10 Things About…Sunscreen Ingredients

Applying sunscreen daily should be recommended to clients by all skin care professionals. As a professional, it is important to know which ingredients are commonly in sunscreens and what the regulations are so clients can be better assisted. Skin care professionals should stay up-to-date on sunscreen regulation changes and relay them to clients.

 1.The SPF number on the bottle only tells us how much UVB protection can be expected. The product must be labeled as “broad spectrum” to offer measureable UVA protection.

  2.Zinc oxide is the one ingredient considered to offer the broadest coverage across UVA I, UVA II, and UVB. Although widely used in the United States, zinc oxide is not approved for use in Europe sunscreens.

 3.All chemical sunscreen ingredients are considered to be organic compounds because they contain carbon as part of their structure.

 4.Chemical sunscreens are designed to absorb ultraviolet radiation and diffuse the energy as heat.

 5.Manufacturers are no longer allowed to use the terms “sweat proof,” “water proof,” or “sun block.” Formulations must be tested to make “water resistant” claims and must be labeled for 40 or 80 minutes.

 6.Photostabilizers can help reduce the potential negative impact of chemical sunscreens. They extend their performance over a longer period of time, making them safer and more effective.

 7.Catagorically, chemical sunscreens are controversial due to their ability to absorb and diffuse ultraviolet radiation as heat energy into the skin, yet many have a proven safety track record. Avobenzone is approved in every country that regulates sunscreen ingredients.

  8.There are no proven ingestible or oral sunscreens. Lycopene, beta-carotene, and other caratinoids have been shown to offer minimal protection that can equate to around a SPF of two.

 9.Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide work on the surface of the skin to reflect ultraviolet radiation. Roughly 3.5 million Americans get skin cancer every year from ultraviolet exposure. There has never been a documented incidence of sunscreen- induced skin cancer.

10.The Sunscreen Innovation Act, passed in November 2014, streamlines the process of reviewing eight new chemical sunscreens not currently available in the United States market. Most of these are already currently approved for use in Australia, Europe, and Asia.

Michael Q. Pugliese, B.S., L.E., became the third-generation CEO of Circadia by Dr. Pugliese, Inc. in 2006. Under his leadership, the Circadia brand has grown to achieve international recognition and distribution. Pugliese is a licensed aesthetician, a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, and regularly attends their education events to stay on the cutting edge of new product development. His compelling original lectures honor the tenets of modern skin science discovered by his grandfather. Today’s application of that information creates an ever-changing business and scientific environment.