Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin

 

Avoid Painful Skin Irritations with Seasick Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin

My entire life, I loved being in and around the ocean. Sadly, even the salt in the ocean would cause me to cry and be in extreme pain when I was suffering from a bad bout of eczema. Even products designed for eczema such as QV Dermacare Eczema Cream would cause extreme stinging and for my skin to become red and inflamed. These reactions were both painful and embarrassing as I entered my teenage years. 

I found rash shirts unbearable on my sensitive eczema-prone skin so, as a fair skinned redhead who loves spending time in and around the ocean, sunscreen has been a daily essential for me since I was a young child. Thankfully, i've grown out of the severe flare ups however, I am still very sensitive to cosmetics such as sunscreens containing artificial fragrances, preservatives and chemical UV filters commonly used in sunscreens.

Why chemical sunscreens irritate sensitive skin

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Conventional sunscreens (usually liquid ones in plastic bottles) are commonly made with a long list of chemical UV filters, fragrances and preservatives. These ingredients often cause skin irritations. Dr Rogers, a qualified dermatologist says "I would like to minimise the accumulation of any unneeded chemicals in my body, my patients' body, and in our world whenever possible, so I always recommend mineral/physical sunscreens." 

If you have sensitive skin you should try to avoid the following chemical UV filters:

• oxybenzone
• octinoxate
• octisalate
• octocrylene
• homosalate
• avobenzone

Something to be aware of is falling into the trap (laid by clever marketing experts) of trusting that products labelled as '100% natural' are going to be safe for sensitive skin. You are better off reading the entire ingredient list and if it isn't printed on the label (which many sunscreen brands are guilty of) then don't buy the product without researching it first! Find out if your sunscreen is really natural and chemical free here.

Should you still avoid these chemicals even if you don't have sensitive skin?

Absolutely! These UV filters have also been shown to cause coral bleaching and are highly toxic to marine life. Oxybenzone and octinoxate have both been banned in Hawaii, Palau and many other international dive destinations yet are still commonly used in sunscreens in New Zealand and other parts of the world. 
Sun protection you can trust without the skin irritations

Seasick Sunscreen is a mineral sunscreen suitable for sensitive skin, offering great SPF protection without irritation. It’s the best sunscreen for babies and children as the mineral particles of zinc oxide sit on top of the skin, rather than being absorbed into the skin and bloodstream as with chemical UV filters. 
So when I developed the formulation for Seasick Sunscreen, I had sensitive skin in mind. My first voluntary “test” subjects other than myself were my family members who continue to suffer from skin sensitivities. 

But don’t take our word for it. Here is what some of our customers are saying:
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As an eczema sufferer, no one knows better than me the pain that cosmetics, especially sunscreen, can cause to angry and inflamed skin. As a fair skinned, red-head who spends a lot of time outdoors, I need to wear a lot of sunscreen...I just don’t want the risk of allergic reactions and irritations. That’s why I carefully selected a handful of simple ingredients that are safe for me to use on my body and that my whānau can use on a daily basis worry-free!