The dilemma with sunscreens today is that sunscreens that feel good on the skin (i.e. aren't greasy, heavy, etc.) usually don't offer the best protection and sunscreens that offer the best protection usually don't feel that great. This occurs because sunscreen actives all have different properties. A physical UV blocker like zinc oxide has great stability, low skin irritation, and protects well against UVA and UVB rays. However, it is also thick, white, and heavy, so a sunscreen with those qualities will just not be as cosmetically elegant. It will feel heavy on the skin and when you apply the right amount in order to get the best protection, it might leave your face with a white cast. Therefore, sunscreen manufacturers are continually trying to make the most protective and cosmetically elegant sunscreen. To achieve this seemingly impossible coexistence, they have turned to using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles are exactly what they sound like they are - super small, nano-sized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Sunscreens with these nanoparticle agents are also known as nano-sunscreens or nanotechnology sunscreens. The nanoparticles themselves are often referred to as nano-ingredients, nanoscale zinc and titanium, nano zinc, or nano titanium. Smaller particle sized sunscreens may also be called micro-mineral sunscreens, ultra-fine sunscreens, or micronized sunscreens. The smaller particles themselves can be labeled as micronized zinc, micronized titanium dioxide, or micro-sized particles. (Note: "Nano" and "micronized" sunscreens are often grouped together. When nanoparticles first started being used in sunscreen, skin care companies jumped on the new trend. But when safety concerns about nano sunscreens surfaced (more on that below), skin care companies sought to distinguish their smaller particle sized sunscreens (if they weren't nanosunscreens) from nanoparticles by calling them "micro" or "micronized" sunscreens. Theoretically, micro-sized particles are bigger than nano-sized particles and therefore not a safety issue since micronized particles are less penetrating to the skin.
However, some studies have shown there to be nanoparticles in sunscreens that claim to only have micronized particles, so things are still questionable.) Regular zinc oxide and titanium dioxide UV filters are already stable, offer good sun protection, and generally don't cause any skin irritation. The main complaint with these physical UV blockers is that they just don't feel or look good on skin. This is why the actives are being micronized. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles tend to leave much less white residue than regular zinc oxide and titanium dioxide while still retaining the ability to protect against UVA and UVB rays in their respective ranges. So what's the problem with them? The problem with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles is that they may promote the generation of free radicals when exposed to sunlight, which damage and age your skin. More research must be done on this, but the nanoparticles are usually coated, or microencapsulated, with a strong substance to decrease this kind of reaction.
The other safety concern about nanoparticles in sunscreen is how much of the nanoparticles are being absorbed by your skin. Because of their miniscule particle size, potentially unsafe amounts of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles may make their way into your bloodstream and body organs from your skin. Research seems to show that nano zinc is somewhat safer than nano titanium though. Zinc nanoparticles appear to be processed like a zinc supplement, however how titanium dioxide nanoparticles are processed remains unknown. There is no conclusive evidence yet, so more research must be done. Because the technology in using nanoparticles in sunscreen is so new and because there are potential safety risks associated with these nanoparticles, it is probably best to stay away from sunscreens with these nano-sized and micronized actives until their safety of use can be definitively determined. Nanoparticle actives in sunscreen usually refer to nanoparticle sized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
They are the next generation of sunscreen UV actives, but whether or not they will replace regular zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as commonplace UV blockers is still to be determined.The requested URL /fulltext/?doi=pjbs.2013.601.609&org=11 was not found on this server.A lot of our customers would probably wonder why we have chosen to make and use an SPF 15 Moisturiser rather than an SPF 50 Sunscreen. There are many SPF 30 and SPF 50 sunscreens around to choose, so we will explain why we have made an SPF 15 natural moisturiser instead. We chose to use 19% Zinc Oxide only in a natural moisturiusing base. Could MooGoo make an SPF 50 Sunscreen Please? We get asked this all the time. We could make SPF 50 just like any other company. The full formula for SPF 50 is something like below when all ingredients are listed in order of weight. In Australia, sunscreens are not required to list all of the ingredients. We have decided not too make this but have shown a sunscreen formula so people are able to research typical ingredients for themselves.
