What should a consumer look for in a safe and effective sunscreen this summer? We’ve developed a list of tips to help you shop. The good news for fans of natural products is that dermatologists and skin cancer experts agree that major points go to Zinc Oxide, a mineral that performs as a natural sunblock offering both UVA and UVB protection and is very stable in sunlight. Everyone from the Skin Cancer Foundation, to Vogue Magazine is recommending consumers seek zinc oxide.

#1) READ NOT ONLY SPF, BUT INGREDIENT LISTS TO INSURE UVA PROTECTION

80% of consumers buy their sunscreen based solely on its SPF rating. SPF (sun protection factor) only measures protection from UVB rays, ignoring the UVA radiation exposure that is also cancer causing and damaging to skin. The ridiculously high SPF’s (70+) are unsubstantiated and for the purpose of marketing.

As far as UVB protection, SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB, SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 50 blocks 99%.

Since SPF excludes UVA protection information, the only way to insure your sunscreen offers UVA protection is to read the ingredient label. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends “looking for UVA blocking ingredient zinc oxide”, which is the closest thing to a total sunblock on the market today. A high quality sunscreen will have around 20% zinc content.

#2) SEEK MINERAL (zinc oxide) vs. CHEMICAL INGREDIENTS (all the rest)

Zinc is a physical sun blocker that actually reflects or bounces the sun’s ultraviolet rays off of your body. It has over a 300 year history of safety with no known adverse reactions (which is why it is used on even the youngest babies in diaper rash creams). On the flip side, chemical sunscreens (avobenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate, etc.) absorb the UVA rays once they hit your skin. Many chemical sunscreen ingredients have shown to be unstable when the rays are absorbed, causing the chemical to break down and cause free radical damage.

#3) AVOID TITANIUM DIOXIDE AND NANO-PARTICLES

Its difficult to find a mineral sunscreen that is purely zinc. Most formulations rely on a blend of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. As far as performance, Titanium Dioxide degrades in the presence of uv light to form free radicals. Not good…especially if we are talking about use in a sunscreen. A new report from the American Cancer Society identifies Titamium Dioxide as one of their top “suspected carcinogens”.  The safety of Titanium Dioxide is one of the least well studied in humans, although it has been long established as a cancer causing agent in animal exposure studies. There is conflicting evidence as to whether nanoparticles of titanium dioxide can pass through the skin. But if nanoparticles do pass through, the presence of titanium dioxide in a large variety of sunscreens, cosmetic powders and creams may be a cause of concern.

#4) USE A QUALITY MINERAL MAKEUP

Depending on the brand and zinc oxide content, mineral makeup has the potential to offer great everyday UVA/UVB protection. By applying a high quality organic mineral makeup with 20% zinc content or higher, you’ll get easy, natural sun protection everyday. So easy to apply, reapply and its non-irritating to even sensitive skin and eyes. Be sure to look for non-nanoparticle zinc and a formulation that’s free from titanium dioxide.

#5) MAKE USE OF SPF TREATED SUN PROTECTIVE HATS & CLOTHING

If you invest in a few key pieces of SPF treated swimwear, you’ll have a sunscreen alternative available if you are unable to apply sunscreen or need more protection after a few hours in the sun. Look for wide brim hats and rash guard shirts with long sleeves and higher collars. You’ll only have to reapply sunscreen to the skin that’s visible. NO sunscreen or block will stop 100% of harmful rays so adding a second physical blocker (SPF treated clothing) on top of physical blocker zinc oxide will be the ultimate protection for a long day in the sun.

MIESSENCE REFLECT OUTDOOR BALM = PERFECT SUN PROTECTION

If you are ready to buy sunscreen that meets or exceeds all these standards then check out Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm on OrganicGlow.com. Its a fantastically effective, broad spectrum sun blocker with no synthetic chemicals (only mineral and organic ingredients). Environmental Working Group annually ranks the safety and effectiveness of 1700 SPF products and Miessence is consistently ranked in the Best Sunscreens list.

