“We say summer, meaning vacation.” And holidays are closely connected with the sea, beaches and outdoor games. And this means that we need high-quality natural remedy for sun protection. But before you start choosing, you need to figure out what UV filters are and how they affect the skin.

What is UV radiation?

UV radiation is divided into three ranges: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. Almost all UV-C rays are trapped by the atmosphere and therefore do not reach the earth's surface. Rays of the UV-B range affect the top layer of the skin - the epidermis, causing sunburn and sunburn.

Of the entire ultraviolet spectrum, UV-A has the highest penetrating power. This radiation penetrates to the middle layers of the dermis and is the cause of hyperpigmentation, photoaging and melanoma. And if burns from an overdose of UV-B are visible on the skin after a few hours, then negative impact UV-A is like the ticking of a time bomb.

What are UV filters?

UV filters are chemical and physical (natural). They differ not only in origin, but also in the principles of operation: chemical filters absorb UV radiation, while physical filters, acting on the principle of a screen, reflect Sun rays. As physical UV filters, natural pigments titanium dioxide (titanium dioxide) and zinc oxide (zinc oxide) are used.

What are the dangers of chemical UV filters?

Chemical UV filters, along with fragrances and dyes, are considered the most allergenic ingredients in cosmetics. According to recent data, in addition to skin irritation, some chemical UV filters can penetrate into the bloodstream and accumulate in the body. American scientists came to such conclusions after finding traces of the popular chemical filter benzophenone-3 (another name for oxybenzone) in urine tests from more than 96% of Americans examined. Remarkably, in women, these figures were 3 times higher than in men.

“I was bad, very bad oxybenzone”, the caption on the picture.

Another unpleasant conclusion about chemical UV filters is that they can have a harmon-like effect, and when they get into the seas and oceans when swimming, they change sex and cause developmental disorders of the genital organs in fish, mollusks and others. aquatic life. So far, there is no evidence whether chemical UV filters can cause hormonal disturbances in humans, but they are by no means safe ingredients.

How do natural UV filters work?

Natural UV filters are safe primarily because they do not penetrate deep into the skin, but act on the surface. Therefore, you need to apply natural sunscreen carefully distributing it over the entire surface of the skin, as if covering it with a shield - only in this way can natural UV filters be guaranteed to protect the skin from solar radiation.

Natural filters still have a minus: being pigments, they give the skin a whitish tint. To minimize the “white mask” effect, the cosmetics industry has created nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which make it possible to obtain an almost transparent coating. On this moment studies of nanoparticles confirm that despite their small size, they do not penetrate the epidermal barrier.

What radiation do natural UV filters protect against?

Titanium dioxide protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays. Zinc oxide from UVA radiation. Therefore, it is advisable to choose sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide or both natural UV filters. Vegetable oils for sun protection If you look at the composition of natural sunscreen, you will find that vegetable oils are used along with UV filters.

Often, manufacturers themselves indicate in the annotation that, they say, such and such vegetable oil protects the skin from the sun. Does this mean that only vegetable oils can be used to protect against UV radiation? Not certainly in that way. Sunburn, i.e. the production of melanin, is a natural protective reaction of the skin to sun damage.

Some vegetable oils, due to the content of a high percentage of tocopherol (vitamin E), carotenoids, fatty acids, successfully restore skin injured by UV rays.

Therefore, as additional components in cosmetic product, natural oils perfectly heal and nourish the skin with antioxidants. However, by themselves, they can neither reflect nor absorb UV radiation to the extent that chemical or physical filters do. Tanning oils, traditionally recommended for tanned skin adapted to the sun's rays, because they cannot provide fair skin a high degree of protection.

Karanji tree, photo from www.ayurwiki.info

Nevertheless, the cosmetic industry does not stand still and offers new products. For example, French organic brand Acorelle has released a new sunscreen line that includes sunscreen oil with SPF-30. The basis of the product is vegetable oils of karanji, sunflower and olive. The French promise protection from UV-A and UV-B rays, a non-sticky texture and water resistance. We do not have details yet, but we hope that this summer we will be able to test this product and provide you with comprehensive information.

What is SPF?

This is the Sun Protection Factor - that is, the sun protection factor. If without some kind of protection your skin starts to turn red after, say, 15 minutes of exposure to the sun, then with a cream, for example, SPF 15, it will only start to turn red after 225 minutes (15 minutes multiplied by the value of the SPF factor). This, at least in theory (in practice, as a rule, everything happens much earlier, because we bathe, rub ourselves with a towel, and in general).

At the same time, it must be understood that the efficiency of UV absorption of SPF 50 differs from SPF 100 by only a few percent, and not twice: SPF 50 delays 98% of ultraviolet, and SPF 100 - 99%.

Which oils have an SPF factor?

