Soleo Organics Suncream — No No-Nos
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.27.05
Mmmm. What a sad indictment on our society that to effectively market a product, enlightened businesses have to list what is NOT contained within. For example, Soleo Organics Suncream advises it has no titanium dioxide, petrochemicals or artificial fragrances, and that is but half of the things they’ve left out. Instead this SPF30+ broadspectrum, water resistant sunscreen contains only naturally sourced ingredients like: grapeseed oil, macadamia oil, green tea extract, roman chamomile extract, sunflower oil, beeswax, lecithin, vegetable oils, and cucumber extract. Its active ingredient is 22.3 % zinc oxide, which we are told uses, a “revolutionary nanofine zinc technology to provide comprehensive sun protection, without leaving your skin white.” Soleo was developed by a qualified Naturopath and has been independently tested and accredited by the National Health & Safety Council of Australia (NHSC). Available in UK for £15 from ::Planet Blue, or worldwide at $23 AUD via ::Organics Australia
It sounds nice & good to see it got Aussie skin safety rating. But what's the prob with titanium dioxide & why is zinc oxide acceptable? I thought there were concerns with all nano sized mineral particles on body?
Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide are similar in their relative biological inactivity. Skin sensititzation potential from either material would be associated with microcrystalline structure (sharp corners) and not with particle size per se. Titanium dioxide is widely used as a food addittive for coloring purposes: see http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/additivesbranch/enumberlist for details. Of greater interest to "greenness" would be embodied energy and mining impacts. Titanium is extremely energy intensive to produce and mines are messy. Zinc oxide is a byproduct of mining and smelting other metals. For a head to head comparison on energy and mining impacts to have any value, a live cycle inventory study would be needed. Anyone know if this has been done?
ah ha! thanks. I'm sure I saw someone (think it was the ecologist) scaremongering about nano particle effects of the standard mineral suncreams & I'm sure it was a more grave issue than abrasive edges.
I bet it does still makes yr skin a bit white though & prob rub off on some clothes, backpacks etc, most mineral sunscreams do, but prefer that to chemical filters. I don't like the look of ruddy skin so don't mind a lightening effect. I used a similar organic stuff suncream which was bearable in humid weather until I got rained on & it coaguluated/coalesced(?) in little white spots, looked like an alien, but better that than the alternatives, besides it gave us some giggles.