Long-term sun damage to the skin, known to dermatologists as ‘photoageing’, accounts for about 90% of the signs of skin ageing.

That’s right! The sun accounts for about 90% of the signs of skin ageing.

The effects of sunlight, specifically ultraviolet (UV) light, include damage to skin cells and their DNA.

Damaged cells cannot perform to their full potential which results in reduced cellular output.

When fibroblasts (which make our collagen and elastin) are damaged, production of these proteins is reduced.

This ultimately leads to fine lines, wrinkles, thinned skin, decreased elasticity, larger pores and worsening of acne scaring.

Irregular pigmentation, age spots and visible vessels are also physical presentations of photodamage.

Why Do UV Rays Damage Our Skin?

Despite common misconceptions, this damage does not occur exclusively through tanning and sunburn.

The UV rays that burn us (UVB rays) are blocked by clouds and windows so only pose risk to the skin when you are outside on a sunny day.

The UV rays that tan and age us are UVA rays.

They make up 95% of the UV rays that reach the earth and pass through clouds and windows, saturating the skin and posing a threat to skin health 365 days a year.

Hence the huge percentage of ageing accounted for by unprotected sun exposure.

Can You Tell Someones Age By How Much Sun Damage They Have?

If 90% of the signs of skin ageing is caused by daily sunlight, simple mathematics suggests that an aged person who has never worn sunscreen would (at any time of life) look 1/10th as old if they had used a sunscreen every day.

Despite this staggering fact, it is commonly reported during aesthetic consultations that patients reserve sunscreen application for situations in which they might get sunburnt, specifically the beach.

This flawed approach to sunscreen is arguably the sole reason behind the skin characteristics that help us guess a person’s age by decade.

In general, you can identify people in their 40’s by a common percentage of the signs of aging mentioned above, this is the same with 60-year olds and 80-year olds.

What if everyone started wearing an effective sunscreen that blocked UVA and UVB rays from today onwards?

Would today’s tweens look like today’s 50 something’s on their 50th birthdays? Or could we change the landscape of aging as we know it?

What would 50-year-olds look like as a collective in 40 years time if we were able to prevent 90% of the signs of skin ageing between now and then?

Why You Wouldn’t Want To Wear A Daily Sunscreen

Common objections to daily sunscreens include “it’s greasy” and “it makes me break out”. These concerns relate to chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone and octinoxate .

Chemical sunscreens are linked in an ever-growing body of scientific evidence to limited efficacy in sun protection.

In the main, chemical sunscreen filters only protect you against UVB rays and breakdown within about two hours, reducing your protection further.

They have also been linked to toxic loading in the human body and damage to our coral reefs.

What Are The Benefits Of Zinc Oxide In Sunscreen?

Zinc oxide offers broad-spectrum protection. This means it protects your skin against UVB and UVA all year round.

It has exceptional photostability which means it doesn’t break down in the presence of UV radiation and offers protection throughout the day.

Furthermore, zinc oxide poses no risk to coral reefs or human health when applied topically and it allows the skin to breathe, so it doesn’t cause breakouts.

The efficacy and safety profile of zinc oxide is unparalleled and it is, therefore, the dermatologists’ go-to ingredient for sun protection.

There has been much ado about mineral sunscreens and all that buzz needs to be heeded. Why? Simply because the chemicals that are found in chemical sunscreens seep into our bloodstream.

Yes, you read that right.

Why Are Chemical Sunscreens Bad For Your Body?

A recent study by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) confirmed this fact.

According to the FDA, if a sunscreen chemical exceeds a blood concentration of 0.5ng/mL, this indicates potential concerns with that ingredient.

Therefore, it should undergo further “nonclinical toxicology assessment including systemic carcinogenicity and additional developmental and reproductive studies.”

The FDA study included 24 healthy participants with a medium age of 35 years. They were divided into four subgroups with each group trying a specific form of chemical sunscreen: two sprays, one lotion, and one cream.

Researchers applied sunscreen on the participants four times a day for four days and collected 30 blood samples over a seven-day period.

The results were astounding.

Blood concentrations greater than 0.5ng/mL were found for all chemical sunscreen ingredients that were tested, including avobenzone, oxybenzone, and octocrylene.

And this was just after the first day of application.

