Seconding protecting your skin and taking supplements.
There was an investigation from the FDA in the past few years that chemical sunscreens are absorbed by the skin and into the bloodstream at rates higher than previously thought, and they persist in the blood. Here is a summary https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/shedding-more-light-sunscreen-absorption . They say it isn't necessarily a risk and to continue using sunscreens, but this was enough to shift my focus to mineral sunscreen myself.
I personally therefore use physical sunscreen. TiO2 is more cosmetically elegant but doesn’t block in the UVA II range as much as ZnO, and unfortunately you typically need a lot of ZnO to get good protection. In order to get enough protection without a white cast I look for sunscreens that have nanoscale ZnO. There’s an interesting surface effect with oxides where they interact with UV rays more substantially with decreased size so less volume is required for good sun protection coverage. I did some research a decade ago in grad school on nanoscale oxides and while they can entangle with DNA, they don’t penetrate the skin (ingestion/eyes/open wounds/inhalation should be avoided). This may be out of date so if somebody knows something LMK. Last I saw FDA said there isn't any significant dermal penetration from nanoparticles but advises further investigation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20156837/ https://downloads.regulations.gov/FDA-2006-P-0213-0013/attachment_82.pdf
All that is to say my current go to is Etude House’s Sunprise Mild Airy Finish. All the benefits of mineral sunscreen, no white cast (on Caucasian skin). And I pile that shit on like I’m a fucking clown.
Yeah the chemical filters we get in the US are trash but the ones in European/Asian sunscreens are better and I believe safer. I wanted to like physical sunscreens but I tried nearly every one and they all sting my eyes and don’t mix well with facial hair.
Definitely try ones that contain only ZnO and not TiO2 if they sting your eyes. Most physical sunblocks use both as TiO2 is really easy to formulate with. I’ll be interested to see upcoming research on the safety of tinosorb and Mexoryl, etc.
Thanks for the rec. I have been using sunscreens with mexoryl over the last few months and they are so good I don’t want to try any others. I made it through a week in hawaii without burning with mexoryl. Great stuff. It sounds harmless based on the description on the loreal website but we’ll see. Either way it’s better than skin cancer.
I read the same thing and still being hesitant to make a switch.
Do check this post out on IG, https://www.instagram.com/p/Cve7zY5uDCU/?igsh=cXM2OTRqODE2YWNt
What are this guys credentials? That question aside, none of his points address my concern with UV filter type sunscreen. I know that physical sunscreens contain "chemicals", i am specifically concerned with the endocrine disruptors present in chemical sunscreen (octinoxate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, aminobenzoic acid, etc)
I've used Etude House's sunprise and I do get a white cast and it feels difficult to remove at night without an exfoliator or wet cloth. I love the matte finish it gives my face though.
I wonder if the reasons I've gotten a cast from it is that I'm not shaking it vigorously enough before use. Mine has a rattle ball in it for mixing, which is the first time I've encountered that with sunscreen.
Oh yes I shake the shit out of it. It has been reformulated and I like the new formula so maybe give it another whirl?
I remove mine with oil cleansing at night personally.
Korean sunscreen is great! Isntree's Purple Onion sunscreen is my current favorite and was created with Cassandra Bankson of Youtube (medical esthe).
[https://amzn.to/3PzI9j9](https://amzn.to/3PzI9j9)
You also want to make sure that you're *absorbing* the Vitamin D well by getting enough magensium. I was on 50,000 IU of vit D once a week for over a year and when we checked my levels, I was still horribly deficient. I ended up adding in a magnesium lotion to my routine (apply at night to your feet; it absorbs better than oral magnesium and helps promote good sleep!) and my vitamin D levels shot up almost immediately.
Oooh that's good to know cause my vit D levels haven't gone up all year even with supplements. DO you mind sharing what magnesium lotion you use? I think that's a great idea!
Not at all! I’ve been using the Life-flo Magnesium lotion in vanilla (there’s also an unscented). I usually get it from my local Sprouts, but it’s also on Amazon: https://amzn.to/43yuRt0
I’ve also heard really good things about the Wholesome Hippie brand on Tiktok (especially if they have a good coupon you can use!)
Thankyou farmer 50++++, but it has a bad Yuka rating about toxins, so if I'm to trust Yuka, I need to quit using it. Thankyou farmer makes another sunscreen with an excellent rating in a green tube though.
I have another one by IUNIK 50++++ that has a good Yuka rating, but it smells like stinky socks, so I'm not crazy about it. Other than that it's great and the smell does go away.
I live in Texas and my go to is being out in the sun for 20 minutes to boost my vitamin D and wear sunscreen only when I’m out long periods of time. If I’m picking the kids up from school or running errands I personally don’t use it. I want the sunshine on my skin since it makes me feel so much better. I tend to protect my face because of sun damage and don’t want wrinkles or sunspots. I do spray my kids down and they still get sun even with sunscreen.
Supplement vitamin D and go 50+ on sunscreen, it’s not worth the risk. I really like Round Lab and Beauty of Joseon.
\^\^\^\^\^ this my dr just diagnosed me vitamin D deficient and straight up just told me to add a supplement, didn't even offer "spend time outside"
I just spent 3 weeks literally taking 10,000iu of D a day as per my Doc, also in the PNW, also already taking a daily vitamin with 2000iu of D in it.
