A woman applies sunscreen on her face

Natural cosmetics sunscreen: The new generation

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time to read 5 min

A bright blue sky, warm rays of sunshine, and the chirping of birds – all this invites us to go outside and enjoy the beauty of spring and summer. But while we enjoy the beautiful weather, our skin needs special protection. The new generation of natural cosmetics sun care Not only does it offer reliable protection against UV rays, but it also impresses with improved textures and a pleasant skin feel after application. It protects us gently and effectively from UV rays without compromising on tolerability or environmental friendliness!

Sun Protection Basics: Different Types of UV Rays

UV rays – this term has become a staple in our beauty vocabulary in recent years. But what exactly does it mean? Generally, a distinction is made between two types of UV rays: UV-A and UV-B rays.


UV-B rays are short-wave and cause sunburn. They damage the skin cells in our outermost layer, the epidermis.


UV-A radiation It has long wavelengths and penetrates deeper into our skin, into the dermis. There, UV-A radiation creates free radicals that can accelerate skin aging.


Both types of UV radiation can cause skin cancer if exposed to them for too long without protection.
Therefore, an effective sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection, meaning it protects against both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

How to choose effective sun protection?

The most effective sun protection for you depends on your skin type, how much time you plan to spend outdoors, and what activities you plan to do.


The Sun protection factor (SPF) A sunscreen's SPF indicates how well the product protects you from UV rays. A common misconception about sun protection is the assumption that the skin's natural protection is sufficient for everyday use, especially for darker skin types. However, this is not the case. Depending on the skin type, the skin's natural protection only lasts between 5 and 30 minutes. A person with light skin, whose skin has a natural protection of 5 minutes, can theoretically stay in the sun for 30 minutes with a sunscreen with SPF 150.


But that's just the theory – there are many factors that influence the actual sun protection and often make it shorter. For one thing, the daily UV indexThis varies depending on factors such as the position of the sun, cloud cover, the season, the geographical location, and the altitude of a place. If the UV index is above a factor of 3, you should apply sunscreen even for short periods of exposure, such as commuting to work or shopping. With a high UV factor, even brief exposure can damage the skin.


On the other hand, people often underestimate how much sunscreen they actually need to apply for it to be effective. For the face, two finger lengths Product recommended and for the body about three tablespoons.


After sweating or swimming, it is essential to reapply sunscreen, as the sunscreen will no longer be effective. But even without sweating, sunscreen loses its effectiveness over time, which is why Refresher every two hours is recommended.

a woman applies sunscreen on her hand in a heart shape

Naturally protected: The new era of environmentally friendly sun protection

Given the growing concerns about environmentally harmful ingredients in conventional sunscreens and the growing demand for natural and skin-friendly alternatives, natural cosmetic sun care is gaining increasing importance. The current generation of sunscreen products has undergone significant development, allowing them to provide effective protection against the harmful effects of the sun without compromising on application, skin compatibility, or environmental friendliness.


producer of Natural cosmetics In recent years, the application properties of mineral sunscreens have greatly improved. Previous generations of mineral filters often left an undesirable white film on the skin, which was considered a significant disadvantage. Today, these problems have largely been overcome, making mineral sunscreens an attractive option for all skin types.


Even chemical filters, long frowned upon in natural cosmetics, are now becoming increasingly popular, and they are becoming increasingly popular. This is due to manufacturers increasingly using non-irritating active ingredients that do not cause hormonal effects or trigger allergies.


All in all, there are now hardly any good reasons to resort to conventional sunscreens, especially with regard to application.

Decision-making aid: Mineral or chemical sunscreen?

When choosing the right sunscreen, we often face the choice between mineral and chemical filters. How do we choose between them? chemical filters absorb solar rays and convert them into heat. mineral filters Contain pigments that reflect sunlight away from the skin. In both categories, there are ingredients that are recommended and those that are less recommended.

mineral filters

Mineral filters are well tolerated by people with sensitive skin and with skin problems such as Rosacea, as they are less irritating. They do not trigger allergies and are especially recommended for children.


Sunscreens with mineral filters provide effective protection immediately after application.


In the past, mineral filters often had a heavy texture, were difficult to spread, and left a white residue. However, most manufacturers have now improved their formulations, making mineral sunscreens easier to apply, more comfortable on the skin, and no longer leaving a white residue.


There are now also tinted mineral sunscreens for the face that not only provide good protection against UV rays, but also give the skin an even and radiant appearance.


Mineral sunscreen filters containing nanoparticles are controversial because they can potentially penetrate the skin and are not considered reef-safe. Unlike non-nano mineral filters, they can be absorbed by marine organisms and harm corals. Because their long-term effects on humans and the environment have not yet been sufficiently researched, most natural cosmetic brands deliberately avoid nanoparticles.

Name of the mineral filter
recommendable?
Possible side effects
Titanium dioxide (non-nano)
Ja No
Zinc oxide (non-nano)
Ja No
Titanium dioxide (nano)
No nanoparticles
Zinc oxide (nano) 
No nanoparticles

Sun protection with mineral filters

chemical filters

Chemical filters have the advantage of not leaving a white cast on the skin thanks to their light texture and transparent finish. This makes them ideal for use under makeup.


However, some chemical sunscreen filters can cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive skin or in people with allergies or skin problems.


After application, you should wait about 20 minutes for the full effect of chemical sunscreen filters to unfold.


They can also break down faster under sunlight than mineral filters, which means you need to reapply cream more often.

Name of the chemical filter
Recommended?
Possible side effects
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
Ja No
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Ja No
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
Ja No
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
Ja No
Ethylhexyl Triazone
Ja No
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Ja No
Octyl Methoxycinnamate
No hormonal effect
Homo salads
No Hormonal effects and allergies
Benzophenones-3 to -5
No Hormonal effects and allergies
octocrylene
No Can accumulate in the organism

Our sun protection recommendations with chemical filters

Conclusion: Natural cosmetics sun protection in focus

Thanks to the constant improvement of natural cosmetic sun care formulations, these products are pleasant to use, leave a pleasant feeling on the skin, and offer comprehensive broad-spectrum protection against harmful UV radiation. Therefore, by using natural cosmetics, consumers contribute Sonnencreme Not only do they help protect their own skin, but they also help protect the environment by choosing products free from harmful chemicals and environmentally harmful ingredients. Therefore, natural cosmetic sun care is not only a smart choice for your own health, but also for the health of our planet.