We should be applying sunscreen all year round but as the days are getting warmer and the sun is getting a little stronger, now is the most crucial time.
Choosing sunscreen can be confusing, especially if you prefer a natural alternative for you and your family. The skin being our biggest organ and highly absorbable, especially to chemicals, makes it even more important to know what you are putting on it, especially when it comes to sunscreen which are known to contain many and more importantly when we are applying it on our children.
Some common skincare ingredients can cause skin irritations, allergies and the latest research is showing they can be endocrine disruptors, which can impact hormones. The ingredients list can be overwhelming!
We also know that Taranaki has one of the worst rates of skin cancer, so it is super important to be protected. Covering up and staying out of the harsh rays is always best practice but is not always easy to do with Taranaki being such an outdoorsy region. At Down to Earth Organics we offer an extensive range of sunscreens to cover all bases.
When selecting products for our shelves we look for the following:
- Natural Mineral based sunscreens, that won’t penetrate the deeper layers of the skin
- Added antioxidants to add extra protection against free radicals.
- Broad spectrum coverage, so a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays– UVA penetrates deeper into the skin, so think of it is as the ageing ray and UVB is the more superficial ray, that burns the top layers of the skin. Some sunscreens only offer UVB, so It’s always best practice to check.
- Reef Safe and Eco Friendly
What we try and avoid:
- Fragrance
- Unnecessary preservatives, including parabens.
- Aluminium
- Unnecessary chemicals, including oxybenzone.
- Nano – we are on the fence about this one – we have read research for and against. Nano makes your sunscreen a lot easier to apply, so it depends if you like a thick application or a smoother application.
Come and have a chat to one of our staff who can point you in the right direction when choosing the right one for you and your family
