In this day and age, most of us are being repeatedly reminded about the importance of sun protection, especially in the beauty industry. Studies are consistently proving that the sun is without a doubt the top cause of premature aging. Many of you are probably familiar with the story of William McElligott, the lorry driver. In case you are not, McElligott spent 28 years delivering milk around Chicago. Around the age of 66, the effects of having the right side of his face constantly exposed to sunlight were brought to the surface. However, the left side of his face had been protected by the shade inside the truck and therefore displayed the appearance of a younger man. The contrast between the sides of his face is exactly what makes it such a good example as in most cases, it’s difficult to know the cause. On the other hand, skincare is not the only reason that we should invest in suncare, but also that we would be massively reducing the risk of skin cancers.
Chemical Sunscreen
There are two types of sunscreen known as chemical and mineral (or physical) sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens protect the skin by a chemical reaction that turns the sun’s UV rays into heat once they have been absorbed which then evaporates whereas mineral sunscreens work to block the rays from penetrating the skin. Chemical sunscreens tend to be popular for their transparent and lightweight consistency. This does seem more convenient for everyday use as no one wants to wear a product that makes them look white and sticky. However, there are a few downsides to using chemical sunscreens that include environmental and health hazards. They have been found to cause allergic reactions to those with sensitive skin as well as hormone disturbances. After washing off our sunscreen it enters our waters which have been proving problematic for marine life such as causing impaired growth in green algae, defects in young muscles, and accumulates in dolphin tissue which is passed down to their offspring. If you are going to wear it anyway, it’s important to know that doctors have been suggesting against it during pregnancy.
Mineral Sunscreen
The good news is that the awareness against chemical sunscreens along with a rise in demand for suncare, in general, has been inspiring brands to create mineral sunscreens that don’t involve the heavy and sticky texture that makes us look like shiny ghosts. The active ingredients in mineral sunscreens are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which are both broad spectrum and don’t have the same harmful side effects like the ingredients in chemical sunscreens. According to the NHS, when choosing a sunscreen we should be looking for products that are at least factor 30, broad-spectrum meaning it protects against UVB & UVA rays (UVA should be in a circle as it indicates that it meets the EU standards), as well as ensuring that it hasn’t passed its expiry date. Some of the most favored mineral sunscreens currently trending include Pai’s Sensitive Skin Sunscreen, Avene Tinted Mineral Fluid, and Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion.
Innovation in Suncare
The importance of suncare is growing and as result, the demand is too. Brands are now beginning to create products accustomed to the strict expectation of the many consumers that are choosing to wear it all the time. For those who wear other products in the morning, adding sunscreen may seem too heavy. Brands are taking that into consideration by creating multi-functional sunscreens from anti-aging to moisturizing as well as tinted or including SPF in the foundation. There have also been a lot of questions raised about specialists advise on reapplying sunscreen every couple hours. It is common for most consumers to wear makeup every day which can massively interfere with the reapplication because no one is going to wash their faces and re-apply all their products every two hours. Sunscreen sprays are being deemed the best solution as the application is convenient and will not affect your makeup. Many complaints regarding the white residue of mineral sunscreen are voiced by those of us that it doesn’t even affect most; suncare brands, like other parts of the industry, have been quite dismissive about the needs of black people. Black Girl Sunscreen is a suncare brand offering solutions tailored to their skin specifically which includes a children’s section.
Despite setbacks of the pandemic, suncare in the beauty industry is still highly in demand due to the amount consumers that view it as a necessity regardless of the weather. There will be much less travel this summer which will likely affect this part of the industry to some extent, but at the same time, the awareness of using suncare is spreading fast not to again mention a lot of consumers that use it religiously.
