Happy Skin Days’ sunscreen test
I will be absolutely honest here. I don’t know what this sunscreen is trying to achieve. It’s certainly not effective UVA1 protection. Let me tell you more.
3) UVA and UVB filters present?
We want sunscreens to contain effective “filters,” so that they can protect against both UVA and UVB damage.
UVA filters protect against the damage caused by UVA radiation, which in a nutshell is photo-damage (wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation and loss of skin elasticity).
UVB filters protect mainly against UVB radiation, namely reddening of the skin (erythema), sunburn and skin-cancer. UVB/UVA filters combine the function of UVA and UVB filters.
What filters does this product contain?
The filters are:
- UVB Filters
- Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (common name – Octinoxate) (2nd ingredient out of 46 ingredients or “2/46”)
- Ethylhexyl Salicylate (common name – Octisalate) (4/46)
- Isoamyl P-methoxycinnamate (common name – Amiloxate) (6/46)
- Octocrylene (10/46)
- UVB/UVA Filter:
- Titanium Dioxide (Nano) (8/46)
- Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (common name – Bemotrizinol) (11/46)
The UVB/UVA filter quandry
Titanium Dioxide is a more effective UVB filter than UVA filter.
Bemotrizinol (as discussed in Avene), is a new style stable filter that provides protection across UVB and UVA2. It has absorption peaks at 310nm and 340nm
But the bulk of UV radiation is UVA1 and I don’t think this product provides adequate UVA1 protection.
Concluding remarks
This sunscreen is cheap as they come – for Rs 700 for 50ml it is a steal. But concurrently, its not providing the protection that we need from a sunscreen. Therefore, its utility is quite limited.
Please let me know if you have any queries or I’d love to hear your suggestions so please write to me. Click on “EMAIL ME” for my address. I look forward to hearing from you!
See also: What damage is sunscreen trying to protect against, No 1 sunscreen recommendation: Avene, Top 5 sunscreen recommendations
What is the PA++ mean?
The Japan Cosmetic Industry, adopted a rating system for UVA – which from the translated version of the Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association page – appears to be voluntary. The Protection Grade of UVA (PA) system is based on the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) method which uses UVA radiation to cause a persistent darkening or tanning of the skin. The PA sign is commonly seen on Asian sunscreens.
This is from the JCIA website
PA represents the protective effect of UVA based on UVA’s response to dark skin in a short time (sustained-type immediate darkening) as an index; Is displayed as either “PA +++” (very UVA prevention effect) or “PA ++++” (very high UVA prevention effect), the more “+” numbers, the more UV-A prevention effect It shows that it is high.
https://www.jcia.org/user/public/uv/glossary
The PA++ displayed DOES NOT appear to provide sufficient UVA prevention effect that we desire, given the UVI exposure in India (see post Myths About Sun Protection). I think we can all give this product a pass.
P.S. Its important to remember that when products carrying any such signs – PA++ or the letters UVA in a circular logo – are imported into India they are not independently verified by the Indian government.