Biodegradable Sunscreen: What It Is and Its Benefits

The importance of sunscreen or sunblock for effectively caring for the skin is a fact that is becoming more widely recognized, to the point where this product is now considered one of the most essential in the daily lives of many people. This is especially true in places with very sunny climates or during the hotter months of the year, when the damage caused by ultraviolet rays is more concentrated.

But something you may have never considered is the potential effects that the use of this substance has both on our bodies and on the planet’s ecosystems, hiding behind the long-held belief that these substances really do not cause any kind of side effect or concern that experts in the field of manufacturing and design have not considered before.

Currently, due to this, a new trend has emerged that many have been talking about. We refer to biodegradable sunscreens, an alternative that day by day is gaining more followers both individually and collectively to the point of becoming mandatory in some areas.

But if you are among those who are just beginning to enter this world of environmental awareness and still do not understand the importance of this product, we have created this article thinking of you, so that you can truly understand what it is about and the multiple benefits it can offer.

You may have already suffered the consequences of being exposed to the sun for longer than your skin can handle, in that case we invite you to read How to treat a sunburn

What does biodegradable sunscreen mean

The first point to understand the importance of opting for a biodegradable sunscreen over any other option is to understand what this really means, as we tend to associate the word biodegradable with a product that has a much shorter lifespan than others, sacrificing this aspect to give greater priority to conservation or to generate the least amount of waste possible.

And precisely, regarding biodegradable sunscreen, that’s where the explanation should begin. The first thing you should know is that a biodegradable sunscreen is designed not to include in its formula any substance that can remain impregnated for long periods of time in the water when it is exposed to it, whether in beaches, pools, rivers, or any aquatic source we decide to visit.

To achieve this, it seeks to avoid at all costs including ingredients such as Benzophenone, Octyl methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane or other products that have been shown to generate small particles that take a long time to completely disappear from the environment where they have been housed, whether by accident or voluntarily.

On the contrary, priority is given to the use of natural and mineral ingredients, such as zinc oxide or titanium oxide, substances that create a protective layer on the surface of the skin preventing UVA and UVB rays from reaching the skin and causing the dreaded and well-known medium and long-term damages that we always seek to avoid when using sun protection creams.

These, being more natural, manage to create a product that effectively fulfills the function for which they have been designed and at the same time can be considered as biodegradable and environmentally friendly substances, as they vanish quickly and their presence in the water does not represent any kind of risk for the various species that require these spaces to keep their ecosystem alive.

If you want to learn more about this topic, you can consult Mineral sunscreen: What it is and what are its benefits

Why is it better to opt for this alternative

As you may have noticed, there is an interesting difference in the ingredients when comparing biodegradable sunscreens with those considered more conventional, which do not consider using ingredients that cause the least amount of environmental impact or that are fully proven not to cause any kind of side effect on the skin of more sensitive people.

But for many, this simple point does not represent a weighty reason to switch from the usual sunscreen, as they are really unaware of the importance of the impact that this change can generate. It is normal to think that a little sunscreen with a very small amount of polluting substances is really not going to make a significant change in any ecosystem, making the idea of a biodegradable option seem like just another idea that is not necessary to consider.

The reality is that the damage caused by conventional sunscreen is greater than it is believed; various studies have shown that one of the chemical ingredients present in most of these creams, called Benzophenone-3, which has the function of protecting us from UVA rays, has caused a negative effect on coral reefs around the world, and generally on almost the entire marine ecosystem of coastal areas.

This has led some governments, in an effort to protect their waters and the life they harbor, to ban the sale and distribution of any cream or sunscreen that contains this substance among its ingredients. Because although it is seen in small amounts, when we combine the product resulting from hundreds of people every day, the damage is obviously much more evident and widespread.

This means that in certain places, the use of a sunscreen considered biodegradable is not simply an option but the alternative to which you must mandatorily resort if you do not want any problems that could ruin your vacation.

In places where it is not mandatory to use these kinds of products, being aware of the impact this generates should be reason enough to determine that indeed, a biodegradable sunscreen is an option to consider and the best alternative if you want to keep the environment as preserved as possible.

Are they as efficient as conventional sunscreens?

A point that raises considerable concern among users and can cause some doubt when deciding to switch from the usual sunscreen to one that represents a much lower risk to the health of various species is whether this biodegradable alternative sacrifices part of its efficacy in avoiding the use of harmful substances.

This point is a common concern mainly for those who require the use of creams with a higher sun protection factor either because of their skin type or because they have special needs. For this population, a change in the level of protection could represent the appearance of skin damage that could have been avoided, so they seek to avoid risks at all costs.

For them and everyone else, we have very good news, and that is that a biodegradable sunscreen really is altered exclusively in its formulation to the point of not causing environmental damage, without compromising in this process the efficacy of the protective substance, so you will be sure that the SPF indicated on the package or label really is the level of protection that the product will provide to your skin.

In this regard, the only thing you should keep in mind is that natural ingredients do not have as high a reach as chemical and artificial ones, so it will be completely impossible to find a biodegradable sunscreen that provides a sun protection factor higher than 50, which is more than enough for most people of any skin type and tone, under normal conditions.