• Macadamia Oil - SPF 6
• Soybean Oil - SPF 10
• Avocado Oil - SPF 4-10
• Olive Oil - SPF2-8
• Shea butter (shea butter) - SPF3-6
• Almond Oil - SPF 5
• Sesame oil - SPF 4
• Hemp Oil - SPF 6
• Jojoba oil - SPF 4
• Coconut Oil - SPF 2-8

Or maybe, well, him, the sun?

Uncontrolled sunbathing is just as harmful as completely depriving yourself of the pleasure of soaking up the sun. After all, the sun contributes to the production of vitamin D, which is difficult to obtain from food, and which is responsible for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the intestines (and therefore the prevention of osteoporosis), participates in metabolic processes and cell reproduction processes. Therefore, instead of completely isolating yourself from the sun, it is better to find the right sunscreen for yourself.

To eat this, to get sunburned?

Beta-carotene in food, when consumed in large quantities, contributes to a better and more even tan.

Photo from healthylivinghub.net

Most beta-carotene is found in carrots, apricots, peaches, spinach and lettuce, pumpkin, melon, watermelon and red bell pepper.

How to use natural sunscreen?

• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going to the beach.
• To ensure complete protection, the product must be applied evenly and not only on the face and body, but also on the hands and feet. This is especially true for those who love to engage in beach sports.
• Sunscreen should be reapplied every 1.5-2 hours and reapplied after swimming, even if the bottle says “waterproof”.
• To protect the delicate skin of the lips, use a lip balm with SPF.
• When choosing a sunscreen, consider your skin type - the lighter and thinner your skin, the higher the SPF of the product should be. As a rule, blondes and redheads burn the most easily.
• If you are taking medications that have a photosensitizing effect, or if your skin has recently been exposed to intense cosmetic procedures(peelings, plastic surgery, laser hair removal etc.), it is necessary to use products marked sunblock and SPF not lower than 30.

On hot summer days, be sure to take care of your skin and protect it from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. To do this, you can go to any cosmetics store and. Now you can find a whole range of various cosmetics that protect against the sun. These are lotions, creams, sprays, gels, etc. Without exception, all sunscreens have an SPF protection factor: SPF 15, SPF 25, SPF 30, SPF 50. So, sunscreen SPF cream 15 can be used by people with tight skin producing enough melanin. But sunscreens with SPF 50 protection are best used for children who have very delicate and thin skin, which should be protected from the sun as much as possible.

In addition to decorative sunscreen cosmetics, natural oils can also be used to protect your skin, which also have an SPF factor.

The most famous natural oils for sun protection

Cocoa. Cocoa butter, in addition to sunscreen properties, allows you to make the skin smoother and eliminate small defects: acne spots, scars, acne marks. If you regularly use cocoa butter, you can also get rid of facial wrinkles.

Avocado. The oil of this fruit is suitable for whole body skin care. In addition to the SPF factor, avocado oil has a moisturizing effect. Recommended for those with thin and dry skin. By the way, avocado oil contains styrenes, which are excellent antioxidants.

Jojoba. Jojoba oil is also a natural oil for sun tanning. Jojoba is suitable for all skin types. This oil has regenerating properties and prevents the formation of acne.

Coconut. This natural sun oil can be used for all skin types. Coconut oil nourishes the skin and gives it a velvety effect.

Shi. This natural oil from the sun, in addition to protecting the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, saturates it with collagen. In addition, shea butter is a powerful antioxidant.

How to use natural sun oils

Any of the oils that have an SPF protection factor should be applied about 25-30 minutes before going outside. To enhance UV protection, 2-3 drops of ylang-ylang, lavender, wild carrot essential oils can be added to natural oils.

However, not all oils have sunscreen properties. Some of them are phototoxic. Phototoxicity is the ability to enhance the susceptibility skin to the rays of the sun. Phototoxic oils include grapefruit, orange, leftzer, lemon, thyme, mandarin, bergamot, and lime oils.

How to Help Your Skin with Natural Oils

After sunbathing, it is also acceptable to apply natural oils to the skin to help it recover faster after sunbathing. For skin care after sun exposure, it is better to use oils that have a pronounced moisturizing effect. For example, apply grape seed oil to the skin or almond oil. If you've been out in the sun for too long and got sunburned, natural yarrow, lavender and coconut oils will come to your rescue.

In the hot summer, you definitely need to protect your skin from the burning rays of the sun, and therefore, going on vacation, we buy products with an SPF factor. Is there an alternative to such products among natural products? Is it possible to use natural vegetable oils for sun protection?

Be beautiful every day

There are many base (vegetable) oils that have SPF in their composition. They can also be used as daily cream They are easily absorbed without leaving a greasy film on the skin. To choose the oil that is right for you, you need to decide what effect, in addition to direct protection from the sun's rays, you need.

