Choosing to use Organic Sunblock

A Child embraces organic goodness

Organic sunblock has to be the very best choice of sunblock, although natural sunblock is probably a better term. 

There are so many sunblocks out there that contain toxic synthetic chemicals that are responsible for many different ailments, from allergic reactions to the more serious complications like cancer!

Although many people automatically assume that sunblocks shouldn't contain any unhealthy synthetic or chemical sun filters, the reality is that many do. If you choose a pure mineral sunscreen to protect your skin, like zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide, you are off to a good start.

Zinc oxide is becoming a favourite for those seeking best protection from a pure, clean ingredient - see the table below showing its broad protection capabilities. 

Beyond this, many organic sunblocks will contain botanical or organic plant ingredients, which will nurture the skin at the same time as protecting the skin.

What to look for in an effective organic sunblock

One of the great advantages of choosing to use a sunblock that is truly natural and organic is its ability to provide the skin with not just protection, but ingredients that boost the health of the skin. Many who choose organic products for their skin also do so because it tends to be gentler and less likely to cause a bad skin reaction or rash.

So become more savvy about the ingredients contained in your sun block.

As a rule look for a sunscreen product that lists all the ingredients used, as although this is not required by law in every country today, it shows a commitment to transparency and integrity. If you can read the label without a magnifying glass that is!

All chemical sunscreen actives are specifically designed to penetrate the skin. It helps to know just how toxic they are or not.

Start with knowing which ones to avoid, as with these commonly used toxic sunblock ingredients: 

• Benzophenones
• Oxybenzones
• Avobenzones
• Octinoxates
• Octocrylenes
• Salicylates
• Homosalates
• Cinnamates

Beyond these ingredients to avoid, use these points for further guidance in your choice. 

Preservative - Avoid parabens as preservatives

Fragrance or colouring - If you are going to go organic, there are so many gorgeous 100% natural plant or flower-based fragrances and/or color for sunblocks to use

Look for zinc oxide 
Although not technically organic in the sunscreen world, zinc oxide is 100% natural and has been used in the cosmetic market for a long time for healing purposes, especially on babies for nappy rash, so is known for its great safety record. This choice will also ensure good protection from both UVA and UVB rays as seen in the table above

Organic sunblocks with added Botanicals and Antioxidants

Antioxidant tree of life

Increasingly you will find plant-based ingredients being incorporated more and more into sun protection. e.g. green tea extract. Mostly, these plant extracts offer excellent antioxidant properties that bolster our own natural systems to guard against free radical damage, but they are typically really complex and provide for so much more.

Protect, repair and restore skin.

Use of botanical extracts allows us to harness nature's own amazing power to protect, restore and repair our skin. Products that make use of actual plant constituents, as well as preserving the unrefined and natural characteristics of these plants, provide interesting healing properties. Modern scientific analysis of these plant constituents reveal an extraordinary source of antioxidants, vitamins, enzymes and proteins. Many also have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-septic properties.

Greater bio-availability.

The other advantage of using products directly from the plant source is their greater bio-availability as well as their compatibility with living cells. This is in direct contrast to the synthetic chemicals introduced through patented cosmetic formulas that are usually registered by our bodies as being alien or toxic to our system.

With all of this in mind, organic sunblocks not only tend to be safer and less toxic to our bodies, they are less toxic to the environment too.