Why should we care? For starters, because the thought of having chemicals seep into your bloodstream is unnerving.

Especially when it concerns a product that should be used daily to protect your skin from the harmful UVB and UVA rays.

 

Is there a safer alternative To Chemical Sunscreens?

The simple answer is yes!

Go for sunscreens containing zinc oxide and or titanium oxide, these physical filters reflect the suns rays acting as a shield’

These are mineral based and completely free from any of these chemical which means nothing is absorbed in to the bloodstream.

A much safer alternative to be using everyday to prevent premature aging.

 

Every time you do your morning skincare routine, you have one choice: use an effective, broad-spectrum, mineral sunscreen to defend against skin damage by the sun, or don’t and allow the damage to happen.

Do your 10-year-into-the-future self a favour; prevent up to 90% of the signs of skin aging between now and then by using an physical sunscreen every day.

So as the suns powerful UV rays account for 90% of skin aging it’s important for us to protect our skin every day as part of our skincare regime.

The good news is YES!! Natural mineral sunscreens provide a physical barrier from harmful UVA and UVB and don’t degrade anywhere near as quickly or as easily as the harmful chemicals used in chemical sunscreens.

But you probably want to know what is the best natural sunscreen for the face as your going to want to use it every day.

You don’t want to use anything that will have that chalky white appearance or have that greasy feel you often get with sunscreen yet still get a good all day protection.

 

Why Are Chemical Sunscreens So Bad?

The chemicals used in chemical sunscreens absorb into the body and can be found in urine samples, breast milk and blood samples.

Chemical sunscreens include octinoxate, avobenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate and octocrylene.

Octinoxate and oxybenzone are both endocrine disruptions, meaning that they negatively affect hormones.

Oxybenzone along with octocrylene, avobenzone and PABA are associated with allergic skin rashes.

Octinoxate and oxybenzone are also environmental contaminants since they have been found to contribute to coral bleaching when washed off in the ocean.

 

Chemical sunscreens penetrate into the skin and absorb most UV radiation, converting it to heat energy.

Chemical filters are changed by this process in that they break down, reducing their UV protection.

In addition, the change in chemical composition also releases free radicals.

Why Are Mineral Sunscreens Better Than Chemical Sunscreens?

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are natural minerals that sit on top of the skin and work by reflecting, scattering and absorbing UV rays.

They are also known as “physical barriers” which means that, contrary to their chemical counterparts, they don’t enter the skin.

Mineral sunscreens are broad-spectrum, protecting the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Chemical sunscreens offer an either/or scenario because they can’t adequately block both types of rays.

According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, those with sensitive skin should opt for “chemical-free” sunscreens to avoid skin irritation.

Mineral sunscreens contain no chemicals and, therefore, are ideally suited for all skin types including sensitive skin.

With mineral sunscreen’s broad-spectrum protection and chemical-free ingredients, you can practice safe sun with a solid peace of mind.

My Top Choices

The Best Natural Tinted Sunscreen For Acne Prone/Oily Skin

I love AlumierMD’s Moisture Matte, it comes in 3 different shades and the coverage is great!

 

The Best Natural Anti Ageing Tinted Sunscreen With Antioxidant Protection

It has to be the Sheer Hydration Versatile tint.

This one really does have it all!

It will protect your skin from UVA and UVB as well as being able to neutralised free radicals but it doesn’t stop there!

You can also expect a beautiful shine free glow with its universal blendable tint. (also available in untinted)

 

The Best Sensitive Skin & Acne Prone Skin

Clear Shield SPF is non comodegenic meaning it won’t clog your pores, it is oil free and a lovely lieght weight formula making it the perfect choice for blemish prone skin.

It also has calming and redness reducing ingredients making it great for sensitive rosacea skin types.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

I hope you’ve found your perfect daily sunscreen in my list above, whilst we all want to slow down the aging process we should also remember the importance of protecting our skin against skin cancers.

UVA is present at the same strength all year round regardless of whether its a dull cloudy day or a hot summer day, it can even penetrate glass.

UVA has a longer wavelength so it penetrates the deeper layers of our skin which is why it is responsible for aging as it’s within these deeper layers where our collagen is made.

The deepest layer in our epidermis is the basal layer hence basal cell carcinoma, protect your skin from the sun every day as part of your skin care regime and prevent premature aging and skin cancer.