Natural Sunscreen Protection

Which OZNaturals sunscreen is best for me?

For healthy, youthful skin, daily sunscreen use simply isn’t optional – it’s a must! At OZNaturals, we’ve created two versatile formulations to meet all your sunscreen needs. Importantly, both provide broad spectrum SPF 30 protection to protect from the aging effects of UV radiation.

OZNaturals Age Defying Tinted Sunscreen provides a hint of natural-looking color in a delightfully moisturizing base. The neutral tint provides just the right amount of coverage glow, and works well with both fair and dark skin tones.

OZNaturals Age Defying Moisturizing Sunscreen provides non-tinted, sheer, lightweight protection, and avoids the chalky pallor common to many mineral-based sunscreens. Ideal for face and body, it absorbs quickly and leaves no trace.

What makes OZNaturals sunscreens the best?

There are a bewildering number of sunscreens on the market – and they are not all created equal.

At OZNaturals, we recommend a natural, mineral-based formulation with an SPF of 30. SPF stands for “sun protection factor,” and refers to the ability to block UVB radiation. UVB rays are the burning rays from the sun. Equally damaging are UVA rays, which penetrate deeply into the skin and cause long-term damage. The term “broad spectrum” refers to the ability to block both kinds of rays. Unfortunately, the FDA (which governs sunscreen labeling), has been very lax about the use of this term, and most sunscreens on the market can legally say they are “broad spectrum” without being able to prove that claim.

OZNaturals uses the most advanced formulations to ensure true SPF30 protection to keep your skin healthy and youthful looking. We believe in taking a holistic approach to keeping your skin as young and as beautiful looking as possible -- a key foundation to that is sunscreen. Because we are an anti-aging skincare company, we understand the full importance of the vital step in health of your skin, and have designed our product line to work synergistically to protect and help improve your skin.

No matter how outstanding your skincare regimen is, if it doesn’t include daily sunscreen, it simply will not be as effective as it could be. This is because small amounts of damage accumulate continuously with normal exposure to the sun. (You don’t need to tan or get a sunburn to be experiencing free radical damage from the sun!)

Antioxidants, for example, can do their best work when not under attack by sun exposure. Other advanced skincare ingredients, such as retinol, actively require sun protection. No one understands this like OZNaturals. We’ve designed our entire line with one goal – to make you beautiful in your own skin. Rather than take a piecemeal approach to skincare and sun protection, we invite you to put your skin in the hands of experts – we’re confident you’ll see the results.

Why use natural sunscreen?

When looking for a sunscreen to protect yourself and your family, it’s important to understand the key differences in the two main types of formulations. Virtually all sunscreens available today use either a mineral or chemical-based formulation. A small number, including OZNaturals, rely on mineral protection in conjunction with a small amount of non-mineral active ingredients to create a more elegant formulation.

Some chemical-based formulations can contain potentially dangerous compounds which can enter the bloodstream through the skin. Although deemed safe by the FDA and regulating bodies in the EU, research has shown that many of these chemicals can disrupt hormones and have other toxic effects. At OZNaturals, we avoid using the chemical sunscreens oxybenzone, homosalate, octisalate or octocrylene in our formulations. Avobenzone, another common chemical used in sunscreen, has not been shown to disrupt hormones, but can exacerbate skin allergies and irritations. For these reasons, we do not use avobenzone in our sunscreens.

Mineral-based sunscreens (also known as physical sunscreens), on the other hand, use titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide as their active ingredients, and are proven to provide a safe, broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. OZNaturals Age Defying Tinted and Moisturizing sunscreens use zinc oxide as the basis for their sunscreen protection.

Zinc oxide is a natural inert mineral has been used for millennia as a medicinal ointment. Ancient Greek and Indian texts going back as far as 500 BC refer to its many beneficial uses, including as salve for wounds and a treatment for a variety of skin conditions. Zinc oxide that has been shown to be ideal for sensitive skin since it has no risk of skin irritation. In fact, because of its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, zinc oxide is used in modern times to treat a wide variety of skin issues from diaper rash to dandruff to eczema. It is both nonallergenic and noncomedogenic. In addition, zinc oxide is thought to act as an antioxidant.

Most importantly, however, zinc oxide provides extremely effective and safe protection from the sun’s UV radiation, which is what causes damage and photo aging of the skin. It delivers the broadest spectrum of protection against UVA and UVB rays available today (UVA 320-400nm, UVB 280-320n). Zinc oxide is also photostable, meaning it does not degrade in the presence of sunlight.

OZNaturals uses 7% pure zinc oxide as one of the key active ingredients in our sunscreen products. We believe this is the safest, most effective ingredient to protect skin from the aging and damaging effects of UV radiation.

How is OZNaturals different than competitors?

OZNaturals sunscreens are unique in the elegance and effectiveness of their formulations. A major downside to using all natural, zinc oxide-based sunscreens is that they often leave a whitish cast on the skin. This can contribute to a grey, ashen look – especially among darker skinned users. OZNaturals harnesses the transparency enhancing ability of Octyl Methoxycinnamate to create sunscreens that are as effective as they are beautiful.

If you’re of a certain age, you might remember the opaque white noses lifeguards and surfers sported in your youth. While mineral sunscreen formulations have come a long way since then, the telltale “ghosting” that many of them leave makes them difficult to wear. Our sheer Age Defying Moisturizing sunscreen is virtually undetectable after application, and our Age Defying Tinted Sunscreen provides a sheer warm glow that is flattering to all skin tones.

While the elegance of our formulations is unsurpassed, OZNaturals sunscreens also work exactly as promised, delivering true SPF30 protection. Many sunscreens which boast very high SPF numbers are misleading. For example, a sunscreen labeled SPF 100 does not provide over three times the protection of an SPF30 product.

An SPF 30 sunscreen (the Sun Protection Factor recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology) will block approximately 98% of the sun’s harmful rays. Using very high SPF sunscreens only increases that percentage to 99%, and worse, often create a false sense of security in the person using them. Furthermore, independent testing by consumer groups often shows these high SPF labeled sunscreens to provide no more protection than honestly labeled lower SPF products.

OZNaturals sunscreens deliver on their promise of protection without compromising the natural beauty of your skin.

What is the purpose of sunscreen?

We all know that excessive exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer. Yet despite this widespread awareness, skin cancer rates are on the rise with more than 2 million Americans falling victim each year. While basal and squamous cell carcinomas (which are generally non-lethal) are the most common, the rates of deadly melanoma are increasing at alarming rates. It’s estimated that 40% to 50% of fair-skinned people who live to be 65 will develop at least one skin cancer.

Even without the specter of a lethal or disfiguring disease, you should take sunscreen very seriously. Most premature aging of the skin is caused by sun exposure. “Photo aging,” as it is known in skin care circles includes wrinkles, freckles, age spots, blotchy complexion, dullness, sagging skin and rough, leathery texture. In other words, just about every complaint surrounding aging skin can be traced at least in part to sun exposure.

Even if you were a little careless in your youth, a good sunscreen regimen can go a long way in stopping further damage, and improving the health of your skin. This is true of all skin types, not just fair-skinned blondes and redheads. Women and men of color are not immune from the toll the sun can take on the skin.