The most important thing when considering sun protection is to understand the term “nano.”
Nano refers to nanometers. It is a unit of measurement for length in the metric system, and one nanometer is equal to one-billionth of a meter. Nanoparticles are smaller than 100 nanometers.
Since “nano” refers to super-small particles, “non-nano” is, therefore, not as small. These are larger than 100 nanometers.
So, if nano and non-nano zinc oxide are all about size, what does this have to do with your sun protection?
In a nutshell, mineral sunscreen is better for you and the environment because of the ingredients used.
There are two main active ingredients in mineral sunscreen: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. And mineral sunscreens can have either (or both) nano and non-nano zinc oxide particles.
When it comes to sun protection, the bigger the particle size the better.
Because of the way nanoparticles act on your skin. When you apply sunscreen with nano zinc oxide, the super-small particles can penetrate your skin cells and end up in your bloodstream (and even in your lungs).
In addition, the coral reefs can also ingest these tiny particles when the sunscreen washes off in the ocean.
Studies are still ongoing about the full dangers that nanoparticles can have on our skin and the environment. For these reasons, we prefer non-nano zinc oxide and this is what we use in all of our sun-protective creams. These particles are too large to be absorbed by your skin, making them safe for the whole family.
