Sunscreen should be applied after moisturizer. Here are some positive and negative aspects of sunscreen ingredients:
Positive:
- Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are considered safe and effective by the FDA.
- Sunscreen protects against skin cancer and other harmful effects of the sun.
Negative:
- Oxybenzone is the most worrisome sunscreen active ingredient, according to publicly available scientific research. It is readily absorbed through the skin and causes allergic skin reactions, behaves like a hormone disruptor in many studies, and may cause more harm to children.
- Some experts are concerned that chemical ingredients in sunscreens, such as oxybenzone and avobenzone, may be absorbed through the skin, leading to skin irritation, hormonal disruption, and even skin cancer.
- A total of seven chemicals commonly found in sunscreens can be absorbed into the bloodstream at levels that exceed safety thresholds, according to studies by the FDA.
It is important to note that there is insufficient data to be able to make a positive determination on the safety of some ingredients in chemical sunscreens. Consumers can purchase sunscreens that don’t contain potentially risky ingredients, such as physical sunscreens that work by reflecting or blocking the sun’s rays and contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.
