Is Your Sunscreen Dangerous? How to Choose Safe Sunscreen Ingredients

Today I'm going over which sunscreen ingredients to avoid, and which are shown to be safe. I also talk about SPF considerations, and some strategies for avoiding UV exposure that no one seems to be talking about.
Press "show more" to see the study link(s)!

Sunscreens I recommend:

[tomreichardt]

As a redheaded chemist I know from experience that chemical sunscreens that are more than a year old have a reduced SPF than they originally did. Which I assume is because some of the organic chemicals used have partially degraded with time - and who knows what chemical they may have degraded into and what the toxicology on that is...
I'm sticking to zinc and titanium based lotions.

[haldx]

Thanks for the research. I switched to Badger sunscreen recently. since it is zinc oxide only. My only complaint is that it doesn't spread as easily as the chemical stuff.

[michelem]

Lab Muffin Beauty Science talks about how it's a myth that mineral sunscreen mostly reflects UV. Turns out it mostly absorbs UV.

I live in the U.S. and I use imported European sunscreens, because they are safer and provide better UVA protection. There are a ton of new sunscreen filters that haven't been approved in the U.S. The U.S. hasn't approved a new filter since the 1990s.

[thomasfinlon]

Could you comment on/make a video on studies on the safety of newer organic UV filters in European, Australian, Japan, South Korea, and UK sunscreens (ones like Tinosorb, Mexoryl, etc.)?

I trust regulatory agencies from abroad more than I do the FDA, so I mostly buy Korean or EU organic sunscreens from online retailers that ship to the US. My understanding is that the newer organic filters used in sunscreens outside of the US, apart from being less irritating to the eyes and more cosmetically elegant, are more effective at blocking a broader array of wavelengths than the filters that are currently approved in the US. It would be interesting to find out if the safety concerns around organic filters apply to these newer kinds of filters in the same way that they apply to the older generation of organic filters (the newest of which was approved in the 90s) that we are stuck with here in the US.

Thank you for your videos. They are great!

[anamikahehe]

At this point of time a sunscreen which is actually affordable, and non toxic is hard to find IN THIS WORLD.

[sczemialkowski]

Thank you so much for taking our requests in consideration 😊. Great work!!

[jchri]

Thank you for your research, most insightful information on sunscreens on the internet.

[tealakablacksalsanista]

This is so much appreciated. We get sun cancer too so I am arming myself with education. Thanks for the weather info too.

[exoticspeedefy]

Zinc oxide actually is said to oxidise when exposed to UV.. Also Nano vs non nano. You want non nano so it does not absorb through the skin and into the bloodstream.

[sassysandie]

Can you do a video on hand sanitizers? Some dangerous chemicals in them too.

[tracyfrost]

I wish you could give us a list of which ones to use.

[jennyvonbee]

The first time I’ve seen your channel and a super helpful, informative video. Thankyou.

I have been told (after getting a hair analysis) that titanium dioxide builds up in the body as a heavy metal & is banned for use in Europe in food and several other countries. Some even believe it may be a CARCINOGEN in humans.
Do you have any more you can share on the safety of this in sunscreen?

[BronsteinEmily]

Very interesting. I appreciate the information about the UV index. I never thought to do that before. I easily found my area on the site you use to look it up.

[luiswhatshisname]

If the chemical absorbing UV gets absorbed by the skin ... what happens with vitamin D production by the body? Is this the reason for people in Florida very often having vitamin D deficiency?

[michaelchung]

Damn, I never knew companies would combine different types of protection to create toxic stuff. Thanks for the video. edit: your link appears to be bad. It points to a post back in July. Just a heads up

[eatandchat]

Post contracting the virus I stopped being able to tolerate sunscreens. I used the same bottle I used to use and my body said no more. Funny enough the last time I gave it another try my body was sick for a full three weeks the same period you quoted that it takes some of these substances to leave the body...very interesting. I even tried non nano zinc powder in tallow and my body said no. So I do my best to avoid the sun as I always have but can not tolerate any sunscreen product anymore. Thanks to the virus further disrupting my immune system.

[Sputnik]

I wear sun screen shirts and a wide brim hat.

[marianlavin]

I worry about oil. Even if there is a "sunblock" wouldn't going out into the sun with oil, olive oil, mineral oil sunflower seed oil, fry your skin?

[tocagirl]

When you say that you cant mix chemical and mineral sunscreens is it okay to wear for example a mineral sunscreen lotion and to reapply throughout the day a chemical based sunscreen spray?

[tealakablacksalsanista]

What about body sunscreens? I think about kids at recess. Can i add this to my lotion or oil? I make it myself-shea, aloe vera, coconut, avocado oil ... Ingredients like these.