Best Sunscreen Ingredients

Sunscreen is important. So important, it should be part of your daily routine. However, choosing a sunscreen you know will be safe when you use every day isn’t easy.

Just look at this list of sunscreen ingredients approved by the FDA:

Aminobenzoic acid, Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX), Ensulizole (Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid), Homosalate, Meradimate (Menthyl Anthranilate), Octocrylene, Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate), Octisalate (Octyl Salicylate), Oxybenzone, Padimate O, Sulisobenzone, Trolamine salicylate, Titanium dioxide, and Zinc oxide.

Some of those things sound scary, without even knowing what they are.

With so many active ingredients, how do you know which ones are the best choice?

I can help you with this dilemma. While there are many active ingredient options to choose from, there are specific things to consider when seeking the best sunscreen ingredients.

Sunscreen ingredients work in different ways

Sunscreen active ingredients can be broken down into two categories: chemical and physical.

Here’s the big difference:

• Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s UV rays as they reach your skin
• Physical sunscreens reflect the UV rays before they reach your skin

So chemical sunscreens dissipate the sun’s dangerous radiation in your skin while physical sunscreens act like a mirrored suit of armour, preventing most of the dangerous radiation from ever touching your skin.

Does one of those sound better to you?

Physical is better than chemical

The type of protection physical sunscreens offer is superior, but there are other important differences.

There is reason to believe that chemical sunscreens can be unhealthy. There is even evidence that some chemical sunscreens interfere with your hormones. Surely, you don’t want that for yourself or your loved ones (this can be especially damaging if you have a skin condition).

The worst of these ingredients is called oxybenzone. The EWG reports that oxybenzone causes cellular changes and endocrine disruption, and has been reported to contaminate the bodies of 97% of Americans.

Despite concerns from the FDA, oxybenzone is still legal and is used in some of the most commercially popular sunscreen brands available (this is why you should stick to only the best brands of sunscreen). Chances are you or someone you know has unknowingly used this dangerous chemical in a sunscreen.

What about hybrid sunscreens, you ask? The ones that contain both physical and chemical active ingredients. Yes, you will come across many hybrid sunscreens during your search. While they are not the worst option, if you have access to a purely physical sunscreen, it’s always a better choice.

There are many reasons, in addition to safety, to choose physical sunscreens over chemical ones, as well. Listen to this and think about it – physical sunscreens:

• Work immediately upon application
• Last longer on the skin
• Are less likely to cause irritation
• Have a longer shelf life

Based on all this, it seems like a no-brainer. The best ingredients for sunscreen will be physical.

That narrows our FDA-approved list down a bit:

Aminobenzoic acid, Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX), Ensulizole (Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid), Homosalate, Meradimate (Menthyl Anthranilate), Octocrylene, Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate), Octisalate (Octyl Salicylate), Oxybenzone, Padimate O, Sulisobenzone, Trolamine salicylate, Titanium dioxide, and Zinc oxide.

So which of our two remaining is the best ingredient in sunscreen?

Zinc oxide

For any purpose, zinc oxide sunscreen is one of the best sunscreen ingredients available. This is because zinc oxide protects against the full range of UVA and UVB rays. That means optimal broad spectrum protection!

Using zinc oxide as the active ingredient in your sunscreen will provide you with more than just the peace of mind that you’re getting great broad spectrum protection. Zinc oxide is a natural mineral that is safe and gentle enough for use on all skin types. This means that even if you have sensitive skin, you’ll be able to use a zinc oxide sunscreen daily.

You may even reap added benefits while protecting your skin from the sun’s UV rays, as zinc oxide is also often used for its healing properties.

The only thing to keep in mind when you choose sunscreens with zinc oxide as an active ingredient, is that they are likely to leave you with a white cast or white marks on your skin.

Think of it as the mark of proper protection!

Titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide is your second best choice of active ingredient for sunscreen. You can even find many sunscreens which use a combination of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Another natural mineral, titanium dioxide will also leave a chalky look on your skin. Luckily, many sunscreens with titanium dioxide work well under makeup so you can also cover up the white cast, if you prefer.

The main downside to titanium dioxide compared to zinc oxide is that it doesn’t protect against the full UVA/UVB spectrum.

It has no effect on UVA1 radiation (the longest wavelength UV radiation).

This is why sunscreens that have titanium dioxide should include zinc oxide as well – to ensure complete protection is offered (like in a sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide).

Conclusion

Hopefully after reading this guide, you’re able to say that you have learned more about the best sunscreen ingredients.

The main thing to remember is that you want to choose physical sunscreens. The physical sunscreens you find will give you a choice of zinc oxide, or a combination of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Ultimately, the choice of sunscreen is yours. Make sure to consider your unique skin type and lifestyle when searching for the right sunscreen.

And before you make a final decision, it is best if you test out a few products. You want to be sure to choose one that will interact well with your skin and fit seamlessly into your daily routine.

Now start searching for the best sunscreen that will protect your skin!