Read further into the ingredients and production of this product and you will agree it is above and beyond even other top ranked sunscreens. The Reflect Balm’s gold standard formulation is a whopping 22% microfine zinc oxide which offers protection from harmful rays while organic olive oil keeps the skin supple. Potent antioxidants including natural vitamin E, beta carotene and polygonum extract, protect the skin from premature aging and prevent damage caused by the elements.

• Creates a physical sunblock that bounces the sun’s harmful rays off of your skin, unlike chemical sunscreens that absorb rays
• Non-nanoparticle zinc; Reflect uses micronized (physically crushed zinc minerals) that is 150 nanometers
• Non-coated minerals; Reflect’s mineral zinc is not coated with aluminum compounds, silicone compounds or titanium dioxide

While you are shopping, check out our mineral foundations as well. At 25% zinc oxide, they provide up to 5x the amount of zinc oxide sun protection of other brands. Its awesome!

Today, EcoSalon asked their favorite magazine editors, authors, green experts, makeup artists and bloggers to share their favorite organic & natural sunscreens.

What does Laura Klein slather on her face?

The founder and publisher of Organic Authority shares, “My preferred sunscreen is a hat, long sleeves, and glasses. But when I use sunscreen, it’s Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm.”

Fabulous!

What should a consumer look for in a safe and effective sunscreen this summer? We’ve developed a list of tips to help you shop. The good news for fans of natural products is that dermatologists and skin cancer experts agree that major points go to Zinc Oxide, a mineral that performs as a natural sunblock offering both UVA and UVB protection and is very stable in sunlight. Everyone from the Skin Cancer Foundation, to Vogue Magazine is recommending consumers seek zinc oxide.

#1) READ NOT ONLY SPF, BUT INGREDIENT LISTS TO INSURE UVA PROTECTION

80% of consumers buy their sunscreen based solely on its SPF rating. SPF (sun protection factor) only measures protection from UVB rays, ignoring the UVA radiation exposure that is also cancer causing and damaging to skin. The ridiculously high SPF’s (70+) are unsubstantiated and for the purpose of marketing.

As far as UVB protection, SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB, SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 50 blocks 99%.

Since SPF excludes UVA protection information, the only way to insure your sunscreen offers UVA protection is to read the ingredient label. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends “looking for UVA blocking ingredient zinc oxide”, which is the closest thing to a total sunblock on the market today. A high quality sunscreen will have around 20% zinc content.

#2) SEEK MINERAL (zinc oxide) vs. CHEMICAL INGREDIENTS (all the rest)

Zinc is a physical sun blocker that actually reflects or bounces the sun’s ultraviolet rays off of your body. It has over a 300 year history of safety with no known adverse reactions (which is why it is used on even the youngest babies in diaper rash creams). On the flip side, chemical sunscreens (avobenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate, etc.) absorb the UVA rays once they hit your skin. Many chemical sunscreen ingredients have shown to be unstable when the rays are absorbed, causing the chemical to break down and cause free radical damage.

#3) AVOID TITANIUM DIOXIDE AND NANO-PARTICLES

Its difficult to find a mineral sunscreen that is purely zinc. Most formulations rely on a blend of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. As far as performance, Titanium Dioxide degrades in the presence of uv light to form free radicals. Not good…especially if we are talking about use in a sunscreen. A new report from the American Cancer Society identifies Titamium Dioxide as one of their top “suspected carcinogens”.  The safety of Titanium Dioxide is one of the least well studied in humans, although it has been long established as a cancer causing agent in animal exposure studies. There is conflicting evidence as to whether nanoparticles of titanium dioxide can pass through the skin. But if nanoparticles do pass through, the presence of titanium dioxide in a large variety of sunscreens, cosmetic powders and creams may be a cause of concern.

#4) USE A QUALITY MINERAL MAKEUP

Depending on the brand and zinc oxide content, mineral makeup has the potential to offer great everyday UVA/UVB protection. By applying a high quality organic mineral makeup with 20% zinc content or higher, you’ll get easy, natural sun protection everyday. So easy to apply, reapply and its non-irritating to even sensitive skin and eyes. Be sure to look for non-nanoparticle zinc and a formulation that’s free from titanium dioxide.

