An all natural lotion for the face and body that has excellent moisturising properties, and protects the skin from the sun. Red Raspberry seed oil was found to provide broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB. Also Shea butter and Sesame seed oil provide natural sun protection. Zinc oxide is the most powerful sun block known, reflecting UVA and UVB rays.

Ingredients

Water, Olea europaea (Olive) oil*, Rubus idaeus (Red Raspberry) seed oil, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter*, Sesamum indicum (Sesame) seed oil*, Cetearyl olivate & Sorbitan olivate*, micronised zinc oxide, Phenoxyethanol, essential oils of Citrus bergamia (Bergamot), bergapten free, Citrus sinensis (Orange), Cymbopogon flexousus (Lemongrass), Tantalum spicatum (Sandalwood)

Active ingredient: 25% micronised zinc oxide

*organic

100ml (also available in 200ml

General information about Zinc oxide

Zinc oxide is a wonderful moisturiser, and has antiseptic properties.

It is a fantastic sun block, protecting the skin from UVA (A for ageing and also causing skin cancers) and UVB (B for burning) without any harmful other effects to the body.

It is available as zinc oxide (leaving the well known white film on the skin) and also as the much more expensive micronised zinc oxide (less obvious on the skin). The higher the percentage in the formula the higher the protection. Easily accessible tables are showing that each percent of added zinc oxide provides approximately an extra SPF of 1. For micronised zinc oxide the factor is even 1.5. Therefore 10% zinc oxide in a formula should have an SPF of about 10.

According to the Australian laws any product claiming an SPF of over 15 falls under the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration), has to be registered as a sunscreen and provide proof of its claims.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is only an indicator for protection from UVB, as it only indicates how much longer you can stay in the sun before the skin turns red. SPF 10 indicates you can stay 10 times longer in the sun than without the sun screen. If without protection it would take 10 minutes for the skin to turn red, with SPF 10 it will take 100 minutes. Unfortunately the SPF is no indication for protection from UVA.

My lip balms and lotions and cream with zinc oxide have not been registered as sun screens, and I am not claiming that they provide an SPF of over 15. I also do not claim them to be water resistant (although you will struggle to wash zinc oxide off your skin with water and soap. A cream cleanser makes it easy work).

If you use my products with zinc oxide please check careful if and how much protection from the sun you will get. First signs of too long exposure to the sun will be a reddening of the skin. 

The best protection for your skin remains a good cover.

Zinc oxide and micronised zinc oxide is not causing harm to the corals of the reefs or to the other marine life, in difference to a number of chemicals widely used in Sun screens. Ingredients of concern (and some of them banned in a few countries) are: Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-8, OD-PABA, 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, 3-Benzylidene camphor, nano-Titanium dioxide, nano-Zinc oxid

How sunscreen chemicals enter our environment: The sunscreen you apply may not stay on your skin. When we swim or shower, sunscreen may wash off and enter our waterways.

How sunscreen chemicals can affect marine life:
Green Algae: Can impair growth and photosynthesis.
Coral: Accumulates in tissues. Can induce bleaching, damage DNA, deform young, and even kill.
Mussels: Can induce defects in young.
Sea Urchins: Can damage immune and reproductive systems, and deform young.
Fish: Can decrease fertility and reproduction, and cause female characteristics in male fish.
Dolphins: Can accumulate in tissue and be transferred to young.