****This formulation has been revised. Please click on this LINK for new review, which is a BUY rating*******
My view: Give it a miss and donate your money to charity
This is an extremely unusual formulation, as it has only one filter: Titanium Dioxide. In fact, in the 200+ sunscreen product formulations I have looked at, this is the ONLY one with Titanium Dioxide as the UV filter.
Why use sunscreen?
Sunscreens contain filters, that reflect, absorb or scatter UV radiation (UVR) and we want filters to protect against two types of UVR: UVA and UVB, also commonly referred to as “broadspectrum” in the sunscreen world.
UVB is the more energetic radiation and it effects mainly the top layer of the skin. UVA is made of UVA2 and UVA1, and penetrates deeper into the skin, causing longer term structural damage to the skin.
We want sunscreens to protect against the following types of damages that we generally associate with UVB and UVA.
However, I cannot emphasise this enough, there is overlap between the categories….(e.g.), UVA has also been implicated in causing skin cancer and similarly, UVB has been linked to immuno-suppression.
Tell me about Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
The US FDA (February 2019) listed TiO2 along with Zinc Oxide as the only two sunscreen filters that it considers to be “safe” for use in sunscreens. TiO2 is a very photostable filter that works by reflecting and scattering UVB and UVA. TiO2 sits on the skin and there is non-existent dermal penetration.
Sounds perfect – what’s the problem?
TiO2 is a broadspectrum filter (protects against UVB and UVA), that is a very effective UVB absorber. But it simply does not cut it in the UVA department. Its not an effective UVA absorber across the entire UVA spectrum.
Naturally, as a skincare blogger, my main concern is also that this product does not do enough to protect against the other UVA damage: tanning, photo-aging (loss of skin elasticity, hyper-pigmentation, wrinkles and all that wonderful stuff).
What do I see in 200+ products?
I generally see:
- Zinc Oxide and TiO2 formulas
- Titanium Dioxide offers superior absorbance in UVB region and UVA1. But its Zinc Oxide that offers superior absorbance in the UVA2 region. Both compliment each other in protecting skin from UVB and UVA.
- OR just Zinc Oxide alone.
Examples of products containing just Zinc Oxide
The US has really limited UVA filters – its either Zinc Oxide or Avobenzone. Owing to the lack of filters this is a popular combination in the US and here are the products I have come across.
- Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer™ Physical Daily Defense SPF 30
- REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30
- Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Face Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 50+
- Neutrogena SheerZinc Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 50
- SunBum Mineral Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
- Coppertone Pure & Simple for Face SPF 50
- CVS Zinc Face Sheer Lotion SPF 50
Products containing Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide
In the US at least, this is a more common combination for baby and kids products. Here are some of the products I have come across:
- Australian Gold® Botanical SPF 30 Mineral Lotion
- Australian Gold® Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Mineral Lotion
- Aveeno baby continuous protection sensitive skin sunscreen stick SPF 50
- babyganics sunscreen stick SPF 50+
- Banana Boat Kids SPORT sunscreen lotion SPF 50+
- Banana Boat kids simply protect mineral based sunscreen lotion SPF 50+
- CVS Health baby sunscreen lotion SPF 50
- CVS Health children’s sunscreen lotion SPF 50
- CVS Health sensitive skin sunscreen lotion SPF 60
- Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60+
Bye, bye
That’s it for this week. Any questions, please email me (email@happyskindays.com) or leave a comment.
Notes:
- UVB/UVA filters*: Titanium Dioxide (3rd ingredient**)
- We are looking for BOTH UVA and UVB filters. UVA filters protect against photo-damage (wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation and loss of skin elasticity). UVB filters protect against reddening of the skin, sunburn and skin cancer. (See Myths About Sun-Protection for more information).
- The primary UV protection comes from Titanium Dioxide and this is a broadspectrum filter.
Ingredients
Aqua, Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polydiethylhexyl Siloxane, C12-C15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Methyl trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Silica, Dipentaerythrityl tri-polyhydroxystearate, Laureth-4, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Silylate, Hydolyzed Wheat Protein/PVP Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Isostearic acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Dirpopylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), [ILN41954]
See also Top 5 Sunscreen Recommendations, Do You Know Your Filters?, Guide to Buying Sun Protection, Do You Understand The Gibberish on Sunscreen Labels?
I like this graph. Its from this post Do You Know Your Filters? The graph shows absorbance of both Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.