If you have a disease that requires a higher level of protection, sadly we must tell you that you can only depend on conventional alternatives, so if you want to help the environment, what we can recommend is that you carefully review the ingredients and avoid acquiring those that contain a higher concentration of harmful substances in order to reduce your impact to the minimum possible.

What are the benefits that biodegradable sunscreen offers to the skin

So far we have mainly talked to you about the advantages that biodegradable sunscreen offers in terms of environmental consequences and impact on the ecosystem, but that does not mean that internally this product does not offer any kind of benefits that can serve as a push to start applying it frequently on your skin.

The quantity and quality of the ingredients contained in the sunscreen are extremely important, as it will not only accompany you on special occasions, but you will have to apply it to your skin day after day, so knowing what kind of consequences and benefits it brings to this organ is certainly a great concern both for experts and for users.

In the first place, you should keep in mind that the majority of biodegradable sunscreens are also considered natural sunscreens, as to avoid environmental impact, chemical substances are usually replaced with ones that have a much friendlier origin. In this sense, we must point out that these ingredients mostly come with extra benefits that your skin will undoubtedly appreciate, among which we find the following:

Helps to prevent and treat all kinds of skin damage

The most important advantage that biodegradable or natural sunscreen offers over conventional ones is the advantage they have in utilizing the various qualities of the ingredients that compose them. To begin with, zinc oxide, which serves as the base for most biodegradable sunscreens, is a mineral widely used in some skin care treatments.

It has the ability to help prevent premature aging, as well as reduce dark spots on the skin and fight acne, which turns your sunscreen also into a kind of cream or treatment for these problems.

Can serve as a treatment for some signs of aging

In addition to zinc oxide, most biodegradable sunscreens include among their ingredients some natural oils, which may vary depending on the presentation and the level of protection factor they possess. In most cases, as in the previous case, the natural oils included in their formulation also come with advantages that your skin perceives positively.

You may end up finding a biodegradable sunscreen that also helps to deeply moisturize your skin, managing to delay the arrival of wrinkles, but also others that already have the ability to help you in the task of reducing marks such as expression lines and wrinkles already present.

Before moving on to the next point, you may want to learn Everything about natural sunscreen

Is it possible to make a biodegradable sunscreen at home?

Being a biodegradable product, many people have considered the alternative of creating their own sunscreen at home, turning to the help of natural ingredients that are easily accessible but can ensure a level of protection that, while not surpassing that offered by commercial brands, can compete against them.

In this way, not only do you have the advantage that this product offers on the skin and the ecosystem, but also the extra benefit of being able to control the ingredients it will contain with the goal of achieving the desired level of protection, avoid adding any extra substance that could alter the properties of the same, and more importantly, get the secondary benefits that help you combat any other kind of skin problem.

For this, there is a long list of possible recipes, so you can consult various sources until you find one that suits you best, or you can guide yourself with what we consider the basic recipe and through it create small alterations that focus the result towards the point you desire.

Sun protection factor of natural ingredients

Before explaining how to make this preparation, we must mention that most recipes use as a protective ingredient various natural oils, which vary in their SPF from one another and can be combined to increase their effectiveness, so the starting point will be to determine what intensity of protection you want and for this we briefly describe which are the best ingredients you can turn to.

These are divided into two categories: natural oils that have a lower level of protection but will be the basis of the preparation, in this group we find the following: Natural hazelnut oil (SPF 10), Olive oil (SPF 7), Coconut oil (SPF 7), among others.

There are also essential oils, which have a much higher level of protection but will be used more sparingly, and can be optional if you are looking for a light sunscreen, for this group we must mention: Carrot seed essential oil (SPF 40), Basil essential oil (SPF 6), Peppermint essential oil (SPF 6), among others.

Ingredients for the basic homemade sunscreen

2 tablespoons of any of the natural oils we have mentioned

30 drops of essential oils depending on the SPF you wish

30 grams of beeswax

30 grams of shea butter or cocoa butter

1 teaspoon of wheat germ oil (optional)

10 grams of zinc oxide powder providing an SPF of 10 or 12

How to prepare it

To start, place the beeswax together with the shea or cocoa butter in a double boiler, seeking to melt them completely. Once they have begun to liquefy, add the 2 tablespoons of natural oil. Once they have finished melting, mix very well to fully integrate the 3 ingredients, taking care not to spill the mixture or create too many bubbles.

Let cool a bit while you put on a mask to handle the zinc oxide as its inhalation can be toxic. Once ready, add the wheat germ oil along with the zinc oxide powder and the 30 drops of essential oils you have decided to use.

Mix very well being careful that no lumps are formed with the zinc as it will be somewhat complicated to recover the texture if the mixture ends up hardening. Once everything maintains a fairly uniform appearance, pour or introduce the mixture into a container you have prepared for your finished product. Finally, let it rest and cool overnight to reach the final texture, once the time has passed you can use it normally.

Did you like this article? In that case, we recommend you read What to look for when buying sunscreen, according to dermatologists

Whether for daily use or when you decide to take a vacation at the beach, biodegradable sunscreen is an alternative you can always consider, as it offers similar results to those offered by conventional ones but with the advantage of serving as a way to contribute to both the health of the environment and your skin, which is why we consider it the perfect option for everyone.