Just over a week and summer is here which means the days get longer, the nights are shorter, and the sun is hotter than ever! It means that our schedules open up for more time by the beach or the pool. Camping is just another great recreational activity we enjoy with our families. It means that we are spending more time in the sun. We all know the amazing health benefits of being in the sun (vitamin D) not to mention who wants to miss out on all the fun summer activities that we do outside - NOT ME! But it also means that we most likely will have an over-exposure to the sun resulting in a painful sunburn. Most of us have used commercial sunscreens and know that they can be toxic and harmful to our skin, even when we may think they are protecting us.
“In fact, a 2018 report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that nearly 67 percent of sunscreens didn’t work. That is to say, these sunscreens provide inadequate sun protection and/or they contained harmful ingredients.”
Zinc Oxide - A Natural Sunscreen
So you're probably wondering what’s the next best thing I can be used to protect my skin that’s more natural and gentle. The answer is Zinc Oxide. Zinc Oxide is actually an ingredient that is in most beauty products and sunscreens already. The problem with these is that they contain far too many chemicals which can lead to allergic reactions and higher skin irritations.
Zinc Oxide is an element in nature with a special electric charge that can be beneficial to the human body when used properly. Zinc is a beneficial “stepping stone” for protein synthesis, enzyme creation, and metabolic processes.
“While zinc itself can be found in nature, zinc oxide is not naturally-occurring, but rather created when zinc is chemically heated and combined with oxygen molecules. The two elements are vaporized, condensed, and formed into a powder that is fine, white, crystallized and sits on top of the skin providing a protective layer.”
As Zinc Oxide sits on your skin it has the ability to keep the moisture in place and the purpose of reflecting the sun by scattering away ultraviolet rays. It’s called a “physical barrier substance” for a reason because it literally sits on your skin and keeps the moisture in place.
Benefits of Zinc Oxide
There are also more benefits that Zinc Oxide provides not only for your skin
- Prevents bacterial infections
- Recovers burns and damaged tissues
- Reduces dandruff
- Treats warts
- Helps form new connective tissue
- Treats acne breakouts
- Used in diaper cream for rashes
As you can see this powerful mineral can have a plethora of benefits and easy to add to your own recipes. You can purchase zinc oxide in a powder form and easily make your own DIY sunscreens and moisturizers. It’s not water soluble so it needs to be added to a carrier agent for optimal effectiveness.
Most importantly, zinc oxide can be a better remedy than your typical commercial sunscreens. It can help you and your loved ones protect your skin on days when you want to enjoy your summer in the sun!