Sunburnt skin is usually not a reason for you to worry, but sometimes it may cause pain and bleeding in some areas.

 

Some of the reasons that can cause sunburn skin include weather (too cold or too hot and dry), washing your skin with very hot water, using harsh soaps, age, genetics, and some diseases like eczema.

 

Repairing and healing sunburnt skin is not that hard, as most of the things involve you changing some of your lifestyle activities. You should avoid using very hot water when washing your skin, always moisturize as part of your daily routine, and protect your skin.

 

Protecting your skin means that you do not leave it exposed to harsh weather conditions, like the winter cold and the summer heat. You can do that by wearing long-sleeved clothes or hats when at the beach or using sunscreen.

 

Sunscreen is the most effective one, especially because we all want to sunbathe during the summer. Choosing the right sunscreen, however, can be challenging, especially if you have sensitive skin.

 

An effective sunscreen should protect your skin from both UVA and UVB sun rays. You need a sunscreen that will keep your skin from getting burnt and not irritate your skin. One such sunscreen is a natural sunscreen.

 

What Is Natural Sunscreen?

 

Natural sunscreen, also called mineral sunscreen, is any sunscreen made using products that do not contain any chemical sun protection filters.

 

Typically, they do not contain parabens and ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octinoxate, and octocrylene.

 

The majority of natural sunscreens are made using active plant ingredients that coat your skin and reflect the UVA and UVB rays from the dermal layer.

 

Those active plant ingredients are mainly made up of minerals like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, as opposed to chemicals found in chemical sunscreens.

 

 

 

 

 

How To Use Natural Sunscreen

 

Many people are afraid of using natural sunscreen because they are afraid that it will not be as effective as chemical sunscreens. However, when used the right way, natural sunscreen is as effective as chemical sunscreen if used the right way.

 

One of the main things that make natural sunscreen ineffective is that people don’t put on enough. That is attributed to the thick and goopy nature of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, making it thicker.

 

Naturally, when someone uses less sunscreen, natural or chemical, it means less protection from the sun. There are different tips you can use to ensure that you have enough natural sunscreen on you.

 

Apply a thick coat, and you can also apply it in layers. After applying and massaging the first coat all over your skin, wait for around 15-30 minutes and then apply another layer. That will ensure that all parts of your skin are covered.

 

Also, do not wait until your skin starts burning for you to apply the sunscreen because that beats the logic as to why we use it in the first place.

 

Reapplying is also another important thing when dealing with natural sunscreen. According to the FDA, they recommend that you reapply your natural sunscreen after every 2 hours.

 

However, if you are in the sun and feel that your skin is very exposed, or if your skin tends to burn easily, you can reapply before 2 hours lapse.

 

If you are swimming or doing something that made you sweat, reapply after 40-80 minutes. This, however, is only practical if your natural sunscreen is water-resistant. Ensure that you confirm for how long your sunscreen is water-resistant.

 

Since natural sunscreen is supposed to sit on your skin for maximum protection, you should also reapply after drying yourself. If you rub against something like when wearing tight clothes, you should reply because the high chances are that the clothes wiped off the sunscreen.

 

The best way to use natural sunscreen is to include it in your daily skincare routine. You can also set a timer to remind you when to reapply.

 

 

 

 

Benefits Of Using Natural Sunscreen

 

1. Safer

 

Since natural sunscreen is made from natural ingredients, you do not have to worry about your skin getting irritated or reddish. It does not contain chemicals like octocrylene which have been linked to health complications like cell damage and allergies.

 

Because of its non-irritant properties, natural sunscreen can be used by people with skin conditions like eczema, acne, and babies.

 

Therefore, you do not have to worry about it making your skin condition worse. Also, since natural sunscreen is not absorbed into the body, it does not clog your pores.

 

2. Fast

 

Since natural sunscreen forms a protective layer on your skin, it protects you from the sum immediately you put it on. Unlike chemical sunscreens, you have to wait 30 minutes after applying for it to get absorbed into the skin.

 

3. It can be applied over makeup

 

This is one of the major benefits for ladies who do not want to take off their makeup before using sunscreen. For natural sunscreen to be most effective, you have to reapply often, which will be a bother if you have to first take off your makeup.

 

 

 

 

 

Natural sunscreens come in creams and in powders and compacts that can be used over makeup without removing it or damaging it.

 

4. They benefit the skin

 

Not only do natural sunscreen help your skin by protecting it from the sun, but they also help you achieve clear and glowing skin. That is because zinc oxide is beneficial for the skin, and it is usually an ingredient in many skin care products.

 

After a few uses, you will notice that your skin will have reduced acne and rashes. Zinc oxide can also help you recover from wounds and burns.

 

5. Environmental friendly

 

One of the trending things right now that even companies are taking into account is environmental conservation. Natural sunscreens do not have chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are attributed to environmental damage.

 

Those chemical ingredients were even banned in some places in the United States. They were seen to bleach the coral reef and slow its growth once chemical sunscreen was washed off swimmers.

 

6. It is broad-spectrum

 

Natural sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are responsible for premature aging and wrinkling, and UVB rays damage your skin and give you sunburns.

 

Many chemical sunscreens only protect you from UVB rays, and sometimes you have to use other products to get full protection.

 

7. Photostable

 

Some chemical sunscreens are unstable and tend to break down under sunlight. Therefore, they have to be used together with other products. While not all chemical sunscreens break down, you can avoid the risk by using natural sunscreens because they are very photostable.

 

 

 

 

 

How To Choose The Best Natural Sunscreen

 

Consider the natural ingredients

 

Go for a sunscreen that has zinc oxide alone or together with titanium dioxide. Zinc oxide offers broad-spectrum SPF, which protects you from UVA and UVB sun rays, while titanium dioxide is best for protecting you against UVB rays only.

 

Read all the ingredients

 

Just because the sunscreen is under natural products does not mean that all its ingredients are natural. To be on the safer side, look at all the ingredients used in the product to ascertain no ingredients that will harm your skin. You also have to ensure that it is water-proof.

 

Go for a sunscreen with over 30 SPF

 

An SPF of above 30 ensures that you have maximum protection against sun rays for the entire time you have the sunscreen on.

 

Micronized or non-nano particles

 

Products labeled micronized on the active ingredients or the front mean that they absorb more fully, leaving minimal opacity on the skin. That translates to a look and feel that is similar to that achieved after applying chemical sunscreens.

 

Non-micronized or non-nano particles, on the other hand, mean that the natural sunscreen leaves a whitish film over your skin even after rubbing it.