We are all on board with the SPF. We know it's one of the most important factors when looking at how our skin ages (or doesn't) and skin health. Countless beauty gurus, dermatologists, and Drs sing about the benefits of everyday use. This should be a beauty no-brainer - find a formula you like and slather copious amounts on face and exposed limbs every day, rain or shine.
However, a recent backlash has emerged, and sunscreen ingredients' safety has been under scrutiny. They are being investigated for their safety to your health, hormones and the planet. As a result, SPF has suddenly become a complicated quest.
"The safety of sunscreen ingredients is subject to ongoing research and regulatory evaluation," a UK board-certified dermatologist, Dr Chaudhry of Scandinavian Biolabs, says.
Adding, "Certain ingredients in sunscreens are believed to be harmful to human health and the environment. Common ones to avoid are oxybenzone and octinoxate, suspected of disrupting the endocrine system, and retinyl palmitate, which could accelerate skin damage and cancer when exposed to the sun. These substances can interfere with the normal function of hormones in your body. For instance, oxybenzone is believed to mimic estrogen, leading to an excess of this hormone, which can disrupt normal bodily processes. When applying sunscreen, these chemicals can get into your body through your skin."
Crucially more tests are on-going – but according to EWG (Environmental Working Group), some of the chemicals and ingredients in sun cream have been reported in 'breast milk, urine and blood plasma samples and sunscreen users can inhale ingredients in sunscreen sprays and ingest some of the ingredients they apply to their lips,' So really – you are what you eat when it comes to choosing an SPF – so choose wisely.