#5) MAKE USE OF SPF TREATED SUN PROTECTIVE HATS & CLOTHING

If you invest in a few key pieces of SPF treated swimwear, you’ll have a sunscreen alternative available if you are unable to apply sunscreen or need more protection after a few hours in the sun. Look for wide brim hats and rash guard shirts with long sleeves and higher collars. You’ll only have to reapply sunscreen to the skin that’s visible. NO sunscreen or block will stop 100% of harmful rays so adding a second physical blocker (SPF treated clothing) on top of physical blocker zinc oxide will be the ultimate protection for a long day in the sun.

MIESSENCE REFLECT OUTDOOR BALM = PERFECT SUN PROTECTION

If you are ready to buy sunscreen that meets or exceeds all these standards then check out Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm on OrganicGlow.com. Its a fantastically effective, broad spectrum sun blocker with no synthetic chemicals (only mineral and organic ingredients). Environmental Working Group annually ranks the safety and effectiveness of 1700 SPF products and Miessence is consistently ranked in the Best Sunscreens list.

Read further into the ingredients and production of this product and you will agree it is above and beyond even other top ranked sunscreens. The Reflect Balm’s gold standard formulation is a whopping 22% microfine zinc oxide which offers protection from harmful rays while organic olive oil keeps the skin supple. Potent antioxidants including natural vitamin E, beta carotene and polygonum extract, protect the skin from premature aging and prevent damage caused by the elements.

• Creates a physical sunblock that bounces the sun’s harmful rays off of your skin, unlike chemical sunscreens that absorb rays
• Non-nanoparticle zinc; Reflect uses micronized (physically crushed zinc minerals) that is 150 nanometers
• Non-coated minerals; Reflect’s mineral zinc is not coated with aluminum compounds, silicone compounds or titanium dioxide

While you are shopping, check out our mineral foundations as well. At 25% zinc oxide, they provide up to 5x the amount of zinc oxide sun protection of other brands. Its awesome!

My past experiences with sunscreen had left me a little jaded. I used to hate using it…I mean hate. The lotions felt sticky or suffocating on my skin. The sprays were convenient, but felt like a weird chemical soup and sometimes irritating. Not to mention if you happened to get some in your eyes, the burning pain! Basically, it was all I could do not to shower sunscreen off immediately.

I can tell you that since then Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm organic sunblock has changed my attitude completely. When Reflect was ranked as a top sunscreen in EWG’s Sunscreen Guide last year, it was sold out all summer. I was forced to deal with the competition’s sunscreens, which I can say are not even close to Reflect.  That includes other “organic” mineral sunscreens. Reflect balm doesn’t contain water and is quite concentrated, but spreads really nicely. You only have to use a small amount to cover well. Once on the skin it feels like a light lotion, not at all heavy, sticky or greasy. The scent is wonderful! Pure coconut extract not only adds a natural tropical scent but acts as a moisturizer to the skin as well. You can use it all day long and it feels great.

Besides the fact that I like how it feels, the ingredients are the most pure and effective on the market. Zinc oxide is the mineral sunblock used in Reflect. It has over a 300 year history of safety with no known adverse reactions (which is why it is often used to treat babies). It protects against UVB and most of the UVA spectrum and is the closest thing to a total sunblock on the market today. No other sunscreen ingredient provides broader protection.

Check out the list of the rest of the ingredients. All serving a purpose, all 100% beneficial. The simplicity is so refreshing! The formulation is eminently safe (non-nanoparticle sized zinc, the pure zinc is not coated with anything like aluminum compounds or silicone, no titanium dioxide) and pure enough for use on even young babies. Be sure to stock up for summer 2011… you’ll be glad you did!

If you’ve never read Dr. Laura Koniver’s blog Intuition Physician, be sure to check it out. We love her take on skincare topics and today she shared her thoughts on cosmetic safety.

