Why Using A Natural Sunscreen Matters

Have you made the switch to natural sunscreen?

These days, we’re all collectively paying more attention to what we’re putting in and on our bodies. Maybe you’ve set a goal to drink more water this year, or you’re committed to a morning and nighttime skin care routine; but have you made the switch to natural sunscreen?

Skin care experts say that sunscreen is one of the most important ways in which we can protect the long-term health of our skin – preventing damage and signs of premature aging later in life. Dermatologist Anna Chien says in this article that for day-to-day use, we should choose a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30, and she offers tips for additional protective measures when spending time in the great outdoors, like wearing a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and other protective clothing, and seeking shade when possible.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) encourages us to make sunscreen part of our outdoors routine, and shares the following tips when it comes to ingredients to avoid:

1. Some sunscreens prevent sunburn but not other types of skin damage. Make sure yours offers broad spectrum protection
2. Avoid oxybenzone, a synthetic estrogen that penetrates the skin and can disrupt the hormone system. Look for products with zinc oxide, 3 percent avobenzone or Mexoryl SX. They protect skin from harmful UVA radiation
3. Pick a good sunscreen. Choose products that provide broad spectrum, long-lasting protection, with ingredients that pose fewer health concerns when absorbed by the body

We’re excited to introduce you to our Sun Guard SPF-30 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, as part of our health and wellness promise and a further commitment to natural whenever possible.

The key ingredient in natural sunscreen

Our Sun Guard is a safe, natural and effective alternative to synthetic sunscreens. This protective product was formulated to help prevent sunburn and is an SPF 30 broad-spectrum – that means it has the ability to protect the skin from exposure to both UVA and UVB rays. Our formula supports ease of application and quick absorption to allow for extra fun in the sun!

The key ingredient in Sun Guard is zinc oxide, which occurs naturally as the mineral zincite. Zinc oxide is very effective when used in sunscreen, as it performs as an exceptionally protective barrier, reducing skin’s exposure to irritants and acting as a barrier to UV light. Often referred to as a non-nano particle, this means that it sits on the skin’s surface, and will not be absorbed into the bloodstream as the particles are too large to enter into the skin, making it a safe active ingredient in natural sunscreens.

Sun Guard has been recognized in both Canada and the United States as a product deemed safe and effective as an alternative to synthetic sunscreen. In Canada, this product is recognized as a Natural Health Product (NHP) and has been assigned a Natural Product Number (NPN), whereas in the United States it is recognized as an Over The Counter (OTC), for goods sold directly to consumers without requiring a prescription from a healthcare professional.

Other important ingredients in natural sunscreen

Aside from zinc oxide, Sun Guard contains a number of highly efficacious ingredients when it comes to sun protection. Let’s look at a few other ingredients included in the formulation:

1. Sea Buckthorn: restorative, chock full of vitamins A & E, sea buckthorn is also rich in carotenoids and omega 3 & 6; it’s studied to be effective at preventing long-term cumulative sun damage
2. Vitamin E: promotes skin’s natural ability to heal, is high in antioxidants, helps promote blocking free radicals from the body and preventing premature aging
3. Calendula: nourishing and helps to plump the outer layers of skin for balance and suppleness, antioxidants help protect collagen and elastin in the skin
4. Olive Oil: antioxidant rich, moisturizing and skin protective
5. Carrot Seed Oil: nurturing, protective, restorative and soothing to skin

These ingredients, blended alongside sunflower oil, beeswax and essential oils of blue chamomile, geranium, roman chamomile and sandalwood have helped us create a safe and effective broad-spectrum sunscreen protectant that we are proud to say is 100% plant-based and nature derived.

Wellness products to accompany natural sunscreen

Of course, we need to be mindful of protecting our skin’s health before and after spending time outdoors and in the sun, too. We offer a number of replenishing and restorative body care products you can use to soothe skin post sun exposure and to keep your body feeling hydrated and supple year-round.

Cool Spray: this tingling and refreshing mist is blended with distilled water and cooling, uplifting essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus and basil for a natural way to cool down after spending time outdoors and in the sun. Simply close your eyes and mouth and mist generously over the head and body as desired. Our hottest tip? Put your bottle on ice at your next picnic or BBQ for an extra-chilly delight.

Peppermint Halo: worked up a sweat? Feeling hot from head to toe? Peppermint Halo is our cooling, tingling superhero that was formulated to both cool and soothe areas around the head, neck and shoulders. Our favorite way to use it is to apply along the back of the neck and trapezius muscles for an all-over cool down. The bonus? Feeling the deeply cooling affects will remind you to stand up straighter!

Carrot body butter: there’s nothing we’d rather slather onto our body after a day of fun in the sun than the rich, restorative and nourishing benefits of Carrot body butter. Bursting with ingredients to soothe, renew and hydrate the skin, this body butter is blended with creamy mango seed, cocoa and shea butters, as well as vitamin E and aloe vera to condition and replenish moisture to thirsty skin. Essential oils of carrot, patchouli and geranium rejuvenate, balance and deeply moisturize.

Lip Protect lip balm: ideal for sun worshippers and extra thirsty lips, this deeply nourishing salve was formulated with coconut oil to richly moisturize the delicate skin on the lips, carrot seed oil, known for its ability to keep skin supple and shea nut butter, rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids for extra moisture replenishment. Apply throughout the day as needed to soothe dry or chapped lips.

How and when to incorporate natural sunscreen into your life

The consensus among skin care experts is that sunscreen is a necessary part of our daily lives and wellness routines, year-round. Regardless of if the sun is shining or is hidden behind the clouds, natural sunscreen should be a staple. The Cancer Council of Australia, a country that has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, shares the following important information as some of their top 10 myths about sun protection:

1. Sun damage is not possible on cloudy, windy or cool days. This is false. You can get sun damage on windy, cloudy and cool days. Sun damage is caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not temperature. A cool or overcast day in summer can have similar UV levels to a warm, sunny day.
2. Sunscreen is not necessary when using cosmetics with SPF. This is false. Unless cosmetics are labelled with an SPF 30 or higher rating, you should wear additional sunscreen under your makeup if you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period. For longer periods of time in the sun, use a separate sunscreen and reapply it every two hours – not just once in the morning. Be aware that most cosmetic products offer either no protection or protection that is much lower than the recommended SPF 30.
3. You can’t get burnt in the car through a window. This is false. You can get burnt through a car window. Untinted glass commonly used in car side windows reduces, but does not completely block, transmission of UV radiation. This means you can still get burnt if you spend a long time in the car next to an untinted side window when the UV is high. More commonly, people are burnt in cars with the windows down, where they can be exposed to high levels of UV radiation.

We hope this article helped provide guidance in making the switch to natural sunscreen that helps you to be sun smart, no matter the season or location.