Attitude EWG sunscreen is mineral-based and plastic-free. So, we chatted with the brand to learn more.
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As temperatures rise, it’s important to take our sunscreen seriously. It’s the first barrier of defense against premature aging, skin damage, and skin cancer. Some dermatologists even tout it as a miracle cream for skin that appears ageless. As a protective cream that we lather on – preferably throughout the year – it’s also important to seriously consider the ingredients in our skincare.
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Organizations like the Environmental Working Group have done some of the hard for you. Their team of scientists carefully reviews, researches, and assesses thousands of products available on the market to determine which offer strong sun protection and do not contain ingredients that may pose a risk to our health. The end result is a small, curated list of EWG sunscreens. In fact, out of the 1,700 sunscreens reviewed, only 1 out of 4 meets EWG’s strict standards for avoiding harmful ingredients.
One EWG sunscreen on the verified list is from the skincare and beauty brand ATTITUDE. Ten of their mineral sunscreens are EWG verified. While the other seven have the highest rating available from EWG. Coming from a third-party source that’s a strong testament to the validity of their clean claims. Julie Ramos, a part of the ATTITUDE team shared more about how the brand’s commitment to clean ingredients for your health and that of the planet and what to look for when shopping for clean, reef-safe sunscreens.
One of the most exciting things, from an environmental standpoint, is the recyclable paper tube. In a sea of sunscreens packaged in plastic containers, this one is one of the few available on the market in paper packaging. The formula feels nourishing and rich while still being easy to pop into your bag for touchups throughout the day.
What’s better- sunscreen or sunblock?
The real question is whether it’s a mineral sunscreen or a chemical sunscreen. At ATTITUDE ™, we recommend using mineral sunscreen, because it physically blocks the sun’s UVA and UVB rays from penetrating the skin, acting as a physical barrier. Our mineral sun sticks are made with non-nano zinc oxide to offer broad-spectrum protection.
What ingredients should those with dry skin look for in sunscreens/ sunblock? Oily skin?
For those with dry skin, it’s important to choose a product that not only protects your skin from the sun, but also nourishes your skin. You could look for nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil and castor oil. These ingredients help prevent dryness and dehydration.
If you have oily skin, it’s important to choose a sunscreen that provides sun protection without exacerbating oiliness or causing breakouts. Some ingredients to look for in sunblocks that are beneficial for oily skin are non-comedogenic ingredients, which means they are formulated to not clog pores. This helps prevent the occurrence of breakouts associated with oily skin. Choose a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, these mineral-based ingredients provide broad-spectrum protection and are suitable for oily skin. They sit on the surface of the skin and act as a physical barrier to block most of the UV rays.
Should alcohol (as an ingredient) be avoided?
Yes, completely. If we’re talking about propylene glycol, for example, found in deodorants on the market, it’s recognized as an allergen by the EWG. If you have sensitive skin and choose a deodorant containing propylene glycol, a member of the alcohol family, you may experience skin irritation. It is used to give deodorants an attractive cylindrical shape that won’t crumble. It’s the same for all products: alcohol in a product (sun cream, face cream) can dry out the skin, which is not necessarily desirable in summer.
What ingredients should dark skin tones look for to avoid white residues on their skin?
We have chosen to formulate our sun creams with non-nano zinc oxide, which is not transparent. To compensate for the white pigment produced by this mineral filter, we recommend balancing with warmer pigments that are better suited to warmer skin tones, such as our PHYTO-SUN SPF 15 tinted cream. It’s more about finding products that have darker pigments than avoiding specific ingredients.
If my foundations or powders contain and SPF, do I still need to apply sunscreen/sunblock?
Yes, but it mainly depends on the SPF contained in the product. SPF tinted oils or foundations are not designed to be sunscreens and often have a low SPF. Furthermore, you need to apply a significant amount of sunscreen to get the labelled SPF; you never wear enough makeup to be sufficiently protected. It is therefore recommended to apply sunscreen in addition to the SPF in your foundation.
What are the benefits of mineral sunscreens? Chemical?
Protecting your skin from the sun means protecting it from cancer risk, dryness and premature aging. To decrease this risk, regularly use a sunscreen with a Broad-Spectrum SPF value of 15 or higher and other sun protection measures. Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can diminish your skin’s ability to retain moisture, impair the effectiveness of its protective barrier and consequently dry it out or make it sensitive. ATTITUDE sun sticks protect against most of these rays courtesy of a mineral filter – non-nano zinc oxide – which according to EWG experts is less toxic for the oceans. The filter produces a protective physical barrier on your skin without penetrating it, and the rays bounce right off this barrier. We aim to offer an eco-responsible alternative – without ingredients of concern – in accordance with EWG VERIFIED™ certification. Chemical sunscreens often contain residues of ingredients that are toxic (oxybenzone, octinoxate and benzophenone-2) – even in minute quantities – for many marine species, including coral.
