Warm weather is upon us and the sunscreen will soon be in heavy rotation. Think you know everything about SPF? Keep reading for new 2019 updates to keep your melanin glow safe and protected.

Oxybenzone and Octinoxate BANNED in Florida and Hawaii

This past February 2019, Key West, Florida voted to ban sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate.  Both Hawaii and Florida have banned sunscreens containing the two ingredients after evidence revealed that the two ingredients damage coral reefs by absorbing their nutrients. As a result the marine ecosystem is greatly impacted and can harm other ocean animals.

Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are BIG Winners

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a new proposal earlier this year that will really shake things up with sunscreen safety.  In that proposal they also highlighted two standout ingredients as the go to ingredients for sun protection: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  Here’s what you need to know about the two ingredients: Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide block and protect against UVA and UVB rays.  They work as soon as they are applied to the skin because they are physical sun protectants and not chemical sun protectants which may sometimes need a little bit of a wait time before going outside.  But here is the BIG downside to the zinc oxide it goes on white. This makes it especially difficult for melanin women to avoid the ghost like cast that appears on the skin from applying sun protection with zinc oxide. Some SPF creators do have a tint in their ingredients to mask the white discoloration while other formulations rely on zinc oxide alternatives to make their SPF more suitable for women with melanin hues.

NEW Label Requirements

The FDA proposed new sunscreen product label requirements as well to help consumers better navigate sunscreen labels.  Some of the changes include:  Active ingredients listed on the front of the package. Notification on the front label for consumers to read skin cancer and skin aging alerts for sunscreens that have not been shown to help prevent skin cancer, and broad spectrum and water resistance statements.

A word on PABA and trolamine salicylate

There are 12 ingredients other ingredients in addition to zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that are common in sunscreen products, and while the FDA states that those ingredients are safe, they note that more safety data is needed before they will say they are entirely safe. Two other ingredients PABA and trolamine salicylate are not safe however NO sunscreens sold in the United States contain either of the two ingredients.

What about sunscreen sprays, oils and pastes?

Sprays, oils, lotions, creams, gels, butters, pastes, and sticks are generally considered safe. However products that combine sunscreen with insect repellents are not considered safe. The verdict is also still out on makeup up powders that have sunscreen in their ingredients.  More information is needed to determine if makeup products containing sunscreen ingredients actually are safe and effective.  

Be sure to keep your melanin safe and protected every day. After you complete the steps of your YELLE morning regimen be sure to apply sunscreen to protect your melanin glow.