Staff Reporter:Sunscreens protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays and save our skin from photo damage, skin cancer risks and sun tan. But do you know that many sunscreens have ingredients that can damage the skin and our health if used for a long period of time?
Sunscreens are products that were made to be applied all over our skin and it needs to be applied throughout a person’s life. If we keep applying sunscreens containing harmful ingredients on our skin our health will be in great danger. We as health conscious consumers need to know which ingredients to avoid and which ingredients to look for in order to get full benefits from sunscreens.
A brand named Lafz has introduced a sunscreen that is free from all the harmful ingredients. It has SPF 50 and PA+++ that protects skin against UV damage. The sunscreen is transparent and makeup friendly which quickly absorbs because of its non-sticky plus light weight functionality.
It is free from all the animal derived ingredients, also halal certified and is animal cruelty free as well. The sunscreen has some qualitative ingredients that moisturizes the skin such as hyaluronic acid. It also helps to hydrate the skin.
Furthermore, the sunscreen also contains aloe vera which is a natural inflammatory agent that soothes the skin. The brand got quite good attention in the market for its distinguishable features amongst other sunscreens which has harmful ingredients.
The Harmful Ingredients a sunscreen contains:
Oxybenzone : This is a very common ingredient found in sunscreens but it is harmful to the skin. This ingredient is easily absorbed into the skin and it causes irritation and allergies and damages the barrier of the skin. This ingredient is especially harmful for children as they have more sensitive skin. This ingredient is not FDA approved and is not safe to use in any way.
Parabens : Parabens like propylparaben, benzylparaben, methylparaben and butylparaben are mostly used for preventing the growth of bacteria, yeast and molds in products like shampoos, lotions and sunscreens. Parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen which has been known to contribute to breast cancer and can also mimic other hormones in the body.
Homosalate : Another very common sunscreen ingredient that, for health concerns, is limited to less than 10% in a formula by the FDA. It’s used as a UV absorber that helps sunscreen ingredients penetrate your skin. It bio-accumulates in the body faster than it can be eliminated and is considered a hormone disruptor.
A recent opinion from the European Commission found that homosalate was not safe to use at concentrations up to 10 percent and recommended a maximum concentration of 1.4 percent, because of concerns for potential endocrine disruption.
Octocrylene : A synthetic UV absorber and SPF booster. It may cause allergic reactions in those with sensitive skin and has been shown to bio-accumulate in the body.
Found in almost 3,000 products sold in the United States, Octocrylene quickly degrades into benzophenone, a known carcinogen can cause cancer that also causes contact dermatitis and is an endocrine disruptor.
What to look for while buying sunscreen?
SPF 50 and above : Consumers need to buy sunscreens containing at least SPF 50. SPF 50 blocks out 98% of UVB rays. Anything above SPF adds an extra protection of 0.5- 1 %. Sunscreens cannot block 100% of UVB rays so this is the best we can do.
PA+++ : It basically informs users of the level of protection towards UVA rays. The more pluses PA has at the end the better UVA protection.
Lafz Halal Sunscreen is free from all those harmful ingredients, has SPF 50 and PA+++ and is very affordable. The price of the sunscreen might not be so high but the quality and the functionality is a must thing to talk about.
Lafz introduces a new sunscreen
