11/6/2022 0 Comments Bullfrog sunscreen![]() ![]() In reality, for most of the UV spectrum they work very similarly. #Bullfrog sunscreen skinMostly Myth! It’s often said that inorganic sunscreens (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) reflect UV off of the skin and organic sunscreens absorb UV and convert it into heat. ![]() “Inorganic sunscreen and organic sunscreens work differently” Myths about using Inorganic vs Organic Sunscreens I know most companies won’t want to confuse their customers by labelling their 80% organic-certified sunscreen product with titanium dioxide as inorganic, but at least as sunscreen shoppers we can understand the difference! Inorganic and organic neatly divide the two sunscreen types and are also descriptive. The amount of conjugation determines which part of the electromagnetic spectrum they absorb, whether that be in the visible spectrum to produce a colour, or in the ultraviolet spectrum to protect our skin from UV. This alternation or conjugation of the single and double bonds allows the molecule to absorb energy along the electromagnetic spectrum. If you look at the chemical structure of an organic sunscreen like avobenzone you’ll see that they have single bonds alternated with double bonds. Organic and inorganic is also a useful way to categorise sunscreens because the way that the carbon atoms are linked up in organic sunscreens is why they absorb UV energy. Marking the categories as organic and inorganic makes more sense because all of the sunscreen chemicals used contain carbon, except for titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.Ģ4 Carbons + 27 Hydrogens + 1 Nitrogen + 2 Oxygens They’re made up of metal and oxygen and classified as inorganic. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide don’t contain carbon. In chemistry, organic means the chemistry of compounds that contain carbon. In marketing, organic is a label that describes how something is produced – often with a safe-list of chemical treatments and approved practices. Metal oxide sunscreen doesn’t have the same ring to it, but there is another way to describe them. ![]() What does differentiate titanium dioxide and zinc oxide then? Well, they’re both metal oxides or metals combined with oxygen. So, if you were to draw the line based on that you’d have to include Tinosorb M, a “chemical” sunscreen with the “physical” sunscreens. Tinosorb M comes as a very fine suspension of particles in water. However, there are caveats, sunscreens like Tinosorb M (INCI: Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol) also exist as particle suspensions – not solutions. This is true and their even distribution in the sunscreen formula and on the skin is very important – poor distribution can greatly reduce how much UV protection titanium dioxide or zinc oxide can provide on the skin. It’s sometimes explained that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are suspensions of particles, they don’t dissolve or form solutions like chemical sunscreens. On the other end, the “physical” sunscreens titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are chemicals, you can find the elements titanium and zinc on the periodic table. If we were to draw a Venn diagram of the two groups, it’d look like thisĬhemicals are physical – they have a mass and take up space. “Chemical”ĭividing sunscreens into “physical” and “chemical” isn’t the best way to do it. By following these rules (or myths) you’re not using your sunscreen to its greatest effect! “Physical” vs. These are myths and are not backed by research or chemical knowledge. There’s also the belief that “physical” sunscreens provide protection instantly, don’t absorb into the skin, don’t degrade in the sun, and don’t need reapplication. One dermatologist says that you need to apply less physical sunscreen compared to a chemical sunscreen. You’ll often find different rules and advice for using “physical” and “chemical” sunscreens. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are often categorised as “physical” sunscreens, whereas every other sunscreen used is considered a “chemical” sunscreen. ![]()
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