Check out her Intuition Physician blog

During medical school, Dr. Laura worked at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD with a research team who was investigating oncogenes.  We thought her take on cosmetic products and cancer was quite interesting.

Dr. Laura says: “I feel like I’ve gotten a little extra training in the areas of cancer research and in skin and my gut feeling says that the more you chronically irritate something, the more likely you are to develop cancer in that organ.  As straight forward as that.

Most of the over the counter anti-aging crap (um… I mean, *products*) you can buy through drugstores, department stores, and even health food stores, contain ingredients designed to chronically irritate your skin.  This is because they’ve found that by chronically irritating it (at low levels… low enough that you don’t see any skin reaction visibly) you are chronically encouraging it to slough off and turn over new cells.  This is why low but consistent doses of retinal products and hydroxy acids and other skin acids (even all naturally derived fruit acids) works to give your skin a refreshed surface… chronically forcing new cell turnover.
While this is great in the short term (you get fresher skin within a few weeks) in the long term, chronic irritation and inflammation has been shown to incite cellular damage.  Chronic inflammation is turning out to be one of the major factors in all types of disease… from coronary artery disease, to strokes, to cancer.

So, my goal as a physician is to decrease the levels of inflammation and irritation in and on the body as much as possible.  It is routine practice now to try and decrease the level of inflammation inside our bodies… for example, decreasing the level of inflammation in our guts by avoiding certain foods (like avoiding gluten if you have celiac disease) or using prescription medications to decrease inflammation (like statin drugs for heart disease)  But it is not generally addressed when it comes to skin care.

Yes, everyone understands that inflaming your skin to the point of sunburn is a serious no-no… that UV exposure can cause skin cancers… but what about the chronic irritation of the toxic chemicals in daily use of chemical sunblock?  This is starting to get more recent press and consumers are switching to physical sunblocks over chemical ones, for good reason.

The same goes for your facial care products.  Infrequent use may be fine, but daily (and sometimes twice daily, morning and night!) slathering on of anti-wrinkle, anti-aging, anti-this-and-that products intended to stir up your skin and cause enough low levels of irritation that it forces your skin to make new skin faster… 40 years of applying this to your face doesn’t seem right to me.

If you had a chemical irritant would you smear it morning and night on the inside walls of your heart?  Or along the surface of your kidney?  Why does it seem so much more benign when we slather it onto our skin?  I’m not sure why.

I do agree it seems less *invasive*.  But skin cancers are no small concern… and with the advent of the newer delivery methods (micronized particles and nanosphere delivery systems) the ingredients do not stay superficial at all anymore, but rather are internally delivered.  On top of that, and this is just my gut feeling, I truly believe that the chronic inflammation and irritation of the skin, while creating the immediate effect of quicker skin turnover, in the long term (decades later) this very chronic irritation can cause faster skin aging… as your skin reacts to being chronically irritated with visible signs of stress… uneven pigmentation, broken capillaries, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis, and other age related changes.

So that is the platform upon which I recommend this very simple skin plan.  Do no harm.  Allow your body to do what it does best… cover you in sheets of beautiful, healthy skin, replacing it as needed… and support this process with moisture and occasional exfoliation.”

Well said Dr. Laura!!!

For its 4th Annual Sunscreen Guide EWG’s says”EWG researchers recommend only 39 – 8 percent – of 500 beach and sport sunscreens for this season.

EWG’s 2010 Best Sunscreen Guide

The reason? A surge in exaggerated SPF claims above 50 and new disclosures about potentially hazardous ingredients, in particular recently developed government data linking vitamin A to accelerated growth of skin tumors and lesions.

Our top-rated sunscreens all contain the minerals zinc or titanium. They are the right choice for people who are looking for the best UVA protection without any sunscreen chemical considered to be a potential hormone disruptor. None of the products contain oxybenzone or vitamin A and none are sprayed or powdered.”

Buy Reflect Outdoor Balm

Chemical sunscreens (oxybenzone, avobenzone, parsol 1789, homosalate, octyl methoxycinnamate, etc.) and mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide) are not the same level of protection.

