JUNE 2016 ACCREDITED ORGANIC COSMETIC SCIENCE SCHOOL

Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

What is SPF?• The SPF scale is measured by a sunscreen’s

ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin.• If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected

skin to start turning red, then using a SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15x longer – about 5 hours.

• SPF 15 filters out approximately 93% of all incoming UVB rays. SPF 30 keeps out 97%. SPF 50 keeps out 98%.

Reason 1: Why you should not use natural oils as stand-alone sunscreen

Natural oils do not absorb UV sufficiently• Recent study in the International Journal of

Cosmetic Science (2016) found that natural oils are not suitable UV-blocking ingredients.

• Researchers found UV absorptivity of aloe vera, canola oil, citronella oil, coconut oil, olive oil and soybean oil was close to 1.

Reason 2: Why you should not use natural oils as stand-alone sunscreen

Natural oils do not absorb UV at the right wavelengths• Recent study (2016) in the International

Journal of Cosmetic Science found that Vitamin E was the only substance which showed appreciable UV absorbance.

• However, this only occurred below a wavelength of 310nm which still allowed most of the UV spectrum to pass through unblocked.

Reason 3: Why you should not use natural oils as stand-alone sunscreen

Natural oils have not had their SPF tested and verified for sunscreen use• Natural oils have not gone through the lab and

human testing required to establish their SPF.• Sunscreens have to have their SPF tested in

the lab and on human volunteers. The lab then compares human results with their test results to ensure the SPF matches.

The Myth of Raspberry Seed Oil SPF

• One study in the Journal of Food Chemistry in 2000 (Oomah et al) references an ingredients supplier who claims that raspberry seed oil has a SPF value of 28-50 and PFA value of 6.75-7.5.

• This reference does not appear to be underpinned by verifiable data.

• This single reference has been used as justification to use raspberry seed oil as a stand-alone sunscreen all over the world.

The Myth of Carrot Seed Oil SPF

• A 2009 study in India (Kapoor & Saraf) tested the photostability of sunscreen products.

• They tested a product which contained carrot, as well as zinc oxide and other ingredients.

• This product had a measured SPF of 38-40.• There is no verifiable evidence to suggest that

carrot oil (in any form) has a SPF.

The Myth of Coconut Oil SPF

• Recent study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2016) shows that coconut oil has a SPF of 1.

• Other studies have shown slightly higher results (up to 7).

• You should not use coconut oil as a stand-alone sunscreen ingredient to prevent any risks to your skin.

Read more?

Visit the Formula Botanica blog at:

http://www.formulabotanica.com/blog

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