Illuminating Sunscreen

December 1, 2023

Sunlight and Your Skin
Developing any new skin care product is a fascinating process and Sun Guard has been in the pipeline for the past 2 years. It started by researching how light affects skin health and frankly, looking at people’s skin. So let’s illuminate, the key elements for understanding the sunlight spectrum wavelengths.

Unseen Ultra Violet (290- 400nm)
Too much UltraViolet B (UVB) results in, ouch… sunburn. Yet it is required for Vitamin B synthesis.
UltraViolet A (UVA) penetrates the skin to a deeper level and can interfere with normal cell function, resulting in disruptive ‘free radicals’, which we can’t feel or see. To help counteract and repair these invisible ‘radicals’ before DNA damage results in skin cancers, we should seek moisturisers high in antioxidants.
[Like our: Restore, Night, Regen-Ultra and Honey Dew!]

The visible signs of overexposure to UV light are sunburn, photo ageing and hyperpigmentation. Seen any of these culprits lately?
Skin pigmentation called melanin, provides a natural protection against UV radiation, but if your skin is genetically white, well there’s not much help for you, especially under Aussie skies. So, you will need a sunscreen with an SPF rating.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB rays,
SPF 30 blocks 97%,
SPF 50 block 98%, and
SPF 100+ blocks about 99.1%.

There are many ingredients on the market providing SPF but the stand-out for them all, and essential in a natural sunscreen, is zinc oxide (ZnO). Yes, it’s a mineral, but considered ‘natural’ by regulatory authorities. It is THE optimal ingredient in any sunscreen. Why? Because it doesn’t break down in the sunlight and offers broad spectrum protection by reflecting off UVB and the more penetrating and harmful UVA rays.
Sun Guard is rated to SPF 15 and formulated as a face and body, regular day wear cosmetic sun protector. It is not designed for extended periods of outdoor exposure.

High-Energy Visible (HEV) Blue light 400nm – 500nm
Studies are now showing that High-Energy Visible (HEV) light or ‘Blue Light’, which is reflected from our electronic screens, has become a potentially damaging factor for our skin cells. No, you don’t need a face mask when using your computer or phone just yet, but, do keep applying those antioxidant lotions and perhaps, something more….

Protection from blue light can be provided by: Mineral iron oxides, Plants or animals which contain chemicals called carotenoids & lutein; some Micro-organism algae.
Sun Guard combines botanical carotenoids & lutein, & iron oxide for their HEV - shielding. Iron oxide is effective at absorbing visible light and gives a natural cosmetic tint, which reduces white 'ghosting' and provides a mild concealer effect for blemishes’ and spots. Nice!

Creating Sun Guard may have evolved from exploring the realm of light emissions, but has led onto:

1. Investment in specialised equipment and raw materials.

2. Liaising with a science laboratory for testing formulations, and

3. Further cultivating our botanicals for their unique sun guard capabilities.

Inside A Natural Sunscreen

Several plant extracts contain antioxidants and compounds that are believed to provide protection against HEV light. These extracts can help mitigate the oxidative stress and potential skin damage caused by exposure to blue light. While research on this topic is ongoing, some plant extracts with potential HEV protection properties include:

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: These carotenoids are found in various herbs, fruits and vegetables like plantain, marigold flowers, kale, and spinach. They are known for their ability to absorb and filter blue light and may help protect the eyes and skin.

Pub Med Article:
"The SPF of Calendula oil in cream formulation exhibited good activity (SPF = 14.84 ± 0.16). Finding of this study suggested that calendula oil cream can be used to protect the skin from UV radiations in the form of lotion or cream, to maintain the natural pigmentation of the skin"
Plantian contains lutein a natural HEV sheilder.