxide.
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are mineral based and are not absorbed into the skin, unlike oxybenzone. Both ingredients are naturally-occuring and are considered ‘reef-safe’ as they are not linked to coral bleaching.
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Zinc oxide’s UV absorption rate has a broader spectrum across both ultraviolet A (UVA) long-wave and ultraviolet B (UVB) short-wave rays.
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Titanium Dioxide has been classed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as being ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’, so wherever possible please choose a zinc-based sunscreen.
What do we recommend looking for when choosing a sunscreen?
The ethos behind Tribe Tropical is sun-safety and we choose to protect our family with our high-quality UPF50+ fabrics whenever we venture out in the sun – however when choosing which sunscreen to buy (to cover any exposed parts of skin) we always look for sunscreen that is:
- Free of oxybenzone
- Reef-safe
- Zinc-based wherever possible, and ideally free of artificial preservatives
- Not tested on animals
- Australian-made wherever possible
Images © Tribe Tropical
Some of our favourite Australian sunscreen brands that we choose to use are:
By covering as much skin as possible with high-quality UPF50+ fabrics the need for sunscreen is lessened thereby minimising risks to delicate marine environments.
We always recommend covering sun-exposed skin with high-quality, reef-safe sunscreen.
Tribe Tropical’s range of premium UPF50+ swimsuits and hats can help to protect skin from sun damage.
Tribe Tropical's swimsuits and hats provide premium sun protection. Image © Rachel Fraser.
** Please note – none of the links in this post are sponsored links and are recommended purely based on the opinion of the author.
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