Ingredients in order of Weight for typical SPF 30/50 Suncreen: Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethyl Trisiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dibutyl Adipate, Ethanol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Water, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol, Butylene Glycol"I would like to see all ingredients listed on all my skin care products so I can research what best suits me." SPF Rating and % of UV Radiation Protected A higher SPF rating requires a lot more sunscreen chemical for diminishing returns. SPF 15 blocks 93% while SPF 30 blocks 97%. SPF 15 means that for someone that would typically burn within 15 minutes of direct sun, it should take 4 hours when protected by SPF 15. SPF 30 would take 8 hours of sun. The amount of protection in reality depends upon both the SPF rating and the thickness or amount which is applied. (The other way to argue this is that SPF 15 allows 7% of UV through, while SPF 30 allows 3%, so a reduction of 50%.
It depends how you do the maths.) There are two main types of sunscreens. Firstly natural sunscreens that use Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide as a physical barrier that reflect the sun. The second type use "UV Filters" that absorb high energy UV radiation and emit low energy radiation. Like a hat or shade, a cream containing the Zinc Oxide reflects the UV radiation away. Most Zinc Oxide barriers block both UVB and UVA. Zinc Oxide would normally be white on the skin. We use a special type of Zinc Oxide that is made here in Australia that is dispersed within Jojoba Oil which helps make it clear and non-greasy. These are various chemicals that absorb high energy UV radiation and re-emit it as low radiation. Sunscreens are "therapeutic products" and so their safety or efficacy cannot be questioned. The way to get information is to spend 15 minutes doing your own research to help choose the right sunscreen for you. Wikipedia, although not always accurate, has a very good page on sunscreen and well worth getting the facts.
Try and read at least from half way down the page. Link to Wikipedia on Sunscreen here. This article is also good, although personally we don’t necessarily think it is good to wear sunscreen every single day, but each to their own. (Bear in mind that up to 2/3rds of Australians are Vitamin D deficient. Only around 15 minutes of sunshine is required 2-3 times a week for the average person to obtain correct amounts of Vitamin D). We have chosen only to use non-nano zinc oxide in a cream that is designed to be a natural moisturizer. We also wanted a natural non-greasy cream that can be used on infants and adults every day. This is personally what we prefer to use at home. But making a cream this way does mean some compromise in the amount of SPF that can be achieved. SPF 15 will provide protection for 4 hours for someone who would normally burn in 15 minutes. Because it is based on the Full Cream moisturiser, it is very healthy for the skin, not packed with chemicals.
It is of course perfect for babies. The sunscreen actives are Ecocert approved, meaning approved for use in organic products. Is the Zinc Nano Particle Free?Nano particles are particles of under 100 nano meters in size. When Zinc is made, it is ground down so that there will be a range of particle sizes and then an average size determined. Under previous regulations, the Zinc we use was declared non-nano and the particle size was considered quite large which is why we chose it. Under new European Union guildeines which will come into force during 2013, a different sort of measurement using Transmission Electron Microscopy is to be used. This measures the holes within the Zinc particles. Under this measurement, all clear and invisible Zinc will be considered as containing nano-particles. This is not only for us, but as far as we know at the moment it will affect all suppliers of clear and invisible Zinc. This presents difficult choices. For our personal use, of the 3 options we will continue to choose clear Zinc as a healthy form of sun protection without looking pasty white.
We would prefer it to still be classed as non-nano, but compared to UV filters this is our preference. However we understand everyone has different opinions and there are many different brands catering to all preferences or avoiding the sun altogether. Is it Broad Spectrum?The supplier of the Zinc advertises that it provides broad spectrum protection. Just apply the cream as a moisturiser before going into the sun. All natural products should be patch tested before use. Perfect for infants as well as adults. Hi, I received your order the other day and yesterday my son and I went to play group with an animal show and then water themed activities outside in the sun with 32 deg temps. I covered my 2year old and myself with Coverup buttercup and I am totally amazed with the results. Being an SPF 15+ I was not sure. We were out in the sun and water for almost two hours and neither of us got burnt or even red. It was lovely to put on being a moisturiser, and it soaked in and I loved using it on my son knowing they consisted of edible ingredients.