Avocado Suitable for everyday skin care of the neck, face and whole body. It has a strong moisturizing effect, so it is especially recommended to apply it to dehydrated, dry skin. Avocado oil contains sterols that prevent skin aging (especially after menopause) and help fight age spots.

Jojoba oil suitable for both oily and dry skin, because it has restorative properties. It gives the skin a beautiful and even color, and also helps to eliminate acne.

Cocoa helps to get rid of small skin defects (scars, consequences of furunculosis, acne, etc.). If you use this oil regularly, you can forget about crow's feet. The skin becomes elastic, radiant, soft.

Coconut universal for all skin types. This oil is instantly absorbed and completely absorbed by skin cells, gives the effect of "velvety" and fights fine wrinkles.

Shi makes your skin smooth, supple and firm. Half a century ago, scientists found that the peoples of Africa, who regularly use shea butter, very rarely suffer from skin diseases. And despite the constant exposure to the sun, their skin looks very young.

Each of these oils should be applied to the skin thirty minutes before going outside. Essential oils such as ylang-ylang, lavender, and wild carrot can also be used to enhance the protective effects of vegetable oils (two drops of essential oil will need to be added to the base oil).

You can use absolutely any essential oil, as long as it suits your skin type, the main thing is that it should not be phototoxic. Phototoxicity is the ability of essential oils to increase the skin's susceptibility to UV rays.

The use of such oils can cause sunburn and lead to the formation of age spots. They mainly include citrus fruits: grapefruit, lime, tangerine, bergamot, orange, leuzea, lemon, petitgrain, as well as thyme, rosemary and angelica. It is not recommended to use them in sunny weather.

How to help the skin?

After sunbathing, the skin needs support. To do this, you can use either the basic vegetable oils, which were mentioned earlier, or oils that have a pronounced moisturizing effect (for example, grape seed, macadamia or almond oil). In order to achieve the best effect, you need to mix them with lavender or peppermint oil. They soothe the skin and fix the tan.

But if your skin is still burned in the sun, already familiar vegetable and essential oils will come to the rescue. In this case, it is best to use the essential oils of yarrow and noble navel. To prepare effective ointment from burns, you need to do the following: in thirty milliliters of coconut oil, dissolve five or six drops of chamomile, yarrow, noble and lavender oils (if something is not at hand, you can exclude it from the recipe). Then shake and put in the refrigerator. At temperatures below 25 0 C, coconut oil will harden, so the prepared mixture can not be preheated and used as an ointment.

Helpful Hint: It may very well happen that the base oil is not at hand in right moment. In this case, you can mix any essential oil with ordinary sour cream and apply on damaged skin.

In summer, the skin needs protection from the sun. If you look from the point of view of cosmetology, to protect it, you must regularly use products with. However, what should girls do who do not recognize industrial cosmetics, preferring oils in their care? The editors of HOTCHU.ua figured out which oils can protect your skin from the sun.

The harm of ultraviolet radiation, alas, is not exaggerated: premature aging, dry skin, possible dermatitis and even cancer. Here is just a small list of what seemingly innocent sun rays can give. If you do not use industrial cosmetics, use the following in your morning care in the summer.

If you are traveling to very hot countries, make an exception and use care products with an SPF of at least 30. This will protect you from burning.

COCONUT OIL: SPF 7

If you are planning a long raid around the city, apply coconut oil to your body before going out and literally just a little bit to your hair (no more than a match head for long hair). When it comes to facials, coconut oil can clog pores and cause breakouts. So be careful and only use coconut oil on your face if you're sure it won't clog your pores.

RASPBERRY SEED OIL: SPF 25

Raspberry seed oil - unique in its natural composition, it is advised to use it on the beach in our latitudes.

The oil is very rich in vitamin E, it stops the aging process, and also nourishes the skin, smoothes wrinkles. In addition, it helps retain moisture in the skin and heals skin lesions. Ideal for all skin types.

SHEA BUTTER: SPF 7

One of the most gentle oils. So, it can be used even for delicate baby skin. It is perfectly absorbed, protects the skin and moisturizes it. Interestingly, American tribes have been applying this oil to their skin and hair for many centuries to protect themselves from the scorching rays of the African sun.

The only drawback of the oil: it can be comedogenic. Therefore, before using on the skin of the face, the product must be tested.

By the way, shea butter is a great way to restore hair. It can be applied to slightly dried hair. The main thing is not to overdo it with the amount of oil.

AVOCADO OIL: SPF 6

Another great oil for protecting the skin from UV radiation. has invaluable properties for dry and mature skin. It is great for flaking and eczema.

An excellent treatment around the eyes, it perfectly supports cell renewal.

By the way, avocado oil can be used not only before going out into the sun, but also after being on the beach to carry out a deep nourishment and hydration procedure.