The recent debate sparked by anti-sunscreen influencers has highlighted an important public health message: sunscreen saves lives.
But we think one critical part of the conversation has been left out.
There is another option
People are being told they have two choices – trust chemical sunscreens or don’t wear sunscreen at all. That’s simply not true.
There is another option: mineral sunscreens made with zinc oxide.
While social media has fuelled misinformation and fear around sunscreen, we think it’s equally important not to dismiss people’s concerns entirely.
Some of the claims circulating online are exaggerated or simply not true, but concerns about certain chemical UV filters haven’t come from nowhere.
What safety research tells us
Last year, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – the authority responsible for regulating the safety and quality of medicines and sunscreens in Australia – completed a safety review into two commonly used chemical sunscreen ingredients, homosalate and oxybenzone.
The review examined evidence relating to the ability of these ingredients to penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, along with their potential toxicity. As a result, the TGA recommended tighter regulatory controls on their permitted concentrations and use in therapeutic sunscreens.
The TGA review demonstrates that regulators continue to assess the safety of sunscreen ingredients as new evidence becomes available.
For consumers who are uncomfortable using some chemical UV filters, mineral sunscreens offer an effective, evidence-based alternative rather than abandoning sunscreen altogether.
Why we chose zinc oxide
Unlike chemical UV filters, zinc oxide is a naturally occurring mineral that sits on the surface of the skin, reflecting both UVA and UVB rays.
Zinc oxide has long been recognised as one of the safest and most effective broad-spectrum sunscreen ingredients available.
It is suitable for sensitive skin, including eczema-prone skin, and is also considered a reef-friendly alternative because it is made without chemical ingredients including oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are associated with marine environmental concerns.
We’ve used only zinc oxide since Sol Goods was founded.
We’ve never used chemical sunscreen actives because our philosophy has always been to protect people from the sun without unnecessary compromise.
Mineral sunscreen has come a long way
Historically, mineral sunscreens have been criticised for being thick, difficult to apply and leaving a white cast. But advances in formulation mean that is no longer necessarily the case.
Modern mineral sunscreens can provide high SPF protection while feeling comfortable enough for everyday use.
Our Everyday Sunscreen recently won Runner Up in the Viva NZ Herald Beauty Awards, which is testament to how easy this is to apply and how good it feels on the skin.
The goal is still sun protection
We believe health messaging should recognise that consumers increasingly want information about both effectiveness and ingredients.
When trusted organisations dismiss people’s questions about sunscreen ingredients entirely, it risks pushing them towards misinformation online.
The better message is simple: sunscreen is essential, and if people prefer a mineral sunscreen because they feel more comfortable with the ingredients, that’s a positive outcome.
Our focus should remain on getting more people wearing sunscreen consistently.
The worst outcome is someone deciding not to wear sunscreen at all.
