Super Sunscreens
Traditionally, sunscreens have been marketed to do just one job – to block the sun’s harmful rays and protect us against skin cancer. With the increasing interest in natural skincare products, and the rise in popularity of performance skincare, a new breed of sunscreens is hitting the shelves. Here are some of the most notable new developments.
Sunscreens with anti-oxidants
There is growing evidence that using an antioxidant under your sunscreen gives you increased protection from the sun. The Australasian College of Dermatologists says “the addition of strong antioxidants to sunscreen preparations may provide additional protection against many of the deleterious or damaging effects of ultraviolet light. Further research is required but antioxidants may become a valuable addition to sunscreens”.
There are a number of sunscreens with antioxidants including Dior Bronze and Clinique. Be on the look out for sunscreens with Vitamins A, C or E, or with green tea as these are antioxidant ingredients. Applying an antioxidant serum under sunscreen is an option. The Jojoba Company has a great natural serum.
Visit: http://www.thejojobacompany.com.au/skin-care/100-natural-australian-jojoba/
Sunscreens with anti-aging
If you like a multi-use product, you can combine anti-aging with sunscreens. There are a number of products that combine anti-aging ingredients such as AHAs with broad-spectrum sunscreens. Ego’s Sun Sense is made in Australia and combines sunscreen with AHAs. It retails at under $20 for 100ml and is widely available in pharmacies. For the body you could try La Prairie’s Sun Protection Lotion with with SPF 30, it keeps skin hydrated and contains anti-oxidants to shield skin from premature aging effects.
Visit: http://au.strawberrynet.com/skincare/la-mer/the-reparative-body-sun-lotion/157734/#DETAIL
Organic Sunscreens
The protective blocking agent in organic sunscreen is either zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Some organic sunscreens have claimed to be chemical free however one of the main brands, Soleo Organics, recently published a retraction on its website for claims to being “chemical free” and “all natural”. The claim was in breach of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. However, the products still look like a good choice if you have sensitive skin and want to reduce your exposure to chemicals.
Visit: www.soleoorganics.com
Sensitive Skin
There are a number of sunscreens on the market with high SPF that will protect sensitive skin from the damaging affects of sun exposure. Clarins’ Sunscreen Care Milk-Lotion Spray has an SPF of 50 that protects from UVB and UVA rays. The lightweight spray offers high protection and is suitable for sensitive skin types.
Visit: http://www.au.shiseido.com/sc/product/view.asp?S=12572
Our Best Pick
Researching for this article has uncovered an excellent Australian made natural sunscreen that ticks all the boxes. UV Naturals has a short list of ingredients that we can understand, it’s not tested on animals, has a good amount of antioxidants and skin conditioning oils and is reasonably priced. My only criticism is that is can be greasy; however it also leaves you skin feeling gorgeous at the end of the day. The website isn’t as glamorous as others, but the information on the site is valuable. By the way did you know you should put on your sunscreen 25-30 minutes prior to going in the sun?
Visit: www.uvnatural.com/australia/indexaus.htm
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