How to Find a Good Sunscreen and Stay Protected

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

3. Avoid Sunscreens with Vitamin A:

Eating veggies that are rich in vitamin A are good for your health, but spreading vitamin A on your skin is not. According to government reports, tumors and lesions can develop faster on a skin coated with creams containing vitamin A, also known as retinol or retinyl palmitate.

It’s included in 14% of all sunscreens reviewed in 2017. So you may want to absolutely avoid any skin or lip product whose ingredients list includes vitamin A, retinol, or retinyl palmitate.

4. Avoid Oxybenzon:

Oxybenzone is a synthetic estrogen that can easily penetrate your skin after application and eventually damage your hormone system. To avoid health hazards, you should look for sunscreens with zinc oxide, Mexoryl SX, or 3% avobenzone. These can safeguard your skin against harmful UVA radiation.

5. No Insect Repellent!

Even though a combination of insect repellent and sunscreen seems appealing, it’s better to use two different products instead of a single mixed formula. Combination products are problematic because sunscreens and insect repellents are safe and effective when used separately, and if combined, the sunscreen’s capacity to block UV radiation can be weakened by the repellent, while the toxicity of the repellent is improved by the sunscreen. If you really need a bug repellent, you should buy it separately and make sure to apply it first.

6. No Spray!

Harmful ingredients can be found in both sprays and lotions, but are much more dangerous in sprays because you can potentially inhale these chemicals, as well as they’re also inflammable. Spraying sunscreen is not recommended, especially for children whose lungs are more sensitive to damage.

In fact, sprays fill the air around you with tiny particles that may be dangerous to breathe. If it happened that a spray-on sunscreen is your only option, you should spray the sunscreen into your hand and the apply it on your skin. Also, make sure the spray has fully dried before going near anything burning to avoid catching on fire. But if you’re shopping for sunscreen, reach for a lotion instead.