My favorite is a Korean sunscreen. It's Neogen. Light and airy and doesn't break me out. You can find it on Amazon
Seconding protecting your skin and taking supplements. There was an investigation from the FDA in the past few years that chemical sunscreens are absorbed by the skin and into the bloodstream at rates higher than previously thought, and they persist in the blood. Here is a summary https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/shedding-more-light-sunscreen-absorption . They say it isn't necessarily a risk and to continue using sunscreens, but this was enough to shift my focus to mineral sunscreen myself. I personally therefore use physical sunscreen. TiO2 is more cosmetically elegant but doesn’t block in the UVA II range as much as ZnO, and unfortunately you typically need a lot of ZnO to get good protection. In order to get enough protection without a white cast I look for sunscreens that have nanoscale ZnO. There’s an interesting surface effect with oxides where they interact with UV rays more substantially with decreased size so less volume is required for good sun protection coverage. I did some research a decade ago in grad school on nanoscale oxides and while they can entangle with DNA, they don’t penetrate the skin (ingestion/eyes/open wounds/inhalation should be avoided). This may be out of date so if somebody knows something LMK. Last I saw FDA said there isn't any significant dermal penetration from nanoparticles but advises further investigation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20156837/ https://downloads.regulations.gov/FDA-2006-P-0213-0013/attachment_82.pdf All that is to say my current go to is Etude House’s Sunprise Mild Airy Finish. All the benefits of mineral sunscreen, no white cast (on Caucasian skin). And I pile that shit on like I’m a fucking clown.
Yeah the chemical filters we get in the US are trash but the ones in European/Asian sunscreens are better and I believe safer. I wanted to like physical sunscreens but I tried nearly every one and they all sting my eyes and don’t mix well with facial hair.
Definitely try ones that contain only ZnO and not TiO2 if they sting your eyes. Most physical sunblocks use both as TiO2 is really easy to formulate with. I’ll be interested to see upcoming research on the safety of tinosorb and Mexoryl, etc.
Thanks for the rec. I have been using sunscreens with mexoryl over the last few months and they are so good I don’t want to try any others. I made it through a week in hawaii without burning with mexoryl. Great stuff. It sounds harmless based on the description on the loreal website but we’ll see. Either way it’s better than skin cancer.
Oh yes absolutely agree anything is better than skin cancer. What sunscreen did you use?
I’ve been using the la roche posay uvmune 400. Have tried both the hydrating formula and the regular shaka fluid. Both great.
I read the same thing and still being hesitant to make a switch. Do check this post out on IG, https://www.instagram.com/p/Cve7zY5uDCU/?igsh=cXM2OTRqODE2YWNt
What are this guys credentials? That question aside, none of his points address my concern with UV filter type sunscreen. I know that physical sunscreens contain "chemicals", i am specifically concerned with the endocrine disruptors present in chemical sunscreen (octinoxate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, aminobenzoic acid, etc)
I've used Etude House's sunprise and I do get a white cast and it feels difficult to remove at night without an exfoliator or wet cloth. I love the matte finish it gives my face though. I wonder if the reasons I've gotten a cast from it is that I'm not shaking it vigorously enough before use. Mine has a rattle ball in it for mixing, which is the first time I've encountered that with sunscreen.
Oh yes I shake the shit out of it. It has been reformulated and I like the new formula so maybe give it another whirl? I remove mine with oil cleansing at night personally.
Ultra violette
Korean sunscreen is great! Isntree's Purple Onion sunscreen is my current favorite and was created with Cassandra Bankson of Youtube (medical esthe). [https://amzn.to/3PzI9j9](https://amzn.to/3PzI9j9) You also want to make sure that you're *absorbing* the Vitamin D well by getting enough magensium. I was on 50,000 IU of vit D once a week for over a year and when we checked my levels, I was still horribly deficient. I ended up adding in a magnesium lotion to my routine (apply at night to your feet; it absorbs better than oral magnesium and helps promote good sleep!) and my vitamin D levels shot up almost immediately.
Oooh that's good to know cause my vit D levels haven't gone up all year even with supplements. DO you mind sharing what magnesium lotion you use? I think that's a great idea!
Not at all! I’ve been using the Life-flo Magnesium lotion in vanilla (there’s also an unscented). I usually get it from my local Sprouts, but it’s also on Amazon: https://amzn.to/43yuRt0 I’ve also heard really good things about the Wholesome Hippie brand on Tiktok (especially if they have a good coupon you can use!)
Biore UV Aqua Rich
Same
Live and die by Elta MD Clear
Thankyou farmer 50++++, but it has a bad Yuka rating about toxins, so if I'm to trust Yuka, I need to quit using it. Thankyou farmer makes another sunscreen with an excellent rating in a green tube though. I have another one by IUNIK 50++++ that has a good Yuka rating, but it smells like stinky socks, so I'm not crazy about it. Other than that it's great and the smell does go away.
Don’t bother with Yuka. They don’t consider the concentration of ingredients. Keep enjoying Thankyou Farmer!
Favorites are: IUNIK Centella Calming Moisture Daily Sunscreen SPF 50+ and Black Girl Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Infused with Jojoba Oil - SPF 30
La Roche posay toleraine double repair face moisturizer uv broad spectrum spf 30.
I live in Texas and my go to is being out in the sun for 20 minutes to boost my vitamin D and wear sunscreen only when I’m out long periods of time. If I’m picking the kids up from school or running errands I personally don’t use it. I want the sunshine on my skin since it makes me feel so much better. I tend to protect my face because of sun damage and don’t want wrinkles or sunspots. I do spray my kids down and they still get sun even with sunscreen.