Mineral Sunscreen Family SPF 30 Mini

There are two types of UV filters used in sunscreens: organic filters, colloquially called "chemical" filters, and inorganic filters, better known as "mineral" or "physical" filters. [1] Sunscreens with chemical UV filters penetrate the skin, absorb the sun's rays and convert them into heat energy. Mineral filters, on the other hand, sit on the skin and reflect the sun's rays, thus forming a physical barrier and preventing the UV rays from penetrating the skin cells. [2]

Some chemical filters are suspected of having a hormonal effect, as this effect has been partially demonstrated in cell and animal experiments. According to current knowledge, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has so far classified only one chemical sun protection factor as harmful to health; however, a "re-evaluation of approved UV filters at European level should be sought". [3] [4]

Our certified natural cosmetic sunscreen protects your skin and that of your children with a purely mineral zinc oxide filter. Zinc oxide has proven to be a safe ingredient for baby and child care products and is also environmentally friendly on beach holidays. Did you know that some chemical filters are already banned in Hawaii and Palau because they pollute the seas and bleach corals? [5] [6]

[1] Serpone N. et al. Inorganic and organic UV filters: Their role and efficacy in sunscreens and suncare products . Inorganic Chemistry Acta, 2007, 360, 794–802

[2] Meinhard, E. Service: Sunscreens tested . For ARD | DasErste.de, 2018. Online at: https://www.daserste.de/information/politik-weltgeschehen/morgenmagazin/service/service-Sonnenschutzmittel-Test-100.html (28.05.2018)

[3] Throl, C., Thomas, K. Sunscreen tested: Which sun protection we recommend for the skin . In: ÖKO-TEST June 2018, 2018. Extract online at: https://www.oekotest.de/kosmetik-wellness/Sonnencreme-im-Test-Welchen-Sonnenschutz-wir-fuer-die-Haut-empfehlen_111085_1.html (24.05.2018)

[4] Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Information, tips and recommendations on sunscreen products, 2005. Online at: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/informationen_tipps_und_empfehlungen_zu_sonnenschutzmitteln.pdf (22.08.2005)

[5] n-tv, Hawaii bans UV filters: Sunscreens harm marine animals , 2018. Online at: https://www.n-tv.de/wissen/Sonnencremes-schaden-Meerestieren-article20497528.html (26.06.2018)

[6] n-tv, Holiday paradise protects corals: Palau bans most sunscreens , 2018. Online at: https://www.n-tv.de/wissen/Sonnencremes-schaden-Meerestieren-article20497528.html (02.11.2018)

The Sensitiv sunscreen (SPF30 and SPF50) and the sunscreen family (SPF30) only differ in scent.

Our sunscreen family in the yellow tube smells very delicate and fresh like our boep scent.

Our Sensitive sun cream in the white tube has no fragrance and therefore protects highly sensitive baby skin and skin prone to sun allergies in a particularly gentle way.

All boep sun care products do not contain the chemical UV filters oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene and are therefore compliant with the Hawaiian Reef Law.

The Hawaii Reef Law first came into effect in 2018 and prohibits the use of sunscreens with the above-mentioned UV filters in Hawaii due to their coral-damaging properties.

Excerpt from the law: "Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause mortality indeveloping coral; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress, even at temperatures below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit; and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms. These chemicals have also been shown to degrade corals ' resiliency and ability to adjust to climate change factors and inhibit recruitment of new corals." (Page 1)

You can read the law here (original in English).

No. Our sunscreens do not contain chemical UV filters and are compliant with the Hawaii Reef Law* . The Hawaii Reef Law prohibits the use of sunscreens that use oxybenzone, octinoxate or octocrylene as UV filters because they can harm corals.

We deliberately chose a purely mineral zinc oxide filter. The mineral UV filter does not interact with the skin, but sits on the skin like a mirror and reflects the sun's rays. In addition, all boep sun creams are certified according to the strict COSMOS NATURAL guidelines for controlled natural cosmetics. COSMOS NATURAL does not allow the chemical UV filters mentioned above.

Our sunscreens use zinc oxide, a naturally occurring, inorganic substance, as a UV filter. For use in cosmetics, zinc oxide is reduced in size so that it can be processed as a powder. The question often arises about the size of the comminuted particles - especially whether the particles are nanoparticles (size between 1-100n m). According to the requirements of the European Commission, nanoparticles must be marked in the list of ingredients if they are nanomaterial, i.e. more than 50% of the particles are nano-sized. According to these specifications, the filter we use is not nanomaterial, but individual particles can still be nano-sized.

The question of whether nanoparticles are good or bad for the skin is not just about size, but above all about the question of whether they are “biopersistent”, i.e. can remain in the skin. And that is not the case with our sunscreen, which only contains zinc oxide particles. In recent years there has been a lot of different information about nanoparticles, but not all of it has been scientifically validated and has unfairly caused uncertainty among customers. Please take a look at this general article here .

Since our sunscreens are certified natural cosmetics, you will not find the controversial plastic softeners, so-called phthalates, in our ingredients.

The topic of "free radicals" is complex and it is fundamentally important to understand that the formation of "free radicals" is a normal process in the body. For example, they are formed during normal metabolic processes, when smoking or through air pollution or during inflammatory reactions. They can also be formed by UV radiation. However, humans have protective mechanisms for this and usually cope well with it. In addition, there are substances called antioxidants that are either formed by the body or contained in creams/food that bind these free radicals and thus render them harmless. As long as the balance of these substances is established, you do not need to worry too much about this topic. Take a look at this article by Anni , where everything is explained in detail and examples of foods that have a high antioxidant value are also given.
Our creams always contain antioxidants , which are either contained in the vegetable oils or, as in the case of vitamin E, added as tocopherol. The dispersion in neutral oil in the sun cream ensures that the zinc oxide is optimally dissolved. Here, too, we naturally pay attention to the use of antioxidants. We have passed on the question about the coating to our supplier again, but consider it unlikely that the formation of free radicals, which can be caused by UV light and which, as mentioned, is a physiological process, can be prevented by a coating. We will be happy to keep you updated on our findings. And of course it is important to prevent the formation of free radicals in the skin as best as possible by applying sun protection!