Admit it – you’ve probably debated using a mineral sunscreen, worried it might leave your skin with a white coating? Well, LOVE SUN BODY was determined to make a certified 100% natural origin mineral sunscreen that would be safe for your body & the planet – without leaving your skin covered in a thick white coating.
THE MAKING OF MINERAL SUNSCREENS
From the earliest days of commercial sunscreens, back in the 1940’s and 1950’s, mineral sunscreens were widely used for their ability to create a physical barrier against the sun’s damaging rays. However, because they rely on minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, these minerals can weigh down a formula and make it thicker or heavier. Unfortunately, as consumers found these formulas hard to use, mineral sunscreens were left with a bad reputation. Many people, including some fair and dark skin tones, did not enjoy using them complaining they left a white, pasty coating on the skin. Fortunately, innovation in manufacturing, processing and formulation has helped brands like LOVE SUN BODY develop 100% natural mineral sunscreens to avoid the white coating once and for all! But, more on that in a minute.
YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING – WHY NOT JUST USE A CHEMICAL-BASED SUNSCREEN?
Well, when you look at the history of sunscreens that use chemical filters and the research associated with them, you might feel you can do better for your health and the planet. First, chemical filters were developed for their ease of use and inexpensive ingredients – where there was little to no whitening. The thinking at the time was that these sunscreens would encourage people to use them more frequently (which, of course, is a good thing). However, these sunscreens do not sit on the surface of the skin like mineral sunscreens. Instead, the chemical filters absorb into the skin and then absorb the UV rays. It converts the UV rays into heat and releases them from the body. Unfortunately, research by the CDC and other government organizations have shown that these chemicals may be absorbed into our bloodstream and bodies.
After a single application, a total of seven chemical sunscreen ingredients were found to have been absorbed into the bloodstream at levels that exceed safety thresholds according to studies by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, an arm of the US Food and Drug Administration.
Several studies have shown that these ingredients may cause hormone disruption, skin allergies, cell damage and grave consequences for the planet, including contributing to bleaching the coral reefs and harming marine life.
As a result, the FDA has declared that Category III sunscreen ingredients lack enough data to support whether they are generally recognized as safe and effective. The 12 Category III sunscreen ingredients are cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, padimate O, sulisobenzone, oxybenzone, and avobenzone. And, now the FDA is demanding more research into these ingredients to prove they are truly safe.
TRICKS OF THE TRADE THAT LEFT US FEELING CHEATED
When we were doing our seven years of research and development to create Love Sun Body 100% Natural Origin Mineral Sunscreens, we learned some interesting things about many popular natural or mineral brands.
First, we found that some sunscreen manufacturers were using both mineral filters and chemical active filters – as a way to decrease the whitening of the formulas. Many even go as far as calling it a “mineral sunscreen” or a “mineral-based sunscreen”. At Love Sun Body, we find this deceptive – when we were looking for a natural, mineral sunscreen we wanted a truly mineral formula! This is one of the reasons we decided to create our own formula!
Formulating with Nano Mineral Particles
Another strategy to cut down on the white residue that many manufacturers use is to micronize the mineral particles, known as nano size zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (less than 35 nanometers in diameter) are often referred to as clear zinc sunscreen. However, research has shown that nano-size zinc oxide particles are very harmful for marine organisms and contribute to severe and faster coral bleaching due to the alteration of the symbiosis between coral and zooxanthellae. This means that sunscreens with nano-size or clear zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are not really reef safe.
Love Sun Body always wanted to create a mineral SPF that was 100% natural origin and safe for your body and the planet. As more and more reef communities ban chemical active sunscreen ingredients, it became more important than ever for Love Sun Body to create reef safe sunscreen formulas that are biodegradable.
LOVE SUN BODY IS SAFE FOR YOUR BODY & THE PLANET:
NON-WHITENING, FREE OF CHEMICAL FILTERS & NANO-SIZE MINERALS
How did we do it? Well, it took a lot of research, persistence and innovation but we did it! What we accomplished is revolutionary – safe and effective, reef safe sunscreens with natural, mineral formulas, that are non-whitening, moisturizing, vegan, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.
Not only have the processes for manufacturing minerals evolved from those early days of making the very first mineral sunscreens, but Love Sun Body focused on ways to thin the formula and make it more spreadable. A mineral SPF formula that spreads easily will also rub in easier and leave less of a white residue. Love Sun Body used a proprietary blend of ingredients, in particular sunflower, almond and raspberry oils that not only thin the formulas but provide moisturizing and anti-aging benefits too! It’s a win-win.
Plus, when we decided to use only natural ingredients, it eliminated silicones, dimethicones, genetically derived ingredients, phthalates and parabens, the basis for most of today’s sunscreens and cosmetics. This means our natural sunscreens do not contain a lot of unnecessary ingredients, only what you need for the best broad-spectrum sunscreen protection that exceeds the US FDA requirements and meets even Europe’s tougher standards. Plus, we can trace our ingredients back to their original source thanks to our Cosmos Natural certification. So, you know you are getting the best quality, purest ingredients and a 100% natural origin sunscreen formula you can trust.
Love Sun Body 100% Natural Origin Mineral Sunscreens are the first and only sunscreens in the U.S. certified by Ecocert Cosmos Natural. They are made with the safest UVA and UVB filters – non-nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with plant-based moisturizers to reduce the dreaded white coating on skin. So, they are suitable for ALL skin tones which is important. Skin cancers are less prevalent in nonwhite racial ethnic groups, but when they occur, they tend to be diagnosed at a later stage and, as a result, have a worse prognosis. One study, for example, found an average five-year melanoma survival rate of only 65 percent in black people versus 91 percent in white people. Everyone needs to wear sunscreen every day.
We’re Proud of Our High Mineral Content
When it comes to our SPF 50 formulas, we aren’t afraid to say that we use over 20% non-nano zinc oxide and 7.2% non-nano titanium dioxide. This high mineral content is designed to deliver maximum protection, ensuring you not only receive the best in UVB protection but the EU requirement of UVA protection that is as potent as 1/3 of the total SPF. This is to ensure it actually provides true broad spectrum protection from both types of rays. This is slightly thicker and heavier than our SPF 30 formulas but we combine it with the same types of natural ingredients and oils to help reduce the whitening effect. We will admit, that depending on how it is applied, some folks may notice a very subtle white cast – but at Love Sun Body, we say wear it like a badge of honor. At the end of the day, you will always know how well you are protected and it’s a nice reminder that you are doing your bit for the planet too!