2024 Latest Edition: How to Choose the Right Sunscreen for You

Many people have trouble choosing a sunscreen.

I don't want to get sunburned.
But I don't know which sunscreen to choose.

CONCIO Academy receives many inquiries from such people.

So!

As of now (April 2024), I have written what could be considered a complete guide to choosing a sunscreen.
Find the sunscreen that best suits you based on your skin type and preferences.

Two UV protection agents

There are two types of ingredients that block UV rays.

① UV absorbers

It is an ingredient that is said to absorb UV rays and prevent their effects from reaching the skin directly. It is sometimes found in sunscreens with high SPF, as well as makeup bases, foundations, and moisturizing creams that have UV protection.

② UV scattering agent

An ingredient that reflects ultraviolet rays to prevent their effects on the skin. Titanium oxide and zinc oxide are typical examples. As the name suggests, they are derived from minerals and are found in natural cosmetic sunscreens and makeup products.

Tips for choosing a sunscreen:
Does it contain any UV absorbents?

The first thing to check when choosing a sunscreen is whether it contains any UV absorbers. The UV absorbers commonly found in Japan are as follows:

• Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate
• Oxybenzone
• t-Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane

None of these ingredients have been sufficiently confirmed as safe by the US FDA , and most of them have been deemed to pose a risk of being absorbed through the skin.
In addition, many types of products are known to disrupt hormone balance or pose a high risk of allergies , and are considered to be a burden on sensitive skin.

→ Choose a sunscreen that says "non-chemical."

"Non-chemical" cosmetics refer to sunscreens that do not contain UV absorbers. UV absorbers are said to threaten the lives of marine creatures such as coral. Those who want to make ethical choices should also choose non-chemical formulas.

By the way, "non-chemical" cosmetics do not mean that they do not contain synthetic ingredients.

Point 2 when choosing sunscreen
Does it contain nano-sized UV scattering agents?

"Non-chemical" sunscreens that do not contain UV absorbers often contain "titanium oxide" or "zinc oxide," which are UV scattering agents that have been approved as safe by the FDA.

Before you think "Okay then!", there are a few things you should check.
The question is whether or not these ingredients contained in sunscreen have been nano-processed.

Nano ingredients in cosmetics are much smaller than human skin tissue, which means that ingredients that were previously considered safe and not absorbed through the skin may now pose a high risk of percutaneous absorption.

→ Look for sunscreens that say "no nano ingredients."

However, ideally, a sunscreen would be one that is labeled "non-chemical" and contains no nano-ingredients. Unfortunately, the options are very limited at present.

Tips for choosing a sunscreen ③
Even if it is non-chemical, spray type is not recommended.

Even if the sunscreen is labeled "non-chemical," try to avoid spray types .

This is because titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which are found in many non-chemical sunscreens, pose a health risk when inhaled through the nose or mouth, and the lungs are unable to remove nano-sized substances, particularly when these nano-processed ingredients are inhaled through the nose or mouth.

→ It may be safer to avoid spray and powder types as much as possible.

When using this product, be careful not to inhale it through your nose or mouth.

Sunscreen checkpoints

To summarise all the points above, these are the sunscreens we recommend:

1. Non-chemical formula
2. No Nano Ingredients
3. Not a spray or powder type

However, even though zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are deemed safe by the FDA, some people have skin problems caused by them. What should you do in such cases?

New UV scattering agent: Cerium oxide

Titanium oxide, which has been considered safe, has been reported to cause more allergic reactions as its use has increased. In addition, some people have reported that zinc oxide, which was once used as an acne treatment, causes acne.

In such cases, you may want to choose a sunscreen that contains a UV scattering agent called cerium oxide. This is a new generation UV scattering agent that does not leave a white cast and also blocks blue light.

There are still only a few products available, but they are gradually coming out.

However, cerium oxide is a new compound, so there is still a lack of data to show its safety, and some research suggests that when nano-processed, cerium oxide may be significantly more toxic.

Please be careful when you first start using it and keep an eye on your skin as you try it out.

Raspberry oil has no sunscreen effect

"I use raspberry oil as a sunscreen."
"Raspberry oil has an SPF of 50."

Some people who are into natural products sometimes have this problem. One study showed that raspberry seed oil absorbs UVC and UVB rays, so I guess that's why rumors have spread that this oil is a natural UV absorber.

However, this leaves some doubts. Here I would like to introduce an overseas article that examines this issue.

The women were given three types of plant oils and sunscreens with SPF levels of 20, 30, and 50 applied to their backs, then sunbathed for two hours to test the effectiveness of the oils.

The top left is raspberry oil. The right side of the raspberry oil is SPF20 sunscreen. What happened after 2 hours...

As you can see in the image on the right, the areas where I applied raspberry oil are perfectly tanned.

There are three types of ultraviolet rays: UVC, UVB, and UVA. However, raspberry seed oil has almost no ability to block UVA. However, it is this UVA that causes blemishes and wrinkles.

Raspberry seed oil has antioxidant properties, so rather than using it as a sunscreen, it would be better to use it as an aftercare after being exposed to UV rays.

For those with sensitive skin, use an SPF of around 30.

I don't want to get sunburned, so I want to choose a sunscreen with a high SPF.

However, even if it is the same brand and same series of sunscreen, the higher the SPF value, the higher the concentration of UV protection agents will be.

Some people say that even if they were fine with a lower SPF value, their skin became irritated when they changed to SPF50.
Therefore, people with sensitive skin should choose a sunscreen with an SPF of around 30 to avoid any stress on the skin.

If you're a bit worried about that, try combining it with a hat, sunglasses, and thin long sleeves to protect yourself from UV rays.