What is Zinc Oxide?
What is Zinc Oxide?
Zinc oxide is a powdered mineral that sits on top of the skin. It’s a versatile and common ingredient in many sunscreens and skin care products.
It can be used alone or blended with other ingredients to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Zinc oxide or mineral sunscreens purposefully are a thick paste that may not fully rub in or break down.
Not only is it used in sunscreens but it’s only used in ointments and pastes to treat and prevent skin irritation. It's widely used in diaper creams because of its safety and effectiveness.
How Does Zinc Oxide Protect You From the Sun?
It sits on top of your skin creating a physical barrier of protection. This gives you that classic 80’s lifeguard look. This is by design, the zinc oxide protects your skin by scattering and reflecting the sun's rays.
Non-nano zinc oxide is a powdered mineral that’s one of the main active ingredients in mineral sunscreens. It’s photostable meaning it doesn’t degrade or lose effectiveness when exposed to sunlight. As soon as zinc oxide is applied to the face, you’re protected from UVA and UVB rays.
It’s the broadest spectrum UVA and UVB reflector, according to the FDA. Overall, zinc oxide is effective and a safe ingredient
What is Zinc Oxide?
Zinc oxide is a powdered mineral that sits on top of the skin. It’s a versatile and common ingredient in many sunscreens and skin care products.
It can be used alone or blended with other ingredients to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Zinc oxide or mineral sunscreens purposefully are a thick paste that may not fully rub in or break down.
Not only is it used in sunscreens but it’s only used in ointments and pastes to treat and prevent skin irritation. It's widely used in diaper creams because of its safety and effectiveness.
How Does Zinc Oxide Protect You From the Sun?
It sits on top of your skin, giving you that classic 80’s lifeguard look. This is by design, the zinc oxide protects your skin by scattering and reflecting the sun's rays.
Non-nano zinc oxide is a powdered mineral that’s one of the main active ingredients in mineral sunscreens. It’s photostable meaning it doesn’t degrade or lose effectiveness when exposed to sunlight. As soon as zinc oxide is applied to the face, you’re protected from UVA and UVB rays.
It’s the broadest spectrum UVA and UVB reflector that’s FDA approved. Overall, zinc oxide is effective and a safe ingredient
How to Apply Zinc Oxide
Since zinc oxide is very white and pasty, it’s best applied onto the face particularly on the nose, cheeks, and other sensitive areas.
Unless you want to look like Mark Zuckerberg, we recommend using ample amounts on the face. If you’re out on the water, we would recommend a rashguard similar to the one Mark is wearing to protect your body from burning.
The most effective way to protect your skin is by finding shade and covering it up with clothing. Zinc oxide is a supplemental way to increase your sun exposure but only where it is applied.
Is Zinc Oxide safe?
Most people who have sensitive skin or are allergic to other sunscreens find that zinc oxide will not irritate their skin because it doesn't have chemicals
For example, zinc oxide is the only FDA-approved active ingredient for use on children under 6 months of age. However, there is a difference between non-nano zinc oxide and nano zinc oxide and how safe their use is.
What's The Difference Between Non-nano zinc oxide and nano zinc oxide?
The big difference between non-nano and nano zinc oxide is that nano zinc oxide is smaller and permeates the skin barrier, while non-nano zinc oxide is large enough to sit on top of the skin.
Unless you want to look like Mark Zuckerberg, we recommend using ample amounts on the face. If you’re out on the water, we would recommend a rash guard similar to the one Mark is wearing to protect your body from burning.
The most effective way to protect your skin is by finding shade and covering it up with clothing. Zinc oxide is a supplemental way to increase your sun exposure but only where it is applied.
Is Zinc Oxide safe?
Most people who have sensitive skin or are allergic to other sunscreens find that zinc oxide will not irritate their skin.
For example, zinc oxide is the only FDA-approved active ingredient for use on children under 6 months of age. However, there is a difference between non-nano zinc oxide and nano zinc oxide and how safe their use is.
Should I Use Zinc Oxide?
Zinc oxide offers safe and effective protection from the suns rays, if you don't mind using a thicker sunscreen on your face you should use it.
It depends on how often you're outside and your skin profile but zinc offers great sun protection. Zinc works especially well in the water because it creates a physical barrier unlike chemical sunscreens that must be absorbed.
Although it leaves an undesirable white cast, there are some newer zinc oxide formulas that do not leave a blatant white paste and instead appear more clear.
If you struggle with chemical sunscreens, you should give Helios Naturals a try.
