You’ve decided that using anatural sunscreenis the right choice for you.
Seriously, does choosing a natural sunscreen have to be this confusing?
With so much info out there, it can seem overwhelming.
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What Are Nanoparticles?
Nanoparticles are incredibly tiny particles of a given substance.
Nanoparticles are less than 100 nanometers thick.
To give some perspective, a nanometer is 1000 times smaller than the thickness of one strand of hair.
For sunscreen, the nanoparticles in question are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
These ingredients are broken down into ultra-fine particles before being added to your sunscreen.
Nanoparticles first became available in sunscreens in the 1980s, but didn’t really catch on until the 1990s.
The terms “nano” and “micronized” are synonymous.
So, sunscreen bearing a “micronized zinc oxide” or “micronized titanium dioxide” label contains nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles aren’t just found in sunscreens.
Many skincare and cosmetic products, like foundations, shampoos, and toothpaste, often contain micronized ingredients.
Nanoparticles are also used in electronics, fabrics, scratch-resistant glass, and more.
The difference between the two will show up on your skin.
Both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are approved by the FDA as naturalsunscreening ingredients.
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide work by reflectingUV raysaway from the skin, shielding the skin from the sun.
And they’re very effective.
In their regular, non-nano sized form, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are quite white.
When incorporated into sunscreen, they’ll leave an obvious opaque white film across the skin.
Think of the stereotypical lifeguard with white across the bridge of the noseyep, that’s zinc oxide.
The ultra-fine nanoparticles make the sunscreen less opaque but just as effective.
Some have questioned the safety of these micronized particles.
Because they are so small, they can be absorbed by the skin and into the body.
For kicks, what happens to your body if zinc oxide or titanium dioxide nano-particles are absorbed?
Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer for that, either.
But more research needs to be done to know definitively one way or another.
With the information we have right now, sunscreen containing nanoparticles is acting like safe and very effective.
So, kudos to you for being proactive in protecting your skin!
The trade-off is you’ll notice a white film on your skin after tool.
Natural sunscreen, both micronized and not, vary greatly in their consistency and feel on the skin.
