Top 4 Ingredients In Your Sunscreen

Sunscreen is very important for healthy skin. We are all aware that everyone needs sunscreen protection for the skin from the sun. Choosing the best sunscreen for yourself can be quite a task at times. However, it is advisable to look out for some important ingredients which is a must in your sunscreen. 

Let us give you an in-depth look into the sunscreen ingredients which you must beware of while choosing sunscreen. Before we get started with insights on the best ingredients for sunscreen, let us check out some important facts about sunscreen. 

How Does Sunscreen Work? 

The main function of sunscreen is the protection of the skin from harsh sun rays. Sunscreen is a skincare product that helps to filter the UV rays before they reach to damage the skin. The UV rays can damage your skin by tanning or accelerating aging. 

Forms Of Sunscreen 

Sunscreen can be directly applied to the skin. There are various forms of Sunscreen which are as follows- 

• Gels
• Creams
• Powders
• Sprays 

Benefits Of The Sunscreen 

People who use sunscreen regularly can benefit from it. The benefits of the sunscreen are as follows - 

1. Prevent hyperpigmentation
2. Prevent aging
3. Lowers the risk of cancer 

Recommendations For The Sunscreen 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates sunscreen to be a safe and effective skincare product and can be used regularly. Sunscreen can be used by all age groups, by children or adults. It is recommended to use sunscreens generously daily before stepping out in the sun even though it is cloudy outside. Moreover, sunscreen should be applied 20 mins before stepping out in the sun to achieve the maximum benefits from it. 

Ingredients For The Sunscreen 

Before investing in the best sunscreen for your skin, it is advisable to check the list of active ingredients in it. All FDA-approved sunscreens contain approved physical and chemical ingredients or a mix of two. Check out the active ingredients on your sunscreen label to find out whether your sunscreen contains physical or chemical filters. 

There are two types of active sunscreen filters which are as follows - 

Physical filters or ingredients 

Physical ingredients or filters are also called “Mineral Sunscreens.” They are very beneficial for the skin to protect it from sun damage. Physical filters work like a reflective barrier which helps in scattering the UV rays. This helps to prevent UV damage to the skin. The two major important physical ingredients or filters in sunscreen are as follows- 

• Titanium Dioxide
• Zinc Oxide 

Chemical filters or ingredients 

Chemical ingredients provide supportive protection to the skin against UV damage.

They are partially absorbed into the skin and create a chemical reaction to help protect the skin against UV damage. There are more than 10 types of chemical ingredients in sunscreen. But, we are going to list the best chemical ingredients which are safe for the skin and approved as per FDA regulations. 

If your sunscreen contains chemical filters, the active ingredients are as follows- 

• Avobenzone
• Homosalate
• Octocrylene
• Octinoxate
• Octisalate
• Oxybenzone 

Now that you know about the details of safe ingredients in sunscreen, let us check which ingredients should be completely avoided. 

Ingredients To Avoid In Your Sunscreen 

It is important to avoid certain ingredients in your sunscreen which are as follows - 

Physical Ingredients 

These two physical ingredients in sunscreen are neither safe nor effective. These are as follows - 

• Aminobenzoic acid
• Trolamine salicylate 

 Chemical ingredients 

As per FDA, more research is required into some of the chemical synthetic ingredients in sunscreen. The questionable chemical synthetic ingredients which are as follows- 

• Benzene
• Dioxybenzone
• Cinoxate
• Meradimate
• Sulisobenzone
• Ensulizole 

The Final Takeaway 

If you want to be cautious, choose a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, both of which have the GRASE (Generally Accepted As Safe & Effective) seal officially by the FDA.  

So, now you know which sunscreen ingredients work best for you and which ones you should avoid completely. Before investing in the best sunscreen for your skin, ensure to look out for FDA-approved ingredients which are safe for the skin.