This is how you recognize natural, good sunscreen

2023-05-19 Angela Ursem

Zo herken je natuurlijke, goede zonnebrand

There's been a lot of discussion about sunscreen lately. On social media, stories are going around claiming it's better not to apply sunscreen because it could give you skin cancer. That's not correct! The risk of skin cancer is greater if you stay unprotected in the sun. It is important to pay attention to what you protect your skin with, and of course to sunbathe responsibly.

Good sunscreen without chemical substances

You can choose from two types of UV protection: sun protection with mineral filters (also called physical filters) or with synthetically produced filters and substances (oxybenzone, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate, etc.).

Sunscreen with mineral filters places a thin layer on the skin, which reflects the sun so it can't penetrate your skin. This means the risk of an allergic skin reaction is minimal. Synthetic filters (also called chemical filters) sink into your skin, and the UV radiation is therefore partly absorbed into your skin. The skin reaction that occurs there wards off the UV radiation. The downside of these filters is that they can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive skin. This video from nu.nl explains the difference again in 60 seconds.

Natural sunscreen

Food for Skin sun protection contains only mineral filters. The main ingredient of our sunscreen is zinc oxide. Zinc places a thin layer on the skin, which reflects the sun so it can't penetrate your skin. This means the risk of an (allergic) skin reaction is minimal. Another advantage of a sunscreen without a synthetic filter is that, because the mineral filter sits as a thin layer on top of the skin, no absorption time is needed, so you're protected immediately.

Natural sunscreen without white cast

Until a few years ago, sunscreens with mineral filters often left a white layer on your skin. Fortunately, the technology has kept improving, and Food for Skin now uses a mineral filter that does reflect the sun but doesn't leave a white cast. Through extensive research in collaboration with our laboratory, we created an amazingly beautiful formula, containing, among other things, blueberry seed oil, kakadu plum seed oil, and raspberry seed oil, and developed our sunscreen that leaves no white cast, not even after swimming. We do recommend always reapplying after swimming.

For makers of natural sunscreen, it remains a challenge to create a factor 50 that applies smoothly, doesn't turn white, and doesn't clog your pores. Because a thicker cream with a lot of zinc is more likely to cause clogged pores, and therefore possibly pimples.

In any case, it's important to cleanse your skin thoroughly in the evening if you've used sunscreen. You can do this with the Food for Skin Carrot Cleanser, combined with the washcloth, so you remove dead skin cells right away and cleanse the pores properly. Afterwards, care for your skin with a very mild serum that softens and repairs your skin, for example the Food for Skin Cucumber Serum.

Vegan sunscreen

All Food for Skin products are vegan, sustainable, and cruelty-free, and contain no microplastics, perfume, or parabens.

Coral-friendly sunscreen

Always look for sunscreen free of Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. These ingredients make coral and marine life sick. That's why more and more countries are banning these substances, but be aware: not nearly everywhere yet! It's also good to check whether it says non-nano and uncoated. This means there are no nano particles that could still penetrate your skin or the coral.

Sunscreen without harmful substances

There are manufacturers who - to prevent a white cast - make the zinc particles so small that they can penetrate your skin. These are called nanoparticles. Some manufacturers also apply a chemical/synthetic layer around the zinc particles (coating), to make it easier to apply. Make sure your product is non-nano and uncoated. If this isn't stated, you can assume it's a product with nanoparticles.

Natural sunscreen for the face

Besides the fact that Food for Skin's sun protection uses only natural and vegan ingredients, it also contains various substances that keep the skin balanced: antioxidants to ward off outside influences, moisturizers that help keep moisture in the skin, and substances that help repair the skin. So besides protection, the SPF30 nourishes with ingredients from nature. This makes the sunscreen suitable for both body and face.

Shelf life of sunscreen

Check the packaging to see how long your sunscreen, and therefore the SPF, remains effective after opening. The SPF decreases once it comes into contact with oxygen. For Food for Skin SPF30, this is 12 months. The SPF really does decrease after 12 months, so pay close attention to this.

Best natural sunscreen

In summary, here are 10 tips to look out for when buying natural, sustainable, and well-caring sun protection:

Choose a mineral filter, such as the SPF30 from Food for Skin.
Choose a non-nano and uncoated product, so it can't penetrate either your skin or marine life.
Choose at least factor 30.
Choose a water-resistant product, so you also have protection in the water.
Choose a 'clean' product, without perfume, microplastics, or hormone-disrupting substances. You can read how to check the ingredients of your skincare here.
Choose an SPF enriched with antioxidants to ward off harmful substances from outside.
Check whether your product protects against UVA (against skin aging and cancer) and UVB (against sunburn). This must be indicated on the packaging
Scan your sunscreen for microplastics with the PlasticFreeFuture app (formerly BTMB).
Choose sustainable packaging, such as 100% PCR (post-consumer-recycled: this is plastic that has already been recycled).
Check the expiry date and don't use sunscreen that has been open for longer than 12 months.

Frequently asked questions about natural sunscreen

What sunscreen do dermatologists recommend?

Dermatologists recommend a sunscreen with at least SPF30 and broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB radiation. Which sunscreen is best for you depends, among other things, on your skin. For sensitive skin, a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide can be a good choice. The Food for Skin SPF30 uses non-nano zinc oxide as a mineral UV filter and is fragrance-free.

What is the most natural sunscreen?

Natural sunscreen usually refers to sunscreen that uses mineral UV filters, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These filters protect the skin from UV radiation. Our sunscreen is a 100% natural, mineral sunscreen based on non-nano zinc oxide, supplemented with vegetable oils and antioxidants.

What makes natural sunscreen unique?

Natural sunscreens typically use mineral filters such as zinc oxide instead of organic UV filters. A mineral sunscreen can be particularly pleasant for people with sensitive skin. More important than the 'natural' label is ultimately that a sunscreen offers sufficient protection against both UVA and UVB radiation and that you apply it sufficiently and regularly.

Which sunscreen is best without harmful ingredients?

There is no scientifically substantiated list that can simply divide sunscreens into 'harmful' and 'non-harmful'. If you want to make an informed choice, focus on effective UVA and UVB protection, a minimum SPF of 30, and a formula that suits your skin.

Are all natural sunscreens safe and effective?

No, the word 'natural' in itself says nothing about how well a sunscreen protects. Always look at the SPF and protection against both UVA and UVB radiation. Even a natural sunscreen must be well formulated and tested to offer the stated protection. So, natural does not automatically mean better: good UV protection always comes first.

Is there an alternative to sunscreen?

Yes, sunscreen is just one component of good sun protection. Seeking shade, avoiding the midday sun, and covering your skin with clothing, a hat, and sunglasses will help reduce your exposure to UV radiation. For skin that is not covered, sunscreen with at least SPF30 remains important. So, do not see sunscreen as the only protection, but as part of responsible sun exposure.

About the author

Written by Angela Ursem, co-founder of Food for Skin.

From Food for Skin, I write about natural skincare, ingredients, and transparency in cosmetics. Not to make it sound better than it is, but to better explain what you're actually looking at when you buy a product.