Is Your Sunscreen Polluting Your Body with Toxins?

Considering the year we’ve had, I’m going to bet that most of us are excited to spend time outdoors this spring/summer.  I know I am!  Getting outside for at least fifteen minutes without sunscreen will allow you to absorb a good amount of vitamin D for your body if you are fair-skinned.  Vitamin D supports hormone regulation, helps with inflammation, and helps promote a restful night’s sleep by regulating our circadian rhythms.

As we all know, getting too much sun can lead to sunburn, premature aging, and even skin cancer.  However, is the sunscreen you’re using polluting your body with toxins?  First, let’s talk about the difference between the two forms of sunscreen: mineral and chemical.

Mineral sunscreens are the original sunscreen and tend to have a simpler ingredient list.  They also tend to leave a white residue on your skin.  The active ingredient, zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, is what makes it white. These two ingredients are the only sunscreen active ingredients recognized by the FDA as both safe and effective.  If you tend to be sensitive to ingredients and want to live a toxin-free life, mineral sunscreen is likely to be a better option for you.

Chemical sunscreens are what you will find in abundance in your local pharmacy.  Chemical sunscreens are popular because they are easier to apply and typically don’t leave a white residue or film on your skin.  Unfortunately, they tend to have a more complex ingredient list laden with chemicals.

How to Choose a Sunscreen

I would highly recommend referencing the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Sunscreen Guide to help you choose the right sunscreen for you.  You can also search their database to check the toxic load of your favorite brand.  If you want to dive deeper and understand more about sunscreen ingredients, check out this EWG article.

You can also check out the replay of my last webinar Spring Clean Your Routine for a Better You to learn more about toxins and what you can do to reduce them in your daily routine.