Consumers are realizing that the sunscreen they grew up with isn’t all it’s cracked up to be for both the environment and their own health. As everyday knowledge about the harms of solar radiation expands, people are eager to find products that keep their skin safe from ultraviolet rays, reduce the signs of aging, and avoid adverse side effects.
Though many brands have responded by removing some harmful chemicals from their formulas, many still use industrial chemicals which consumers (and sometimes regulators) worry about. In fact, more people are wondering “is mineral sunscreen better than chemical sunscreen?” If your formula includes seaweed, then you can tell them ‘yes’.
Reduced Carcinogens
Do skin cells absorb sunscreen materials? For a long time, it’s been known there are carcinogens available in certain sunscreen products. Though many companies have tried to segue away from harmful chemicals, a recent study identified that as many as 27% of their samples included detectable benzene, a carcinogen for humans, and some products even contained “three times the conditionally restricted FDA concentration limit of 2 parts per million.” Benzene is only one of the potential chemical issues. There are other UV filters such as oxybenzone and homosalate are often used in concentrations that exceed the safe amount for human usage.
On the other hand, natural sunscreen with natural minerals like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, organic compounds are acknowledged to physically block solar radiation in ways that reduce or eliminate risk to human beings. Plus, there is research into ways that certain amino acids can contribute to the effectiveness of these sunscreens. Palythine, an amino acid extracted from seaweed, absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays while also acting as an antioxidant repairing skin cells simultaneously. Even some research points to using seaweed’s fucoidan for cancer treatments, reducing the threat of other environmental carcinogens as it deflects UV rays.
Better for the Ecosystem
Though chemical UV filters protect skin from solar radiation, they aren’t so beneficial to the wellbeing of oceanic ecosystems. When these chemicals enter the water table and make their way out to the ocean, they have a disruptive impact on coral reefs. The chemicals can cause coral bleaching, which puts coral tissue under stress and make it more likely for them to die prematurely.
As a natural part of marine ecosystems, seaweed is a perfect ingredient for environmentally friendly sunscreen. The mycosporine-like amino acid palythine is non-toxic when included in sunscreen products and is eco-compatible when washed off the skin. For consumers worried about how sunscreen impacts the living world, mineral sunscreen that uses seaweed is safe throughout the entire lifecycle.
Looking for more ways that seaweed-based mineral sunscreen is better than chemical products? Or want to learn the further uses of seaweed? Check out webinar The Secrets of Seaweed.
Check out our webinar
Related Articles
Let the Sun Shine! Why Seaweed Is the Key to Environmentally Friendly Sunscreen
4 Benefits of Seaweed Skincare Products Your Customers Want
New Research Shows the Ingredients You Put in Your Sunscreen Matters