SPF moisturizers can have their risks. But not a natural SPF moisturizer.

One of the most important things you can do for your skin doesn’t have to do with using skin care products. One of the 2 or 3 best things for skin care is avoiding sunburn.

Sunburn is just terrible for your skin, so you would assume then that the best thing you can do for your skin is to use sunscreen, and if you use a moisturizer that you would use an SPF moisturizer.

Sorry to bring bad news but SPF moisturizers have their problems, and so you may prefer to use a natural SPF moisturizer that moisturizes but doesn’t risk damage to your skin.

What is the problem with sunscreens, or having an SPF factor in your moisturizer? There’s 2 things.

The first problem is that there are some experts convinced that long term use of sunscreens is dangerous and that the chemicals that are used to block the effects of those UV rays on your skin can cause cancer. The jury is out on it but we’re sufficiently scared by the possibility that we don’t want to take the risk.

The second problem is this. If you’re worried about sunburn because you’re going out in the sun this afternoon you apply your sunscreen for this afternoon, say 4 or 5 hours. So any potentially harmful chemicals are applied to your skin for 4 or 5 hours, today.

But if you use an SPF moisturizer you use that sunscreen every single day. And 99% of the time you aren’t even going to go out in the sun.

See the problem? If your moisturiser has sunscreen in it you multiply the possibly cancerous effects by many times by wearing it all day every day even when you don’t really need it. You’re way better off using a sunscreen only on those days you need it, and a regular moisturizer other days.

And there is also evidence that long term use of sunscreen can lead to vitamin D deficiency.

But there’s more, because it’s possible to get a moisturizer, or natural skin care products, with some natural SPF protection. Not a chemical SPF factor, but natural sun protection from a natural ingredient that is part of the sunscreen.

Now this protection isn’t as strong as a chemical SPF factor, but is worth having if you’re convinced, like us, that you really don’t need a strong sunscreen in your moisturizer, that a natural moisturizer with spf from the ingredients is sufficient.

Here’s an example of a natural SPF moisturizer. Phytessence Wakame. This is an ingredient found in the worlds best natural skin care products, it comes from a particular form of seaweed found in Japan. And it has an ability to offer some natural sun protection.

These products moisturize very successfully due to the effects of the Phytessence Wakame and other ingredients, but don’t just moisturize. They offer a complete skin care solution (with no chemical sunscreen).

Just make sure you use sunscreen on days when you’re going to be out in the sun and will need it. Read the rest of this entry

Written by - Natural Skin Health