Summer Series- Don’t be Stupid: Part 2

In my last post we looked at the dangers of over exposure to UV light and the potential health risks of certain sunscreen ingredients. Today we are looking at natural oils and plant based products that can be incorporated into your summer skincare along with practical tips on protecting your skin.

There is so much research about different oils and their possible SPF content. In this article, which can be found here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3140123/#sec1-4, we can look at this chart which shows the SPF content of carrier oils along with a few herbal oils. Let’s take a look.

We can see that we can get some protection, not much from these oils. Now we can dive into some specific oils not mentioned in this chart.

Using natural oils for natural sun protection has many benefits, especially when using them in combination with specific essential oils. Sadly, there is no commercial impetus to clinically test carrier oils for their SPF values, so I don’t make any claims related to that aspect of this. I will however highlight the oils used and my reasoning for including them in my summer sun oil.

One of the most versatile sun protective carrier oils, Raspberry Seed Oil. There are several scientific studies recognizing the sun protective benefits of Raspberry Seed Oil. “Raspberry Seed Oil provided average UV protection by absorbing the harmful UV-rays and ensured consumer safety and avoidance of harmful organic UV filters with potential toxic effects.” https://skin.dermsquared.com/skin/article/view/2939/2213

Organic Broccoli Seed Oil is considered antioxidant, anti-aging, antifungal, sun-protective, anti-allergic, wound-healing and anti-inflammatory. “Sulforaphane mobilizes cellular defenses that protect skin against damage by UV radiation".” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17956979/

Buriti Oil is reported to have the highest beta-carotene content of all carrier oils, it is excellent for signs of aging and inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis. Organic Buriti Oil is considered antioxidant and photo protective. “The oil extracted from the buriti pulp is utilized by the cosmetics industry for products such as sun creams and creams for treating burns and preventing early skin aging due to its cicatrizing and antiaging action, which is attributed to the antioxidants (carotenoids and tocopherols) that act by eliminating free radicals.” https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9229003/

Pomegranate Seed Oil is reputed to possess an unofficial SPF of 8. This oil is thought to stimulate keratinocytes, which are the cells found in the outer layer of the skin as well as being rich in antioxidants. “pomegranate seed oil show to inhibit markers for UVB-induced skin damage…Recently, pomegranate (Punica granatum) extracts have gained significant attention because of their beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial activity. In addition, in vitro studies on cell cultures of normal human epidermal keratinocytes highlighted the protective effects of pomegranate fruit extract against UV-A and UV-B radiation.” https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332280336_Use_of_Vegetable_Oils_to_Improve_the_Sun_Protection_Factor_of_Sunscreen_Formulations

Tamanu Oil is one of the few oils to be verified as sun protective, with a specific SPF value, in clinical scientific literature. A Pub med article attributes an SPF value of 11.2 to this Oil. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33721242/According to this article, the sun protective benefits of Organic Tamanu Oil are likely due to the high proportion of calophyllolides found in this oil. Another study corroborates this claim, but states the the SPF value for Tamanu Oil is between 18 – 22. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17188472/

Now let’s consider some other smart ways to stay protected. We covered some of these on the first post, but it never hurts to review.

1. Cover up. These best protection is covering your skin with lightweight clothing and a hat.

2. Avoid the middle of the day hours in which the sun is at its highest point. This also saves you from the hottest part of the day!

3. Get modest sunlight in chunks everyday of the year. When our body is used to being in the sun, this helps our skin in the long run. This doesn’t mean tanning everyday, just being outside on a walk, in the garden or having a meal.

4. Find a safe sunscreen and wear it.

If you don’t know where to start to find a well researched, natural product. You can start in our store under the skincare page. We have a summer line that incorporates nature’s natural protectors.