Is cosmetic elegance really that important?
I am not a blogger that judges a product on its aesthetic value. I genuinely don’t care if a sunscreen leaves a slight “whiteness” to your skin, as I believe functionally, sunscreens have an important role to play in your skincare regime.
But I do take exception with this product that would not be out of a place in a hospital pharmacy.
This is an unbelievably thick sunscreen that has the consistency of frozen lacto-calamine lotion, with an unpleasant, baby talcum powder smell. It blends in without leaving a white cast, but if you are able to wear this product for more than a few minutes, I would get your olfactory senses checked out.
Happy Skin Days’ sunscreen test
My view: this sunscreen is a no buy because it contains a harmful chemical, Oxybenzone.
Oxybenzone absorbs both UVB and UVA. The health concerns are: it likely causes endocrine disruption, as its been linked to girls with lower weights at birth and boys with larger heads.
Also, its been found in the breast-milk of lactating women and in the urine samples of 90%+ Americans….
Finally, Oxybenzone is a skin allergen for individuals with pre-existing skin conditions. This is no surprise as its so readily absorbed into our skin.
(See also – Chemicals To Avoid – Benzophenone-3)
UVA and UVB filters
Both UVA and UVB have both been implicated in skin cancer and photo-aging and we want filters to protect against both types of damage. Any sunscreen must protect against BOTH UVA and UVB damage.
This product surprised me. “Filters” protect against damage caused by UV radiation and the filters in this product are:
UVB: Octinoxate (6th ingredient), UVA and UVB: Oxybenzone (11th ingredient)
Octinoxate is a superior UVB absorber, but is photounstable. Hence its usually combined with Oxybenzone – a weak UVA and UVB filter – and this product is no exception.
UVA: Methylene Bisbenzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (MBBT)
This is a superior new style UVA filter. This ingredient is listed as the 7th ingredient. That doesn’t matter.
Even if the quantity in this product is 4% + this provides excellent UVA protection. This is a photostable ingredient and works well with Octinoxate.
Well done Shahnaz Husain for using this filter!!
Concluding remarks
I hate the fact that this product falls short – both in terms of cosmetic elegance and formulation. It would have been so much more, but alas mirroring real-life its not.
Drop me a line if you have any comments at email@happyskindays.com
P.S. labelling is wholly inappropriate
“Sun block” is not permitted as a sunscreen name in the European Union. This is with good reason, as it suggests a product will completely block all UV from reaching your skin.
This is impossible. Its sunscreen and not a coat of UVR invincibility.
In India, Shahnaz Husain can make such claims because no law tells them otherwise. But we do need to be hoodwinked by marketing claims!