Recent studies have surfaced showing that chemical sunscreens can actually break down in the sun and cause free radical generation – the exact opposite of what sunscreen is intended to do! Environmental Working Group tested 2000 brands and ranked them according to effective protection and safety. Check out their test results here.

Our mineral sunscreen Reflect Outdoor Balm is a water-free nourishing balm with natural minerals that help reflect damaging ultraviolet radiation without the use of chemical sunscreens or any other synthetic ingredients. Microfine and non-nanoparticle zinc oxide offers protection from harmful rays whilst organic olive oil keeps the skin supple. Potent antioxidants including natural vitamin E, beta carotene and polygonum extract, protect the skin from premature aging and prevent damage caused by the elements.

What type of mineral is used in Reflect?
Zinc oxide is the mineral used in Reflect. It has over a 300 year history of safety with no known adverse reactions (which is why it is often used to treat babies). Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm uses Non-nanoparticle zinc (sized at over1.3 microns), it protects against UVB and most of the UVA spectrum and is the closest thing to a total sunblock on the market today. No other sunscreen ingredient provides broader protection (1).
(1) Excerpt from:
Dr. Pinnell, The J. Lamar Callaway Professor of Dermatology at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, is a consultant for sunSmart, Wainscott, NY, and SkinCeuticals, Dallas, TX. Dr. Madey is the medical/scientific liaison for SkinCeuticals, Dallas TX.

Why Do We Need Natural Sun Protection?
We all know that getting sunburnt is not a good idea and that sunscreen is the way to prevent sunburn… but what are those chemicals in commercial sunscreens? Latest research has begun to discover some serious problems in the most popular and widely used chemical sunblocks:
● Octyl-methoxycinnamate – produces free radicals (singlet molecular oxygen) known to be toxic to cells (1)
● Titanium dioxide – causes DNA damage (the cells genetic material) due to superoxide radicals, active oxygen radicals and hydroxyl radicals when exposed to light (2) (3) (4)
● Oxybenzone – is rapidly oxidised in the presence of light and inactivates important antioxidant systems in the skin (the skin’s natural protection system) (5)
● PABA – produces free radicals in the presence of light (1)
● Cinoxate – causes DNA damage (sister chromatid exchanges) (6)
Medical Research Papers
1) Chem Res Toxicol 1996 Apr-May; 9(3):605-9; 2) Mutat Res 2000 Mar 3; 466(1):1-7; 3) Free Radic Biol Med 1999 Aug; 27 (3-4);294-300; 4) FEBS Lett 1997 Nov 24; 418(1-2):87-90; 5) J Invest Dermatol, 1996 Mar 106(3):583-6; 6) Mutat Res 1989 Jun 21;2(2): 213-21

Why does an SPF 30 Outdoor Reflect Balm Not Exist?
The Reflect Outdoor Balm is actually tested to 29.5 SPF.

“Due to regulations in Australia for SPF ratings, ONE Group would have to have this product manufactured in a licensed SPF facility (instead of their own manufacturing plant) to claim an SPF higher than 15. ONE Group submitted it for third party testing which gave it a rating of SPF level 29.5″

So, the product has an SPF of 29.5, it has been tested to this level but it’s not labeled that way.

Hate dealing with greasy liquid sunscreen on your face everyday? Why not skip a step and use mineral foundation with Zinc Oxide to protect your face?

Miessence mineral foundations contain the highest level of zinc oxide that can be used in a product which is 25%. That is more than double the Zinc in Colorescience Sunforgettable SPF 30, at less than half the price! Plus we use organic ingredients to complement the zinc, not chemicals.

Zinc oxide (zincite) is a naturally occurring mineral that provides a white color base for our cosmetic products as well as providing superior sun protection with broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) absorption. It is a soft, heavy white mineral powder that creates a soothing, protective barrier for the skin, and it recognized as a skin soothing and healing agent. It is natural sunscreen at its best, eminently safe and effective!

The powder comes in Fair, Medium, Tanned and Dark.

Shop now!