Active Ingredient
Zinc Oxide (Non-Nano, .12 Microns, physical, mineral sunscreen from naturally occurring zinc ore)
We have researched this ingredient extensively. It is the only ingredient we have found that effectively provides superior protection against UVA and UVB and which we feel comfortable using on our children. Zinc oxide has a long history of use as a safe sunscreen agent, skin protectant, and as a treatment for skin disorders. It is also widely known as the main ingredient in most diaper rash creams and is considered safe for use on infants and sensitive skin.
A note about Titanium Dioxide:
Many sunscreen companies that consider themselves natural and safe use titanium dioxide. After doing our own research, we became very uncomfortable with this ingredient. It is a mineral like zinc oxide, but it is highly photoreactive, meaning it generates harmful free radicals when it reacts with light and can even cause a severe burn, worse than if no sunscreen was used. Irradiated particles of titanium dioxide can cause oxidative damage to DNA, which can lead to the development of skin cancers. (7)(8)(21)
A note about Nanoparticals:
A nanometer is used to define the diameter of a fine particle. Fine particles cover a range between 100 and 2500 nanometers. Ultrafine particles or nanoparticles are sized between 1 and 100 nanometers.
Many sunscreen companies that consider themselves natural and safe use nanoparticle zinc oxide and choose not to disclose this fact. There are numerous concerns regarding the use of nanotechnology, specifically related to skin care products. Most of these are due to the high surface to volume ratio, which can make the particles very reactive or catalytic. They are also able to pass through cell membranes in organisms, and their interactions with biological systems are relatively unknown. (9)
The nanoparticle, zinc oxide, is used because it is so ultrafine it goes on transparent. We don't believe this effect is worth the risk. We also believe that, though our sunscreen has a slight white tint to it, this is very helpful in applying to your children and yourselves so that you can see if you have missed any spots. Once the sun has warmed the skin, the tint can hardly be seen. This will vary depending on skin tone and how heavy the sunscreen is applied.
The zinc oxide we use in our sunscreen is NOT nanoparticle and measures at 120 nanometers or .12 microns, a large enough size that there is no concern that it could be absorbed into your body.
A note about coated zinc oxide:
Many leading sunscreen companies that consider themselves natural and safe use a coated zinc oxide with a nanoparticle size of 70-200, which is formulated by BASF, The Chemical Company. The coating is called triethoxycaprylylsilane, also known as silicone. They like to say that coated zinc oxide is safer than uncoated because it protects against photoreactivity. Regular zinc oxide is considered completely photostable. Zinc oxide nanoparticles, on the other hand are very photoreactive and therefore can cause the formation of harmful free radicals when exposed to sunlight just as the titanium dioxide can. This coated zinc oxide has gone untested for safety and poses serious health risks, which have not been disproved. Among these are the possibilities that at 70 nanometers it could be absorbed into the body, not to mention what possible risks the coating itself could pose. It is questionable whether this coating prevents the wonderful health benefits of regular zinc oxide to work on your skin at all.